College Football Power Rankings after Week 6
There were some big drops for big teams in the Power Rankings this week. Al Dannity sifts through the carnage as the BCS Championship race gets clearer.
1. Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC, 2-3 ATS)
A week off for the Tide as they got to watch all their rivals take a beating.
Last week: Idle.
Next up: Saturday at Missouri.
2. Oregon (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12, 2-4 ATS)
Another big day for the Ducks on offence. It only gets tougher from here.
Last week: W 52-21 vs. Washington.
Next up: October 18 at Arizona State.
3. South Carolina (6-0, 4-0 SEC, 5-1 ATS)
The Gamecocks shoot up the rankings with a big win over the Dawgs. Next up, a trip to Baton Rouge!
Last week: W 35-7 vs. Georgia.
Next up: Saturday at LSU.
4. Kansas State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12, 4-1 ATS)
It took a while for the Wildcats to get going but once they did, they blew the Jayhawks away.
Last week: W 56-16 vs. Kansas.
Next up: Saturday at Iowa State.
5. Notre Dame (5-0, 4-1 ATS)
Let the hype machine enter overdrive. The Fighting Irish got the job done against the Canes. Now they need to repeat the feat against the Cardinal.
Last week: W 41-3 vs. Miami (FL).
Next up: Saturday vs. Stanford.
6. West Virginia (5-0, 2-0 Big 12, 2-3 ATS)
Geno Smith had a relatively quiet day but the Mountaineers got it done on the ground to top the Longhorns.
Last week: W 48-45 at Texas.
Next up: Saturday at Texas Tech.
7. Florida (5-0, 3-0 SEC, 4-1 ATS)
The Gators are the highest climber this week after dominating the Tigers in the Swamp.
Last week: W 14-6 vs. LSU.
Next up: Saturday at Vanderbilt.
8. Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten, 3-3 ATS)
The Buckeyes had their way with the Huskers on Saturday. A perfect season for the sanction-ravaged OSU is looking ever more likely.
Last week: W 63-38 vs. Nebraska.
Next up: Saturday at Indiana.
9. Oregon State (4-0, 3-0 Pac-12, 3-1 ATS)
The Beavers suffered their first blemish of the season last Saturday, failing to cover, but they still picked up the W to enter the Top 10.
Last week: W 19-6 vs. Washington State.
Next up: Saturday at BYU.
10. Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0 SEC, 3-2 ATS)
It’s hard to be a 5-0 SEC team and stay under the radar. That’s the unusual situation the Bulldogs find themselves in right now.
Last week: W 27-14 at Kentucky.
Next up: Saturday vs. Tennessee.
11. LSU (5-1, 2-1 SEC, 2-4 ATS)
The Tigers suffered the least ignominy of the big teams to lose on Saturday. They face a long road back to relevance.
Last week: L 14-6 at Florida.
Next up: Saturday vs. South Carolina.
12. Florida State (4-1, 2-1 ACC, 2-4 ATS)
So much for those BCS title hopes. The Seminoles must now re-group and look to get back into the ACC race.
Last week: L 17-16 at NC State.
Next up: Saturday vs. Boston College.
13. Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC, 2-4 ATS)
That was just horrible from the Dawgs. The Cocktail Party isn’t far away but it looks awfully unappealing right now.
Last week: L 35-7 at South Carolina.
Next up: October 20 at Kentucky.
14. Texas (4-1, 1-1 Big 12, 3-2 ATS)
The Longhorns saw their BCS hopes evaporate last week, now they are fighting to stay in the hunt for the Big 12 title.
Last week: L 48-45 vs. West Virginia.
Next up: Saturday vs. Oklahoma.
15. Louisiana Tech (5-0, 0-0 WAC, 3-1-1 ATS)
Welcome to the party Bulldogs! Now you’ve just got to go and win against the Aggies to stay here.
Last week: W 58-31 vs. UNLV.
Next up: Saturday vs. Texas A&M.
16. Ohio (6-0, 2-0 MAC, 3-3 ATS)
Yet another scare for the Bobcats. They stay here for now but they are running out of lives.
Last week: W 38-31 vs. Buffalo.
Next up: Saturday vs. Akron.
17. Stanford (4-1, 2-1 Pac-12, 3-2 ATS)
The Cardinal avoided back-to-back losses. Now they will look for a big win in South Bend.
Last week: W 54-48 vs. Arizona U.
Next up: Saturday at Notre Dame.
18. Clemson (5-1, 2-1 ACC, 4-2 ATS)
The Tigers are getting their groove back. Now that the ACC race has opened up, they might yet find a way back to the title game.
Last week: W 47-31 vs. Georgia Tech.
Next up: October 20 vs. Virginia Tech.
19. Oklahoma (3-1, 1-1 Big 12, 2-2 ATS)
Well that’s the myth about the Red Raiders put to bed. The Sooners can climb the rankings if they win big in the Red River Shootout.
Last week: W 41-20 at Texas Tech.
Next up: Saturday vs. Texas.
20. Louisville (5-0, 0-0 Big East, 2-3 ATS)
After a week off, the Cardinals begin Big East action against the Panthers this weekend.
Last week: Idle.
Next up: Saturday at Pitt.
21. Rutgers (5-0, 2-0 Big East, 4-1 ATS)
The Scarlet Knights are turning into a force on D. They won’t go down easy against anyone this year.
Last week: W 19-3 vs. UConn.
Next up: Saturday vs. Syracuse.
22. USC (3-1, 2-1 Pac-12, 1-4 ATS)
A shocking start meant the Trojans failed to cover but they rallied well.
Last week: W 38-28 at Utah.
Next up: Saturday at Washington.
23. Texas A&M (4-1, 2-1 SEC, 3-2 ATS)
The Aggies charge into the rankings despite not even playing last week. The misfortunes of others around them opened a hole they will happily fill. Big test ahead on Saturday.
Last week: Idle.
Next up: Saturday at Louisiana Tech.
24. Cincinnati (4-0, 1-0 Big East, 3-1 ATS)
The big games still await the Bearcats but so long as they are perfect, there’s room for them on this list.
Last week: W 52-14 vs. Miami (Oh).
Next up: Saturday vs. Fordham.
25. TCU (4-1, 1-1 Big 12, 2-3 ATS)
I seriously considered dropping the Horned Frogs out of these rankings altogether. They have done just enough to earn a reprieve but it’s likely to be temporary.
Last week: L 37-23 vs. Iowa State.
Next up: Saturday at Baylor.
Next Five Out: Boise State, Duke, Iowa State, NC State, Nebraska.
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