Each Saturday night throughout the season, I rank the 10 best teams in the country. The order fluctuates from week to week based on new information.
And on the 11th Saturday, we got some clarity. I’m pretty sure I know who the top three teams are this season.
1. LSU (9-0)
First it was Florida, then Auburn, then Alabama. Surely someone would finally slow down LSU’s lethal offense, right? Nope. “They have no weaknesses on offense,” Nick Saban said after watching Joe Burrow throw for 393 yards (and run for another 64) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire run for 103 in the Tigers’ seminal 46-41 victory in Tuscaloosa. If 6-3 Texas enters the CFP rankings this week, LSU will have four Top 25 wins.
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2. Ohio State (9-0)
No Chase Young, no problem against overmatched Maryland, which the Buckeyes dispatched 73-14 on Saturday. Ohio State doesn’t have the résumé to merit keeping it above LSU, but there’s no disputing its continued dominance. Which is going to continue in ruthless fashion next week against Rutgers. The Buckeyes’ most formidable foe right now is the NCAA. They’re going to want Young back for the Penn State game.
3. Clemson (10-0)
Dabo Swinney will have to look for new motivation this week, the Tigers won’t be No. 5 any longer. The Tigers took a 42-0 lead on N.C. State by halftime Saturday night behind the double dose of Trevor Lawrence (20-of-27 for 276 yards and three TDs) and RB Travis Etienne (14 carries, 112 yards, two TDs). The only bad news: Wake Forest lost to Virginia Tech and may fall out of the Top 25, keeping Clemson oh-fer on the season.
4. Minnesota (9-0)
Why not? The Gophers earned some major validation with Saturday’s 31-26 upset of previously undefeated Penn State. The Nittany Lions entered the game ranked No. 4 nationally in total defense. Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan (18-of-20 for 339 yards, 3 TDs) and WR Rashod Bateman (7 catches, 203 yards, 1 TD) shredded them. I doubt Minnesota will still be in my top four in a month, but I’ll show ’em the love this week.
5. Oregon (8-1)
The Ducks had a very productive off week. They’re now knocking on the door of my and, more importantly, the committee’s top four.
6. Utah (8-1)
Same thing for Utah.
7. Georgia (8-1)
Another week, another smothering defensive performance for the Dawgs, who held Missouri to less than 200 yards in a 27-0 rout. In contrast to LSU and Alabama, Kirby Smart is attempting to win the SEC the old-fashioned way, with a dominant defense and an offense that does just enough to win. It worked against Notre Dame and Florida, though not South Carolina, which fell to 4-6 with Saturday’s loss to Appalachian State.
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8. Alabama (8-1)
For all the concern going in over Tua Tagovailoa’s ankle, the much-bigger issue for Alabama was its defense — a unit that hadn’t been properly tested and did not hold up well against LSU. Two turnovers, a dropped punt and a slew of bad penalties did not help. The Tide are certainly capable of winning out, but it’s hard to justify ranking them higher as of today with no Top 25-caliber wins and no longer an undefeated record.
9. Oklahoma (8-1)
The Sooners nearly blew a 21-point lead to Iowa State, surviving 42-41 when Parnell Motley intercepted Iowa State QB Brock Purdy’s 2-point conversion. The good news: Oklahoma got another big game from WR CeeDee Lamb (eight catches, 167 yards, two TDs). The bad: Purdy lit up the Sooners (19-of-30 for 282 yards, five TDs, no INTs), whose previously improved-looking defense has gone backward the last two games.
10. Baylor (9-0)
Baylor just keeps winning, though not in the most convincing fashion. The Bears rallied from a 9-0 hole to tie TCU on a 51-yard John Mayers field goal with 36 seconds left, then outlasted the Horned Frogs in triple overtime. The Bears’ résumé to this point is highlighted by wins at 6-3 Kansas State and 6-3 Oklahoma State. But next week they’ll get the chance to truly validate themselves when Oklahoma comes to town.
(Photo of Minnesota RB Shannon Brooks: Hannah Foslien / Getty Images)