2017 Couch Power 10, Week 5
College Football's starting to trend towards certain professional leagues (*cough*, the NBA, *cough*), in that it's becoming dangerously predictable. Alabama has for several years now asserted them as the de facto team to beat every year, but it may be time to add another team to that "rank 'em in the Top 3 every year" list. This tweet from last Saturday pretty much sums it up:
Indeed, after yet another dominant win over a highly-ranked team, Clemson has proved they're back for real, despite losing their greatest quarterback ever, and their top RB, WR and D-lineman to the NFL Draft. They're very much becoming the Cavs to Alabama's Warriors, and just like the Warriors-Cavs, we appear to be headed towards Year 3 of these two in the championship.
1. Clemson
Do I think they're a better team than Alabama at this point? I don't. Certainly not as polished. But they're the defending champions, and have beaten 3 Top 15 teams in 4 weeks. You just can't argue with that.
2. Alabama
I felt really bad about dropping Alabama to #2, considering they've won their last 2 games (both conference fare) by a total score of 125-3. Yes, you read that correctly. But the glaring truth is that, with Florida State's unforeseen freefall, the Tide don't really possess a signature win at this point. In fact, given the relatively weak depth of the SEC this year, they may not get one until the closing weeks of the season.
3. Georgia
Sure, Tennessee's no good, but for Georgia to piggyback their primetime victory last week with a 41-0 road win in a rivalry game? That's cold-blooded. These Dawgs are for real.
4. Oklahoma
I still think the Sooners have the best win of the season to date, but that accomplishment has lost its luster ever so slightly with Clemson's repeated successes, last week's near-embarrassment at Baylor, and now a bye week. The Sooners get back to Big 12 play this week with what should be an easy win against Iowa State.
5. TCU
The Horned Frogs got a bye week after their huge win over Oklahoma State. This weekend, they host not only a tricky West Virginia team but College Gameday as well!
6. Washington State
Don't let my opening stanzas fool you, this season hasn't been all chalk, and last weekend sure wasn't! Buried on a late Friday night was the fact that Wazzu totally shifted the Playoff landscape by upsetting USC. A Trojan loss seemed to have been a long time coming, and unlike their past 4 opponents, the Cougars made them pay with big plays and forced turnovers. What's more, if WSU can get past a tricky Oregon game this weekend, they should run the table until at least November, when they meet Stanford and Washington.
7. Penn State
The Nittany Lions pass the eye test in every which way. But I'm still waiting to see how they measure up against teams that could actually go toe-to-toe with them in terms of talent. Their thrilling win at Iowa last week lost some of its magic this past weekend, when the Hawkeyes turned around and lost to a mediocre Michigan State team.
8. San Diego State
South Florida had been the Non-P5 media darling preseason, and still finds themselves ranked ahead of SDSU. But make no mistake, if the season ended today, it would be the Aztecs who were in a New Year's Six Bowl. Going 3-0 in 3 straight weeks vs. Stanford, at Air Force and at Northern Illinois would be tough for most good teams, but San Diego State pulled off fairly comfortably.
9. Michigan
The Wolverines had a bye this past week to amp themselves up for their rivalry game with Michigan State on Saturday. Michigan's perfect season so far hasn't always been pretty, but barring a stunner in the next few weeks, should still be intact when it comes time to meet Penn State in a massive showdown.
10. Miami
I was hesitant to join the throngs of those hyping up this Hurricane team, as we had seen only a small sample size which included struggling to close out Bethune-Cookman and Toledo. Last week, in their ACC opener, the Canes thrashed a previously unbeaten Duke team who had looked quite solid against their previous opponent (who shall remain unnamed). It's still early, but I will admit Miami looks to be a good bet to win the ACC Coastal. A massive game against Florida State awaits this weekend.
Just missed: Washington, Wisconsin, UCF, South Florida, 30-year old punter Tom Sheldon