2018 Couch Power 10, Week 9
It was yet another fun Saturday in College Football Land. In the biggest cocktail party in a decade, Georgia made a statement with their ultimately easy win over rivals Florida. Elsewhere, Washington State and Penn State won crucial conference games in thrillers against Stanford and Iowa, respectively. Kentucky stayed perfect in the SEC East by winning on a last-second touchdown. Another unbeaten fell: this time South Florida, getting boat-raced by a solid Houston team.
Really, it was a weekend of season-deflating losses. Big XII frontrunner Texas laid a huge egg at unranked Oklahoma State. Big Ten West frontrunners Wisconsin laid an even bigger egg at unranked Northwestern. Pac-12 frontrunners Washington laid perhaps the biggest egg of all at unranked California. Oregon, also recently in the drivers' seat in the Pac-12, got their doors blown off by unranked Arizona. Appalachian State spent their first game as a ranked team getting shellacked by Georgia Southern. Texas A&M spent their first game as a Top 15 team losing handily to Mississippi State. NC State lost to Syracuse, and their dream season seems to be losing wheels.
Of course, all of the fun was overshadowed by two things: one, the continued reminder that Alabama and Clemson are lightyears ahead of the field, and we are clearly destined for a fourth straight installment of college football's Warriors-Cavs. Secondly, the inaugural release of the 2018 College Football Playoff rankings last night; for starters, people will start getting the crazy idea that those are the rankings they should consult, rather than the Couch Power 10. But also, not surprisingly, the committee got it all wrong.
Here's where we should stand at this point. These rankings are based heavily on ESPN's "strength of record" metric, which measures just how impressive Team X's record is given the schedule they've played.
1. Clemson (LW: #1)
Clemson retains the top spot on the Couch Power 10, for having the 2nd-highest strength of record, and far surpassing Notre Dame in the key categories of eye test, and uh, talent. They beat a once-proud Florida State program by 49 points. In Tallahassee!
2. Notre Dame (LW: #2)
Notre Dame may not have totally sold everyone (including yours truly) on their quality, thanks to closer than necessary wins against the likes of Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, and Ball State. But that doesn't render the fact that the Irish are 8-0 in a season that has included Michigan, Virginia Tech, and Stanford as opponents suddenly UNimpressive.
3. LSU (LW: #3)
Much ado was made about one-loss LSU being ranked above unbeaten Notre Dame in the CFP rankings. I have no problem with LSU's ranking clearly; MY beef is that they're ahead of the wrong team. Yes, even at 7-1, they have done much more to earn a playoff spot than 8-0 Alabama. All the angry Tide fans will feel better this Saturday after they spank the Tigers.
4. Alabama (LW: #4)
The Crimson Tide had a bye week last week, but it was already about the 9th time this season that they didn't play a real opponent.
5. Kentucky (LW: #8)
Did I just move Kentucky up to the Top 5 after needing a last-second TD and dubious officiating to beat Missouri, of all teams? You bet I did. You know why? Because with the schedule they've played, 7-1 is mighty impressive. Oh, and also this is freakin' KENTUCKY we're talking about. The Wildcats control their own destiny in the SEC East, starting with the showdown against Georgia this weekend.
6. Georgia (LW: NR)
Speaking of the Dawgs... Game 2 of their wicked 3-game stretch went considerably better than Game 1. Last time we saw Georgia, they were getting thoroughly pantsed by LSU. Last weekend, they turned around and exacted their revenge on a Top 10 Florida side (who, ironically, just beat LSU a couple weeks ago). As such, they're back in business for the SEC, and possibly for the playoff.
7. Michigan (LW: #5)
The Wolverines still have probably the "best loss" of any 1-loss team, going toe-to-toe with unbeaten Notre Dame in the season opener, but their resumé is taking a hit somewhat, thanks to the inconsistent play of Michigan State and Northwestern, and the straight up tanking of Wisconsin. Nevertheless, the Wolverines are still the team to beat in the Big Ten, and deservedly so; they are threats on every side of the ball.
8. Washington State (LW: #10)
For anyone who thought Wazzu's spanking of Oregon 2 weeks ago was yet another flash in the pan for the much-maligned program, last weekend's victory over Stanford served notice. Rallying from behind on the road against a very good team is no small feat, and it put the Cougs alone in pole position in the Pac-12.
9. Ohio State (LW: NR)
Ohio State took last week off to lick their wounds from the Purdue upset. They climb back into our rankings, though, thanks to the #8 overall strength of record.
10. Central Florida (LW: #6)
Even at 7-0, UCF's strength of record is actually only good enough for 13th in the country. But if you think I'm gonna make like all the powers to be and shut the undefeated Golden Knights out of my Top 10, then, to quote an icon, "you must not know bout me."
Just missed: Oklahoma, West Virginia, Florida, Utah, Texas, Nathan Elliot's recent form
BONUS! New Year's Six Bowl Projections
Peach: Georgia vs. Central Florida
Fiesta: Kentucky vs. West Virginia
Rose: Washington State vs. Ohio State
Sugar: LSU vs. Oklahoma
COTTON (Semifinal): Alabama vs. Michigan
ORANGE (Semifinal): Clemson vs. Notre Dame