2020 Couch Power 10, Week 2
We're just a few weeks into the college football season-- and some conferences haven't even begun play --and yet, true to form in 2020, chaos is already reigning. One week after our inaugural 2020 Couch Power 10, this next edition will have an entirely different look due to some major results last weekend: 7 ranked teams lost on Saturday, 5 of them to unranked teams!
At this rate, we'll be looking at a playoff field of 3 non-Power 5 teams and Georgia (and Georgia will still find a way to not win). If we are indeed at the start of one the craziest seasons in history, it makes sense that it might be that way. A condensed, conference-only (largely) slate means less time between games, more consistent level of competition, and oh by the way, in addition to injury concerns, you now have COVID concerns. Let's try to make the best of the madness!
Just a reminder that this is not a definitive ranking on how good the teams are, or on who I think will be/deserves to be in the playoff at the end of the year. Rather, it's more of a "What if preseason rankings and bigwig bias didn't predetermine the top teams" kind of thing, an ideal ranking of the country's teams based on what they've actually proved on the field to date. In that vein, let's hit you with some surprises right off the top:
1. Georgia
At halftime of the season opener, Georgia was struggling to move the ball on Arkansas, the laughingstock of the SEC, and college football fans (including yours truly) everywhere were poised with their jokes and memes about Georgia once again being a letdown. Since then, though, the Bulldogs have put everyone on notice. After blowing out the Razorbacks in the 2nd half, Georgia barnstormed through hated rivals Auburn in the primetime game last weekend, dominating the state of play on both sides of the ball for all 4 quarters in a 27-6 victory. What's more, that Arkansas performance doesn't look half-bad as the Hogs turned around and stunned last week's #1 team Mississippi State.
2. Alabama
There was a brief time where it looked like Texas A&M was capable of giving Alabama a game, when two quick scores took them level with the Tide at 14-14. Then Alabama did what Alabama does, which is initiate a blowout in the blink of an eye. The debate on whether A&M is actually a Top 15 team is probably a legitimate one, but there's no denying Alabama's dominant victories over them and Missouri show that the Crimson Tide are once again a force to be reckoned with.
3. Miami
Miami had a bye week last week, but still have one of the more impressive resumés through 3 games. That strong resumé will be put to the test this weekend against defending runners-up Clemson.
4. Louisiana-Lafayette
I know this probably seems absurdly high for a Sun Belt team who just had a bye week after struggling to beat two other Sun Belt teams. But that dominant Week 1 win at Iowa State is still one of the best this season, and it's only aged like fine wine in the wake of the Cyclones' upset over Oklahoma.
5. SMU
SMU had their student section removed in the middle of the game for breaking COVID protocols, but at least the school's football program made them proud on Saturday! With an upset of unbeaten Memphis, following dominant wins over Stephen F. Auston and North Texas, the Mustangs supplanted Cincinnati as the team to beat in the American Conference...for now.
6. BYU
Still no ranked wins for BYU, but with a 31-point win this past weekend, that makes three wins over Navy, Troy, and Louisiana Tech-- all consistent bowl teams -- by an average of 41 points. In this day and age, that's as impressive a start as any.
7. Florida
Wins over Ole Miss and South Carolina won't exactly set the world on fire, but for a team that has so notoriously struggled on offense in recent years, Florida scoring 90 points in 2 games puts the rest of the league on notice. Besides, I've got a feeling both these wins might age well; with Ole Miss' upset over Kentucky last weekend, one already is.
8. Cincinnati
The Bearcats aren't fully living up to the hype thus far, at least on offense. Still, their defense is as good as advertised, which has been clear in holding South Florida and a ranked Army side to a combined 17 points. They've got a tough stretch upcoming with Tulsa, SMU and Memphis, which will be a good test of their staying power.
9. Marshall
Marshall is still just 2-0, and still have zero wins over Power 5 teams. But their schedule involves a 59-0 win, and a win over a ranked team, and this season, that's good enough.
10. Tennessee
Again, it's not that we shouldn't expect Tennessee to beat South Carolina and Missouri-- especially not a Tennessee that's back. But opening the season with 2 solid conference wins is something that most Volunteer teams of years past have not been able to do.
Just missed: Clemson, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, future 1st Team all-American Trey Morrison
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