At this point in the season, it appears even the top-tier contenders all have flaws. Which teams have had the best wins though?
Let’s get this out of the way first: We aren’t confident in putting any team No. 1 right now.
Everyone has flaws. Everyone has an argument for the top spot.
Oregon? Sure. The Ducks most likely have the best win in the country, quieting the White-Out crowd in a game where its defense shut down the Nittany Lions for nearly the whole game.
There is, of course, Ohio State, which put away Washington in its West Coast trip on Saturday and opened the season with a win over Texas.
How about Oklahoma or even Miami? They can each claim two of the better victories this year (against Michigan and Notre Dame, respectively). Even the likes of Texas A&M (a win at Notre Dame), Indiana (the Hoosiers are good again!) and, hey, why not Ole Miss?
As you’ll se below, we threw a dart at the board and it landed on the Ducks.
But what else happened Saturday?
If you were an undefeated ACC team on the road, it was tough sledding. On Friday night, the No. 8 Florida State Seminoles lost at Virginia, Louisville needed a 17-point comeback at Pitt and Georgia Tech escaped Wake Forest in overtime.
In Champaign, the Illini recovered from their thorough beating against Indiana last week by handing USC a heartbreaker on a walk-off field goal. In the SEC, Ole Miss (over LSU), Vanderbilt (over Utah State) and Texas A&M (over Auburn) all moved to 5-0 with wins. Meanwhile, Arkansas dropped to 2-3 after a stinker against Notre Dame, and many are wondering if the Head Hog will be on the barbecue come Sunday.
Saturday also brought us a baseball score: San Diego State over Northern Illinois, 6-3. The teams went 19 straight drives without scoring. That included 13 punts.
OK, enough already, let’s get to the rankings!
Reminder: When ranking teams, we do NOT consider any preseason polls or any past season results!
1. Oregon Ducks
This week: beat Penn State 30-24 in 2OT
Next week: Off
Like we mentioned above, few teams could argue they have a better win than what we saw the Ducks do on Saturday night — going into one of the most intimidating environments in college football and coming out victors. QB Dante Moore is slippery, Oregon's defense is nasty and Dan Lanning continues to prove he’s one of the best coaches in the country.
Key wins: 30-24 at Penn State
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
This week: beat Washington 24-6
Next week: at Washington
If you want to know how much hogging of the ball the Buckeyes did, consider this: Washington had seven possessions in the game (excluding a first-half-ending run-out-the-clock situation). Seven. QB Julian Sayin completed 78 percent of his passes for 208 yards and threw two TDs, and rookie RB Bo Jackson continued his career-opening stretch (297 yards in three games).
Key wins: 14-7 vs. Texas; 24-6 at Washington
3. Oklahoma Sooners
This week: Off
Next week: vs. Kent State
John Mateer’s Los Angeles-based doctor became the biggest celebrity in Norman this week as he completed successful surgery on Mateer’s broken throwing hand. It’s unclear when Dr. Steven S. Shin’s handiwork will be on display. The Sooners are trying to ready Mateer for the Red River Rivalry against Texas in two weeks, but it may be tough.
Keys wins: 24-13 vs. Michigan; 24-17 vs. Auburn
4. Miami Hurricanes
This week: Off
Next week: at Florida State
Well, the Seminoles really laid an egg in Charlottesville to sour what would have likely been a top-five rivalry clash on the panhandle. Still, this is the renewal of a nasty rivalry and there's still plenty of playoff and ACC championship hopes on the line. Can the Noles rebound from their egg-laying against a Hurricanes team that’s looked as good as any so far this season?
Key wins: 27-24 vs. Notre Dame
5. Texas A&M Aggies
This week: beat Auburn 16-10
Next week: vs. Mississippi State
Think the Aggies made some defensive improvements after allowing 40 points in South Bend? Mike Elko’s group allowed 177 yards — in total. The Tigers converted zero of their 13 third-down chances in an utterly miserable outing for Hugh Freeze’s offense.
Key wins: 41-40 at Notre Dame; 16-10 vs. Auburn
6. Indiana Hoosiers
This week: beat Iowa 20-15
Next week: Off
The Hoosiers, it seems, can win any which way. Sixty-three points one week and then 20 another? Sure. Nothing can slow Curt Cignetti and Indiana, which have now won 16 of their last 18 games. Let that sink in. In this one, IU’s defense put the clamps on the Hawkeyes and QB Fernando Mendoza completed 13 passes for 233 yards (an 18-yard average!).
Key wins: 63-10 vs. Illinois; 20-15 at Iowa
7. Tennessee Volunteers
This week: beat Mississippi State 41-34 in overtime
Next week: Off
The Vols found themselves in cowbell hell, down 14-10, 17-10, 24-20 and, lastly, 34-27 before a tiring touchdown with two minutes left. QB Joey Aguilar threw for 335 yards and a touchdown and ran for another to help Tennessee avoid the upset against a Mississippi State team that’s much improved from the two-win Bulldogs of last year.
Key wins: 45-26 vs. Syracuse; 41-34 at Mississippi State
8. Georgia Bulldogs
This week: lost to Alabama 24-21
Next week: Off
The Bulldogs have some serious work to do on defense. QB Ty Simpson and the Tide rolled up nearly 400 yards of offense and shredded what used to be a Kirby Smart’s specialty. Sure, Georgia won at Tennessee, but this one stings. Another issue? QB Gunner Stockton threw for 130.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
This week: beat LSU 24-19
Next week: Off
If you’re not familiar with Division III transfer QB Trinidad Chambliss, well, it’s time to familiarize yourself. He tossed for 314 yards, ran for another 71 and delivered some knockout-punch throws in the second half against the Tigers. We all thought Lane Kiffin whiffed on a playoff chance with his best and most talented team last year. Is this season’s group even better?
Key wins: 24-19 vs. LSU; 45-10 vs. Tulane
10. Texas Tech Red Raiders
This week: Off
Next week: at Houston
Money or no money, the Red Raiders are playing fast and physical for coach Joey McGuire. The defense is feisty, receivers are quick and the quarterbacks — yes, plural — are two of the best in the country. QB Behron Morton, knocked out of the game against Utah, was healthy enough to have played if the Red Raiders competed this weekend. Either way, backup Will Hammond led them to a victory over the Utes before a rest this week and then a trip to a surprising 4-0 Houston.
Key wins: 34-10 at Utah
Dropped: Florida State (4); LSU (10)
Category: General Sports
