2. Really, what’s a “big” win?
“But they didn’t beat anyone?”
That’s the common argument or complaint around the College Football Playoff rankings world. Where’s the important, splashy win? Where’s the signature moment to get everyone all excited?
Okay, let’s do this.
The College Football Playoff rankings are the ones of record, so let’s go by their own beliefs.
What are – technically – the best wins in college football this year according to the latest rankings? Here you go.
1. (NR) South Carolina over (4) Georgia 20-17
2. (1) LSU over (5) Alabama 46-41
3. (15) Auburn over (6) Oregon 27-21
4. (23) USC over (7) Utah 30-23
5. (10) Minnesota over (8) Penn State 31-26
6. (NR) Kansas State over (9) Oklahoma
7. (17) Iowa over (10) Minnesota
8. (4) Georgia over (11) Florida 24-17
(Ranked higher than 9 because of neutral site win as opposed to LSU’s win at home)
9. (1) LSU over (11) Florida 42-28
T10. (2) Ohio State over (12) Wisconsin 38-7
T10. (NR) Illinois over (12) Wisconsin 24-23
T12. (8) Penn State over (13) Michigan 28-21
T12. (12) Wisconsin over (13) Michigan 35-14
14. (9) Oklahoma over (14) Baylor
15. (4) Georgia over (15) Auburn 21-14
(Ranked higher than next two because win was at Auburn)
T16. (1) LSU over (15) Auburn 23-20
T16. (11) Florida over (15) Auburn 24-13
T18. (4) Georgia over (16) Notre Dame 23-17
T18. (13) Michigan over (16) Notre Dame 45-14
20. (8) Penn State over (17) Iowa 17-12
(Ranked higher than the other two because the win was at Iowa)
T21. (13) Michigan over (17) Iowa 10-3
T21. (12) Wisconsin over (17) Iowa 24-22
23. (NR) Temple over (18) Memphis 30-28
24. (2) Ohio State over (19) Cincinnati 42-0
25. (NR) BYU over (20) Boise State 28-25
What does it all mean? No. 4 Georgia has three of the top 17 wins of the year, but the loss to South Carolina is the worst defeat so far by any of the top teams.
No. 1 LSU has three of the 16 best wins. No. 2 Ohio State has two of the top 25, as does No. 8 Penn State, No. 12 Wisconsin and No. 13 Michigan.
Who’s missing? No. 3 Clemson, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Oregon and No. 7 Utah can fall into the “haven’t really beaten anyone” category. They’re the only ones in the top 15 missing a truly great win so far.
– Rapid Fire Reactions
– If Alabama wins out …
– The known unknown is …
– What it all really means