Ohio State (9-0) and Clemson (10-0) continue to lead our system’s top 25 at the beginning of the final quarter of the regular season.
The distance between the top four teams and the rest of the pack is enough that Alabama (8-1) only fell to fourth despite its loss to the LSU (9-0) Tigers.
The Index correctly predicted LSU’s narrow win over Alabama but could have done better overall after finishing 31-17.
There are five undefeated teams remaining in FBS: Ohio State, Clemson, LSU, Minnesota, and Baylor, but the latter two have neither the schedule nor credentials of the top five and are not likely to reach the playoff.
Virginia Tech‘s (6-3) win over previously ranked Wake Forest (7-3) vaulted the Hokies back into the rankings and suggests that the program has weathered early-season turbulence.
In the PAC-12 . . .
Oregon (7-1) was idle but profited from Penn State‘s (8-1) upset loss and #7 Oklahoma‘s (8-1) continuing underperformance.
PAC-12 South leader Utah (8-1) was also idle but slipped to tenth after Minnesota’s impressive upset of PSU.
Full information on our rankings can be seen here.
Our Top 25:
1. Ohio State 9-0
2. Clemson 10-0
3. LSU 9-0
4. Alabama 8-1
5. Oregon 8-1
6. Georgia 8-1
7. Oklahoma 8-1
8. Penn State 8-1
9. Minnesota 9-0
10. Utah 8-1
11. Michigan 7-2
12. Notre Dame 7-2
13. Auburn 7-2
14. Florida 8-2
15. Boise State 8-1
16. Wisconsin 7-2
17. Baylor 9-0
18. Iowa 6-3
19. Memphis 8-1
20. Cincinnati 8-1
21. Louisiana Tech 8-1
22. Texas 6-3
23. Appalachian State 8-1
24. Virginia Tech 6-3
25. Washington 6-4
