The College Football Playoff committee won’t reveal its first weekly top 25 of the season for a couple more weeks. But we can still keep up with what they’re likely thinking as Saturday goes along.
College football rankings: How Week 7’s top 25 scores changed the Playoff picture
Brief College Football Playoff notes, now that Week 7’s in the books.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Below, the weekend’s final scores from games involving teams ranked in the latest AP Poll, which is the best stand-in for Playoff rankings that we have at this time. We also know a few big-picture basics that the committee cares about — wins against teams it ranks, wins against bowl teams, and overall command of games — and can think about those things as we go along.
No. 1 Alabama 49, No. 9 Tennessee 10
Next week’s winner of Bama-Texas A&M could be two wins away from an SEC West title. The Tide added a high-quality road win in humiliating fashion, and USC’s resurgence makes their Week 1 win look even better.
No. 2 Ohio State 30, No. 8 Wisconsin 23 (overtime)
The march toward Ann Arbor continues, with another quality road win in the books, no matter how narrow the margin.
No. 3 Clemson 24, NC State 17 (overtime)
The Tigers escape a thriller and still control their destiny, but NCSU could count as a quality opponent, if the Wolfpack make a bowl.
No. 7 Louisville 24, Duke 14
That impressed nobody and probably won’t count for much, given Duke’s likely final record. It’s a W!
No. 10 Nebraska 27, Indiana 22
The Huskers are 6-0, with three tough road games (Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa) still to go. This should count as a respectable road W.
No. 11 Baylor 49, Kansas 7
No one cares.
No. 13 Houston 38, Tulsa 31
After losing to Navy, the Cougars can no longer count on their list of beaten teams to get them into a New Year’s bowl. Beating a likely bowl team by a lot was the ideal this week, and that didn’t quite happen, but a win is OK.
No. 14 Florida State 17, Wake Forest 6
This will probably count as a decent win! Who would’ve thought?
No. 15 Boise State 28, Colorado State 23
Nothing much changes. New Year’s chances remain in great shape.
North Carolina 20, No. 16 Miami 13
... and ...
Syracuse 31, No. 17 Virginia Tech 17
The ACC Coastal is a big mess, as always.
No. 18 Florida 40, Missouri 14
Could count as a decent win. As of right now, Florida’s your SEC East leader ... with a full conference schedule still yet to finish.
No. 19 Oklahoma 38, Kansas State 17
Might not count for much. KSU being a bowl team is iffy.
No. 20 West Virginia 48, Texas Tech 17
Uh, WVU still controls its own destiny as of mid-October and added a road beatdown of a potential bowl team.
No. 21 Utah 19, Oregon State 14
The five-team Pac-12 South race continues.
No. 22 Arkansas 34, No. 12 Ole Miss 30
The SEC West race just cleared up a bit, with one fewer likely contender.
No. 24 Western Michigan 41, Akron 0
The Broncos have defended their first-ever AP ranking and maintain a top-three shot at a New Year’s bowl. Also, please do not make fun of their #RowTheBoat thing ever again, Akron.
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