• Ohio State moves to No. 1: The Buckeyes take over as the top team with what looks like an unstoppable offense.
• Texas skyrockets up the top 25: The Longhorns go from unranked to a top-15 team thanks to the return of quarterback Quinn Ewers.
• Tennessee jumps three spots: The Volunteers move from seventh to fourth after their third top-25 victory, more than any other team in the country.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins
Week 6 of college football provided incredible drama, including top-ranked Alabama needing a last-second goal-line stop to escape Texas A&M.
It still doesn’t hold a candle to what’s in store for Week 7. There are six games between ranked teams, the most in a regular season week since 2017. Before that, here are our top 25 teams in college football. Please note this ranking is not the same as PFF’s power rankings.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (Record: 6-0, AP Ranking: 2nd)
Week 7 Matchup: Bye
Can anyone stop Ohio State’s offense?
The Buckeyes just hung 49 points on Michigan State. What makes that even more impressive is the fact that they did it without last season’s highest-graded Power Five receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the nation’s highest-graded running back this year, Miyan Williams.
A depleted Ohio State offense still looks unstoppable. The thought of how the unit would look fully healthy is the reason they’re my pick to win the national championship.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (Record: 6-0, AP Ranking: 3rd)
Week 7 Matchup: at No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers
Alabama needed a goal-line stop on the last play of the game to squeak by Texas A&M, 24-20, this past weekend.
The game was so close largely because of Bryce Young’s absence. The reigning Heisman winner was forced to miss the game with a sprained AC joint, meaning redshirt freshman Jalen Milroe was under center. Milroe earned just a 26.9 passing grade against the Aggies, the lowest for the week among FBS quarterbacks. The Crimson Tide will need Young to return as soon as possible with No. 6 Tennessee on deck.
3. Georgia Bulldogs (Record: 6-0, AP Ranking: 2nd)
Week 7 Matchup: vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Heading into this week, many were wondering what was going on with the defending national champs.
That’s because Georgia won its past two games against Missouri and Kent State by a combined 21 points despite being favored by a combined 76 points. Against Auburn, Georgia looked like its dominant self once again. The Bulldogs dominated the Tigers, 42-10, covering their 27.5-point spread.
Georgia is once again a massive favorite this week — this time by 38.5 points over Vanderbilt (BetMGM).
4. Tennessee Volunteers (Record: 5-0, AP Ranking: 6th)
Week 7 Matchup: vs. No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide
Tennessee completed yet another statement win, beating No. 25 LSU, 40-13, in Week 6. Against a normally very stout Tigers defense, the Volunteers averaged 0.307 expected points added per play, the sixth-most among Power Five schools for the week.
Few, if any, saw this start coming for the Volunteers. Tennessee began the year outside of the AP poll and now ranks sixth less than two months later. The Volunteers have beaten three top-25 teams so far, more than any other school in the country. A fourth could come this Saturday in Tennessee’s biggest test of the season so far: No. 3 Alabama.
5. Clemson Tigers (Record: 6-0, AP Ranking: 4th)
Week 7 Matchup: at Florida State Seminoles
Clemson started off slow against Boston College, leading only 10-3 at halftime. The Tigers woke up in the second half, though, scoring 21 unanswered points for a 31-3 victory.
Clemson’s defense has been fantastic this season, especially its pass rush. The Tigers have pressured the quarterback 129 times this season, more than any other school in the Power Five.
6. Michigan Wolverines (Record: 6-0, AP Ranking: 5th)
Week 7 Matchup: vs. No. 10 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Michigan played with fire against Indiana, the seventh-worst Power Five team in PFF’s power rankings. At halftime, the Wolverines were knotted up at 10 with the Hoosiers. But like Clemson, Michigan scored 21 unanswered in the second half, pulling away for a 31-10 victory.
The Wolverines can’t have a slow start this week, as they host No. 10 Penn State.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Record: 5-0, AP Ranking: 8th)
Week 7 Matchup: at No. 13 TCU Horned Frogs
Oklahoma State also endured a scare this past week against Texas Tech. The Cowboys weren’t able to grab the lead for good until late in the third quarter, winning 41-31.
Oklahoma State is led by its defensive line, which is the 10th-highest-graded in the Power Five (80.9). The unit also has the third-highest positively graded run-defense rate in the Power Five.
This week, Oklahoma State is on the road against TCU in a matchup of the Big 12’s final remaining undefeated teams.
8. USC Trojans (Record: 6-0, AP Ranking: 7th)
Week 7 Matchup: at No. 20 Utah Utes
USC fields one of the best offenses in the country. The Trojans have averaged 0.265 expected points added per play this season, the fourth-most in the country.
They’ll have their toughest test yet this week against No. 20 Utah. The Utes have the eighth-best EPA per play allowed rate in the Power Five.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions (Record: 5-0, AP Ranking: 10th)
Week 7 Matchup: at No. 5 Michigan Wolverines
Penn State is coming off a very strategically placed bye week.
The Nittany Lions play No. 5 Michigan, Minnesota and second-ranked Ohio State over their next three games. Those are three of the five best teams in the Big Ten and the three best opponents Penn State will face all season, according to PFF’s power rankings.
10. Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 6-0, AP Ranking: 9th)
Week 7 Matchup: vs. Auburn Tigers
Jonathan Mingo is now the highest-graded receiver in the country (88.8) following his explosion this past weekend. The senior racked up 247 receiving yards against Vanderbilt, the most by any player in the country in a single week this year.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart will continue looking his way in Week 7 against Auburn.
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