1. Alabama Crimson Tide– They had a lot of people concerned last week against Mississippi State in Starkville, but they came away with the victory and that’s the most important thing. With Georgia losing last week to the Auburn Tigers, they are now the only unbeaten team in the SEC. The injuries to the linebacking core just about cost them the game, but Jalen Hurts picked the team up and led the Roll Tide to the win. They escaped. Today, it’s a tune up with Mercer before the much anticipated Iron Bowl next week.
2. Miami Hurricanes– Whenever I mention “Statement November”, I came up with that term because the month of November is such an important month for the teams that are looking to show that they belong in the elite conversation and they certainly made one last week against then third-ranked Notre Dame and played dominant football from the first snap to the last. The swagger is back, the confidence is there and this program is back where it belongs and that’s in the elite conversation. They finally got off to a fast start and never looked back. The turnover chain is the best thing in football. They’ll play Virginia today with the division already clinched and a spot in the ACC title game against Clemson in less than three weeks.
3. Oklahoma Sooners– This is the best offensive team in the nation. They can consistently score and put up 30 points per game. Baker Mayfield basically solidified his case for the Heisman Trophy as he tore apart a very good TCU defense last Saturday night and I stated on Twitter way before that game if he were able to have a good game, gift wrap the trophy and give it to him already. They are in serious business with the playoffs approaching.
4. Clemson Tigers– They are winners of their division for the third consecutive season and now, they will face the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC title game. Not only will that game be for the conference title, it could be an elimination game for the playoff picture. I only see one ACC team making the playoffs this year. Florida State definitely made things very interesting last Saturday, but Clemson pulled through and prevailed. The defending champs won’t go down without a fight.
5. Wisconsin Badgers– They are 10-0 for the first time in school history and have the best chance at being the only team from the Big Ten to make the playoffs. There’s no way if you’re on that committee that you can leave them out the playoffs if they’re the champions of the Big Ten and they still have a zero remaining in that loss column. This team just plays football. They don’t run any trick plays at all because they’re a downhill team that thrives on running the football and playing physical and punishing defense.
