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Ohio State continues to win. That’s about all you can say about the defending national champions. The Buckeyes continued to fail to live up to their preseason hype last Saturday, struggling for almost three quarters before taking control in a 49-28 victory over hapless Maryland.
Meanwhile, LSU served as a gracious, last-minute host to South Carolina, but rolled to a 45-24 victory in Steve Spurrier’s final game as Gamecocks coach.
The Buckeyes continue to hold the No. 1 spot in our SEC vs. Big Ten rankings based on last season’s title and this season’s potential. But as many as five SEC and four Big Ten teams have realistic hopes of making the College Football Playoff.
PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
Let’s face it, Michigan has been the hottest team in the country since dropping a squeaker in its opener at powerful Utah. We’ll find out more about Texas A&M after Saturday’s showdown with Alabama. Florida beat Missouri but lost quarterback Will Grier. Michigan State has struggled with inferior opponents the past two weeks while Ole Miss faces a surprising regional rival on Saturday in unbeaten Memphis.
1. Ohio State
2. LSU
3. Texas A&M
4. Michigan
5. Alabama
6. Florida
7. Michigan State
8. Ole Miss
9. Iowa
ON THE FRINGE
Mississippi State has Dak Prescott, but a tough SEC West schedule has left the Bulldogs with two losses and maybe at least two more still to come. Georgia should bounce back from its two-week slide with reeling Missouri coming to Athens. Northwestern may have been exposed as it became Michigan’s latest shutout victim.
10. Mississippi State
11. Northwestern
12. Georgia
BOWL BOUND
Kentucky (4-1, 2-1 SEC) is going to a bowl game. The Wildcats should beat Auburn this Saturday. If they don’t, Charlotte and Vanderbilt are still on the schedule. Watch out for Tennessee now that the Vols got over the hump against Georgia. Missouri’s schedule should allow the Tigers to limp into a bowl game, but a tough West schedule hurts Arkansas’ and Auburn’s postseason chances.
13. Kentucky
14. Arkansas
15. Tennessee
16. Penn State
17. Wisconsin
18. Auburn
19. Indiana
20. Missouri
LOOKING UP
South Carolina starts a new era without Steve Spurrier or an effective offense. Vanderbilt gets its best chance for a conference victory on Saturday in Columbia against Shawn Elliott and the Gamecocks.
21. Nebraska
22. South Carolina
23. Purdue
24. Rutgers
25. Maryland`
26. Vanderbilt
