Alabama wins a mini-Game of the Century, Clemson sets ACC records, and North Carolina’s comeback fell short against a resurgent Florida State team. These are the highlights from this past week of college football where we now have a new No. 1 team in our 18 Stripes poll.

Note: We are only including teams who have taken the field in 2020.

18 Stripes Top 20 Poll

RANK TEAM RECORD NEXT
1 Alabama (+1) 4-0 41-24 Win vs. Georgia
2 Clemson (-1) 5-0 73-7 Win vs. Georgia Tech
3 Georgia 3-1 41-24 Loss at Alabama
4 Notre Dame 4-0 12-7 Win vs. Louisville
5 Texas A&M (+2) 3-1 28-14 Win at Miss State
6 Cincinnati 3-0 BYE
7 Oklahoma State (+2) 3-0 BYE
8 Florida 2-1 BYE
9 SMU (+2) 5-0 37-34 Win at Tulane
10 BYU 5-0 43-26 at Houston
11 Iowa State (+2) 3-1 BYE
12 Miami (+3) 4-1 31-19 Win vs. Pitt
13 Memphis (+7) 2-1 50-49 Win vs. UCF
14 North Carolina (-9) 3-1 31-28 Loss at Florida State
15 Virginia Tech (+3) 3-1 40-14 Win vs. Boston College
16 Kansas State (+1) 3-1 BYE
17 Marshall (NR) 4-0 35-17 Win at Louisiana Tech
18 Oklahoma (+1) 2-2 BYE
19 Coastal Carolina (NR) 4-0 30-27 Win at Louisiana
20 NC State (NR) 4-1 31-20 Win vs. Duke

 

OUT: Auburn, Louisiana, Tennessee

IN: Marshall, Coastal Carolina, NC State

You could say karma came back to visit Auburn this weekend as they lost by 8 points at South Carolina. Group of 5 darling Louisiana Rajin’ Cajuns dropped a close one to undefeated (and now ranked) Coastal Carolina. Don’t sleep on Jamey Chadwell–name me a more famous Jamey right now.

As per tradition, Tennessee’s good vibes have been extinguished following a blowout loss to Kentucky. I suppose Marshall has a decent resume so far and they’ve jumped into the rankings. I don’t feel the same way about NC State who already has an ugly loss to Virginia Tech and I’m pretty sure will finish the season with 5 losses.

Week 7 Recap

What is more controversial? Moving Alabama ahead of Clemson or keeping Georgia ahead of Notre Dame?

I’ve been waiting to move Alabama into the top spot and they now have wins over a pair of Top 5 teams. I know that’s harsh on Clemson who just put up their largest ACC win ever (and it could’ve been way worse if Trevor Lawrence played more than a half) but I think it’s the right call.

I felt like Georgia acquitted themselves pretty well against Alabama and that, paired with Notre Dame’s stink bomb against Louisville, makes me keep the Dawgs in the No. 3 spot.

It’s a good thing the Big Ten is coming back this weekend because we need to slot in some of those teams ASAP. I’m not comfortable with Texas A&M being No. 5 after an okay win over Mississippi State.

Cincinnati, SMU, BYU, Memphis, Marshall, and Coastal Carolina all creeping up in the polls has been fun so far. I might only take one of those teams (Cincinnati) to stick around by the end of the year. Things are about to get really competitive unlike the past several weeks.

Elsewhere around the country…

Miami soundly beat Pitt as the Panthers head into our game this weekend on a 3-game losing streak. Memphis came from way back (35-14, to be exact) to beat UCF in a wild one. Florida State nearly blew a huge lead against North Carolina, are the Noles kind of back to being relevant?

My idea that Boston College could face the Irish later this year with just 2 losses isn’t happening. They hung in there for a while before Virginia Tech pulled away late.

***

AP Top 25: Clemson, Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Penn State, Cincinnati, Florida, Miami, BYU, Oregon, North Carolina, Wisconsin, SMU, Iowa State, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Minnesota, Marshall, NC State, USC, Coastal Carolina

SP+ Top 25: Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Florida, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Oregon, USC, Oklahoma State, Washington, BYU, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas A&M, Miami, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Texas, Iowa State, LSU, Utah

Week 8 Games to Watch

PSA: The Big Ten is back this weekend!

Nebraska (+26) at Ohio State

This game is as much about Ohio State propelling themselves into the National Championship conversation from the get-go than anything else. Scott Frost enters year 3 in Lincoln as a heavy underdog on the road. It’s possible both teams show a lot of rust and this is fun for a while. Or, maybe Justin Fields scores 8 touchdowns.

NC State at (+17) North Carolina

Six spots separate these teams in our rankings and yet look at this line. Vegas seems to think North Carolina’s game at FSU was an aberration and they are probably right.

Iowa State (+3.5) at Oklahoma State

This is a huge game in the Big 12 as the winner here would lead the conference (K-State is still unbeaten too) and both Texas and Oklahoma would be 2 games back. We really need to see more of Oklahoma State who has been off the radar more than any other team in our rankings, in my opinion.

Michigan (-3) at Minnesota

I’ve done the right thing and paid zero attention to anything going on in Ann Arbor this year. My wish is for P.J. Fleck to also do the right thing and embarrass the Wolverines with ESPN GameDay in town.

Cincinnati (+2.5) at SMU

Without Bill Connelly’s predictive pre-season calculations in his SP+ rankings, Cincinnati is No. 2 in the country right now. But, SMU is also 8th nationally. Is it possible a playoff spot is at stake here?