I’m a realist, and I don’t expect Navy to be the second-best team in the nation. I do expect them to be considered as a top 12 team if they were to finish the season with no losses, even though we’re past the point of having undefeated champions in the college ranks. My next four teams in are Oregon, Vandy, Ole Miss, and Louisville; I look for any of them to jump in the ranks if JMU or Virginia go down.
| Abrasive Rank | Team | Record | Week 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYU | 8-0 | Bye |
| 2 | Navy | 7-0 | @ North Texas |
| 3 | Indiana | 8-0 | @ Maryland |
| 4 | Texas A&M | 8-0 | Bye |
| 5 | Georgia Tech | 8-0 | @ NC State |
| 6 | Ohio State | 7-0 | Penn State |
| 7 | Alabama | 7-1 | Bye |
| 8 | Cincinnati | 7-1 | @ Utah |
9. Boise State
Disruptions are the name of the game with Boise State. They are leading the Mountain West in interceptions with 11; the Broncos have a takeaway ratio of 5:1 thus far in the season. The two losses on their record came to upstart South Florida and a surging Notre Dame. They come off a workman-like performance against an overmatched Nevada team, resulting in a 24-3 victory. DB, A’Marion McCoy, has had a pick in 4 of the last 5 games, and Jeremiah Earby got on the board with two interceptions last week. To make the playoffs, they would need a lot of help, but this defense is poised to cause fits in the right contest. Check them out as they host Fresno State this week in their last Mountain West season before venturing off to the new PAC-12 next year.
The Hoos almost missed out on this list with a disappointing showing against North Carolina. They edged out a one-point victory in triple OT. If they can overcome a letdown in the last few games, Virginia may be on a crash course to make the title game to face a hot ACC contender like Georgia Tech. The loss to NC State will likely fade as time passes. They will need Chandler Morris to step up and energize the offense down the stretch. A cross-country trip to Berkley is not the recipe for a bounce back, though.
11. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish had the week off, but through other teams taking steps back, they have broken into my top 12. Being a darling of the NCAA, they are always a threat to make the playoffs with a decent record. They are sitting at 5-2 after a win over USC a few weeks ago. The Boston College Eagles will host the Irish this week, but the spoiler game is down the road when they will give Navy a chance to prove if they are real.
| Abrasive Rank | Team | Record | Week 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | James Madison | 6-1 | @ Texas State |
Games to Watch
Vanderbilt at Texas; Miami at SMU; and Oklahoma at Tennessee
