Posted on October 17, 2023
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We had some marquee matchups last week and we’ll get another dose of big games this week.
North Carolina, Washington, and Notre Dame were the biggest winners over the weekend, cementing their spots in the poll.
This week, we have a Top 5 matchup on deck in Columbus Ohio with Ohio State and Penn State squaring off.
USC gets a chance at redemption with Utah in the Coliseum and Alabama hosts Tennessee in a rematch of their classic from a season ago.
Something tells me the Vols and Tide may not light up the scoreboard like they did in 2022.
1. Georgia Bulldogs 7-0 (Last week 1)
Last Week: Won at Vanderbilt 37-20
Georgia has now won a school-record 24 straight games, the longest active streak in the nation.
The Dawgs also have 34 straight regular season wins, and Carson Beck is starting to play like a QB Georgia needs.
But in the road win over Vandy it was all about the rushing attack. Georgia averaged 7.2 yards per carry while rushing for 281 on the day.
Next Week: Bye
2. Michigan Wolverines 7-0 (2)
Last Week: Beat Indiana 52-7
Michigan fell behind 7-0 before scoring 52 straight points. The 45-point win was the Wolverines’ largest in a conference game in four years.
Michigan has outscored their foes 276-44 on the season, allowing less than 10 points in every game but one.
The Wolverines have won 19 consecutive Big Ten games, the longest active conference win streak in the nation, and the longest conference win streak in Michigan history.
Next Week: at Michigan State
3. Florida State Seminoles 6-0 (3)
Last Week: Beat Syracuse 41-3
Florida State extended its win streak to 12 games with a win against Syracuse. The Seminoles were dominant against the Orange.
Defensively, the Noles completely overwhelmed Syracuse holding them to 261 total yards.
On offense, FSU racked up 535 yards and Jordan Travis looked like a Heisman contender in a limited day.
Next Week: vs Duke
4. Penn State Nittany Lions 6-0 (5)
Last Week: Beat UMass 63-0
Penn State came off a bye week with a home date with UMass, essentially a couple of weeks off to get ready for the Ohio State matchup.
Penn State has scored at least 30 points in 13 straight games, the longest active streak in the nation. The Nittany Lions have won 11 straight games, each by at least a 14-point margin.
Over the last two seasons, no other FBS team has won by 14+ in more than six straight games.
Next Week: at Ohio State
5. Ohio State Buckeyes 6-0 (4)
Last Week: Won at Purdue 41-7
The Buckeyes looked very good against Purdue, and that has not always been the case for OSU 
this season. The Bucks were shorthanded on offense, but it certainly did not show.
Quietly, this OSU defense has been good this season. The Buckeyes have now allowed just 58 points in the opening six games of the season. Last season, OSU allowed 94 and two years ago it was 123 allowed after the first six.
Next Week: vs Penn State
6. Washington Huskies 6-0 (8)
Last week: Beat Oregon 36-33
Washington came away with a huge win over Oregon. The Huskies made plays on both sides of the ball when they needed to.
Michael Penix Jr. put up another 300+ yards passing, but the Hesiman candidate was pressured throughout the game. The key to beating the Huskies will be getting to Penix. Yet Oregon did just that, and UW still got the win.
Washington’s 13-game winning streak is the second longest in the nation.
Next Week: vs Arizona State
7. Oklahoma Sooners 6-0 (9)
Last Week: Bye
The Sooners are fourth in the nation in scoring with 45.2 per game.
The bye week coming after the Texas game ensures no quick letdown for OU.
Dillon Gabriel has looked very good for the Sooners this season and will now get to face his old team for the first time when the Knights come to Norman.
Next Week: vs UCF
8. Oregon Ducks 5-1 (6)
Last Week: Lost at Washington 36-33
Oregon entered the game with Washington having outscored conference opponents 84-12 this season. The Ducks gave up 36 points to the Huskies, triple their previous total.
Dan Lanning may have made some questionable in-game decisions, but the Ducks had a chance at the end on the road against a top team.
The Ducks will rebound from this first loss. Oregon totaled 514 yards of offense against the Huskies.
Next Week: vs Washington State
9. North Carolina Tar Heels 6-0 (10)
Last Week: Beat Miami 41-31
North Carolina has opened the season 5-0 for the first time since 1997, for just the second time since 1983.
UNC has scored at least 30 points in every game this season. The last time the Heels opened a season with that many points in each of their first six games was in 1914.
UNC let the Miami pressure get to them at times with five sacks, four in the first half.
Next Week: vs Virginia
10. Texas Longhorns 5-1 (11)
Last Week: Bye
Texas fell to Oklahoma for their first loss of the season.
The Longhorns have scored at least 30 points in every game this season. Quinn Ewers should have a field day against the Cougars this week.
Texas will rebound in a big way in Houston.
Next Week: at Houston
11. Alabama Crimson Tide 6-1 (12)
Last Week: Beat Arkansas 24-21
Nick Saban won his 200th game at Alabama against Arkansas.
It may not have been the prettiest of his 200 wins since arriving in Tuscaloosa, but the Tide hung on. This is an Alabama team that will keep getting better as the season progresses.
Jalen Milroe only completed 10 passes against Arkansas but went for 238 yards.
Next Week: vs Tennessee
12. Oregon State Beavers 6-1 (13)
Last Week: Beat UCLA 36-24
Oregon State intercepted the Bruins three times, the first time they have picked off three passes in a conference game since 2021.
Oregon State has proven this season that they can knock teams off in defensive slugfests or shootouts.
The Beavs may lament the loss to WSU, but at 6-1, they’re still bowl-eligible and in control of their season heading into their bye.
Next Week: Bye
13. Ole Miss Rebels 5-1 (14)
Last Week: Bye
Mississippi has been able to win games in a few different ways this season.
The defense has looked great at times and then there was the LSU game where the Rebels got in a shootout and still came away with the win.
The ability to win in multiple game types is a big plus as Ole Miss sets its sights on an SEC West title.
Next Week: at Auburn
14. Utah Utes 5-1 (15)
Last Week: Beat Cal 34-14
Utah was still without Cam Rising, but the offense performed better.
The Utes’ passing game may not have clicked but the run game was dominant as Utah ran for 317 yards against California.
Defensively, the Utes had six stops in the backfield and five sacks. They will need to continue to bring the defensive heat.
Next Week: at USC
15. Air Force Falcons 6-0 (16)
Last Week: Beat Wyoming 34-27
The Falcons are 6-0 for the first time since 2002. Dating back to last season, Air Force has won 11 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in America.
Air Force was tested against Wyoming in what could prove to be a preview of the conference title game.
The way the schedule sets up, the Falcons could still be unbeaten heading into that potential rematch.
Next Week: at Navy
16. LSU Tigers 5-2 (19)
Last Week: Beat Auburn 48-18
Jayden Daniels once again had himself a day at QB, throwing for 325 yards while adding another 
93 on the ground.
The defense, which has been an issue for the Tigers this season, also looked good as this was a complete victory for LSU.
Next Week: vs Army
17. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6-2 (24)
Last Week: Beat USC 48-20
The Fighting Irish corrected things in a big way against USC.
Notre Dame completely manhandled the Trojans in their big win. The 28-point win was their most lopsided over a top-10 opponent since 1995, when they beast USC 38-10.
The Irish forced three Caleb Williams interceptions in the first half, the Heisman winner had previously had just one two-interception game in his career.
Next Week: Bye
18. USC Trojans 6-1 (7)
Last Week: Lost at Notre Dame 48-20
USC has looked vulnerable the last few weeks and it finally caught up to them on the road against a decent Notre Dame team.
The Trojans’ lackluster performance was made worse by a sheer lack of showing up.
Caleb Williams suffered through the worst game of his career and the Trojans gave the Irish a short field throughout.
Next Week: vs Utah
19. Duke Blue Devils 4-1 (20)
Last Week: Beat NC State 24-3
Duke did not have Riley Leonard for the matchup with NC State, and they did not need him, as the Blue Devils dominated their in-state rivals.
Duke’s defense shut down the Wolfpack and now ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 9.8 points per game.
That vaunted defense will get tested at Florida State this week. Mike Elko has gone 14-5 in his first 19 games as Duke’s head coach.
Next Week: at Florida State
20. Tennessee Volunteers 5-1 (NR)
Last Week: Beat Texas A&M 20-13
Tennessee’s offense has struggled at times, but the defense has been up to the challenge.
The Vols held Texas A&M to just 277 total yards for the game. The 54 yards rushing allowed were the fewest for an A&M team since 2021.
Next, the offense will have to produce against Alabama but look for the defense to once again hold their own.
Next Week: at Alabama
21. Missouri Tigers 6-1 (NR)
Last Week: Beat Kentucky 38-21
Mizzou is quietly putting together a nice season under Eli Drinkwitz, and consequently, the Tigers have now been bowl-eligible in each of his first four seasons in Columbia.
Brady Cook struggled in the win against the Wildcats but is off to a fast start in his opening seven games at QB.
The back end of the schedule will get tougher, but this is a very good Mizzou team.
Next Week: vs South Carolina
22. Iowa Hawkeyes 6-1 (NR)
Last Week: Won at Wisconsin 15-6
The Hawkeyes offense is still pretty bad. The defense is still really good and their most dangerous weapon continues to be their punter Tory Taylor.
A lot of things are consistent with Iowa, including the fact that the Hawkeyes keep winning games.
At 6-1 now on the season, Iowa has a chance to take complete control of the Big Ten West this week.
Next Week: vs Minnesota
23. Tulane Green Wave 5-1 (NR)
Last Week: Won at Memphis 31-21
Tulane picked up a win inside the Liberty Bowl for the first time since 1998.
The win improves the Green Wave to 5-1 on the season and 17-3 in their last 20 games played.
Willie Fritz has built a program in New Orleans and looks for continued success through this season.
Next Week: vs North Texas
24. UCLA Bruins 4-2 (17)
Last Week: Lost at Oregon State 36-24
The Bruin offense struggled to get anything going against Oregon State.
UCLA has a good defense, but that unit can only do so much when the offense is turning the ball over.
Carson Steele continues to be a bright spot running the ball, but the QB situation has to improve.
Next Week: at Stanford
25. Louisville Cardinals 6-1 (21)
Last Week: Lost at Pitt 38-21
Louisville lost for the first time this season as the Cards were outscored 24-0 by Pittsburgh after halftime.
Louisville started the game well but could not sustain anything in the second half.
A bye lies ahead of them before they host Duke.
Next Week: Bye
Dropped Out: Washington State, Wyoming, Kentucky & Miami
—More from Stephen Vilardo—
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
