Predicting College Football’s New Top 25 After Wild Week 10 | Deadspin.com

Georgia and Utah lead the way

Georgia is expected to take the No. 1 spot, with Utah at No. 2. Both would have two Top 25 victories after Utah beat BYU and Georgia routed Ole Miss, a result that could push Florida out of the rankings.

Notre Dame’s No. 11 position in the first playoff poll drew attention, in part because the Irish lacked résumé wins. Their victory over the previously unbeaten No. 1 team now gives them one of the strongest wins among one-loss teams.

Miami played without Malachi Toney and fell behind by three scores, but rallied to take Notre Dame close. That showing could keep the Hurricanes from falling too far.

UCLA and résumé questions

Undefeated UCLA has a case for a top-three ranking, though a top-five spot appears more suitable. Its win over Oregon is gaining value, while Oregon may finish the regular season 9-3 after games against Michigan, Michigan State and Washington.

Texas has two losses, both to teams unlikely to make this week’s Top 25. Indiana’s résumé also remains short of a top-five case, despite a social-media post touting its wins against opponents above .500; North Texas is the only one of those teams described as a playoff contender.

Wake Forest and Indiana each lost to opponents viewed as top-10 caliber at the time. Wake Forest is closer to a ranked win, with Louisville near the edge, while SMU could enter the rankings before hosting the Demon Deacons in Week 11.

Big 12 teams in flux

Texas Tech survived a 53-48 shootout with West Virginia and also has wins over Houston and Arizona. Those results support a top-four argument, but a poor loss at Cincinnati weighs against the Red Raiders.

Houston has mostly taken care of business aside from narrow defeats to Texas Tech and Utah. Its only major win is against Oklahoma State, which is near the Top 25, and the Cougars finish against Colorado, West Virginia and Baylor.

BYU has swung from a possible No. 1 case to the ranking bubble. The two-loss Cougars can argue they belong ahead of other two-loss Big 12 teams because they beat Notre Dame and Arizona.

Teams rising and slipping

South Carolina has won four straight after three early losses, changing the outlook for coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. The article presents them as a dangerous SEC team behind Georgia.

Ole Miss, a national semifinalist last year, has had an uneven season. A 35-point defeat to Georgia could leave the Rebels outside the playoff picture. Arizona let road-win chances against BYU and Texas Tech get away, and Utah visits Tucson in Week 11. The Wildcats have been strong at home, including in their Week 10 win over TCU.