College Football Rankings 1 To 130: Week 7. More Major Changes

CollegeFootballNews.com

Sun, Oct 17, 2021, 6:11 AM·20 min read

College Football News 2021 college football rankings after Week 7 for all 130 teams with results and who’s up next week.

At the midway point, the rankings take another few twists and turns for a few reasons.

Iowa losing is a big deal, but it’s more than that. Alabama bounced back fast and looked the part, Ole Miss keeps on beating decent teams, and good luck trying to properly figure out the MAC teams, what to do with Texas A&M, UCLA, Utah, BYU, and on and on and on …

There are more inconsistencies than ever – considering our goal is to respect the results over any other aspect. Now we can’t easily do that.

However, as always, if you have a beef with where your team is ranked, look at the schedule and there’s probably some bad win that screws things up.

Or, on the other side, if you’re wondering why the team with the mediocre record is so high, look at the teams is lost to.

With more wild mood swings and changes as the puzzle keeps changing, here are the rankings after Week 7 …

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CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 7
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
– Week 7 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Big Game Reactions: Purdue, Georgia, OU & more

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 7

130 FIU Golden Panthers (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 129
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: WKU

129 UConn Huskies (1-7)

Last Week’s Ranking: 130
Week 7: UConn 21, Yale 15
Week 8 Opponent: Middle Tennessee

128 UMass Minutemen (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 128
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Florida State

127 Ohio Bobcats (1-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 127
Week 7: Buffalo 27, Ohio 26
Week 8 Opponent: Kent State

126 Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 126
Week 7: UAB 34, Southern Miss 0
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

125 Rice Owls (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 125
Week 7: UTSA 45, Rice 0
Week 8 Opponent: at UAB

124 New Mexico State Aggies (1-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 124
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Hawaii

123 Bowling Green Falcons (1-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 123
Week 7: Northern Illinois 34, Bowling Green 26
Week 8 Opponent: Eastern Michigan

122 Akron Zips (2-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 122
Week 7: Miami University 34, Akron 21
Week 8 Opponent: Buffalo

121 Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 115
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Louisiana (Nov. 21)

120 New Mexico Lobos (2-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 120
Week 7: Colorado State 36, New Mexico 7
Week 8 Opponent: at Wyoming

119 UNLV Rebels (0-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 121
Week 7: Utah State 28, UNLV 24
Week 8 Opponent: San Jose State

118 North Texas Mean Green (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 119
Week 7: Marshall 49, North Texas 21
Week 8 Opponent: Liberty

117 Old Dominion Monarchs (1-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 118
Week 7: WKU 43, Old Dominion 20
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

116 Georgia Southern Eagles (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 114
Week 7: South Alabama 41, Georgia Southern 14
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

115 South Alabama Jaguars (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 116
Week 7: South Alabama 41, Georgia Southern 14
Week 8 Opponent: at ULM

114 Texas State Bobcats (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 113
Week 7: Troy 31, Texas State 28
Week 8 Opponent: at Georgia State

113 Troy Trojans (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 112
Week 7: Troy 31, Texas State 28
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

112 Kansas Jayhawks (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 110
Week 7: Texas Tech 41, Kansas 14
Week 8 Opponent: Oklahoma

111 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 89
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: UConn

110 Miami University RedHawks (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 105
Week 7: Miami University 34, Akron 21
Week 8 Opponent: at Ball State

109 Tulane Green Wave (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 104
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at SMU (Oct. 21)

108 Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 103
Week 7: South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 20
Week 8 Opponent: Mississippi State

107 Arizona Wildcats (0-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 101
Week 7: Colorado 34, Arizona 0
Week 8 Opponent: Washington (Oct. 22)

106 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 78
Week 7: UTEP 19, Louisiana Tech 3
Week 8 Opponent: UTSA

105 USF Bulls (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 108
Week 7: Tulsa 32, USF 31
Week 8 Opponent: Temple

104 UTEP Miners (6-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 109
Week 7: UTEP 19, Louisiana Tech 3
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

103 Florida Atlantic Owls (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 107
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Charlotte

102 Duke Blue Devils (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 97
Week 7: Virginia 48, Duke 0
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

101 Central Michigan Chippewas (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 106
Week 7: Central Michigan 26, Toledo 23 OT
Week 8 Opponent: Northern Illinois

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 7
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
– Week 7 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Big Game Reactions: Purdue, Georgia, OU & more

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 100

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 100

100 Kent State Golden Flashes (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 90
Week 7: Western Michigan 64, Kent State 31
Week 8 Opponent: at Ohio

99 Cal Golden Bears (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 99
Week 7: Oregon 24, Cal 17
Week 8 Opponent: Colorado

98 Colorado Buffaloes (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 94
Week 7: Colorado 34, Arizona 0
Week 8 Opponent: at Cal

97 Marshall Thundering Herd (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 98
Week 7: Marshall 49, North Texas 21
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

96 East Carolina Pirates (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 77
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Houston

95 UAB Blazers (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 71
Week 7: UAB 34, Southern Miss 0
Week 8 Opponent: Rice

94 Liberty Flames (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 93
Week 7: ULM 31, Liberty 28
Week 8 Opponent: at North Texas

93 ULM Warhawks (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 111
Week 7: ULM 31, Liberty 28
Week 8 Opponent: South Alabama

92 Georgia State Panthers (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 88
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Texas State

91 UCF Knights (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 50
Week 7: Cincinnati 56, UCF 21
Week 8 Opponent: Memphis (Oct. 22)

90 Navy Midshipmen (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 100
Week 7: Memphis 35, Navy 17
Week 8 Opponent: Cincinnati

89 Charlotte 49ers (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 96
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Florida Atlantic

88 Memphis Tigers (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 91
Week 7: Memphis 35, Navy 17
Week 8 Opponent: at UCF (Oct. 22)

87 Temple Owls (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 87
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at USF

86 San Jose State Spartans (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 86
Week 7: San Diego State 19, San Jose State 13 2OT
Week 8 Opponent: at UNLV

85 Eastern Michigan Eagles (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 117
Week 7: Ball State 38, Eastern Michigan 31
Week 8 Opponent: at Bowling Green

84 Tulsa Golden Hurricane (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 82
Week 7: Tulsa 32, USF 31
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

83 Buffalo Bulls (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 80
Week 7: Buffalo 27, Ohio 26
Week 8 Opponent: at Akron

82 WKU Hilltoppers (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 95
Week 7: WKU 43, Old Dominion 20
Week 8 Opponent: FIU

81 South Carolina Gamecocks (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 65
Week 7: South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 20
Week 8 Opponent: Temple

80 Army Black Knights (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 92
Week 7: Wisconsin 20, Army 14
Week 8 Opponent: Wake Forest

79 Ball State Cardinals (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 79
Week 7: Ball State 38, Eastern Michigan 31
Week 8 Opponent: Miami University

78 Washington Huskies (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 84
Week 7: UCLA 24, Washington 17
Week 8 Opponent: at Arizona (Oct. 22)

77 Toledo Rockets (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 85
Week 7: Central Michigan 26, Toledo 23 OT
Week 8 Opponent: Western Michigan

76 Syracuse Orange (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 76
Week 7: Clemson 17, Syracuse 14
Week 8 Opponent: at Virginia Tech

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 7
101-130 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
– Week 7 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Big Game Reactions: Purdue, Georgia, OU & more

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 75

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 75

75 Florida State Seminoles (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 75
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: UMass

74 Louisville Cardinals (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 74
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Boston College

73 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 73
Week 7: Nevada 34, Hawaii 17
Week 8 Opponent: New Mexico State

72 Appalachian State Mountaineers (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 70
Week 7: Louisiana 41, Appalachian State 13
Week 8 Opponent: Coastal Carolina (Nov. 20)

71 Wyoming Cowboys (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 72
Week 7: Fresno State 17, Wyoming 0
Week 8 Opponent: New Mexico

70 Miami Hurricanes (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 69
Week 7: North Carolina 45, Miami 42
Week 8 Opponent: NC State

69 Colorado State Rams (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 83
Week 7: Colorado State 36, New Mexico 7
Week 8 Opponent: at Utah State

68 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 44
Week 7: Northwestern 21, Rutgers 7
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

67 Virginia Cavaliers (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 68
Week 7: Virginia 48, Duke 0
Week 8 Opponent: Georgia Tech

66 Northwestern Wildcats (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 102
Week 7: Northwestern 21, Rutgers 7
Week 8 Opponent: at Michigan

65 Missouri Tigers (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 58
Week 7: Texas A&M 35, Missouri 14
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

64 Western Michigan Broncos (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 81
Week 7: Western Michigan 64, Kent State 31
Week 8 Opponent: at Toledo

63 North Carolina Tar Heels (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 67
Week 7: North Carolina 45, Miami 42
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

62 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 66
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Virginia

61 Northern Illinois Huskies (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 64
Week 7: Northern Illinois 34, Bowling Green 26
Week 8 Opponent: at Central Michigan

60 USC Trojans (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 63
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Notre Dame

59 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 62
Week 7: Minnesota 30, Nebraska 23
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

58 Illinois Fighting Illini (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 61
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Penn State

57 Oregon State Beavers (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 60
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Utah

56 Stanford Cardinal (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 29
Week 7: Washington State 34, Stanford 31
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

55 Boston College Eagles (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 49
Week 7: NC State 33, Boston College 7
Week 8 Opponent: at Louisville

54 Virginia Tech Hokies (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 46
Week 7: Pitt 28, Virginia Tech 7
Week 8 Opponent: Syracuse

53 West Virginia Mountaineers (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 45
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at TCU

52 Indiana Hoosiers (2-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 53
Week 7: Michigan State 20, Indiana 15
Week 8 Opponent: Ohio State

51 Washington State Cougars (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 59
Week 7: Washington State 34, Stanford 31
Week 8 Opponent: BYU

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 7
101-130 | 76-100 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
– Week 7 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Big Game Reactions: Purdue, Georgia, OU & more

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 50

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 50

50 Houston Cougars (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 52
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: East Carolina

49 Boise State Broncos (3-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 23
Week 7: Air Force 24, Boise State 17
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

48 Fresno State Bulldogs (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 51
Week 7: Fresno State 17, Wyoming 0
Week 8 Opponent: Nevada

47 Air Force Falcons (6-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 48
Week 7: Air Force 24, Boise State 17
Week 8 Opponent: San Diego State

46 Maryland Terrapins (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 27
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Minnesota

45 Utah State Aggies (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 47
Week 7: Utah State 28, UNLV 24
Week 8 Opponent: Colorado State

44 Purdue Boilermakers (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 57
Week 7: Purdue 24, Iowa 7
Week 8 Opponent: Wisconsin

43 Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 56
Week 7: Minnesota 30, Nebraska 23
Week 8 Opponent: Maryland

42 Wisconsin Badgers (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 31
Week 7: Wisconsin 20, Army 14
Week 8 Opponent: at Purdue

41 UTSA Roadrunners (7-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 40
Week 7: UTSA 45, Rice 0
Week 8 Opponent: at Louisiana Tech

40 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 54
Week 7: Louisiana 41, Appalachian State 13
Week 8 Opponent: at Arkansas State (Oct. 21)

39 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 37
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Appalachian State (Oct. 20)

38 Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 43
Week 7: Texas Tech 41, Kansas 14
Week 8 Opponent: Kansas State

37 TCU Horned Frogs (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 36
Week 7: Oklahoma 52, TCU 31
Week 8 Opponent: West Virginia

36 SMU Mustangs (6-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 41
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Tulane (Oct. 21)

35 San Diego State Aztecs (6-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 28
Week 7: San Diego State 19, San Jose State 13 2OT
Week 8 Opponent: at Air Force

34 Clemson Tigers (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 35
Week 7: Clemson 17, Syracuse 14
Week 8 Opponent: at Pitt

33 Nevada Wolf Pack (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 22
Week 7: Nevada 34, Hawaii 17
Week 8 Opponent: at Fresno State

32 Kansas State Wildcats (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Week 7: Iowa State 33, Kansas State 20
Week 8 Opponent: at Texas Tech

31 BYU Cougars (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 24
Week 7: Baylor 38, BYU 24
Week 8 Opponent: at Washington State

30 NC State Wolfpack (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 34
Week 7: NC State 33, Boston College 7
Week 8 Opponent: at Miami

29 Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 32
Week 7: Alabama 49, Mississippi State 9
Week 8 Opponent: at Vanderbilt

28 Tennessee Volunteers (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 39
Week 7: Ole Miss 31, Tennessee 26
Week 8 Opponent: at Alabama

27 Florida Gators (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Week 7: LSU 49, Florida 42
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

26 LSU Tigers (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 30
Week 7: LSU 49, Florida 42
Week 8 Opponent: at Ole Miss

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 7
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 11-25 | Top 10
– Week 7 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Big Game Reactions: Purdue, Georgia, OU & more

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 25

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 25

25 UCLA Bruins (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 26
Week 7: UCLA 24, Washington 17
Week 8 Opponent: Oregon

24 Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Week 7: Utah 35, Arizona State 21
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

23 Utah Utes (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 55
Week 7: Utah 35, Arizona State 21
Week 8 Opponent: at Oregon State

22 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Army

21 Texas Longhorns (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 19
Week 7: Oklahoma State 32, Texas 24
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

20 Iowa State Cyclones (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 42
Week 7: Iowa State 33, Kansas State 20
Week 8 Opponent: Oklahoma State

19 Baylor Bears (6-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 21
Week 7: Baylor 38, BYU 24
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

18 Texas A&M Aggies (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 33
Week 7: Texas A&M 35, Missouri 14
Week 8 Opponent: South Carolina

17 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Week 7: Auburn 38, Arkansas 23
Week 8 Opponent: Arkansas-Pine Bluff

16 Pitt Panthers (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 38
Week 7: Pitt 28, Virginia Tech 7
Week 8 Opponent: Clemson

15 Kentucky Wildcats (6-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Week 7: Georgia 30, Kentucky 13
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

14 Auburn Tigers (5-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 18
Week 7: Auburn 38, Arkansas 23
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

13 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Illinois

12 Iowa Hawkeyes (6-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Week 7: Purdue 24, Iowa 7
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

11 Michigan State Spartans (7-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Week 7: Michigan State 20, Indiana 15
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

The tough fight against Indiana

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 6
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
– Week 6 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 6 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Iowa, Texas A&M, OU, more

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 10

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 7 Top 10

10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: USC

This ranking is a combination of things. To be consistent, it’s not fair to punish the Irish too much for that one loss to Cincinnati – even if it was at home. That, combined with Iowa being exposed and Michigan State struggling too much against Indiana, pushes the Irish into the top ten. The win over Purdue looks a whole lot stronger now.

9 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 16
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: at Indiana

This comes down the most basic of rankings questions – do you think this team would beat the teams ranked below it? The Buckeyes appear to be be fully charged and ready to rip through the second half of the season. But for now – as wrong as it might be – they have to be ranked behind …

8 Oregon Ducks (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 15
Week 7: Oregon 24, Cal 17
Week 8 Opponent: at UCLA

It’s a philosophical thing here. Is Oregon playing like a top ten team? Not even remotely close. However, for the moment, the Ohio State win in Columbus remains one of the best wins by anyone this year – beaten only by Texas A&M’s takedown of Alabama.

7 Cincinnati Bearcats (6-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Week 7: Cincinnati 56, UCF 21
Week 8 Opponent: at Navy

The problem is that others are starting to come up with real wins over solid teams to keep moving past the Bearcats. The Notre Dame win in South Bend continues to be the one thing to hang the hat on, and there’s credit given for blasting Temple and UCF with ease. However, now things get a wee bit tough – at least, as challenging as it’ll get with this schedule – playing three of the next four on the road before facing SMU.

6 Ole Miss Rebels (5-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Week 7: Ole Miss 31, Tennessee 26
Week 8 Opponent: LSU

It might seem like the Rebels are renting space up this high, but 1) there’s no punishment here for losing at Alabama. 2) The Arkansas and Tennessee games were way too close, but 3) they were solid wins.

5 Michigan Wolverines (6-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Week 7: OPEN DATE
Week 8 Opponent: Northwestern

This is a courtesy ranking. The close call with Nebraska looks a whole lot worse now, the Wisconsin win doesn’t seem like any big deal, and beating Western Michigan and Northern Illinois – while solid – isn’t enough. Throw in the 20-13 struggle against a Rutgers team that hit a wall, and yeah, five may be a bit high.

4 Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 13
Week 7: Oklahoma State 32, Texas 24
Week 8 Opponent: at Iowa State

The resumé is now getting too good to ignore. There might have been several close calls, but the Cowboys have road wins over Texas and Boise State, a win over a Kansas State team that pushed Oklahoma, and it handed Baylor its only loss with a 24-14 victory a few weeks ago.

3 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Week 7: Alabama 49, Mississippi State 9
Week 8 Opponent: Tennessee

No, this probably isn’t fair in our Respect the Results way of doing things, but it seems like the Texas A&M game might have woke everyone up. Throw in the dominant win over Ole Miss, and you’re not wrong to think this is the second-best team talent-wise.

2 Oklahoma Sooners (7-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Week 7: Oklahoma 52, TCU 31
Week 8 Opponent: at Kansas

Oklahoma would’ve been here even if Iowa had won. The Sooners still have to get stronger on defense, but the emergence of Caleb Williams has changed around the entire dynamic of the college football season. Now the OU O looks and works like it’s supposed to, and the upcoming dates with Kansas and Texas Tech should give the team time to sharpen things up even more.

1 Georgia Bulldogs (7-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Week 7: Georgia 30, Kentucky 13
Week 8 Opponent: OPEN DATE

Obviously there’s no other choice for No. 1 with a defense that has yet to allow more than 13 points and has ripped through everyone with ease since the 10-3 season-opening victory over Clemson. There’s still work to be done with three of the last five games away from Athens, but the Dawgs get two weeks off to get ready for Florida.