College Football Top Ten (Week 12) – Playoff Implications

Another Saturday, two more top ten teams fall. There is a newcomer to the ranking as well. All the fuss about who should be ranked ahead of who is irrelevant because that will take care of itself, as we have seen. Here is the latest Top Ten:

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (11-0) defeated Charleston Southern Buccaneers 56-7

The Bulldogs dominated the Buccaneers for the easy win. Quarterback Stetson Bennett went 8-14 for 105 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The defense held Charleston Southern to 126 total yards, had four sacks and forced a turnover.

Next game- at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

 

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) defeated Arkansas Razorbacks 42-35

The Crimson Tide survived a scare from the Razorbacks to get the victory. Quarterback Bryce Young was brilliant, going 31-40 for 559 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Brian Robinson ran for 122 yards. Wide receivers Jameson Williams (190 receiving yards/three touchdowns) and John Metchie III (173 receiving yards/one touchdown) were causing havoc in the secondary. The defense had trouble with Arkansas’ passing attack but had three sacks and forced a turnover.

Next game- at Auburn Tigers

 

3. Cincinnati Bearcats (11-0) defeated SMU Mustangs 48-14

The Bearcats earned much needed style points against the Mustangs to get the lopsided win. Quarterback Desmond Ridder was efficient, going 17-23 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receivers Tre Tucker (114 receiving yards) and Tyler Scott (94 receiving yards/one touchdown) spearheaded the passing attack. The defense held SMU under 200 total yards, had three sacks and forced a turnover.

Next game- East Carolina Pirates

 

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) defeated then #6 Michigan State Spartans 56-7

The Buckeyes overwhelmed the Spartans in impressive fashion for the victory. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was phenomenal, going 32-35 for 432 yards and six touchdowns. Running back Master Teague III ran for 95 yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers Chris Olave (140 receiving yards/two touchdowns), Garrett Wilson (126 receiving yards/two touchdowns) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (105 receiving yards/one touchdown) put on an aerial show. The defense held Michigan State to 224 total yards and forced a turnover.

Next game- at #5 Michigan Wolverines

 

5. Michigan Wolverines (10-1) defeated Maryland Terrapins 59-18

The Wolverines easily dispatched the Terrapins for the win. Quarterback Cade McNamara was solid, going 21-28 for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Donovan Edwards had 170 receiving yards and a touchdown. The defense gave up some yards but limited Maryland’s points.

Next game- vs. #4 Ohio State Buckeyes

 

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) defeated Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 55-0

The Fighting Irish shut out the Yellow Jackets for the victory. Quarterback Jack Coan was steady, going 15-20 for 285 yards and two touchdowns. The defense held Georgia Tech to 224 total yards, had six sacks and forced two turnovers.

Next game- at Stanford Cardinal

 

7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1) defeated Texas Tech Red Raiders 23-0

The Cowboys shut out the Red Raiders to get the win. Quarterback Spencer Sanders went 19-37 for 239 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Tay Martin had 130 receiving yards. The defense held Texas Tech under 200 total yards and forced a turnover.

Next game- vs. #9 Oklahoma Sooners

 

8. UTSA Roadrunners (11-0) defeated UAB Blazers 34-31

The Roadrunners scored on the last play of the game to get the victory. Quarterback Frank Harris went 25-36 for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receivers De’Corian Clark (104 receiving yards) and Zakhari Franklin (97 receiving yards/two touchdowns) kept the secondary busy. The defense struggled but had three sacks and forced a turnover.

Next game- at North Texas Mean Green

 

9. Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) defeated Iowa State Cyclones 28-21

The Sooners got by a feisty Cyclone team to get the win. Quarterback Caleb Williams was pedestrian, going 8-18 for 87 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Running back Kennedy Brooks ran for 115 yards. The defense bent but didn’t break, had seven sacks and forced three turnovers (including an interception to end the game).

Next game- at #7 Oklahoma State Cowboys

 

10. Houston Cougars (10-1) defeated Memphis Tigers 31-13

The Cougars jumped out to a halftime lead and cruised to a victory. Quarterback Clayton Tune went 20-32 for 264 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Wide receiver Nathaniel Dell had 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. The defense gave up some yards but had two sacks and forced two turnovers.

Next game- at UCONN Huskies