College Football’s Top 15 Teams After Week 7
College Football’s Top 15 Teams After Week 7
We’re formally by the midway stage of the college soccer season, and it’s time to look once more over the first seven weeks.
Positive, Alabama and Tennessee carried out inside the recreation of the season, TCU outlasted Oklahoma State in a Massive 12 conventional and Utah upended Southern California late in Week 7, nevertheless with half the season behind us, what do we really discover about these teams?
Ohio State, Georgia and now Tennessee combine to make a formidable prime three, whereas teams like Michigan, TCU and Ole Miss are correct on the cusp, prepared to solidify the fourth playoff place.
This week we’re what we’ve realized to date this season whereas moreover score a prime 25 after a Saturday of wobbly game-winning kicks, double-overtime winners and a few lopsided score traces.
Listed under are this week’s Vitality Rankings.
- Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0)
The Buckeyes reached the midway stage of the season with a predictably elite offense (48.8 elements per recreation, 8.1 yards per play) and a notably improved safety, which has allowed merely 49 fourth-quarter elements and 27.2% of third downs to be remodeled. Even without Biletnikoff Award favorite Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has barely carried out, Ohio State’s giant receiving corps has overwhelmed opponents with Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr. and others. First-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has upgraded linebacker play, as Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers have combined for 10 tackles for loss.
Saturday’s consequence: BYE
Up subsequent: vs. Iowa (Saturday, noon ET, Fox)
- Georgia Bulldogs (7-0)
The Dawgs’ solely shut identify to this point, take into account it or not, was in the direction of Missouri in recreation by way of which they trailed by 10 elements inside the fourth quarter. They received right here once more to win that contest 26-22, and with a 55-0 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, they moved to 7-0 to start out their title safety season. Defensively, Georgia has been as stout as ever. Nonetheless on offense, Georgia has been hit and miss inside the passing recreation and stays to be looking for further explosive performs from its giant receivers. Accidents even have hampered the Dawgs, who’ve been without their most interesting inside defensive lineman, Jalen Carter, for so much of the first half of the season.
Saturday’s consequence: 55-0 win, vs. Vanderbilt
Up subsequent: BYE
- Tennessee Volunteers (6-0)
They couldn’t protect the followers of the sphere in Knoxville after knocking off Alabama at dwelling. That win and that 40-yard self-discipline goal by Chase McGrath had been a really very long time coming. Hendon Hooker carried out like a respectable Heisman Trophy hopeful, throwing for 385 yards and 5 touchdowns. And wideout Jalin Hyatt carried out like an individual possessed, racking up 207 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Nonetheless most importantly, the workforce as a whole confirmed maturity. When Alabama received right here storming once more inside the second half, the Vols didn’t fold. Hooker shook off his first interception of the season and did what it took to inform his workforce to victory.
Saturday’s consequence: 52-49 win, vs. Alabama
Up subsequent: vs. UT Martin (Saturday, noon ET, SEC Neighborhood/ESPN app)
- Michigan Wolverines (7-0)
After a relatively stress-free 6-0 start, the Wolverines lastly confronted a supposed checkout in the direction of Penn State and handed it in dominating model. Michigan pummeled the Nittany Lions for 41 elements and 418 dashing yards in a recreation that wasn’t as shut as the final word score. The Wolverines as soon as extra look completely capable of pushing Ohio State and contending for a CFP spot. Their line-of-scrimmage play might actually be increased than it was in 2021, and a run recreation led by Heisman Trophy contender Blake Corum has been almost unimaginable to decelerate. Michigan has carried out to its strengths and has restricted the pressure on gifted nevertheless youthful quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Saturday’s consequence: 41-17 win, vs. Penn State
Up subsequent: BYE
- Clemson Tigers (7-0)
A season that started with questions on DJ Uiagalelei and the Clemson offense has shortly developed into one which has proved coach Dabo Swinney correct in his decision to remain alongside together with his quarterback. Uiagalelei has absolutely turned his recreation spherical better in every metric, from accuracy to passing yards to affectivity. He moreover has the flexibility to keep up defenses off steadiness alongside together with his legs. In the meantime, reliable players have emerged spherical him — from working once more Will Shipley to freshman giant receiver Antonio Williams to tight end Jake Briningstool. As quickly as soon as extra, Clemson hits the midseason mark as a respectable playoff contender.
Saturday’s consequence: 34-28 win, at Florida State
Up subsequent: vs. Syracuse (Saturday, noon ET, ABC/ESPN app)
- Ole Miss Rebels (7-0)
It was contact and go there for a while as a result of the Rebs’ safety struggled to kind out Auburn’s ball carriers. The Tigers ran for higher than 300 yards. Nonetheless Lane Kiffin’s offense might do that one increased, dashing for a whopping 448 yards in a 48-34 win at dwelling. It continued a growth we’ve seen all season as Ole Miss leans on its working recreation. Quinshon Judkins, Zach Evans and Jaxson Dart all ran for higher than 100 yards in the direction of Auburn.
Saturday’s consequence: 48-34 win, vs. Auburn
Up subsequent: vs. LSU (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
- TCU Horned Frogs (6-0)
The Horned Frogs didn’t make it look easy, nevertheless after trailing 30-16 heading into the fourth quarter, the safety shut Oklahoma State down and TCU pulled out a 43-40 double-overtime victory to maneuver to a gorgeous 6-0 start and a possible spot inside the AP prime 10. After being picked seventh inside the Massive 12 preseason media poll, the Frogs and new coach Sonny Dykes are inside the driver’s seat, with Max Duggan and Quentin Johnson essential a prolific offense. Correct now, life is good in Fort Worth, nevertheless six video video games nonetheless keep inside the nation’s most unpredictable league.
Saturday’s consequence: 43-40 win (2OT), vs. Oklahoma State
Up subsequent: vs. Kansas State (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, TBD)
- UCLA Bruins (6-0)
By six video video games, there isn’t any denying that Chip Kelly has his most interesting workforce since arriving in Westwood. The event all through the board has been even increased than marketed, spearheaded by a fifth-year leap from quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has entered the fringes of the Heisman race with a great deal of confidence. Swap additions paying homage to giant receiver Jake Bobo (Duke) and cornerback Azizi Hearn (Wyoming) have given new appears to their respective objects. The continuity that working once more Zach Charbonnet is giving the Bruins has allowed them to reap the rewards of an prolonged course of that has UCLA making an attempt the part of a Pac-12 contender and one in every of many increased teams inside the nation, full stop.
Saturday’s consequence: BYE
Up subsequent: at Oregon (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, TBD)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1)
The profitable streak versus Tennessee is over at 15 video video games. Bryce Youthful did each factor he might in returning from a shoulder injury. He eluded pressure time and time as soon as extra, throwing for 455 yards and two touchdowns. However it wasn’t enough. Not when his receivers dropped passes and his line couldn’t defend. And undoubtedly not inside the face of 17 penalties. Alabama was doomed by sloppy play as so much as Chase McGrath’s 40-yard game-winning self-discipline goal.
Saturday’s consequence: 52-49 loss, at Tennessee
Up subsequent: vs. Mississippi State (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN app)
- USC Trojans (6-1)
The Trojans’ first half has been a case of two sides of the ball. On offense, they’ve been even increased than marketed, with Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison having fun with at or close to well-known individual stage every Saturday. Safety has been one different story altogether. Though the unit has compelled 16 turnovers to date, it moreover has been inconsistent in stopping the run and big performs. Saturday’s loss to Utah spelled out the nightmare script for the Trojans: a defeat in a shootout, the type of recreation Southern California was alleged to win. In 12 months 1 of the Lincoln Riley interval to date, there’s been so much to reward, nevertheless the Trojans’ standing as fast contender stays in question.
Saturday’s consequence: 43-42 loss, at Utah
- Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-1)
The Cowboys regarded like an early candidate to information the Massive 12 on the midway mark with a win at Baylor on Oct. 1. Nonetheless a double-overtime loss at TCU in a recreation by way of which the Cowboys have been largely in administration is one they’ll regret later inside the season. Spencer Sanders achieved merely 44% of his passes on Saturday, and as he goes, so go the Pokes. With Texas coming to metropolis subsequent week, Oklahoma State should get once more on observe and be ready for a potential shootout. The Cowboys nonetheless have an inside observe to the Massive 12 title recreation, nevertheless they’ll should fend off the league’s totally different upper-tier teams, along with at Kansas State on Oct. 29.
Saturday’s consequence: 43-40 loss (2OT), at TCU
Up subsequent: vs. Texas (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN app)
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1)
As anticipated, the Demon Deacons have thrived with their passing offense this season behind veteran quarterback Sam Hartman, who ranks second inside the ACC in complete offense at 301.2 yards per recreation. It is that passing recreation that virtually led to a victory over Clemson. Within the meantime, the safety beneath new coordinator Brad Lambert has improved, significantly in the direction of the run. Though the loss to Clemson might in the long run resolve the Atlantic Division crown, it has been clear by the first half of the season that Wake Forest does not plan on taking a step once more from its record-setting 2021 advertising marketing campaign.
Saturday’s consequence: BYE
Up subsequent: vs. Boston College (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Neighborhood/ESPN app)
- Oregon Ducks (5-1)
The opening-week hiccup in the direction of Georgia aside, the Geese have largely surpassed expectations in coach Dan Lanning’s first season. Quarterback Bo Nix has guided a few of the electrical offenses in college soccer (40-plus elements in 5 straight video video games), the safety has been passable and the Geese are correct there among the many many Pac-12 title favorites. Primarily essentially the most constructive enchancment has been how shortly coordinator Kenny Dillingham has been able to inject new life into the offense, which had grown stale all through Mario Cristobal’s tenure as head coach.
Saturday’s consequence: BYE
Up subsequent: vs. UCLA (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, TBD)
- Utah Utes (5-2)
What a wild, roller-coaster first half it has been for the Utes this season. After coming into the 12 months as Pac-12 favorites, they dropped video video games to Florida and UCLA in disappointing model. However after every of these contests, they’ve been stellar at bouncing once more, with an exhilarating comeback win over visiting USC as the latest occasion. Utah nonetheless has a path to repeating its conference title, and though the safety has left masses to be desired, the Utes clearly have the experience at quarterback in Cameron Rising to keep up the momentum going into the second half.
Saturday’s consequence: 43-42 win, vs. USC
Up subsequent: BYE
- Kansas State Wildcats (5-1)
The Wildcats had a bye this week, and they’re 5-1 common and 3-0 inside the Massive 12, with that one gorgeous loss coming at dwelling to Tulane. Adrian Martinez has been a steadying have an effect on for the Wildcats at quarterback, nevertheless Okay-State’s earlier three wins have come by a whole of 17 elements. The gut take a look at begins subsequent week with a night recreation in Fort Worth in the direction of 6-0 TCU, adopted by video video games at dwelling in the direction of Oklahoma State and Texas and on the road versus Baylor.
Saturday’s consequence: BYE
Up subsequent: at TCU (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, TBD)
