Week 6 College Football Top 20 Power Rankings

Another fun weekend of college football is in the books. Alabama and Clemson had the weekend off while the rest of the top schools took care of business. Florida outlasted Auburn in the only top 10 matchup. Ohio State dominated Michigan State Saturday night, and the wannabe National Champion UCF Knights were knocked off by Cincinnati, Friday. Here is this weeks top 20 college football teams.
 

1. Alabama

last week: Bye
this week: @ Texas A&M

Despite having the weekend off, Alabama is still the best team in college football. Heisman candidate Tua Tagovailoa continues to put up video game numbers. The Crimson Tide are averaging 52 points per game, and their defense ranks 11th in the S&P+ rankings. LSU might be the only team to have a chance against them before postseason play begins.
 

2. Ohio State

last week: Won vs Michigan State 34-10
this week: Bye

The Buckeyes haven’t skipped a beat since Urban Meyer left the program. Ohio State covered a 20-point spread Saturday vs a Michigan State team that has one of the best defenses in the country. Defensive end Chase Young has 8.5 sacks on a defense that is holding opponents to 8.83 points per game. This team has it figured it out and are a legit threat to win it all.
 

3. LSU

last week: Won vs Utah State 42-6
this week: Florida

LSU has been known for their defense, but Joe Burrow is making sure people know how good their offense is. The Heisman candidate has his team averaging 57.8 points per game and rank third in offensive efficiency. Not to mention, this team went to Austin, Texas and beat the Longhorns week two. All signs point to an epic showdown between LSU and Alabama November 9.
 

4. Oklahoma

last week: Won @ Kansas 45-20
this week: Texas

The Sooners have another quarterback that can put up video game numbers for Lincoln Riley. Oklahoma’s offense has looked unstoppable again thanks to Jalen Hurts. Although the Sooners have looked impressive, their schedule is not. This can go for a lot of teams on the list, but playing Big 12 defenses is going to hurt them come playoff time. This happened last year with Kyler Murray vs Alabama, and can very much happen again if they make it to the playoff.
 

5. Georgia

last week: Won @ Tennessee 43-14
this week: South Carolina

Georgia has looked the part to start the season, and the team that is supposed to compete against Alabama for the SEC. They are still that team, but can Jake Fromm step up against elite SEC defenses? A potential number one overall pick this upcoming NFL draft; Fromm threw for an unimpressive 187 passing yards. College football fans will see what the quarterback is made of with dates with Florida, Auburn, Missouri, and Texas A&M still on the schedule.
 

6. Clemson

last week: Bye
this week: Florida State

Clemson’s schedule does them no justice this season. The ACC is the worst Power 5 conference in 2019, and the Tigers may sleepwalk their way to the College Football Playoff. Trevor Lawrence has comedown from the stratosphere of top quarterback prospects as his completion percentage sits at 61.8 percent. One slip up from this team could cost them a chance at the playoff. The Tigers have a 2014 Florida State vibe to them after blowing out Alabama in the championship game.
 

7. Wisconsin

last week: Won vs Kent State 48-0
this week: Michigan State

Is this finally the year Wisconsin puts it together? Is Jack Coan the right fit at quarterback? The Badgers sit in a familiar spot in the AP Top-25 (8) and people are asking the same questions about if they can finally get over the hump into the College Football Playoff. Jonathan Taylor might be the best running back this school has seen, and their defense ranks fourth in the S&P+ rankings. So far so good for the Badgers and they’ll get their test October 26 vs Ohio State.
 

8. Florida

last week: Won vs Auburn 24-13
this week: @ LSU

The Gators are fortunate Kyle Trask was able to comeback vs Auburn. Trask is very capable of running the Florida offense and will have another test against a stingy LSU defense. Florida has a defense of their own that ranks fifth in the S&P+ rankings, and forced Bo Nix to throw three interceptions Saturday and held him to a 40 percent completion percentage.
 

9. Penn State

last week: Won vs Purdue 35-7
next week: @ Iowa

Penn State looked dominant in their two Big Ten games after a slow start out of the gate. James Franklin always has a well-rounded ball club trying to navigate through the Big Ten East. Penn State will be going through their rough part of the schedule with @Iowa, Michigan, and @Michigan State three weeks in a row. If they can come out undefeated, Ohio State should be worried.
 

10. Notre Dame

last week: Won vs Bowling Green 52-0
next week: USC

Notre Dame failed their one test on the schedule when they lost to Georgia, September 21. To their defense, it’s not their fault USC, Michigan, or Standford aren’t what they used to be. Notre Dame has done well during the regular season, and when they get a chance at glory, they seem to get squashed by superior opponents. This team is still solid, but shouldn’t be in the College Football playoff conversation.
 

11. Oregon

last week: Won vs Cal 17-7
this week: Colorado

The Ducks are known for their aesthetic uniforms and high flying offenses, but it’s their defense that’s making the noise this season. Currently rated as the best defense in S&P+, Oregon’s defense has held their opponent to single digits their last four games. The Ducks still rank sixth in passing efficiency thanks to Justin Herbert. Don’t be surprised if this team makes a late run for a spot in the playoff.
 

12. Auburn

last week: Lost @ Florida 24-13
this week: @ Arkansas

Gus Malzahn has to be frustrated with the play of Bo Nix. The Tigers have been sneaking away with victories all season until they went up against Florida. Nix has only completed 54.6 percent of his passes, and it won’t be any better when they go up against LSU, Georgia, and Bama. Their defense can keep them in a game, but Bo Nix will blow it on the other side.
 

13. Texas

last week: Won @ West Virginia 42-31
this week: Oklahoma

Teams put up numbers in the Big 12. Sam Ehlinger has been no different throwing for almost 1500 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Longhorns are averaging 42 points per game on offense. Their defense has been atrocious this season. They’re ranked 66th in S&P+ defensively and are dead last in the Big 12 in defensive yards per play. They allowed 31 points to West Virginia last week! Good thing only have to go up against Jalen Hurts and the Oklahoma offense this week.
 

14. Baylor

last week: Won @ Kansas State 31-12
this week: Texas Tech

If people haven’t got upset with the rankings yet, then this is where it’ll start. Baylor is good again and can compete with Oklahoma for the Big 12. They currently rank 15th in the S&P+ rankings and are accompanied by great defensive play. Going into Saturday’s game, they were ranked second in the Big 12 in points per play and held their two conference opponents to a combined 33 points. Watch out for this team as the season moves along.
 

15. Utah

last week: Bye
this week: @ Oregon State

The Utes defense isn’t what it was last year, but it’s still very good. They’re also getting very good play out of their quarterback Tyler Huntley. An early loss in the season to USC hurts, but they should still be the team that goes up against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
 

16. Michigan

last week: Won vs Iowa 10-3
next week: @ Illinois

Michigan has been one of the more overrated college football teams the last few seasons. Harbaugh has been in Ann Arbor for five season and still hasn’t found a reliable quarterback. The Shea Patterson project has been pretty hard to watch. Their defense is the only thing that can give them hope. If things go south, Harbaugh could feel his seat heat up.
 

17. Mizzou

last week: Won vs Troy 42-10
this week: Ole Miss

The second team that will make people upset. Since the second quarter vs Wyoming, Mizzou has outscored their opponents 178-41. They rank 10th in S&P+ and were a dark horse to come out of the SEC East. Their schedule has been relatively weak so far, but they’ll get their cracks at Georgia and Florida later this season. For now, don’t sleep on the Tigers.
 

18. Iowa State

last week: Won vs TCU 49-24
this week: @West Virginia

Iowa State has lost to Baylor and Iowa by a combined three points. Quarterback Brock Purdy has been playing very good football, and has covered the spread every game in October for the last three seasons. They’re second in offensive yards per play right behind Oklahoma in the Big 12. This is another team to take seriously in the Big 12.
 

19. Texas A&M

last week: Bye
this week: Alabama

The Aggies haven’t had any favors with their schedule to start the season. They had to go to Clemson week two, play Auburn week four, and how host Alabama Saturday. Texas A&M still has a good squad despite the early woes. If they can get a little bit better offensive play, then they can finish towards the top of the SEC West.
 

20. Michigan State

last week: Lost @ Ohio State 34-10
this week: @ Wisconsin

Sparty should really be 4-1. Losing to Arizona State at home was such a fluke game for them. Their defense is still really good, and maybe one year Mike Dantonio will get a quarterback that can run an efficient offense. Back to back road games vs two teams in the top-10 doesn’t do them justice. This team will still be fine.