By: Alec Nederveld
This season so far has seen an unprecedented amount of parity. In the week five AP poll, six teams from five conferences received a #1 vote from that week’s sixty-three voters. I’m going to take it a step further and present a case for every top ten to be ranked #1 at the end of the season.
10. Utah
A Dominate Defense Despite Injuries
In their 4-0 start, Utah hasn’t allowed an opponent to score over thirteen points. This includes current #22 Florida, then #22 UCLA, and at Baylor. Overall, Utah allows 9.5 ppg and fifty-one rushing ypg. These are good for sixth and fourth in the country, respectfully.
Utah has been this dominant despite crippling injuries. Cam Rising, Utah’s starting QB last year, is the headliner and has yet to play a game. However, every position group has been affected by injury. Following the Week three win over Weber State, head coach Kyle Whittingham stated, “I’ve been coaching 40 years. I’ve never, ever seen anything like this in that department”.
9. Oregon
An Explosive and Efficient Offense
Fifth-year QB Bo Nix and the Ducks offense have been lighting it up. They average fifty-four points and 570.8 yards, both second most in the country. Oregon also keeps the ball in their hands. They only have one turnover through four games, also good for second in the country, and lead America by completing 80.1% of passes.
No team has moved the ball, and no team has been as efficient as Oregon. Put those together, and you have an offense worthy of the #1 ranking.
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8. USC
Lincoln Riley’s Offense
Since becoming Oklahoma’s head coach, Riley has led some of the country’s best offenses, and this USC team is no different. Led by 2022’s Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and a treasure trove of talent around him, the Trojans have once again dominated. This is the only team that has scored more than Oregon with a ridiculous fifty-five points per game and sits just behind the Ducks with 569.3 ypg.
We all know why USC isn’t ranked higher and why they lost three games last year. Let’s just focus on the offense, which is enough to beat any team in the country.
7. Washington
The Top Passing Offense
Kalen DeBoer has turned Washington around with one of the best passing offenses in America. In 2022, his team led the country with 369.8 passing ypg. This year they’re at 467.3. That’s a 5,607-yard pace for just the regular season. That leads #2 by over sixty ypg, and Washington also put up 593.3 ypg, the most in the country. The Huskies have also scored forty-one or more points in every game and sit at 49.8 ppg, third in the country.
With a deadly accurate Michael Penix Jr., a veteran offensive line, and a three-headed monster at receiver, Washington’s pass offense is impossible to stop. This puts them in a position to win it all.
6. Penn State
Turnover Margin and a No-Fly Zone
Every coach in America emphasizes winning the turnover battle, but nobody has been better than James Franklin and Penn State. They have forced the second-most turnovers (11), and are the only team who haven’t turned the ball over themselves. This includes five interceptions from the defense that only allows 138 passing ypg and 219.5 total yards. These numbers also lead the country.
Kalen King and Chop Robinson will be playing on Sundays next year. So will Abdul Carter in a few years. Former walk-on Dominic DeLuca does everything. DC Manny Diaz has assembled an incredible unit that will put Penn State in a position to win every game.
5. Florida State
Experience and Big Wins
Florida State had two massive tests, a neutral sight game vs. LSU and at Clemson, that would define their season. They won both games and now are 4-0 with a much easier schedule ahead. They have assisted from a roster that has been in these big games before. Jordan Travis is in his sixth year. Jared Verse is in his fifth. Trey Benson and Johnny Wilson are both in their fourth. Arguably more important, the offensive line had 214 combined starts before the season began.
We’ve seen really veteran teams, think TCU last year. We’ve also seen teams build through the portal, like Michigan State and Ole Miss. Imagine you combine those, with better HS recruiting. That’s what Florida State’s roster is. The Seminoles have the best resume in the country because of that.
4. Ohio State
“Ohio Against The World” Mentality and a Huge Win
Ryan Day has this team motivated. Last year was supposed to be the year. Maybe it just gets pushed back to now. Calling out Lou Holtz shows what this team believes. The best teams think they have something to prove (looking at you, Georgia,) and this Ohio State team just proved something big.
It certainly helps when you have Marvin Harrison Jr., the best receiver in football. Emeka Ebuka isn’t far behind, and TreVeyon Henderson is also a great RB. The defense is loaded, too, led by LB duo Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenburg. More importantly, QB Kyle McCord, despite early season struggles, was clutch in the final drive against the Irish. Look for the Buckeyes to keep a chip on their shoulder, and use it to be the best team.
3. Texas
Steve Sarkisian and Confidence
Texas has started the season with expectations, shot themselves in the foot, and underachieved so many times. They haven’t won the Big 12 since 2009, but something seems different about these Longhorns. Going into Tuscaloosa and winning, even if Bama is down, is very impressive.
Quinn Ewers looks great so far, throwing nine touchdowns to zero interceptions. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Xavier Worthy, and AD Mitchell combine for one of the best-receiving cores in the country. They have also been great on defense, allowing only 12.5 ppg with LB Jaylan Ford leading the charge.
2. Michigan
If it Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
Jim Harbaugh‘s squad has made the playoffs and won back-to-back Big Ten titles by running the ball and playing great defense. Through four games, not much has changed. The defense leads the country by giving up only 5.8 ppg and is third by allowing 231 ypg.
The running game hasn’t been as good as expected, but they are still doing fine. With the dynamic duo of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, a mobile quarterback in JJ McCarthy, and a consistently great offensive line, they will move the ball on the ground. Put these together, with plenty of returning pieces from last year, and you have a great team.
1. Georgia
The Last Two Years Carrying Over
You can make a case for all of these teams to be #1, but Georgia has proven themselves to be the best in the country. Sure, they’ve had some slow starts against lesser competition this year, but they also struggled against Missouri and Kent State last year. The Bulldogs have also had a fair share of injuries holding them back.
Brock Bowers is still here, and he’s still the best tight end in football. The offensive line, led by three first-team all-SEC performers, is still dominant. So is the defense, with Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kamari Lassiter, Malaki Starks, Mykel Williams, and more future NFL talent. Kirby Smart has done a tremendous job recruiting and developing this talent, and Georgia will be a power as long as he’s the head coach.
