2023 College Football: Thrilling Wins, Rising Powers, Top 10 Standings
04.10.2023 posted by Admin
The 2023 college football season has kicked off in a spectacular manner, and this past Saturday lived up to the excitement.
In Boulder, USC secured a thrilling victory against Colorado, winning 48-41, with a star-studded audience in attendance. Meanwhile, Michigan and Texas delivered impressive performances, Oregon and Penn State overcame sluggish starts to dominate the second half, and Georgia revealed a significant transformation compared to their back-to-back championship-winning form in the previous two years.
Here's a fresh look at my top 10 rankings after Week 5 of college football:
Michigan Wolverines (Last week: 3)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Triumphed over Nebraska, 45-7
Michigan has proven its superiority over Georgia. Their prowess at the line of scrimmage is evident. The Wolverines are a force on defense and adept at coverage. They may not be flashy, but they are methodical and effective. This year, they've outperformed their previous two seasons. Apart from garbage time in the fourth quarter, they've allowed only 13 points all season. The Wolverines' running game is a juggernaut. Even against Nebraska's formidable rush defense, they ran the ball 51 times for 249 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. This team is in top form.
Texas Longhorns (Last week: 5)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Conquered Kansas, 40-14
Texas is on fire this season, exhibiting a significant departure from their past few years. Previously, they tended to perform at the level of their competition, largely due to their weakness at the line of scrimmage. However, this year, Texas excels in that department. They boast a robust defense and a potent running game. Typically, a game against Kansas, right before the Red River Rivalry, would be a classic trap game, but Texas remained focused due to their strength at the line of scrimmage. Beyond the Red River Rivalry, their schedule lacks ranked opponents. Winning that game could secure their path to the playoffs, similar to Georgia's recent dominance on defense and consistency at the line of scrimmage.
Georgia Bulldogs (Last week: 1)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Edged Auburn, 27-20
Georgia's performance this year marks a departure from their previous dominant form. While they secured an important road victory against Auburn, they also displayed weakness in a home game against South Carolina. The data confirms that this is not the same Georgia as the past two championship-winning seasons. In the past, Georgia excelled in the run game and on defense, but this year, they rank 67th in yards allowed per carry, a stark contrast to their top-three ranking in the previous four seasons. The Bulldogs are undergoing a transformation, and that's why they've lost their top spot.
Ohio State Buckeyes (Last week: 4)
Record: 4-0
Week 5 result: Bye
Ohio State enjoyed a bye week after their dramatic win against Notre Dame. The team is buzzing with storylines, including the confidence of first-year starting quarterback Kyle McCord, who orchestrated the game-winning drive against the Irish. However, questions surround the availability of preseason All-American Marvin Harrison Jr., who sprained his ankle against Notre Dame. Defensively, OSU has been rock solid, allowing just 8.5 points per game and ranking second in scoring defense. They face a challenge in slowing down Maryland's high-scoring offense in Week 6.
Penn State Nittany Lions (Last week: 6)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Dominated Northwestern, 41-13
Penn State faced a tough first half against Northwestern but roared back to secure a convincing 41-13 victory. Their defense stifled Northwestern, much like their dominant showing against Iowa the previous week. They currently lead the nation in total defense and rank highly in scoring defense, takeaways, and sacks. While quarterback Drew Allar's early-season brilliance has tapered off, the Nittany Lions remain a formidable force. Their upcoming game against Ohio State could have significant conference championship and College Football Playoff implications.
Florida State Seminoles (Last week: 7)
Record: 4-0
Week 5 result: Bye
Florida State, like Ohio State, had a bye week following their noteworthy victory over Clemson. Quarterback Jordan Travis led the Seminoles to break a seven-game losing streak against Clemson, and they now prepare to face Virginia Tech. While the Seminoles hold a 4-0 record, their win over LSU has lost some luster as LSU's performance declines. Florida State has been outgained in their last two games, which raises concerns despite their victories.
Washington Huskies (Last week: 2)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Held off Arizona, 31-24
Despite Washington's explosive offense led by Michael Penix Jr., they faced a tough challenge against Arizona, who played without their starting quarterback. The Huskies narrowly secured a 31-24 win. With a bye week approaching, Washington is gearing up for a top-10 showdown against Oregon, a game that will heavily impact conference standings and playoff aspirations, considering their challenging schedule.
Oregon Ducks (Last week: 9)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Dominated Stanford, 42-6
Oregon found themselves trailing Stanford 6-0 in the first quarter before unleashing a dominant performance, scoring 42 unanswered points. The Ducks rank among the few FBS teams averaging 50-plus points per game, with Bo Nix excelling at quarterback. Nix boasts an 80% completion rate, 16 touchdowns, and just one interception. Oregon's offense is firing on all cylinders.
USC Trojans (Last week: 8)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Outlasted Colorado, 48-41
USC, despite winning, had a concerning defensive performance against Colorado, reminiscent of their struggles last season. The Trojans allowed 41 points in the final three quarters, and their defensive stats are far from championship-caliber. USC faces the challenge of improving defensively to maximize their offensive talent, led by quarterback Caleb Williams.
Oklahoma Sooners (Last week: Unranked)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Overwhelmed Iowa State, 50-20
Under Brent Venables, Oklahoma is a scoring machine, averaging over 47 points per game while stifling opponents to under 11 points per contest. Their 5-0 record includes victories by at least 14 points in every game. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is productive through the air, but their run game needs improvement. Despite their current ranking, Oklahoma is a strong contender this season.
In Boulder, USC secured a thrilling victory against Colorado, winning 48-41, with a star-studded audience in attendance. Meanwhile, Michigan and Texas delivered impressive performances, Oregon and Penn State overcame sluggish starts to dominate the second half, and Georgia revealed a significant transformation compared to their back-to-back championship-winning form in the previous two years.
Here's a fresh look at my top 10 rankings after Week 5 of college football:
Michigan Wolverines (Last week: 3)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Triumphed over Nebraska, 45-7
Michigan has proven its superiority over Georgia. Their prowess at the line of scrimmage is evident. The Wolverines are a force on defense and adept at coverage. They may not be flashy, but they are methodical and effective. This year, they've outperformed their previous two seasons. Apart from garbage time in the fourth quarter, they've allowed only 13 points all season. The Wolverines' running game is a juggernaut. Even against Nebraska's formidable rush defense, they ran the ball 51 times for 249 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. This team is in top form.
Texas Longhorns (Last week: 5)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Conquered Kansas, 40-14
Texas is on fire this season, exhibiting a significant departure from their past few years. Previously, they tended to perform at the level of their competition, largely due to their weakness at the line of scrimmage. However, this year, Texas excels in that department. They boast a robust defense and a potent running game. Typically, a game against Kansas, right before the Red River Rivalry, would be a classic trap game, but Texas remained focused due to their strength at the line of scrimmage. Beyond the Red River Rivalry, their schedule lacks ranked opponents. Winning that game could secure their path to the playoffs, similar to Georgia's recent dominance on defense and consistency at the line of scrimmage.
Georgia Bulldogs (Last week: 1)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Edged Auburn, 27-20
Georgia's performance this year marks a departure from their previous dominant form. While they secured an important road victory against Auburn, they also displayed weakness in a home game against South Carolina. The data confirms that this is not the same Georgia as the past two championship-winning seasons. In the past, Georgia excelled in the run game and on defense, but this year, they rank 67th in yards allowed per carry, a stark contrast to their top-three ranking in the previous four seasons. The Bulldogs are undergoing a transformation, and that's why they've lost their top spot.
Ohio State Buckeyes (Last week: 4)
Record: 4-0
Week 5 result: Bye
Ohio State enjoyed a bye week after their dramatic win against Notre Dame. The team is buzzing with storylines, including the confidence of first-year starting quarterback Kyle McCord, who orchestrated the game-winning drive against the Irish. However, questions surround the availability of preseason All-American Marvin Harrison Jr., who sprained his ankle against Notre Dame. Defensively, OSU has been rock solid, allowing just 8.5 points per game and ranking second in scoring defense. They face a challenge in slowing down Maryland's high-scoring offense in Week 6.
Penn State Nittany Lions (Last week: 6)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Dominated Northwestern, 41-13
Penn State faced a tough first half against Northwestern but roared back to secure a convincing 41-13 victory. Their defense stifled Northwestern, much like their dominant showing against Iowa the previous week. They currently lead the nation in total defense and rank highly in scoring defense, takeaways, and sacks. While quarterback Drew Allar's early-season brilliance has tapered off, the Nittany Lions remain a formidable force. Their upcoming game against Ohio State could have significant conference championship and College Football Playoff implications.
Florida State Seminoles (Last week: 7)
Record: 4-0
Week 5 result: Bye
Florida State, like Ohio State, had a bye week following their noteworthy victory over Clemson. Quarterback Jordan Travis led the Seminoles to break a seven-game losing streak against Clemson, and they now prepare to face Virginia Tech. While the Seminoles hold a 4-0 record, their win over LSU has lost some luster as LSU's performance declines. Florida State has been outgained in their last two games, which raises concerns despite their victories.
Washington Huskies (Last week: 2)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Held off Arizona, 31-24
Despite Washington's explosive offense led by Michael Penix Jr., they faced a tough challenge against Arizona, who played without their starting quarterback. The Huskies narrowly secured a 31-24 win. With a bye week approaching, Washington is gearing up for a top-10 showdown against Oregon, a game that will heavily impact conference standings and playoff aspirations, considering their challenging schedule.
Oregon Ducks (Last week: 9)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Dominated Stanford, 42-6
Oregon found themselves trailing Stanford 6-0 in the first quarter before unleashing a dominant performance, scoring 42 unanswered points. The Ducks rank among the few FBS teams averaging 50-plus points per game, with Bo Nix excelling at quarterback. Nix boasts an 80% completion rate, 16 touchdowns, and just one interception. Oregon's offense is firing on all cylinders.
USC Trojans (Last week: 8)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Outlasted Colorado, 48-41
USC, despite winning, had a concerning defensive performance against Colorado, reminiscent of their struggles last season. The Trojans allowed 41 points in the final three quarters, and their defensive stats are far from championship-caliber. USC faces the challenge of improving defensively to maximize their offensive talent, led by quarterback Caleb Williams.
Oklahoma Sooners (Last week: Unranked)
Record: 5-0
Week 5 result: Overwhelmed Iowa State, 50-20
Under Brent Venables, Oklahoma is a scoring machine, averaging over 47 points per game while stifling opponents to under 11 points per contest. Their 5-0 record includes victories by at least 14 points in every game. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is productive through the air, but their run game needs improvement. Despite their current ranking, Oklahoma is a strong contender this season.