The College Football Power 5 Undefeateds: Ranked In Tiers
By Ty Duffy
The 2015 college football season is four weeks old. A number of power five teams through some combination of skill, luck, or unambitious scheduling remain undefeated. Below, we rank them in tiers. N.B. we are still within the Kenny Trill zone. This will look silly in November.
You May Be Playoff Material
Ohio State: Not as indomitable as anticipated. But, their defense has been outstanding. The offense should (and has ample time to) get rolling. Their first live opponent is Michigan State in mid-November.
Ole Miss: Beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, held Vanderbilt at arm’s length, dropped 70 on everyone else. They are a situational power run game away from greatness, unless Robert Nkemdiche is the permanent short yardage back.
Good, But Reason For Concern
Georgia: The Bulldogs have done everything expected of them. Nick Chubb is amazing. Hard to tell how this team will react when pushed.
LSU: Leonard Fournette is outstanding. Still worried about all other facets of the football team against elite competition.
Michigan State: Beat Oregon (who knows what that means?). Labored against some inferior opponents. Defense has looked very average.
Notre Dame: The Irish are resilient. They have withstood injuries and have found different ways to win. We’ll know a lot more after (at) Clemson, Navy, USC.
UCLA: Dominating on the ground. Still have to stronge cautious with Josh Rosen’s freshman inconsistency and the defensive injuries. Road games at Stanford, at Utah and at USC ahead.
Utah: Just stomped all over Oregon. The narrow Michigan win looks better and better. Not ready to pencil them in as Pac 12 champs, yet.
Not Quite Up To Speed
Clemson: Two cupcakes. Three-point win over a not-that-great Louisville team.
Florida State: Drives after the initial touchdown against Boston College: Punt, Punt, Punt, Missed FG, Punt, Punt, Punt, Punt, End of Game.
Oklahoma: Both sides of the ball have impressed, but seldom at the same time, in the same game, or in consecutive quarters.
Texas A&M: Have stood out, at times. Have underwhelmed, at times. Check back after Mississippi State, Alabama and (at) Ole Miss.
TCU: One-score wins over Minnesota and Texas Tech. Labored against SMU. Their defense does not look good enough to sustain a playoff run.
Not Sold Yet
California: They have Jared Goff. They did beat two Power 5 teams, Washington and Texas, on the road. Second-half defensive collapses will be an issue.
Iowa: Beathard is solid. Not sure they are that special. May not need to be to get into the 9-10 win range in the B1G West.
Northwestern: Well coached. Stern defense. Not sure they can distance themselves enough to roll through conference play with that offense.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys played one actual opponent: Texas (who aren’t that great). Nearly shot themselves in the foot enough times to lose that one.
West Virginia: Tattooed Maryland. Talk to us in November after (at) Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, (at) Baylor, (at) TCU.
Pump the Brakes Hard
Florida: Three one-score FBS wins. Their defense is good. Their offense has a 23 percent third down conversion rate vs. FBS.
Indiana: Three one-score wins against Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky and Wake Forest. Came from behind in 4th quarter to beat FIU. Yeah…
Miami: Two cupcakes, nearly blew a 20-point 4th quarter lead against Nebraska in third game. Coached by Al Golden.
You Haven’t Played Anyone
Baylor [3-0] SMU, Lamar, Rice and a bye week.
N.C. State [4-0] Troy, Eastern Kentucky, Old Dominion, South Alabama: a non-conference schedule of champions.
Kansas State [3-0] Beat South Dakota, UTSA. Went to overtime with Louisiana Tech.
[USAT]