NCAA Football Rankings 2015: Week 10 Standings and Analysis for Latest Polls
The new college football rankings have been released, and the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes are still the top team in the nation—on all official accounts. Here's a look at the polls from the coaches, Associated Press and Bleacher Report:
As the Buckeyes Turn
Ohio State's quarterback situation is one of the biggest soap operas in college football. There was indecision early in the year, as head coach Urban Meyer seemed to have a problem committing to either Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett.
Over the last two weeks, Meyer seemed to settle on Barrett, and the team looked better for it. The Buckeyes are a perfect 8-0, but in the last two games, they have outscored teams 87-17. That includes a 49-7 rout of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on October 24.
Barrett accounted for five touchdowns in that game, and everything seemed great. That was until he was suspended for one game after being arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated Saturday, per Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com.
Barrett will miss only the upcoming game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers—a contest the Buckeyes should win without him. However, you have to wonder if there will be any other fallout from his off-field issues.
For now, the Buckeyes are still firmly in control of their own destiny. But everyone will be watching to see how the champs respond to this distraction.
Could the SEC Get Two Teams in the College Football Playoff?
Week 10 is going to be huge, and that's especially the case in the SEC.
The fourth-ranked LSU Tigers head to Tuscaloosa to take on bitter rivals in the No. 7-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The game equates to the SEC West championship, as the winner will likely win the division and move onto the conference title game.
Meanwhile, the No. 11 Florida Gators look to have the SEC East division on lock. They own a two-game lead in the division and have only two very winnable games against the Vanderbilt Commodores and South Carolina Gamecocks remaining on the conference schedule.
Assuming nothing crazy happens the rest of the way for the Gators, they could find themselves in the SEC championship with another crack at the Tigers. LSU handed Florida its only loss of the season, 35-28, in Baton Rouge on October 17.
If Florida knocks off LSU in the rematch and that's the Tigers' only loss of the season, it would be hard to see a scenario where it doesn't make the playoff. Likewise, Florida should definitely be in as the SEC postseason champion.
Clemson's Last Major Test
The Clemson Tigers look to be sitting pretty at No. 3, but they will have a serious test at home Saturday against the Florida State Seminoles. The Noles are probably the only ACC team capable of pushing Clemson.
Sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson has looked like a Heisman Trophy candidate in the team's last two games. He's completed over 77 percent of his passes, thrown for six touchdowns and no picks and run for two more scores.
If the Tigers are to beat Florida State, Watson will need to stay efficient as a passer and continue to put pressure on the defense with his legs.
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