College Football Rankings 2016: Bleacher Report's Week 10 Top 25
Just as records are meant to be broken, unbeaten teams are destined to lose at some point. Seven of them played on Saturday, and only three managed to avoid defeat during the most tumultuous week of college football we've seen this season.
Only five perfect teams remain, including two—Alabama and Western Michigan—that were not in action, and with all that chaos, our Bleacher Report Top 25 looks quite a bit different from a week ago.
The Bleacher Report poll is voted on by 17 members of our college football staff: writers Greg Couch, Tyler Donohue, Ed Feng, David Kenyon, Sanjay Kirpalani, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Brian Pedersen, David Regimbal, Barrett Sallee, Damon Sayles, Brad Shepard, Greg Wallace and Christopher Walsh; video staff Michael Felder; and editors Eric Bowman and Eric Yates.
First-place votes are worth 25 points, with each subsequent point worth one fewer point all the way down to one for 25th place. The 25 teams with the most poll points make our list, with the rest falling into the "others receiving votes" category.
Check out where everyone stands after Week 9, then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Others Receiving Votes
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Washington State rallied from a 24-6 halftime deficit to win 35-31 at Oregon State, improving to 5-0 in Pac-12 play for the first time since 2002. However, the Cougars still fell out of our rankings after not earning enough votes to stay in the poll.
Here's a look at all of the teams that received votes, but not enough to get into our Top 25.
- Washington State (18)
- Ole Miss (15)
- Stanford (10)
- Houston (8)
- USC (8)
- San Diego State (6)
- Tennessee (6)
- Troy (6)
- Minnesota (5)
- Arkansas (4)
- Miami, Florida (4)
- Wyoming (3)
- Notre Dame (2)
- Northwestern (1)
No. 25 South Florida Bulls
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Poll points: 21
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Week 9 result: Won 52-45 vs. Navy
Week 10 matchup: Bye
South Florida (7-2, 4-1 American) exploded for 28 first-quarter points as its big-play offense paced a huge Friday night win.
The Bulls gained 629 yards with a school-record 412 of that coming on the ground. Quarterback Quinton Flowers and running backs Marlon Mack and D'Ernest Johnson all topped the 100-yard mark, with Flowers throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 176 yards and two scores.
South Florida had three TDs of 40-plus yards in the first quarter while building a 42-14 halftime lead.
No. 24 Boise State Broncos
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Poll points: 37
Last week's ranking: 13th (tie)
Week 9 result: Lost 30-28 at Wyoming
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 4 vs. San Jose State
Boise State (7-1, 3-1 Mountain West) may have seen its shot at another New Year's Six bowl game go rolling out the back of the end zone in Laramie. That's where the ball went after Brett Rypien was stripped deep in his own territory with less than 90 seconds left, resulting in a safety for the game's final points.
The Broncos led 21-7 midway through the second quarter on three rushing scores—two from Jeremy McNichols (who had 143 yards on 18 carries). Wyoming fought back within one, and then Thomas Sperbeck caught a 33-yard TD pass from Rypien to help build the lead back to 28-20.
The Cowboys scored the game's final 10 points, tying it with 6:42 left and then taking their only lead on the safety. Boise's loss leaves Western Michigan as the only unbeaten "Group of Five" team.
No. 23 Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Poll points: 79
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Week 9 result: Won 37-20 vs. West Virginia
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at Kansas State
Oklahoma State (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) threw itself back into the conference race by knocking off previously unbeaten West Virginia behind a huge day from quarterback Mason Rudolph.
The junior threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-36 passing and added a rushing score. The Cowboys won their fourth straight game, giving head coach Mike Gundy his 100th career win. Gundy, a former OK State quarterback, is 100-49 in 12 seasons.
OK State took the lead for good at 13-10 in the second quarter on Chris Lacy's five-yard TD catch from Rudolph, which came two plays after Vincent Taylor strip-sacked West Virginia QB Skyler Howard and Cole Walterscheid returned the fumble to the Mountaineers' 8-yard line. It was the first of three takeaways for the Cowboys, which they converted into 17 points.
No. 22 Penn State Nittany Lions
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Poll points: 93
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Week 9 result: Won 62-24 at Purdue
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Iowa
Penn State (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) won its first game against a ranked opponent under head coach James Franklin last week, knocking off Ohio State. This time, the Nittany Lions ended a seven-game road losing streak for their fourth consecutive victory.
Saquon Barkley ran for a career-high 207 yards with two touchdowns on 18 carries, highlighted by an 81-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter. It was his second 200-yard game in the last three weeks.
Penn State trailed 17-14 midway through the second quarter before going on a 20-0 run, then it later scored the game's final 28 points. Andre Robinson added two rushing scores, Chris Godwin caught two of Trace McSorley's three TD passes and the Lions forced four turnovers.
No. 21 Utah Utes
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Poll points: 94
Last week's ranking: 17th
Week 9 result: Lost 31-24 vs. Washington
Week 10 matchup: Bye
Utah (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12) matched unbeaten Washington blow for blow, leading for a few minutes in the second half after falling behind by 14 points early on. But one special teams play decided the outcome and knocked the Utes out of first place in the South Division.
The Utes tied it at 24 with 9:07 left on Evan Moeai's 24-yard touchdown catch from Troy Williams, who threw for 163 yards and two TDs against his former school. The teams traded punts after that score, but Washington's Dante Pettis turned a punt from Mitch Wishnowsky into a 58-yard game-winning TD with 3:25 to go.
Utah got to Washington's 26-yard line with one minute remaining but couldn't go further. The loss puts it a half-game behind Colorado in the South. The Utes got 172 rushing yards and a TD from Joe Williams, the once-retired senior who has gained 683 yards the last three games.
No. 20 Virginia Tech Hokies
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Poll points: 103
Last week's ranking: 24th
Week 9 result: Won 39-36 at Pittsburgh
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at Duke
Virginia Tech (6-2, 4-1 ACC) overcame red-zone struggles to outlast Pittsburgh on the road on Thursday, remaining in control of the Coastal Division thanks to one of the best passing performances in school history and a record effort from its kicker.
Joey Slye's six field goals combined with 406 passing yards from Jerod Evans were enough to give the Hokies their first win in Pittsburgh since 1999.
Evans was 24-of-40 and threw two touchdown passes, with receivers Bucky Hodges, Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips all collecting 100-plus yards. Virginia Tech had six drives stall inside Pitt's 20, though Slye was good on all six of his tries to tie an ACC single-game record.
The Hokies are tied with North Carolina in the Coastal but have the edge thanks to a head-to-head win over the Tar Heels.
No. 19 Florida State Seminoles
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Poll points: 132
Last week's ranking: 12th
Week 9 result: Lost 37-34 vs. Clemson
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at North Carolina State
Florida State (5-3, 2-3 ACC) battled back from an early 14-0 deficit to lead twice in the second half, but after falling behind once more in the final minutes, it couldn't make one last rally.
Deondre Francois was sacked six times, including on the Seminoles' final two plays in the last minute. The quarterback was unable to complement the running of junior Dalvin Cook, who tallied 169 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries. That included scores of 43 and 70 yards that helped put FSU up 28-20 in the third quarter. His eight-yard scoring run gave the Noles a 34-29 lead with 3:23 remaining before Clemson went ahead for good only 77 seconds later.
FSU was outgained 511-449 and lost at home to Clemson for the first time since 2006.
No. 18 Colorado Buffaloes
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Poll points: 134
Last week's ranking: 22nd
Week 9 result: Bye
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 3 vs. UCLA
Colorado (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) is bowl-eligible for the first time in nine years and has already won more games in its league than in any season since moving from the Big 12 in 2011.
The Buffaloes are doing it with a balanced attack, particularly through a trio of receivers who all have at least 468 yards. Shay Fields, Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo have combined to catch 108 passes for 1,522 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Running back Phillip Lindsay has 745 yards and nine touchdowns, going for 350 yards in Colorado's last two wins.
No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels
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Poll points: 151
Last week's ranking: 21st
Week 9 result: Bye
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Georgia Tech
North Carolina (6-2, 4-1 ACC) is tied with Virginia Tech for the Coastal Division lead, but the Tar Heels will need some help to win a second straight division title since it lost to the Hokies earlier this month.
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has thrown 18 touchdown passes with just two interceptions this season, completing 71.2 percent of his throws. Running backs Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan have combined for 946 rushing yards and 11 TDs, while receiver Ryan Switzer has 66 catches for 678 yards and three scores.
UNC has won nine consecutive road games—one behind Alabama for the longest active streak in FBS.
No. 16 West Virginia Mountaineers
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Poll points: 167
Last week's ranking: 9th
Week 9 result: Lost 37-20 at Oklahoma State
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Kansas
West Virginia (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) lost for the first time since December, with its three turnovers leading to 17 Oklahoma State points.
Quarterback Skyler Howard was intercepted twice and lost a fumble in the Mountaineers' first three-turnover game since the season-opening win against Missouri. His lost fumble enabled OK State to take a 13-10 lead in the second quarter, and picks in the second half both led to Cowboys scores. Howard was 24-of-39 for 212 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing score.
West Virginia allowed 358 yards after giving up 14.3 points and 321.7 yards per game in Big 12 play.
No. 15 Western Michigan Broncos
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Poll points: 171
Last week's ranking: 19th
Week 9 result: Bye
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 1 at Ball State
Western Michigan (8-0, 4-0 Mid-American) gets an extended rest before starting a series of weeknight games, the first of which will come the same night as the initial College Football Playoff rankings. The Broncos are hoping they're rated high enough to grab the Group of Five bowl bid to a major game.
The Broncos are off to their best start in 75 years thanks to early wins at Northwestern and Illinois and an all-around explosive offense. They've scored 41 or more points in five straight games, paced by the two-headed running attack of Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan as well as senior quarterback Zach Terrell's passing.
Terrell has thrown for 1,995 yards with 20 touchdowns and just one interception in 209 attempts. He's completed 72.2 percent of his throws, with Corey Davis hauling in 11 of those TDs.
No. 14 Baylor Bears
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Poll points: 175
Last week's ranking: 6th
Week 9 result: Lost 35-34 at Texas
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. TCU
Baylor (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) fell from the ranks of the unbeatens, and likely the playoff hunt, losing to Texas for the second consecutive season.
The Bears led 34-26 with 8:54 remaining on a 24-yard field goal by Chris Callahan before Texas scored the final nine points, including the game-winning field goal with 46 seconds to go. Baylor's final five drives included a punt, a fumble, a turnover on downs and two short field goals after stalling in the red zone.
Seth Russell threw for 226 yards with two TDs and ran for 138 yards and a score, while Terence Williams had 180 rushing yards and a TD. Baylor gained a total of 398 yards on the ground.
No. 13 LSU Tigers
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Poll points: 192
Last week's ranking: 18th
Week 9 result: Bye
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Alabama
LSU (5-2, 3-1 SEC) is unbeaten under interim head coach Ed Orgeron, who, since taking over for Les Miles, has piloted the Tigers to some of their best offensive performances in school history.
The Tigers are averaging 41.7 points and 536.3 yards per game during a three-game win streak, compared to 21.0 points and 339.5 yards per game in a 2-2 start.
Running back Leonard Fournette, despite missing three games with an ankle injury, has run for 670 yards and five touchdowns. Backup Derrius Guice has run for 621 yards and seven TDs.
No. 12 Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Poll points: 230
Last week's ranking: 8th
Week 9 result: Lost 23-17 (OT) at Wisconsin
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at Ohio State
Nebraska (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) was among the quartet of unbeaten teams to fall on Saturday, though the Cornhuskers made it to extra time before losing for the first time in 2016.
The Huskers forced OT by rallying from a 10-point hole in the fourth quarter, first with a two-yard Tommy Armstrong Jr. touchdown run and then Drew Brown's game-tying 35-yard field goal with 3:43 left. A pair of Nate Gerry interceptions helped fuel the comeback, with the second setting up Brown's tying kick.
After Wisconsin missed a field goal just before the end of regulation, Nebraska gave up a touchdown in overtime but caught a break when the Badgers missed the PAT.
It couldn't take advantage, though, as Armstrong's pass to Stanley Morgan Jr. in the end zone was broken up to end the game. Armstrong threw for 153 yards but was just 12-of-31 with two interceptions, adding 39 rushing yards and a score. Terrell Newby added 77 rushing yards for Nebraska.
No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners
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Poll points: 251
Last week's ranking: 13th (tie)
Week 9 result: Won 56-3 vs. Kansas
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 3 at Iowa State
Oklahoma (6-2, 5-0 Big 12) won its 12th consecutive league game and now sits all alone atop the conference standings after Baylor and West Virginia fell on Saturday.
The Sooners were never challenged by Kansas, losers of 39 consecutive road games, as they led 28-3 at halftime and added another 28 in the third quarter. Dede Westbrook had Oklahoma's first two TDs, a 71-yard punt return in the first quarter and a 41-yard TD catch from Baker Mayfield in the second.
Mayfield threw for 236 yards and four TDs on 16-of-24 passing, while Westbrook had 230 all-purpose yards. Jordan Evans added a 33-yard interception return score in the third quarter, and Oklahoma's defense held Kansas to 170 yards while forcing two turnovers.
No. 10 Florida Gators
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Poll points: 252
Last week's ranking: 16th
Week 9 result: Won 24-10 vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville, Florida)
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at Arkansas
Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) dominated rival Georgia for the third straight year in "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," a sluggish affair that only featured 395 yards of total offense.
The Gators scored the game's final 17 points after trailing 10-7, with Jordan Scarlett's two-yard touchdown run with 1:37 left in the first half the game-winning score. Scarlett ran for 93 yards on 26 carries, but Florida only managed 100 rushing yards on 48 tries.
That's much better than Georgia, which Florida held to 21 yards on 19 carries. The Gators, who yielded only 164 told yards, have held Georgia to 33 points during their three-game win streak against the Bulldogs.
"It's time to take Florida seriously not just as an SEC East front-runner, but on the fringe of the College Football Playoff conversation," Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee wrote.
No. 9 Auburn Tigers
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Poll points: 256
Last week's ranking: 15th
Week 9 result: Won 40-29 at Ole Miss
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Vanderbilt
Auburn (6-2, 4-1 SEC) won a back-and-forth game that had nine lead changes, but it outscored Ole Miss 13-0 in the fourth quarter to win its fifth straight.
Daniel Carlson's third of four field goals, a 30-yarder with 12:25 remaining, was the go-ahead score. He added a 47-yard kick to give him 17 for the season, then the Tigers padded the lead with Kerryon Johnson's three-yard touchdown run with 5:58 to go.
Auburn ran for 307 yards, its fourth game with at least 300 rushing yards this season, with Kamryn Pettway providing 236 yards and a TD on 30 carries. Sean White was 15-of-22 for 247 yards with a TD, and Johnson had two rushing scores.
The Tigers won despite allowing an Ole Miss-record 465 passing yards and three TDs to quarterback Chad Kelly.
No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers
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Poll points: 303
Last week's ranking: 10th
Week 9 result: Won 23-17 (OT) vs. Nebraska
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at Northwestern
Wisconsin (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) is making a habit out of faring well against Top 10 teams, moving to 3-2 against them this season after holding off previously unbeaten Nebraska.
Dare Ogunbowale's 11-yard touchdown run in OT was the game-winning score, but the Badgers missed the extra point and were at risk of falling had Nebraska gotten its own TD. Instead, Wisconsin's defense buckled down and only allowed the Cornhuskers to get two yards in OT.
The Badgers led 17-7 thanks to a 21-yard Bradrick Shaw TD run in the first quarter and a nine-yard TD catch from Alex Hornibrook to Robert Wheelwright in the third. But both Hornibrook and Bart Houston threw second-half interceptions to allow Nebraska to tie it, with the duo only throwing for 114 yards on 14-of-23 passing.
Wisconsin's last four games—two wins, two losses—have been decided by a combined 28 points, none by more than eight.
No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies
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Poll points: 310
Last week's ranking: 11th
Week 9 result: Won 52-10 vs. New Mexico State
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at Mississippi State
Texas A&M (7-1, 4-1 SEC) returned from its first loss of the season by demolishing a Sun Belt team in all facets.
A&M outgained New Mexico State 515-316 and held its opponent out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. It had two rushing touchdowns, one from Trayveon Williams and the other from James White, as part of a 233-yard ground attack. Trevor Knight was 15-of-24 for 204 yards with two TDs, and backup Jake Hubenak threw a scoring pass.
Christian Kirk scored three times: twice on punt returns and once with a receiving TD.
No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes
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Poll points: 332
Last week's ranking: 7th
Week 9 result: Won 24-20 vs. Northwestern
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Nebraska
Ohio State (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) did not show the fire expected after losing for the first time last week at Penn State, taking a quick 10-0 lead but then sleepwalking until Northwestern tied it up late in the third quarter.
Curtis Samuel's three-yard touchdown run with 9:43 to go proved to be the game-winner and the only points the Buckeyes had after leading 17-7 midway through the second quarter. They managed 431 yards, including 208 on the ground, with Mike Weber scoring twice with 87 yards on 14 carries.
J.T. Barrett threw for 223 yards on 21-of-32 passing but failed to throw a TD pass for just the second time this season.
It was head coach Urban Meyer's 161st career victory, passing Oklahoma's Bob Stoops for the most wins in the first 15 years of coaching, per Kevin McGuire of NBC Sports.
No. 5 Louisville Cardinals
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Poll points: 351
Last week's ranking: 5th
Week 9 result: Won 32-25 at Virginia
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at Boston College
Louisville (7-1, 5-1 ACC) turned to quarterback Lamar Jackson to reverse an awful first half at Virginia, and the Heisman Trophy hopeful responded with some big plays down the stretch to pull out a last-second win.
Jackson's 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Smith with 13 seconds left was his third TD pass in the final 19:03 of the game, helping the Cardinals rally from down 17-7 to remain in the hunt for the ACC's Atlantic Division title and a shot at the playoff. Jackson threw four TDs and had 361 passing yards along with 90 rushing yards, accounting for 451 of Louisville's 508 yards, though he also committed two turnovers.
"It was far from Jackson's best performance of the season, though that doesn't mean it wasn't a better game than most quarterbacks typically have," CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli wrote.
Virginia went up 25-24 with 1:57 to go on a TD pass and two-point conversion, but Jackson kept the game-winning eight-play drive alive by converting a 4th-and-3 with 55 seconds left in the game.
No. 4 Washington Huskies
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Poll points: 379
Last week's ranking: 4th
Week 9 result: Won 31-24 at Utah
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at California
Washington (8-0, 5-0 Pac-12) survived its biggest test of the season, going ahead for good on Dante Pettis' 58-yard punt return touchdown with 3:25 left.
Pettis initially backpedaled to get around Utah defenders but then juked out a few tacklers and turned upfield to give the Huskies their 11th consecutive win (but the first in which they didn't score at least 35 points). Their 385 yards of total offense was also 101 yards below the season average and their fewest since the season opener.
Jake Browning threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns (both to John Ross) on 12-of-20 passing, but he was also intercepted. That pick came midway through the second quarter and set up Utah's first TD. The Huskies fell behind 17-14 in the third quarter before Browning threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Ross with 5:36 left in the third.
Myles Gaskin added 151 rushing yards and a TD on 19 carries for Washington.
No. 3 Clemson Tigers
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Poll points: 393 (one first-place vote)
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Week 9 result: Won 37-34 at Florida State
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Syracuse
Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC) played well for most of the first half and again in the fourth quarter, but because of troubles in between, it found itself in another tight finish. But like with the Tigers' other four one-score games this season, they found a way to get it done in the end.
Jordan Leggett's 34-yard touchdown catch with 2:06 left, which required the tight end to dive for the end zone and use his hand to balance along the way, gave Clemson the game-winning score. Then the Tigers defense came up huge, sacking Florida State QB Deondre Francois on the final two plays.
"It's what championships are made of," Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney told ESPN's Samantha Ponder after the game. "You've got to keep playing, there are four quarters. We were at our best when we needed to be."
It was Clemson's ninth straight road win and first in Tallahassee since 2006, but it was a sloppy one. Deshaun Watson had 430 yards of total offense and two TD passes, but he also threw two interceptions, each setting up an FSU TD. The Tigers allowed 449 yards but recorded six sacks.
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines
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Poll points: 399
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Week 9 result: Won 32-23 at Michigan State
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 vs. Maryland
Michigan (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) beat its in-state rival for the first time since 2012 and won in East Lansing for the first time since 2007 behind an all-around stellar effort from Jabrill Peppers and a 20-point second quarter.
The Wolverines trailed 7-0 early but then scored 30 of the next 33 points, keyed by two second-quarter touchdown runs from De'Veon Smith. Peppers scored Michigan's first TD on a three-yard run late in the first quarter and also capped the scoring by returning a fumble on a late two-point try for two.
Peppers ran for 24 yards, caught a pass, had 23 yards on returns and also had seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Wilton Speight added 244 yards on 16-of-25 passing, and Kenny Allen converted all three of his field goals.
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide
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Poll points: 424 (16 first-place votes)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Week 9 result: Bye
Week 10 matchup: Nov. 5 at LSU
Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) is on its annual pre-LSU break, about the only way the Crimson Tide can be stopped right now. They've won 20 consecutive games and have won the last five by an average of 30.6 points.
The Tide have nearly outscored their opponents without needing the offense, getting 12 non-offensive touchdowns this season, including five on fumble returns. Defensive back Eddie Jackson had three scores before going down with a season-ending leg injury, while lineman Jonathan Allen and defensive back Ronnie Harrison have two apiece.
True freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts has accounted for 2,099 yards of total offense and 21 TDs, nine of which were on the ground. He has two 100-yard rushing games and three games with at least two rushing scores.
All slides written by Brian J. Pedersen. Follow the author on Twitter at @realBJP.
