Amway College Football Poll 2016: Top 25 Rankings for Week 10

Week 9 was fascinating for college football fans. More than a few contenders had extremely close calls, and a few even fell, leaving the rankings heading into Week 10 looking far different than a week ago.

Below, we'll break down the Amway Coaches Poll and the Bleacher Report rankings and take a look back on another scintillating week of college football action. 

Analysis

There were nine undefeated teams in the Amway poll heading into Week 9 play. There were only five after the week's matchups concluded, however.

Baylor and Nebraska, both of whom came into the week ranked at No. 6, were the two highest-profile teams to lose. A Texas 39-yard field goal with under a minute remaining left the Bears with their first loss, while Wisconsin beat Nebraska in overtime.

"I will say that everything I know about our team is confirmed," Nebraska head coach Mike Riley told the Associated Press (via ESPN.com) after the game, perhaps searching for the silver lining. "We continue to fight."

Nebraska's College Football Playoff aspirations are still alive, albeit fading. The Cornhuskers face Ohio State next week, and if they win their remaining games they'll earn a spot in the Big Ten title game, where Michigan would likely await. Win that game as well, and the Cornhuskers could still conceivably slip back into the playoff picture if a number of teams ranked above them also suffer a loss.

Baylor's path to the postseason is trickier. Like the Cornhuskers, the Bears didn't play an impressive nonconference slate. Unlike the Cornhuskers, they don't have the possibility of a conference title game to pad their resume. And with Oklahoma remaining undefeated in the Big 12 and matchups against the Sooners and West Virginia looming, the Bears have a lot of work left to do.

Speaking of West Virginia, the Mountaineers were among the previously undefeated teams to fall on Saturday, losing to Oklahoma State 37-20. Like Baylor, the loss leaves West Virginia's playoff hopes faint, and matchups against Texas, Oklahoma and Baylor still remain. 

Finally, Boise State suffered its first loss of the season, a 30-28 upset against Wyoming. The loss all but ended the Broncos' chances of finishing the season in the Top 10 and potentially earning a playoff berth.

A number of teams staved off potential upsets that would have altered the college football landscape even more drastically, meanwhile. 

Clemson trailed Florida State by eight points heading into the fourth quarter before mounting a 17-6 comeback. A Dante Pettis punt return touchdown late in the fourth quarter gave Washington a narrow 31-24 victory over Utah. Lamar Jackson's 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Smith with just 13 seconds on the clock gave Louisville a 32-25 win over Virginia. Ohio State beat Northwestern by just four points.

The lesson of the weekend? The margin for error in college football is shrinking. The difference between the teams that make the playoff this year and those that don't may be as simple as an untimely interception or a botched field goal or some other play, in the clutch, with a team's season hanging in the balance.

There is enough parity at the top of the rankings this season that the smallest error can have large implications.

And that isn't about to change. In Week 10, a number of matchups could have a huge ripple effect in college football, with Alabama facing LSU and Ohio State taking on Nebraska as the highlighted games. For both Nebraska and Ohio State, in particular, the postseason is at stake.

There are no more throwaway games, folks. And there is certainly no more margin for error among the playoff hopefuls.

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