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Ohio State Football: Week-too-early CFP Rankings

By Peter Burtnett

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 5: Fireworks go off as the Ohio State Buckeyes take the field for a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 5: Fireworks go off as the Ohio State Buckeyes take the field for a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 18: Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes the football in the third quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 18, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 18: Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes the football in the third quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 18, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Ohio State and other top teams will find out where they stand in the first 2019 College Football Playoff rankings one week from today.

But for you, I’ve prepared a little preview of what I think we should see next Tuesday.

Without any further introduction, here’s my top 10 and a brief summary of why they should be ranked where I have them.

No. 1:  LSU Tigers (8-0, 4-0 SEC)

While the Tigers haven’t been in complete control as much as Ryan Day’s Buckeyes, Ed Orgeron has led his squad to wins over two teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 (#6 Florida and #11 Auburn). It’s also been impossible to ignore the incredible play of former Buckeye Joe Burrow.

No. 2:  Ohio State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten)

The only thing that keeps the Buckeyes behind LSU is simply that their ranked wins come against lesser-ranked opponents (#17 Cincinnati, #18 Wisconsin, and now un-ranked Michigan State). Other than that, they have dominated the competition, winning each game by 24+. If Ohio State can win out behind Chase Young and Justin Fields, it will be hard to keep them out of the No. 1 spot.

No. 3:  Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) 

Like LSU and Ohio State, the Crimson Tide have rolled over their competition. However, they have faced zero currently ranked opponents (Texas A&M was #24 during matchup, Alabama won by 19). If Tua Tagovailoa misses their match-up with LSU and the Tide lose, they could benefit from the Committee’s standards that take injuries into account.

No. 4:  Clemson (8-0, 6-0 ACC) 

Trevor Lawrence hasn’t had quite the follow-up that people expected after last year, but the Tigers have done what’s been needed to continue to win after last year’s championship run. The schedule stays easy, with #23 Wake Forest being the only ranked opponent left on a schedule that has had one up to this point (then-12 Texas A&M).

No. 5:  Penn State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten)

The Nittany Lions have run through the easy part of their schedule but have struggled against the meat, squeaking by #19 Iowa 17-12 and #14 Michigan 28-21. With 8-0 Minnesota next after a bye week, Penn State has a chance to prove that they are one of the top four teams in the nation. A win would bump them over Clemson.

Now for the other Top 10 teams who all have a shot at making the CFP.

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