Welcome in to a new feature we are trying out here on SoBros Network because we were recently approved to be on Google News (YUGE win, LFG), and I am testing whether or not it’s worth doing these sorts of power rankings for the SEO. Yes, that’s the entire basis for this set of College Football Power Rankings.
For me, the premise is simple – it’s about who’s had the most impressive body of work. Like Mose mentioned on an earlier episode of the College Football Roundup, it seems a tad whack that preseason rankings are factored into the College Football Playoff discussion at all. Just because someone was ranked #1 before the season started doesn’t mean they’re actually the best team in the country. My rankings will be based largely on quality wins. You’re about to see why I’m prefacing you to read that…
COLLEGE FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 15 2019
1. LSU Tigers (12-0) – What a special season for the Tigers. Undefeated heading into a showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs for the SEC Championship with a Heisman front-running quarterback in Joe Burrow. You couldn’t have drawn it up any better. If they get the win over the Dawgs, their resumé is going to be unequivocally better than Ohio State’s. 13-0 LSU would be the best team in the country.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0) – The Buckeyes have answered a lot of questions about them in the last couple of weeks. But, I still think their resumé is just a tad weaker than LSU’s. Nonetheless, this is a clear 1A and 1B situation. The Buckeyes have Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship this weekend.
3. Clemson Tigers (12-0) – The Tigers wrapped up the regular season without a loss, just as I’ve said for the past several weeks. I feel like a broken record. They’re opening up as nearly 30-point favorites against Virginia in the ACC Championship. They’re a virtual lock for one of the playoff spots.
4. Utah Utes (11-1) – That loss to USC is ugly, sure, but the only other close game on this team’s schedule was a 33-28 on the road at Washington. Otherwise, the Utes have been downright dominant. People are sleeping on how good this team has been, but they HAVE to get it done against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Friday night.
5. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) – 11-1 is 11-1, but man – I still just don’t think the Bulldogs have been overly impressive. What I think matters little, though, as the Bulldogs find themselves in the SEC Championship. If they can somehow defeat LSU, they’ll lock up one of the playoff spots.
6. Oklahoma Sooners (11-1) – The Sooners have a legitimate shot at claiming the fourth playoff spot if LSU and Oregon win this weekend. But, they have to get the job done against Baylor. Their overall resumé is somewhat weak given their struggles as of late.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) – The season is definitely over for the Tide, and definitely not the way they wanted it to end. For the first time in a long long time, they aren’t in the AP top five. They’re just eight points away from 12-0. Absolutely brutal end for the 2019 campaign, but let’s not lose sight of how good this team is. They’ll still likely end up in a New Year’s Six bowl.
8. Florida Gators (10-2) – The Gators get to 10 wins after rolling over rival Florida State. A fine season for a team that had a chance to make some noise in the playoff race but fell just short. Like Alabama, this is still a team that should find a postseason date in the New Year’s Six.
9. Baylor Bears (11-1) – The Bears have some climbing to do, but if they can beat Oklahoma, LSU beats Georgia, and Oregon handles Utah, they might just be the last team standing. Wild to think about it when you look at where this team was in the preseason rankings. Matt Rhule has done a tremendous job, and if the rumors are true, his name might start popping up for NFL vacancies should they arise.
10. Auburn Tigers (9-3) – They won’t crack the New Year’s Six because of the three losses, but these Tigers played an absolutely brutal schedule this season. To have a shot at 10 wins is incredible. No one played LSU as well as they did. They took down Alabama. This is one of the best teams in the country, plain and simple.
Best of the Rest
ACC: It’s the Virginia Cavaliers. But, LOL at them making any noise against Clemson on Saturday. Shout out to Bryce Perkins for having the game of the season when it mattered most against Virginia Tech, though.
Big 12: Despite the loss, I think it’s still the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They had the last shot at disrupting the Big 12, and came up short against Oklahoma. They’ll get to a good bowl game.
Big Ten: All the dominoes have fallen and the Wisconsin Badgers stand between Ohio State’s perfect season. I still think Penn State ends up in the Rose Bowl, but props to Wisconsin for getting here after inexplicably losing to Illinois.
Pac-12: It’s down to Oregon and Utah with major stakes on the line, but how about the USC Trojans sneaking back into the AP Top 25? The Pac-12, overall, was competitive this year, but a bit disappointing. Only seven teams are bowl eligible.
SEC: Who is the sixth best team in the SEC right now? The easy answer is the Texas A&M Aggies, but don’t look past the defense that the Tennessee Volunteers are playing right now. Both teams finished 7-5, and it’s possible that both could end up in Florida bowls.
Group of Five: All that separates the Memphis Tigers from the Cotton Bowl right now is another win over Cincinnati. Should they lose, it’ll likely be the Boise State Broncos making the trip to Dallas (assuming they beat Hawai’i). Seems pretty cut and dry to me.
Wild Card: Wisconsin, Oregon, Virginia, and Baylor have a real chance to disrupt the CFP, but if Georgia wins the SEC, I think you’re still going to see LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia regardless of what happens in the other conferences.
CURRENT BOWL PROJECTIONS
Cotton Bowl: Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Memphis Tigers
Orange Bowl: Virginia Cavaliers vs. Florida Gators
Sugar Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Rose Bowl: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Oregon Ducks
Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Clemson Tigers
Peach Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Utah Utes
National Championship: LSU Tigers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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