Utah holds on to No. 1 spot in college football midseason Power Rankings
We’re well past the point in the season where we know absolutely nothing. We’ve learned some things through seven weeks—even if what we’ve learned has only revealed more that we don’t know.
Still, as we enter the part of the season when we begin projecting College Football Playoff brackets with some serious consideration, it’s undeniable that things will change. At this point last year, the top four teams in the AP poll were Mississippi State, Florida State, Ole Miss and Baylor. Although the Seminoles held on to make the playoff, their fellow semifinalists were ranked No. 7 (Alabama), No. 9 (Oregon) and No. 13 (Ohio State).
Halfway Heisman Watch: LSU RB Leonard Fournette leading field
So we can say with some confidence that the teams that will make the playoff this year likely reside in the current top 25, possibly even the top 15—though given the shakiness nearly every team has shown this season I wouldn’t rule out teams in the low 20s. Beyond that level of certainty, not much else is clear.
On to the second half! But for now, here’s the midseason top 25:
• NADKARNI: Three thoughts on AP poll after Week 7 | Complete AP Top 25
1. Utah Utes
PREVIOUS: 1
RECORD: 6-0
Next week: Saturday at USC
2. Clemson Tigers
PREVIOUS: 2
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat Boston College 34–17 Next week: Saturday at Miami
3. Baylor Bears
PREVIOUS: 3
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat West Virginia 62–38 Next week: Saturday vs. Iowa State
4. LSU Tigers
PREVIOUS: 4
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat Florida 35–28 Next week: Saturday vs. Western Kentucky
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
PREVIOUS: 6
RECORD: 6-1
Last week: Beat Texas A&M 41–23 Next week: Saturday vs. Tennessee • ELLIS: Alabama remains contender in SEC
6. TCU Horned Frogs
PREVIOUS: 8
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat Iowa State 45–21 Next week: Bye week
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
PREVIOUS: 10
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat Penn State 38–10 Next week: Saturday at Rutgers
8. Michigan State Spartans
PREVIOUS: 11
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat Michigan 27–23 Next week: Saturday vs. Indiana
9. Florida Gators
PREVIOUS: 5
RECORD: 6-1
Last week: Lost to LSU 35–28 Next week: Bye week
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
PREVIOUS: 14
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat Northwestern 40–10 Next week: Bye week • JOHNSON: Iowa on path to B1G title game
11. Oklahoma State Cowboys
PREVIOUS: 13
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday vs. Kansas
12. Florida State Seminoles
PREVIOUS: 16
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat Louisville 41–21 Next week: Saturday at Georgia Tech
13. Stanford Cardinal
PREVIOUS: 18
RECORD: 5-1
Last week: Beat UCLA 56–35 Next week: Saturday vs. Washington
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
PREVIOUS: 15
RECORD: 6-1
Last week: Beat USC 41–31 Next week: Bye week
15. Texas A&M Aggies
PREVIOUS: 7
RECORD: 5-1
Last week: Lost to Alabama 41–23 Next week: Saturday at Ole Miss • ELLIS: A&M blows big chance vs. Alabama
16. Michigan Wolverines
PREVIOUS: 9
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Lost to Michigan State 27–23 Next week: Bye week
17. Memphis Tigers
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat Ole Miss 37–24 Next week: Friday at Tulsa
18. Oklahoma Sooners
PREVIOUS: 20
RECORD: 5-1
Last week: Beat Kansas State 55–0 Next week: Saturday vs. Texas Tech
19. Houston Cougars
PREVIOUS: 21
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat Tulane 42–7 Next week: Saturday at UCF
20. California Golden Bears
PREVIOUS: 22
RECORD: 5-1
Last week: Bye week Next week: Thursday at UCLA • BECHT: Biggest takeaways from Week 7
21. Pittsburgh Panthers
RECORD: 5-1
Last week: Beat Georgia Tech 31–28 Next week: Saturday at Syracuse
22. Toledo Rockets
PREVIOUS: 24
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat Eastern Michigan 63–20 Next week: Saturday at UMass
23. Duke Blue Devils
PREVIOUS: 25
RECORD: 5-1
Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday at Virginia Tech
24. Temple Owls
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat UCF 30–16 Next week: Thursday at East Carolina
25. Ole Miss Rebels
PREVIOUS: 12
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Lost to Memphis 37–24 Next week: Saturday vs. Texas A&M
Dropped out: Northwestern, UCLA, Boise State
Next five: Northwestern, North Carolina, Mississippi State, Wisconsin, UCLA
