Breakdown of Week 4’s Top 10 (Pt. 2)
Shelbie Warr/Fansided
Most teams ranked #6-#10 contain squads that are in uncharted territory. If they want a shot at the playoff, they will need to take care of business down the stretch. Most of these teams are in Power 5 conferences that usually have stronger teams ahead of them in their given conferences. If they can keep doing what they are doing, they can flip the script and possibly clinch a playoff berth. Once again, let's go through teams #6-10 in the AP polls and ask: why they're here and will they be here long?
Barry Reeger/ AP Photo
#6 Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions are the hottest team as of late on this list. They have beat 2 top 25 opponents in #12 Wisconsin and a stout #22 Auburn. Quarterback Sean Clifford has been a tremendous positive factor for Happy Valley's success. He's passed for 4 touchdowns which is average but is in the top 40 for passing yards at 757. Clifford had plenty of flashes of greatness against Auburn, but the more difficult days for him and his team are still to come.
Why are they here? :
With 2 wins over top 25 teams in Wisconsin on the road and Auburn at home, this team has surprised many of how legit they seem. These wins are not jokes and should be taken serious in which they have. The Nittany Lions made a 4 team jump in the rankings after beating Auburn.
Will they be here long? :
The future is not exactly bright, the Lions have games at #5 Iowa, #10 Ohio State, and #22 Michigan State. It can be inferred that they have the toughest schedule remaining within the current top 10. If they can somehow win all of these and more, they will easily coast into the College Football Playoff. However, as good as this team is, it does not seem feasible.
Nicole Auerbach/ The Athletic
#7 Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies have a big week ahead of them full of questions. The Aggies had an Orange Bowl victory last season; this placed the 12th Man at #6 in the pre-season top 25. They come into this week 3-0 over not-so-strong opponents in Kent State, Colorado, and New Mexico. Colorado out of these teams kept it close; the Aggies narrowly escaped 10-7 behind Isaiah Spiller carrying the team on his shoulders. While Spiller has been exceptional this season with 250 rushing yards and 2 total touchdowns, the Aggies QB situation has been filled with question marks. While Calzada has played better than King, the Aggies need to secure their quarterback department if they want to be more than a New Years' 6 team .
Why are they here? :
Mainly due to last year's success and returning key players such as Spiller and most of their defense is why they have retained their spot in the top 10. Since they have not lost there is no reason to kick them out. Their slim win over Colorado hurt them a little as they fell 1 spot.
Will they be here long? :
It's going to be difficult to keep a spot for any team in the top 10 that's a member of the SEC West. One advantage for A&M is that they host Alabama and play #16 Arkansas in Dallas, so their 12th man can be a factor in retaining a spot in the top 10. It can be done, but it is not very likely, considering their quarterback situation.
Sam Greene/The Enquirer
#8 Cincinatti Bearcats
Some would say that they are surprised the Bearcats are in the top 10. However, for those who know and watch the game, it is no surprise. Coach Fickell has done an exceptional job at retaining the success from last season. The Bearcats come in with plenty of returning starters including their O'Brien award candidate quarterback in Desmond Ridder. He had an exceptional season last season and is continuing that success this season with 748 yards and 7 passing touchdowns. They are currently on a bye week after a big victory over Indiana. They have a tough test in South Bend as they face Notre Dame. If they can win in any capacity there, the sky is the limit for these Bearcats.
Why are they here? :
After being the highest-ranked group 5 school last year but losing in the Peach Bowl vs. Georgia showed that they were a force to be reckoned with. The Bearcats are the same as last year if not better, and because they have kept up with their winning ways, they have stayed put in the top 10.
Will they be here long? :
If they can put together a win next week over Notre Dame and then go undefeated. The college football world better be ready for the first group 5 team to make it to the Playoff come to New Year's Eve.
Adam Hagy/ Daily Gap Post
#9 Clemson Tigers
With only one loss against the current #2 Georgia Bulldogs, Dabo and his Tigers have a lot to unravel. DJ Uiagalelei has been the biggest question. He hasn't broken the threshold as far as becoming another elite QB for Clemson. He only has 1 passing touchdown on the season and has less than 500 yards through three games. Though the Tigers have looked poor offensively, they have looked very promising defensively. They have only allowed 10 or fewer points per game. Though the offense has its woes, this defense might help Clemson in the long run. The difficult but necessary question to ask though is: how much longer can they keep it up?
Why are they here? :
Similar reason as Alabama, they are a dynasty and are always highly regarded by the pollers. They dropped back obviously after the Georgia loss but fell just as much after their narrow win over Georgia Tech. They are hanging by a thread in the top 10, one more loss might be detrimental to this program's playoff hopes.
Will they be here long? :
It's not looking good. DJ Uiagalelei has just continued to disappoint. If the Clemson QB can't turn things around, especially this upcoming weekend against unranked NC State, the Tigers won't be seeing the top 10 until next season.
Andrew Lind/Fan Nation
#10 Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are in a weird spot. A tough loss to #3 Oregon while other conference foes rise above them make it easy to write them off. Which may not be the case. Freshman quarterback CJ Stroud may have not shined when the Bucks needed him the most but has still looked promising. He has 963 yards with 8 touchdowns on the year so far. He's missing this week's game against Akron which should help, but the Buckeyes have much tougher tests ahead if they want to redeem themselves as a Playoff contender. Such as #5 Iowa, #6 Penn State, #19 Michigan, and #22 Michigan State.
Why are they here? :
The Buck's were in the National title last year after crushing Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. With a talented recruiting class filling in the empty spots, it was hard not to put this team in the preseason top 10. Their loss to Oregon 35-28 knocked them back, but because it was close, they retained their place in the top 10.
Will they be here long? :
They have a shot, but it seems they have a very tough road ahead. As mentioned, the Buckeyes play #5 Iowa, #6 Penn State, #19 Michigan, and #22 Michigan State. They have to win three or all of these to even be considered a playoff contender, much less a top 10 team.