After a rivalry-packed holiday weekend in college football, the latest US LBM Coaches Poll is in-and it’s got plenty to talk about, especially with the postseason picture starting to crystallize.
Let’s start at the top: the Big Ten championship game is officially set, and it’s the matchup everyone expected-and wanted. No.
1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana have been on a collision course for weeks, and now the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Not only is the Big Ten crown on the line, but so is the overall No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes, the reigning national champs, continue to look like the team to beat.
They remain the unanimous No. 1, and right now, they’re playing with the kind of confidence and control that championship teams are built on. Indiana, meanwhile, holds steady at No. 2, and while they’ve flown a bit under the national radar, they’ve been rock-solid all season long.
Georgia slides into the No. 3 spot, setting up a high-stakes SEC title game against No. 10 Alabama.
The Bulldogs are still chasing redemption for their lone loss of the season, and that rematch with the Crimson Tide gives them a shot to not only win the conference but potentially sneak into the top two if things break their way. Oregon and Mississippi round out the top five, each climbing one spot as they continue to handle business down the stretch.
The shakeup in the top 10 comes courtesy of Texas A&M’s rivalry loss, which sends the Aggies tumbling four spots to No. 7.
Texas Tech, now prepping for a Big 12 title clash with No. 11 BYU, takes full advantage and jumps to No.
- The Red Raiders are peaking at the right time, and their rise reflects just how wide open things are behind the top-tier contenders.
And what about the Longhorns? Their win over A&M was a statement, but it only moves them up two spots to No.
- It’s a modest bump, especially considering the rivalry weight of that victory, but it keeps them in striking distance of a New Year’s Six bowl if the chips fall right.
Elsewhere in the top 10, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Alabama all hold firm. No.
12 Vanderbilt and No. 13 Miami (Fla.) also stay put, showing that consistency still counts for something as the season winds down.
Michigan’s playoff hopes, however, are officially dashed. After falling to Ohio State, the Wolverines drop three spots to No.
- It's a tough pill to swallow for a team that had CFP aspirations just a few weeks ago, but the loss to the Buckeyes was decisive-and in this race, that matters.
Tennessee remains in the poll at No. 24, but takes a six-spot tumble after a rough outing against Vanderbilt. That loss not only hurt their ranking-it raised real questions about where this team is heading.
Two teams make their way into the rankings this week: No. 22 Arizona earns its first Coaches Poll appearance of the season, while Navy returns at No.
- On the way out: Pittsburgh and SMU, both of whom couldn’t hold on after recent setbacks.
With championship weekend on deck, the playoff picture is coming into focus-but there’s still room for chaos. Between the Big Ten showdown, the SEC rematch, and a Big 12 title game that could shake things up, we’re heading into one of the most consequential weekends of the season. Buckle up.