College Football Rankings: Kirk Herbstreit releases new top-five after Week 10

With November having arrived, we’re on the eve of the initial rankings of the College Football Playoff. Kirk Herbstreit has also now released his own top-five again ahead of the debut ratings for the CFP.

Herbstreit shared that new top-five alongside Joey Galloway, who shared a top-five of his own too, on the next episode of ‘Nonstop’ on Monday morning. His was identical to that from the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll on Sunday, but with him knowing that’s not usually how the Selection Committee will have their’s look come the reveal on Tuesday night.

“That’s my top-five this week. I think that’s what the AP – I haven’t looked. I’m guessing the AP and the Coaches Poll? That’s kind of more conventional wisdom,” said Herbstreit. “Historically, the committee’s first rankings like to be different. They like people to talk about their rankings.”

Here is that top-five, with one change made to it this week, by Herbstreit:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

With a 24-point win over Penn State on Saturday to open November, Ohio State remained undefeated, and dominant in doing so, at 8-0 (5-0). Herbstreit now fully expects the Buckeyes, who sit atop his own rating, to be right there in the debate for the No. 1 or the No. 2 overall seed, with him having no preference either way, come the release of the committee’s rankings tomorrow night.

“If Indiana is one or Ohio State is one, it doesn’t bother me,” said Herbstreit.

2. Indiana Hoosiers

Very similarly in record and dominance, Indiana came in at second in this ranking for Herbstreit, as the Hoosiers are 9-0 (6-0) with a 55-10 win over Maryland to push their average margin of victory to 35.7 points. He now wouldn’t be surprised if that makes a difference in IU being No. 1 for the CFP come Tuesday.

“Wouldn’t shock me if Indiana (is No. 1), maybe, because they’ve been so dominant every week,” Herbstreit said. “Might be one. I don’t – but, me personally? It doesn’t bother me one way or the other.”

3. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M, coming off a bye week, also remains undefeated at 8-0 (5-0) as the last unbeaten team in the SEC. With that, Herbstreit wonders if, just based on resumé with wins at Notre Dame and five wins in the SEC, including their last game at LSU, the Aggies could make a case to be atop those first rankings by the Selection Committee.

“A&M has some great wins,” said Herbstreit. “Probably, if you’re just going on resumé? You could easily see them putting A&M at one.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (+1)

Alabama was also on a bye this past week. However, with a loss by the team previously ranked above them, Herbstreit moved the Crimson Tide up a spot to No. 4

After that opening loss in Tallahassee, ‘Bama has won seven straight to be at 7-1 (5-0), including those five consecutive in conference play – four straight against ranked foes before surviving their last time out against South Carolina. That has them right in contention to be in the SEC Championship and, even if not by the end of this month, to still be in the CFP.

5. Georgia Bulldogs (NR)

Herbstreit replaced one team for another from the Peach State. That’s with Georgia Tech losing their first game of the season to NC State in Raleigh, as Georgia moved into the top-five with a 24-20 win over Florida in Jacksonville.

With that, the Bulldogs have just continued to battle their way to win after win, with five of their six conference games having been decided by ten or less and them having a record in league play of 5-1. That competitive edge has the ‘Dawgs right where they’ve often been, which is contention coming into the last month of the season.