Wasserman's College Football Top 10 Ranking: Welcome back to the show, Indiana

It’s the second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff. When the CFP committee starts releasing rankings later this season, they won’t be the end-all, be-all, given the new seeding rules for the 12-team field. However, the rankings are still enjoyable, and people will continue to argue over them. They still matter. 

So after every weekend, after the dust settles from the games, I’m going to unveil my updated top 10. 

1. Ohio State (3-0)

Ohio State didn’t have a game this week, which was honestly more entertaining than watching the Buckeyes beat up on Grambling State and Ohio. The Buckeyes have the best offensive (Jeremiah Smith) and defensive (Caleb Downs) players in the country. They also possess one of the best wins of any team. Ohio State is averaging north of 40 points a game and is allowing 5 points a game. Next week, the Buckeyes travel to Washington, which will be an interesting test on the West Coast.

2. Georgia (3-0)

Georgia got the week off after an emotional comeback win at Tennessee last weekend. While the rest of the SEC seems up and down, the Bulldogs have returned to being the favorite to win the conference. Although there were plenty of reasons to question Georgia — so many people felt quarterback Gunner Stockton wasn’t good enough — it proved something in Knoxville last week. If you still doubt Georgia, it has a chance to prove itself again when it hosts Alabama next weekend. 

3. Miami (4-0)

There was a time in Miami’s 26-7 win over Florida when it felt like the Hurricanes were in trouble. When Florida cornerback Cormani McClain picked off Carson Beck around midfield in a six-point game heading into the fourth quarter, you could feel the tension in South Florida. But the truth is, Florida never really stood a chance of winning that football game. You may have wanted to see Miami win that game by more, but in an intense rivalry with Florida’s coach’s back against the wall? That was a convincing win.

4. LSU (3-0)

There was some buzz after LSU‘s opening-season win at Clemson that the Tigers should be the No. 1 team in the country. That win, however, continues to age poorly. Clemson got its doors blown off by Syracuse on Saturday. While it may be difficult to lose what would have been a quality win off its resume, the truth is the Tigers will only go as far as they take themselves. Saturday was a blowout win over Southeastern Louisiana. Next is five consecutive games against Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Alabama.

5. Indiana (4-0)

So many people — me included — spent the entire offseason talking up Illinois, saying the Illini had a chance to be this year’s Indiana. As it turns out, this year’s Indiana is, well, Indiana. When the Hoosiers hosted the Illini on Saturday night, they left no doubt in a 63-10 beating. Curt Cignetti‘s team was coaching like it had a point to prove. Indiana is a wagon. The best part? With Oregon and Penn State on the schedule this year, we won’t have to sit through “Indiana didn’t play anyone” nonsense throughout November. This Indiana team is for real.

6. Penn State (3-0)

Penn State is a trendy national championship pick, but it’s going to be hard to see how dangerous the Nittany Lions are until they play a team with a pulse. Their nonconference schedule has been a joke. The good news for Penn State, who has enjoyed three easy wins so far this season, is it has a chance to prove it’s really dangerous next weekend when Oregon comes to Happy Valley. We’ll get our answers about James Franklin and his squad then. In the meantime, Penn State slips in the rankings as other teams amass quality wins.

7. Oklahoma (4-0)

One of my bold preseason predictions was Oklahoma had a shot to make the College Football Playoff this year. There was a lot of blowback. That’s not to brag about being smart — I have been plenty wrong about other things — but it is an illustration that if things came together for the Sooners, they’d be a really tough out this season. Now they have wins over Michigan and Auburn on its resume. Saturday’s win over the Tigers had to feel extra sweet, especially given former Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold suited up for the Tigers. Oklahoma has the toughest schedule in college football, but quarterback John Mateer is a star and that defense is nasty. The Sooners are really fun.

8. Florida State (3-0)

The Seminoles beat one of the worst teams in college football 66-10 on Saturday. Not sure how much there is to take away from blowing out Kent State other than the fact a good team wouldn’t struggle for a minute. Florida State didn’t. The Seminoles are still riding high off their convincing win over Alabama to start the season, as they should. And in the time since, they look like a real contender in the ACC. Next week the Seminoles go to Virginia before hosting Miami in what is shaping up to be a vintage in-state battle.

9. Oregon (4-0)

Oregon got off to a slow start Saturday, but the Ducks wound up beating rival Oregon State 41-7. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns. Oregon has flown under the radar this season because it hasn’t played a tough schedule, but the Ducks head out to Penn State next weekend for a rematch of last year’s Big Ten title game. It feels like Oregon is a little low in this poll. If the Ducks win on the road in State College, a jump into the top three could be possible.

10. Texas A&M (3-0)

The Aggies got a much-deserved week off after an emotional home win over Notre Dame last weekend. Coming into the season, we were unsure of just how good Texas A&M could be. After watching them handle the Irish, things started to become clearer. Marcel Reed is a dog at quarterback and it may have one of the best receiver duos in the country in Mario Craver and KC Concepcion. Though Texas A&M has a long way to before escaping the typical 9-3 Aggie season, this team has the goods for things to be different. Mike Elko has done a tremendous job during his short time in College Station.