CFB Rankings After Week 10: OSU Holds No. 1 Spot

**Klatt’s Post-Week 10 College Football Rankings Place Ohio State at No. 1, Setting Stage for CFP Debate**

**Columbus, OH – November 6, 2023** – Following a pivotal Week 10 in college football, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt released his latest top ten rankings on Sunday, November 5th, placing undefeated Ohio State firmly at the top spot. Klatt’s projections offer an intriguing preview, arriving just ahead of the official College Football Playoff (CFP) committee’s second rankings reveal of the season, which aired Tuesday, November 7th.

Klatt’s list sees the **Ohio State Buckeyes** (10-0) leading the pack, with the analyst confident in their path to the Big Ten championship and a likely spot in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes maintained their perfect record after a bye week in Week 10.

Right behind them, Klatt positioned the **Georgia Bulldogs** (9-1) at No. 2. Georgia solidified its standing with a 30-21 victory over Missouri. Coming in at No. 3 is Klatt’s **Michigan Wolverines** (9-1), who delivered a significant 24-15 road win against Penn State, a performance Klatt noted as a sign of the team “really starting to get things together.”

Rounding out Klatt’s top five are two more undefeated programs: **Washington** (10-0) at No. 4 and **Florida State** (10-0) at No. 5. Washington secured an impressive 52-42 win over USC, while Florida State continued its dominant season with a 27-20 victory against Miami.

Just outside that elite tier, Klatt placed **Oregon** (9-1) at No. 6. The Ducks, coming off a 63-19 win over California, are, according to Klatt, “playing like one of the best teams out there.” Next up at No. 7 is **Texas** (8-2), who emerged victorious from a thrilling 33-30 overtime battle against Kansas State. Klatt expressed considerable appreciation for the Longhorns’ recent performances.

The No. 8 spot went to **Alabama** (9-1) after their decisive 42-28 victory over LSU in a key SEC West showdown. Despite their loss to Michigan, Klatt still recognized **Penn State** (8-2) as a “great team,” placing them at No. 9. Finally, completing Klatt’s top 10 after Week 10, is **Louisville** (8-2). The Cardinals, who beat Virginia Tech 34-3, boast what Klatt called a “very impressive résumé.”

**Comparison to Official CFP Rankings and AP Poll**

Klatt’s rankings, released on Sunday, provided a strong point of comparison to both the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 Poll and the crucial College Football Playoff committee rankings.

The AP Poll, also released Sunday, November 5th, presented a slightly different hierarchy, placing **Georgia** at No. 1, **Michigan** at No. 2, and **Ohio State** at No. 3. **Florida State** was No. 4 and **Washington** No. 5 in the AP’s view. Both the AP and Klatt agreed on **Oregon** at No. 6, **Texas** at No. 7, **Alabama** at No. 8, and **Penn State** at No. 9. The AP Poll, like Klatt, also included **Louisville** at No. 10.

However, the most significant comparison came with the official College Football Playoff rankings, unveiled on Tuesday, November 7th. The CFP committee’s top four featured **Georgia** at No. 1, **Ohio State** at No. 2, **Michigan** at No. 3, and **Florida State** at No. 4. **Washington** was ranked No. 5.

While Klatt had **Ohio State** leading the charge, the CFP committee ultimately placed the **Buckeyes** second, elevating **Georgia** to the top spot. **Michigan** remained at No. 3 in both sets of rankings. A notable divergence came at the Nos. 4 and 5 positions. Klatt favored undefeated **Washington** at No. 4 and fellow undefeated **Florida State** at No. 5. However, the CFP committee reversed this order, placing **Florida State** at No. 4 and **Washington** at No. 5, emphasizing strength of schedule and overall team performance.

Both Klatt and the committee agreed on **Oregon** at No. 6, **Texas** at No. 7, and **Alabama** at No. 8. **Penn State** also held its No. 9 spot across both rankings. The primary difference in the bottom tier was Klatt’s inclusion of **Louisville** at No. 10, a choice the CFP committee did not echo, opting instead for **Ole Miss** at No. 10.

The contrasting rankings highlight the intense debate and varied criteria analysts and committees employ when evaluating the nation’s top college football teams, particularly as the season marches towards its critical final weeks and conference championship games. The road to the College Football Playoff remains highly competitive, with multiple undefeated teams and one-loss contenders vying for a coveted spot.