By Syd Jamison

The college football season is already underway, and it has been four turbulent weeks. There has been an upheaval in the rankings so far, and it has completely altered the outlook for the different conference championships and the College Football Playoff (CFP). 

Starting off in the ACC, where week one saw three top contenders lose: Clemson, UNC, and Miami. Georgia defeated Clemson 10-3 in a defining moment of the playoff race so far, and Clemson also just lost to NC State which completely brought the pre-season second-ranked team down to the last spot in the AP Top 25. UNC fell to Virginia Tech by a score of 17-10 in the first week, and UNC fan Reid Coleman (‘22) said: “I had high expectations,” referring to an ACC Championship appearance and possibly a CFP appearance too. Losing quarterback of the defense Chazz Surratt to the NFL was detrimental and has affected UNC’s defense greatly. With their second loss coming from Georgia Tech week four, they definitely seem to have problems that they need to fix and will not attain the expectations many had for them before the season. 

Miami, who started the season ranked fourteenth, but now is two and two, with one of their wins over a porous Appalachian State team by two points, and they will have a hard time turning it around. 

The strongest-looking conference by far is the SEC, with the top two teams in the country and seven of the top 25. Alabama, the reigning national champion, had two easy games but had a tough fight in Gainesville week three. Florida, who is ranked tenth now, pushed them to their limit, but a poor play call on a two-point conversion for Florida cost them the ability to tie. Alabama showed weakness on the defensive side and less explosiveness than we are used to seeing on the offensive side. They squeaked by 31-29 but have Texas A&M and Ole Miss, ranked 15 and 12, respectively, in two of the next three weeks. This should be an opportunity for them to show some strengths worthy of the number one rank in the nation. 

Georgia, ranked number two, has shown to be almost even with Alabama thus far, something that they have been striving to do since their heartbreaking overtime loss in the 2018 CFP Championship to Alabama. Preseason injuries to Georgia’s top three wide receivers and a top tight end had many people doubting the offensive power to the defensive-natured coach Kirby Smart. Those doubts were minimized as UGA put up 158 points in their last three weeks. This week brings a challenge, with the eighth-ranked team in the country, Arkansas, and it will be an exciting matchup, because Arkansas averages 261 rushing yards per game, while UGA only allows 69. 

Florida, although they just lost to Alabama, are still ranked 11 and can win the SEC East with a win over Georgia and would then play the SEC championship. They showed a strong bounceback from their difficult loss to Alabama when they pulled away from Tennessee in the second half to win 38-14. 

The SEC west is extremely strong, with Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss behind Alabama. Texas A&M barely beat an average Colorado team 10-7, which raised questions, and rightfully so, as they lost to Arkansas 20-10 last week. They have to play Alabama in two weeks, which will most likely end their SEC Championship hopes unless they are able to make a miracle happen.

Arkansas, who is in the midst of the hardest part of their schedule, has Georgia this week, and Ole Miss and Auburn after that. This stretch and their record after it will determine how they shape up for the SEC Championship, as they play Alabama in their penultimate regular-season game, which could end up being an important game for the SEC Championship. 

Ole Miss, led by Heisman frontrunner Matt Corral, has put up more than 52 points per game but has their first challenge of the season at Alabama this week. They surprised Alabama last year and put up 48 points in a close game, and it could end up being another close game this year. Two high-powered offenses with two Heisman candidates will make for a great game this weekend. 

The SEC championship, which will be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 4, will give Georgia an advantage in fans if they make it there, and I predict that they will and that they will beat Alabama in a close game. 

The Big 12 has four teams that can compete for the conference championship: Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas, and Oklahoma State. Texas was ranked 15th until the surprising 19-point loss to Arkansas in week two. However, they just put up 70 points in an impressive win over Texas Tech with their new starting quarterback Casey Thompson and will have a chance to prove themselves and their rejuvenated offense in two weeks when they play sixth-ranked Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma showed a surprising lack of offense against a lacking Nebraska team by only winning 23-16. However, they are still known for their offense and can prove that against a solid Kansas State team this week. Baylor and Oklahoma State both were under the radar before the season, as neither was ranked in the top 25. Although ranked lower now, Baylor has played much better than Oklahoma State and can show that by winning this Saturday at Oklahoma State. My prediction for the Big 12 championship is Texas versus Oklahoma, and Texas taking it and having a decent chance at going to the College Football Playoff.  

The Big Ten is hard to predict because there are a few teams in the race for the championship. Last year’s conference champion, Ohio State, already has one loss and has had structural problems with their defense. Their head coach, Ryan Day, has switched who is calling defensive plays and can’t seem to get it right. Their most significant challenge remaining on the schedule, and a game that will decide the Big Ten East contender, is October 30, when they host Penn State, who is currently number four in the AP Poll.

Penn State has a harder path to the championship, with Iowa, number five in the county, on their slate in two weeks. With wins over Wisconsin and Auburn, Penn State looks like the favorite to win the Big Ten. However, Iowa, Michigan, and Michigan State are all undefeated and in the top 25. They all have had easy games and have not impressed many, but with more conference games to be played, the rankings should sort out quickly. I think that Penn State will play Iowa again in the Big Ten championship and win by a solid margin. 

The College Football Playoff National Championship trophy. Photo credit: Michael Li via flickr.

Finally, the Pac-12 has one standout team that has surprised many people this season. Oregon. Oregon went to Ohio and beat Ohio State, who was ranked third at the time, after beating 18th ranked Fresno State in the first game of the season. They should be able to cruise to the Pac-12 championship and beat the only other competent Pac-12 team, UCLA, who already has a loss and will most likely get at least one more because they have to play Oregon on October 23.

Notre Dame, who is ranked ninth at the moment, has looked questionable at times. They beat FSU by only three points, who lost to FCS team Jacksonville State University. However, they did beat Wisconsin 41-13, who was ranked 18th at the time. They play Cincinnati this week in a very important game for the CFP race. Cincinnati, who on the other hand has looked consistently strong. They have returning quarterback Desmond Ridder, who is playing exceptionally, and, with a win over Notre Dame, they have a strong chance at going undefeated and making a bid to be a playoff team. 

This has been called a “renaissance season” by Josh Pate, from 247 Sports, and that is exactly the case. My prediction for the four teams who will make the 2022 CFP in order is Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, and Cincinnati. Only one of these teams was in the semifinals last year, which is why this is such a strange season. However, there are still many games to go and many unforeseen outcomes, which will make this season even more exciting.