With four undefeated teams each, the SEC and the Big Ten are still stealing the show after six weeks.
Both conferences have risen above the rest because of their depth — at least for now. The Big 12 is boiling down to Oklahoma and Texas — which is actually its ideal situation (apologies to undefeated Baylor). The ACC is still Clemson and everyone else (sorry, undefeated Wake Forest). And the Pac-12 remains in the worst playoff position of the Power 5 conferences (sorry not sorry — no undefeated teams left).
It’s a narrative that can certainly change as the schedule gets deeper into conference play, but after Florida‘s win against Auburn on Saturday, the Gators remain undefeated along with Alabama, LSU and Georgia — three teams that can make a case for the top four right now. More than one legitimate playoff contender is what separates the Big Ten and SEC from the others, and Florida has to face another one Saturday when it travels to Death Valley.
In the Big Ten, Ohio State has been the clear frontrunner, but Wisconsin has certainly made a case, leading the nation in defensive efficiency while also boasting a Heisman hopeful running back in Jonathan Taylor. Remember, the Badgers already manhandled Michigan, which earned an important win against Iowa on Saturday. Ohio State and Wisconsin play each other on Oct. 26, but they could also meet again for the Big Ten title.
Both division leaders have overshadowed undefeated Penn State, but the Nittany Lions’ true place in the conversation will soon be revealed, as they face three straight ranked opponents.
That’s the overall snapshot.
Here’s a closer look at how Week 6 impacted the playoff picture:
1. That was just the first step for Florida. Auburn was the first Power 5 opponent the Gators have beaten with a winning record. As big as the win was, it’s still a small step, considering Florida has two FCS opponents on its schedule (UT Martin and Towson). If Florida beats LSU, Georgia and Alabama to win the SEC, it probably won’t matter (though the committee has yet to consider such a resume). If the Gators lose a game? The 13-member selection committee will most certainly debate the two FCS wins. In November, when contenders make some of their biggest impressions on the committee, Florida will end the season with Vanderbilt, Missouri and Florida State — opponents unlikely to give the Gators much of a boost. That makes Saturday’s showdown against LSU all the more important.
“It’s a big win tonight,” Florida coach Dan Mullen told reporters after the game. “It won’t mean a whole lot by tomorrow morning. We move on to LSU tomorrow morning. We’re building. … You have to learn and get that mindset that winning a big-time game like this means you have to show up tomorrow and get ready to win an even bigger one next week. That’s what it’s like in the SEC.”
2. Auburn isn’t out of it, but it will be if it keeps playing like that. The Tigers saw their playoff chances sink from 25% to 9% with the loss at Florida, according to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, but they have plenty of chances to redeem themselves. Auburn isn’t going to beat LSU, Georgia or Alabama, though, if its offense doesn’t improve. Quarterback Bo Nix finally looked like a true freshman, throwing three interceptions, and he was sacked three times — including once for a 22-yard loss. No doubt Florida’s defense deserves credit, but the unforgiving Swamp had Auburn rattled, and it’s not going to be any easier in Death Valley on Oct. 26. A well-timed bye week is next for Auburn, followed by the Oct. 19 trip to Arkansas.
It did help Auburn that Oregon pulled out the home win against Cal, because that means if Auburn does manage to play its way into the committee’s debate, the Tigers could still wind up with a win over the Pac-12 champs. It could stand as one of the best nonconference wins.
3. Ohio State was finally tested. The ranking is kind of a moot point, as Michigan State will likely fall out of the AP top 25 because of the loss, but it was still the toughest defense and Power 5 opponent the Buckeyes have faced to this point. Ohio State breezed through its first five games of the season, but this was different — at least early. Justin Fields threw his first interception in 175 pass attempts as a Buckeye, and was sacked three times. Ohio State had just 16 yards on 16 plays in the first quarter, and for the first time this season was held under 40 points.
“I think the chemistry of the team is very good,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “I think the leadership is strong. I think that we’re playing tough. I think that we can learn a ton from this game, though. And I think that this is a perfect opportunity to sit back and look at these six games, evaluate where we’ve gone, where we are and where we’re headed.
“… They exposed some things that maybe we got away with in the last couple of games. The best thing now is to get on the film and work on it to get better.”
4. It’s time to talk about the Red River Showdown. OU and Texas both got off to respectively sluggish starts on Saturday, but ended right where they needed to be — as the Big 12’s two highest-ranked teams heading into one of the most important rivalry games of the season. Texas held off a gritty West Virginia team in Morgantown, one of the more difficult places to play, and Sam Ehlinger had two passing and two rushing touchdowns. The defense had four interceptions but will have to be even better against an OU offense averaging 53.4 points.
Texas will be Oklahoma’s first ranked opponent of the season, and remember that OU lost this game last year but still finished in the top four because it avenged the regular-season loss by beating Texas to win the Big 12 title. Strength of schedule could be an issue for the Sooners, though, if they finish as a one-loss conference champion. It’s possible Oklahoma State, which lost Saturday to Texas Tech, drops out of the top 25 — meaning that Texas could be OU’s only ranked opponent all season. The Sooners need to take advantage of the opportunity to eliminate any doubt.
5. The Pac-12 is desperately clinging onto Oregon. Oregon survived Cal at home — a win that became even more significant after No. 15 Washington lost to Stanford, likely eliminating the Huskies from the playoff. It was a devastating blow to an already beleaguered conference that has missed the playoff in three of the past four seasons. It’s not that the Pac-12 is out of the playoff entirely — not yet — but Oregon and Washington still have to play each other Oct. 19 — the same day Utah and Arizona State face each other in a critical Pac-12 South game.
The league’s best-case scenario is for Oregon to win out and finish as a one-loss Pac-12 champ — and hope the other Power 5 conferences don’t produce undefeated champions. The loss to Auburn isn’t enough to keep Oregon out on its own, but an otherwise weak schedule could.