THE POST’S TOP TEN

1. Alabama (12-0) (Last week: 1)

The whispers of slippage seem silly now, after Alabama treated Iron Bowl-rival Auburn like an ill-equipped sparring partner, hammering the Tigers, 52-21.

2. Clemson (12-0) (2)

Dabo Swinney can rest his starters and still win the ACC Championship game going away. Facing Pittsburgh, the ACC Coastal champion with five losses, will be as stressful as a scrimmage for Clemson.

3. Notre Dame (12-0) (3)

Notre Dame was very unimpressive in Saturday’s narrow victory over USC. It also absolutely belongs in the playoff. Both can be true.

4. Georgia (11-1) (5)

The running game is starting to hum, notching four straight games of at least 285 yards on the ground, and it will need to remain lethal for Georgia to have a shot against Alabama in Saturday’s SEC Championship game.

5. Ohio State (11-1) (8)

Where was this team all year? In emasculating Michigan, 62-39, and beating their bitter rivals for the seventh straight time, the Buckeyes looked like one of the premier teams in the country.

6. Oklahoma (10-1) (7)

There is better tackling in two-hand touch than what we’ve seen lately from Oklahoma’s defense, which is allowing an average of 47.2 points and 585.2 yards per game over the past month.

7. Central Florida (11-0) (6)

McKenzie Milton and Central Florida deserve better. They should have a shot to play for a title and they shouldn’t have to finish this season without their leader, who suffered a gruesome knee injury in a blowout of South Florida.

8. Michigan (10-2) (4)

Blame Jim Harbaugh. Blame the topranked defense. Blame whomever you want. Michigan’s loss to Ohio State was a failure by everyone in maize and blue.

9. LSU (9-3) (9)

Ed Orgeron criticizing the officials for adding a second on the clock is sour grapes. LSU had seven overtimes to prevail. It didn’t.

10. Florida (9-3) (NR)

There were some hiccups, notably that ugly loss to Missouri, but Dan Mullen’s first season has to be considered a success. He won his last three games, and is a bowl victory away from guiding the Gators to their first 10-win season since 2015.

Dropped out: Washington State (10-2)