THE POST’S TOP TEN
1. Alabama (4-0) (Last week: 1)
How many times will Nick Saban show Alabama film of last year’s poor defensive showing against Ole Miss ahead of Saturday’s rematch? We’re going to install the Over/Under at 10. The Crimson Tide were shredded for 48 points and 647 total yards by the Rebels in a hard-fought victory a year ago.
2. Georgia (3-0) (2)
The Bulldogs’ defense has allowed two touchdowns in four games, but more tests are coming: Three ranked opponents in the next month, starting with surprising Arkansas on Saturday in Athens.
3. Oregon (4-0) (3)
Superstar defensive end Kayvon Thibodeau returned and Oregon cruised past Arizona. It was another good week for the Ducks.
4. Penn State (4-0) (4)
A Nittany Lions fan pointed out my error in the preseason of omitting wide receiver Jahan Dotson from our top receivers list. Dotson, now
with two 100-yard receiving games and a touchdown in each contest, absolutely belonged there.
5. Cincinnati (3-0) (7)
Here it is: A top-10 road game in the national spotlight. Cincinnati can make a loud statement by winning at Notre Dame. The country will be
watching.
6. Oklahoma (4-0) (5)
Oklahoma is finding ways to win, ugly as they may be. The home wins over Tulane, Nebraska and West Virginia, by a combined 15 points, don’t generate much confidence. But it beats the alternative. Ask Clemson.
7. Iowa (4-0) (6)
The Hawkeyes better be careful. They are playing with fire, letting Colorado State hang around a week after Kent State played them even for most of a half. Iowa isn’t good enough to get away with this when Big Ten play resumes Friday against Maryland.
8. Arkansas (4-0) (NR)
There isn’t a better story in college
football. Entering the season, Arkansas was 11-35 the last four years. Now, after the upset of Texas A&M on Saturday, the Razorbacks are off to their best start since 2003, with tons of momentum going to Georgia.
9. Ohio State (3-1) (9)
It’s been this kind of September for Ohio State: Even when it wins easy, as it did against Akron, there is bad news. Frustrated linebacker K’Vaughan Pope walked off the field in the second quarter following a heated exchange with an assistant coach and later cursed out the school in a tweet, and Sunday was tossed off the team.
10. Notre Dame (4-0) (NR)
This was by far the Irish’s best performance of the season, even if Wisconsin was over-ranked. The 41-13 beatdown, which featured third-string quarterback Drew Pyne forced into the game due to injuries, makes you think that if Notre Dame can get by Cincinnati a second straight trip to the College Football Playoff is very realistic.