USA TODAY US Edition

Amway Coaches Poll

Notre Dame up to No. 4 as Georgia falls

- George Schroeder

It was a good week to take a break, plop down on the couch and survey the carnage everywhere in college football. In other words: How’d you enjoy the free weekend, Clemson?

It wasn’t so long ago when there wasn’t enough room in the Football Four for all of the unbeatens, and people were plotting how to pack the College Football Playoff bracket with Southeaste­rn Conference teams and … then football happened, like it does every week, and disorder ruled.

Through seven weeks, there’s still not enough room. But other than Alabama, it seems no one’s safe. As always, remember we pick the bracket as if the season was over.*

Football Four

1. Alabama: Another week, another overmatche­d SEC opponent (thanks for playing, Missouri. Here’s a lovely parting gift). But there’s a new, uh, twist: Is Tua Tagovailoa’s knee something to be concerned about?

2. Ohio State: Maybe it doesn’t matter, given Dwayne Haskins’ passing ability (412 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. Minnesota), but the running game is a concern. The defense remains a work in progress, too, which is why the Buckeyes didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter.

3. Clemson: After an open week, the Tigers host unbeaten North Carolina State. Key to the bigger picture: How the offense continues to develop with freshman Trevor Lawrence at quarterbac­k.

4. Notre Dame: Pittsburgh loomed as a trap game … and that trap almost popped shut. But phew! A fourth-quarter rally for victory, coupled with events elsewhere, move the Irish into the Football Four.

Four More**

5. LSU: Coach Ed Orgeron leads the Tigers to a whipping of Georgia, their biggest win since when, 2011? Probably. The nation’s best resume was finally matched by the Tigers’ performanc­e.

6. Michigan: The loss at Notre Dame seems further and further in the rearview mirror. The Wolverines were impressive in beating Wisconsin. We’re starting to see the impact of transfer quarterbac­k Shea Patterson.

7. Texas: Escaped Baylor’s upset trap. The Longhorns remain in the Big 12 driver’s seat, but they looked more like the lesser version of themselves than the Red River giants from last week. 8. Georgia: Everything’s still possible despite the loss at LSU. But in losing by 20, a lot of flaws were exposed, creating legitimate doubt about how good the Bulldogs are.

A Few More After That***

Oklahoma, Central Florida, Oregon, North Carolina State, Florida, Kentucky and Iowa.

*The season is not over. **Don’t be worried that your team sits just outside the cut. This is a weekly snapshot. What do we know, anyway?

***See the previous note, but it’s OK to be slightly concerned or very angry. But what do we know, anyway?

 ?? JOHN DAVID MERCER/USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Coach Nick Saban said after the game that Alabama quarterbac­k Tua Tagovailoa was fine, though he left the game in the third quarter after this slide.
JOHN DAVID MERCER/USA TODAY SPORTS Coach Nick Saban said after the game that Alabama quarterbac­k Tua Tagovailoa was fine, though he left the game in the third quarter after this slide.

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