Week 6 featured an insane slate of college football, and the results were even more insane. There were copious upsets across the sport, headlined by Penn State’s loss to UCLA and Texas’ loss to Florida. As a result, both teams would need to be perfect to return to the College Football Playoff, as both teams now have two losses, with a quality loss to a top team and a loss to an unranked one.
As far as Michigan football is concerned, the Wolverines handled business against Wisconsin, even if it wasn’t pretty. Even still, the maize and blue put up 445 yards of offense, including 175 yards rushing against the nation’s top run defense.
ESPN revealed its latest power rankings on Monday morning, and here is who is currently considered the best of the best in the sport.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0)
Previous rank: 1
Ohio State handled business against Minnesota, throttling the Gophers after they marched down the field and scored a field goal on the opening drive. The Buckeye offense came alive in Week 6, showcasing explosive play after explosive play, headlined by wide receiver Carnell Tate.
2. Miami Hurricanes (5-0)
Previous rank: 3
Miami had one of its in-state rivalry games, and the Week 6 contest against Florida State promised to test the Hurricanes more than the one later in the year. And Miami proved that it is legit, having throttled the Seminoles in Tallahassee. Yes, FSU lost to Virginia recently, but with a win over Alabama, it had one of the best wins in the sport. And the Hurricanes made it look absolutely pedestrian.
3. Oregon Ducks (5-0)
Previous rank: 2
Oregon hoped that its win over Penn State would age better, or perhaps even longer than a week. However, what was seen as maybe the best win in college football is no longer after the Nittany Lions‘ loss to UCLA. The Ducks were on bye last week but host Indiana this week.
4. Ole Miss Rebels (5-0)
Previous rank: 11
A week off for Ole Miss meant time to rest and reflect after the win over LSU. The Rebels host Washington State this weekend.
5. Texas A&M Aggies (5-0)
Previous rank: 5
The Aggies continue to beat good teams, and the one-loss Mississippi State Bulldogs are no exception. Texas A&M won handily and now has three straight solid wins, starting with the win over Notre Dame a few weeks back. It will take on a resurgent Florida team that is still celebrating the win over Texas.
6. Oklahoma Sooners (5-0)
Previous rank: 6
Oklahoma didn’t exactly play a powerhouse with MAC school Kent State coming to Norman last week. Even without John Mateer, the Sooners handled business. The question is now how OU will fare with the Red River Rivalry coming up this weekend against Texas.
7. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0)
Previous rank: 7
Indiana was on bye, but will have an opportunity to prove it is for real with a road trip to Eugene to face Oregon.
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-0)
Previous rank: 9
Houston is a good team, and it entered the Week 6 matchup undefeated. However, once the Red Raiders came to town, the storybook reached its end for the Cougars. Texas Tech has been running roughshod over every opponent in its path. It has Kansas this week before having a potentially ranked matchup against Arizona State.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1)
Previous rank: 10
The Crimson Tide had every reason to fear Vanderbilt. Not only have the Commodores been hot, but they beat Alabama last year to start the resurgence in Nashville with Diego Pavia at quarterback. However, in Tuscaloosa, there was no hangover from beating Georgia the week before, even though it took some time for the Tide to take down Clark Lea’s team.
10. Georgia Bulldogs (4-1)
Previous rank: 11
Sometimes Kentucky can pose some issues and that’s been the case for many Mark Stoops-coached Wildcats teams. And after the emotional loss to Alabama last week, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see the Bulldogs struggle. But Kirby Smart got his guys ready to go and they put the game away by halftime. Georgia has Auburn this week and Ole Miss the following week.
11. Tennessee Volunteers (4-1)
Previous rank: 13
The Vols were on bye this week, but face a reeling Arkansas team that has reinstated Bobby Petrino as its head coach.
12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-0)
Previous rank: 19
Georgia Tech was on bye last week but faces Virginia Tech this week.
13. LSU Tigers (4-1)
Previous rank: 17
LSU was on bye last week but hosts South Carolina this week.
14. Missouri Tigers (5-0)
Previous rank: 16
Missouri was on bye last week but faces Alabama this week.
15. Michigan Wolverines (4-1)
Previous rank: 20
Michigan football moved up five spots after beating Wisconsin, 24-10. The game was more lopsided than the score indicated (for the second straight game). The defense was stellar outside of the first drive of the game, and the offense came alive in the second half. It will be interesting to see what the Wolverine defense does against the ESPN SP+ No. 1 offense in the country in USC.
16. BYU Cougars (4-0)
Previous rank: 22
BYU’s 38-24 win over West Virginia looks relatively close as a 14-point win, but don’t let the final score fool you — this game was over at halftime. The Cougars jumped out to a 31-10 lead as quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for 351 yards against Rich Rod and his alma mater. BYU is a potential force in the Big 12.
17. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-2)
Previous rank: 21
Boise State posed some potential problems for the Fighting Irish, but Notre Dame handled business, winning 28-7. CJ Carr was efficient while the Irish rushed for over 200 yards in the contest. The next two contests are against NC State and USC.
18. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1)
Previous rank: 23
Illinois put up crazy offensive numbers against Big Ten bottom-feeder Purdue, but the defense certainly had some lapses against the Barry Odom-led squad. That could be an issue with Ohio State coming to town this week.
19. Virginia Cavaliers (5-1)
Previous rank: Unranked
Last week, ESPN had Louisville ranked at No. 25; however, the Cardinals faced a red-hot Virginia team that swiftly put an end to that. It took overtime to do it, but the Cavaliers have a win over Florida State and appear to be a tough out in the ACC.
20. Vanderbilt Commodores (5-1)
Previous rank: 18
It seems unfair that Vanderbilt moves down two spots and is jumped by some other one-loss teams after getting its first loss at Alabama. The Commodores kept the game close for the first half, but the Crimson Tide ran all over a team for the first time all year — while Ty Simpson continues to shine at quarterback. Vanderbilt wasn’t bad by any stretch, but it clearly is a solid team that could beat most SEC teams, it appears.
21. Memphis Tigers (5-0)
Previous rank: 24
Memphis continued to look like the best Group of Five team, this time annihilating Tulsa, 45-7. The Tigers are on bye this week, but then face UAB the following week.
22. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1)
Previous rank: Unranked
ESPN rethought Arizona State’s rank after Mississippi State proved to be a relatively quality loss. The Sun Devils were on bye last week but face Utah this week.
23. Iowa State Cyclones (5-1)
Previous rank: 15
Iowa State was one of the weekend casualties, losing to an unranked Cincinnati team that controlled much of the game. Though Rocco Becht had a decent stat line, it was the defense that let the Bearcats run all over them. It’s a blow, but Matt Campbell still has this team moving in the right direction.
24. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-1)
Previous rank: Unranked
It’s a bold move to put Cincinnati below Iowa State after the Bearcats just won head-to-head, but ESPN has gone all ‘YOLO’ mode here. The only loss Cincinnati has at the moment is at the hands of a one-loss Nebraska team.
25. Texas Longhorns (3-2)
Previous rank: 12
Texas has two losses now, one to Ohio State and another to a Florida team that appeared to be dead in the water. Arch Manning had two touchdowns and two interceptions while DJ Lagway and the Gators thrived in the pass game. The Longhorn defense gave up 457 total yards of offense, while Texas couldn’t muster 60 yards rushing. After being the preseason No. 1, it doesn’t appear that UT will be contending for much this year.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: ESPN releases new college football power rankings after wild Week 6
