November is when things get interesting

And just like that, we’re in the final month of the regular season in college football. Yes, it’s the one sport that takes forever to start and in no time, it’s over– which is why I try to pay close attention to all the big games, every week. Thank God for DVR! With that said, let’s talk about the first College Football Playoff poll that was revealed last night.

Here is your top four:

1. Ohio St. – The Buckeyes have obviously caught a lot of folks’ attention, not in just their record, but on how they have won. The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 386 to 63! Justin Fields’ presence has been a big contributor to their recent success, but the Buckeye defense has been really physical too. This is a very good football team but they haven’t really been tested. They will in two weeks when they take on Penn St.
2. LSU – What a difference a year makes for the Bayo Bangels. Last season, the Tigers were averaging right around 30 points a game. This season, they’re averaging right around 45 a game. The hiring of Joe Brady from the New Orleans Saints and giving him the reigns to the passing game has paid dividends for LSU. They look like a Big XII team out there, but with an actual defense.
3. Alabama – The Tide have been on cruise control since the Duke game, but they’re about to play the game of the year when LSU comes to town. If Tua can stay healthy, the tides chances are always good. The question is can he stay healthy for the remainder of the season?
4. Penn St. – The Nittany Lions are undefeated for one reason- they’re a very physical football team. They don’t really dominate teams, but they hit you in the mouth. The wins against Pitt, Iowa, Michigan, and Michigan State have really caught the playoff committee’s eye, and if they can somehow defeat Ohio St on the road, they will be sitting really good. But first, they have to beat an undefeated Minnesota team this weekend.

And here’s the rest of the top 10:

5. Clemson – The Tigers keep winning on the field but they keep dropping in the polls. However, unless something drastic happens-like Trevor getting hurt, I don’t foresee a scenario where Clemson is left out of the playoffs. They’re outside because they’re really the only team in the ACC that’s worth anything this season. Yes, they play two SEC schools this season, but a&m and the gamecocks aren’t killing it on the field. And that UNC game didn’t help matters. Just keep winning and you will be fine.

6. Georgia – The Bulldogs have two top ten wins, but the Sout Carolina loss at home is the asterisk that has kept them from perfection. They still control their destiny, but the margin of error is slim. November is going to be a crucial month for coach Smart and his Georgia squad.

7. Oregon – The Ducks are the cream of the Pac-12 crop this season. The early loss to Auburn could have buried this team, but the Ducks have won eight straight since then, including wins over Washington, USC, and Colorado. Led by Quarterback Justin Herbert, the ducks are flying high and look to finish strong in November.

8. Utah – The Utes have the best run defense in the country, giving up 56 yards a game. They play like a sec team on defense but play like an ACC team on offense, which isn’t a bad thing. I just don’t know if it’s enough to get in the playoff or win the Pac-12 no less. They got three games left, all should be winnable, but they will play Oregon in the conference championship game, and the Ducks can score points.

9. Oklahoma – I was on the boomer sooner wagon(no pun attended) until they lost to Kansas State, which seems to be the universal feeling right now towards the Sooners. They are good, but there are some obvious issues on defense-still! They have played better on that side of the ball, but they dropped a big goose egg last week against the Wildcats. The Sooners are going to have to be perfect the rest of the season and also get a little help to get in the playoffs.

10. Florida – The Gators were rocking early this season, with wins over Miami, Kentucky, and Auburn. Even after losing to LSU, they still were considered a legit playoff contender. However, they haven’t figured out how to beat Georgia since Kirby took over. That game will continue to make a season as long as the gators and dogs are competing for the the SEC East every year. Getting into the playoffs is a longshot for the gators, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a good season, it’s just not going to be great.