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College Football Rankings: 1 To 130: Week 5. Chaos Kicks In … For Now

College Football News 2021 college football rankings after Week 5 for all 130 teams with results and who’s up next week.


Give it one more week before this all gets right. So before you honk, and before you get all crazy about this week’s rankings, we totally acknowledge that …

Yes, these rankings ARE weird, and they’re wrong in a whole slew of ways. There’s a reason.

As always – to a point – we do our rankings like a conference tie-breaker. If there are multiple teams all tied for a division or conference race, there’s a way to do this where it breaks down into Team A beat Team B and Team D beat … blah blah blah.

Until this all settles down, that’s the only fair way to do this. You HAVE to respect the results, but that’s a problem when you have upsets like happened yesterday.

Stanford beating Oregon messed everything up, and Temple beating Memphis TOTALLY screwed up the rankings.

Here’s the problem. Temple beat Memphis, which means the Temple ranking is wrong, but for now it’s necessary.

The losses were to Rutgers and Boston College, so ranking the Owls behind those two isn’t a problem. However, Memphis beat Mississippi State. Mississippi State beat Texas A&M, Texas A&M beat NC State, NC State beat Clemson, Clemson beat Boston College, and Boston College beat Toledo, and …

In this case, we rank the teams based on overall schedules, results, and how good we think the teams are since other variables are involved.

However …

Stanford. Its win over Oregon throws everything into a tizzy because it lost to Kansas State to start the season.

Kansas State’s only losses are to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State – who are ranked higher – so for now, it has to be ranked higher than Stanford. Stanford beat Oregon, who beat Ohio State. Stanford’s other loss was to UCLA who just lost to Arizona State, but UCLA lost to Fresno State, who lost to Hawaii ….

So for right now, the Kansas State record and ranking is relatively clean, but that means Ohio State has to be ranked way, way, WAY too low. That’s going to change. We promise.

And then there’s Oregon State.

Minnesota beat Purdue, Purdue beat the Beavers, who beat USC, who hasn’t beaten anyone who matters in the higher end of the rankings, and Bowling Green beat Minnesota, and …

Again, this is a mess, but we get it all as close to the pin as possible.

Really.

Contact @ColFootballNews

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Week 5 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 4 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Cincinnati, Oregon, more 

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 5

130 UMass Minutemen (0-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 130
Week 5: Toledo 45, UMass 7
Week 6 Opponent: UConn

129 UConn Huskies (0-6)

Last Week’s Ranking: 129
Week 5: Vanderbilt 30, UConn 28
Week 6 Opponent: at UMass

128 FIU Golden Panthers (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 125
Week 5: Florida Atlantic 58, FIU 21
Week 6 Opponent: Charlotte

127 Akron Zips (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 127
Week 5: Ohio 34, Akron 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Bowling Green

126 Texas State Bobcats (1-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 124
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: South Alabama

125 Ohio Bobcats (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 128
Week 5: Ohio 34, Akron 17
Week 6 Opponent: Central Michigan

124 Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 121
Week 5: Rice 24, Southern Miss 19
Week 6 Opponent: UTEP

123 Rice Owls (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 123
Week 5: Rice 24, Southern Miss 19
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

122 UNLV Rebels (0-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 119
Week 5: UTSA 24, UNLV 17
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

121 Old Dominion Monarchs (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 120
Week 5: UTEP 28, Old Dominion 21
Week 6 Opponent: at Marshall

120 New Mexico State Aggies (1-5)

Last Week’s Ranking: 126
Week 5: San Jose State 37, New Mexico State 31
Week 6 Opponent: at Nevada

119 New Mexico Lobos (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 118
Week 5: Air Force 38, New Mexico 10
Week 6 Opponent: at San Diego State

118 UTEP Miners (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 116
Week 5: UTEP 28, Old Dominion 21
Week 6 Opponent: at Southern Miss

117 North Texas Mean Green (1-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 114
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: at Missouri

116 Kansas Jayhawks (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 113
Week 5: Iowa State 59, Kansas 7
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

115 Vanderbilt Commodores (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 112
Week 5: Vanderbilt 30, UConn 28
Week 6 Opponent: at Florida

114 Eastern Michigan Eagles (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 107
Week 5: Northern Illinois 27, Eastern Michigan 20
Week 6 Opponent: Miami University

113 Arizona Wildcats (0-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 106
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: UCLA

112 Troy Trojans (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 103
Week 5: South Carolina 23, Troy 14
Week 6 Opponent: Georgia Southern

111 ULM Warhawks (2-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 102
Week 5: Coastal Carolina 52, ULM 6
Week 6 Opponent: Georgia State

110 Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 100
Week 5: Georgia Southern 59, Arkansas State 33
Week 6 Opponent: Coastal Carolina (Oct. 7)

109 USF Bulls (1-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 99
Week 5: SMU 41, USF 17
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

108 Navy Midshipmen (1-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 109
Week 5: Navy 34, UCF 30
Week 6 Opponent: SMU

107 Georgia Southern Eagles (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 105
Week 5: Georgia Southern 59, Arkansa State 33
Week 6 Opponent: at Troy

106 Florida Atlantic Owls (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 101
Week 5: Florida Atlantic 58, FIU 21
Week 6 Opponent: at UAB

105 Tulane Green Wave (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 74
Week 5: East Carolina 52, Tulane 29
Week 6 Opponent: Houston (Oct. 7)

104 Northwestern Wildcats (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 97
Week 5: Nebraska 56, Northwestern 7
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

103 Duke Blue Devils (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 96
Week 5: North Carolina 38, Duke 7
Week 6 Opponent: Georgia Tech

102 Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 94
Week 5: Houston 45, Tulsa 10
Week 6 Opponent: Memphis

101 Central Michigan Chippewas (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 93
Week 5: Miami University 28, Central Michigan 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Ohio

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Week 5 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 4 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Cincinnati, Oregon, more 

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 100

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 100

100 Syracuse Orange (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 70
Week 5: Florida State 33, Syracuse 30
Week 6 Opponent: Wake Forest

99 Florida State Seminoles (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 108
Week 5: Florida State 33, Syracuse 30
Week 6 Opponent: at North Carolina

98 Miami University RedHawks (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 90
Week 5: Miami University 28, Central Michigan 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Eastern Michigan

97 Cal Golden Bears (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 84
Week 5: Washington State 21, Cal 6
Week 6 Opponent: Washington State

96 Air Force Falcons (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 89
Week 5: Air Force 38, New Mexico 10
Week 6 Opponent: Wyoming

95 Washington State Cougars (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 91
Week 5: Washington State 21, Cal 6
Week 6 Opponent: Oregon State

94 Colorado Buffaloes (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 85
Week 5: USC 37, Colorado 14
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

93 Marshall Thundering Herd (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 86
Week 5: Middle Tennessee 34, Marshall 28
Week 6 Opponent: Old Dominion

92 Washington Huskies (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 83
Week 5: Oregon State 27, Washington 24
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

91 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 110
Week 5: Middle Tennessee 34, Marshall 28
Week 6 Opponent: at Liberty

90 Charlotte 49ers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 95
Week 5: Illinois 24, Charlotte 14
Week 6 Opponent: at FIU

89 Georgia State Panthers (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 92
Week 5: Appalachian State 45, Georgia State 16
Week 6 Opponent: at ULM

88 WKU Hilltoppers (1-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 88
Week 5: Michigan State 48, WKU 31
Week 6 Opponent: UTSA

87 Utah State Aggies (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 78
Week 5: BYU 34, Utah State 20
Week 6 Opponent: at USC

86 Army Black Knights (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 73
Week 5: Ball State 28, Army 16
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

85 Ball State Cardinals (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 122
Week 5: Ball State 28, Army 16
Week 6 Opponent: at Western Michigan

84 Toledo Rockets (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 117
Week 5: Toledo 45, UMass 7
Week 6 Opponent: Northern Illinois

83 Colorado State Rams (1-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 115
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: San Jose State

82 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 75
Week 5: NC State 34, Louisiana Tech 27
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

81 East Carolina Pirates (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 79
Week 5: East Carolina 52, Tulane 29
Week 6 Opponent: at UCF

80 San Jose State Spartans (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 77
Week 5: San Jose State 37, New Mexico State 31
Week 6 Opponent: at Colorado State

79 UAB Blazers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 69
Week 5: Liberty 36, UAB 12
Week 6 Opponent: Florida Atlantic

78 Liberty Flames (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 72
Week 5: Liberty 36, UAB 12
Week 6 Opponent: Middle Tennessee

77 Houston Cougars (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 71
Week 5: Houston 45, Tulsa 10
Week 6 Opponent: at Tulane (Oct. 7)

76 Buffalo Bulls (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 98
Week 5: Western Michigan 24, Buffalo 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Kent State

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Week 5 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 4 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Cincinnati, Oregon, more 

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 75

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 75

75 North Carolina Tar Heels (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 60
Week 5: North Carolina 38, Duke 7
Week 6 Opponent: Florida State

74 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 59
Week 5: Pitt 52, Georgia Tech 21
Week 6 Opponent: at Duke

73 Northern Illinois Huskies (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 58
Week 5: Northern Illinois 27, Eastern Michigan 20
Week 6 Opponent: at Toledo

72 Appalachian State Mountaineers (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 54
Week 5: Appalachian State 45, Georgia State 16
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

71 Miami Hurricanes (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 50
Week 5: Virginia 30, Miami 28
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

70 South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 68
Week 5: South Carolina 23, Troy 14
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

69 Wyoming Cowboys (4-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 57
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: at Air Force

68 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 67
Week 5: Nebraska 56, Northwestern 7
Week 6 Opponent: Michigan

67 Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 66
Week 5: Illinois 24, Charlotte 14
Week 6 Opponent: Wisconsin

66 USC Trojans (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 36
Week 5: USC 37, Colorado 14
Week 6 Opponent: Utah

65 Boise State Broncos (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 56
Week 5: Nevada 41, Boise State 31
Week 6 Opponent: at BYU

64 Oregon State Beavers (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 35
Week 5: Oregon State 27, Washington 24
Week 6 Opponent: at Washington State

63 Purdue Boilermakers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 33
Week 5: Minnesota 20, Purdue 13
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

62 Utah Utes (2-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 53
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: at USC

61 Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 82
Week 5: Minnesota 20, Purdue 13
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

60 Bowling Green Falcons (1-4)

Last Week’s Ranking: 81
Week 5: Kent State 27, Bowling Green 20
Week 6 Opponent: at Kent State

59 South Alabama Jaguars (3-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 76
Week 5: Louisiana 20, South Alabama 18
Week 6 Opponent: at Texas State

58 Temple Owls (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 111
Week 5: Temple 34, Memphis 31
Week 6 Opponent: at Cincinnati (Oct. 8)

57 Kent State Golden Flashes (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 104
Week 5: Kent State 27, Bowling Green 20
Week 6 Opponent: Buffalo

56 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 80
Week 5: Louisiana 20, South Alabama 18
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

55 Virginia Cavaliers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 61
Week 5: Virginia 30, Miami 28
Week 6 Opponent: at Louisville

54 Indiana Hoosiers (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 34
Week 5: Penn State 24, Indiana 0
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

53 Missouri Tigers (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 48
Week 5: Tennessee 62, Missouri 24
Week 6 Opponent: North Texas

52 UCF Knights (2-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 43
Week 5: Navy 34, UCF 30
Week 6 Opponent: East Carolina

51 Fresno State Bulldogs (4-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Week 5: Hawaii 27, Fresno State 24
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Week 5 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 4 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Cincinnati, Oregon, more 

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 50

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 50

50 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 87
Week 5: Hawaii 27, Fresno State 24
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

49 Nevada Wolf Pack (3-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 65
Week 5: Nevada 41, Boise State 31
Week 6 Opponent: New Mexico State

48 Boston College Eagles (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 39
Week 5: Clemson 19, Boston College 13
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

47 Clemson Tigers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 49
Week 5: Clemson 19, Boston College 13
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

46 NC State Wolfpack (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 47
Week 5: NC State 34, Louisiana Tech 27
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

45 Texas A&M Aggies (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Week 5: Mississippi State 26, Texas A&M 22
Week 6 Opponent: Alabama

44 Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 46
Week 5: Mississippi State 26, Texas A&M 22
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

43 Memphis Tigers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 45
Week 5: Temple 34, Memphis 31
Week 6 Opponent: at Tulsa

42 TCU Horned Frogs (2-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 40
Week 5: Texas 32, TCU 27
Week 6 Opponent: at Texas Tech

41 Louisville Cardinals (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 32
Week 5: Wake Forest 37, Louisville 34
Week 6 Opponent: Virginia

40 Iowa State Cyclones (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 55
Week 5: Iowa State 59, Kansas 7
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

39 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 41
Week 5: Ohio State 52, Rutgers 13
Week 6 Opponent: Michigan State

38 Wisconsin Badgers (1-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 28
Week 5: Michigan 38, Wisconsin 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Illinois

37 San Diego State Aztecs (4-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 42
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: New Mexico

36 Baylor Bears (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 30
Week 5: Oklahoma State 24, Baylor 14
Week 6 Opponent: West Virginia

35 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 63
Week 5: Coastal Carolina 52, ULM 6
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas State (Oct. 7)

34 Tennessee Volunteers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 62
Week 5: Tennessee 62, Missouri 24
Week 6 Opponent: South Carolina

33 Pitt Panthers (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 52
Week 5: Pitt 52, Georgia Tech 21
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

32 Western Michigan Broncos (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 51
Week 5: Western Michigan 24, Buffalo 17
Week 6 Opponent: Ball State

31 UTSA Roadrunners (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 44
Week 5: UTSA 24, UNLV 17
Week 6 Opponent: at WKU

30 SMU Mustangs (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 38
Week 5: SMU 41, USF 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Navy

29 LSU Tigers (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 29
Week 5: Auburn 24, LSU 19
Week 6 Opponent: at Kentucky

28 UCLA Bruins (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 21
Week 5: Arizona State 42, UCLA 23
Week 6 Opponent: at Arizona

27 Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 27
Week 5: OPEN DATE
Week 6 Opponent: Notre Dame

26 West Virginia Mountaineers (2-3)

Last Week’s Ranking: 26
Week 5: Texas Tech 23, West Virginia 20
Week 6 Opponent: at Baylor

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Week 5 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 4 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Cincinnati, Oregon, more 

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 25

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 25

25 Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 64
Week 5: Texas Tech 23, West Virginia 20
Week 6 Opponent: TCU

24 Maryland Terrapins (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 23
Week 5: Iowa 51, Maryland 14
Week 6 Opponent: at Ohio State

23 Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 37
Week 5: Arizona State 42, UCLA 23
Week 6 Opponent: Stanford (Oct. 8)

22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 13
Week 5: Cincinnati 24, Notre Dame 13
Week 6 Opponent: at Virginia Tech

21 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 19
Week 5: Wake Forest 37, Louisville 34
Week 6 Opponent: at Syracuse

20 Texas Longhorns (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Week 5: Texas 32, TCU 27
Week 6 Opponent: Oklahoma (in Dallas)

19 BYU Cougars (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 18
Week 5: BYU 34, Utah State 20
Week 6 Opponent: Boise State

18 Auburn Tigers (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 24
Week 5: Auburn 24, LSU 19
Week 6 Opponent: Georgia

17 Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Week 5: Ohio State 52, Rutgers 13
Week 6 Opponent: Maryland

16 Oregon Ducks (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Week 5: Stanford 31, Oregon 24 OT
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

15 Stanford Cardinal (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 22
Week 5: Stanford 31, Oregon 24 OT
Week 6 Opponent: at Arizona State (Oct. 8)

14 Kansas State Wildcats (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Week 5: Oklahoma 37, Kansas State 31
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

13 Ole Miss Rebels (3-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Week 5: Alabama 42, Ole Miss 21
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas

12 Florida Gators (3-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Week 5: Kentucky 20, Florida 13
Week 6 Opponent: Vanderbilt

11 Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 16
Week 5: Oklahoma State 24, Baylor 14
Week 6 Opponent: OPEN DATE

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Week 5 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 4 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Cincinnati, Oregon, more 

NEXT: CFN 2021 College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 10

CFN College Football Rankings: Week 5 Top 10

10 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Week 5: Georgia 37, Arkansas 0
Week 6 Opponent: at Ole Miss

There’s no real punishment for having to deal with the Georgia buzzsaw. The win over Texas A&M doesn’t matter all that much now, but beating Texas 40-21 is looking stronger and stronger.

9 Michigan State Spartans (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Week 5: Michigan State 48, WKU 31
Week 6 Opponent: at Rutgers

The Spartans don’t have a strong win quite yet – Miami and Nebraska is about it – but they’re playing strong enough to look the part of a 5-0 team with road games against Rutgers and Indiana up next before getting Michigan.

8 Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 15
Week 5: Cincinnati 24, Notre Dame 13
Week 6 Opponent: Temple (Oct. 8)

The road win over Indiana isn’t anything special, but beating Notre Dame in South Bend by 11 is the big win the the program had to have to get into the discussion for big things. But that’s it. SMU is the only team left on the slate that might be reason to be interested now that UCF has taken a step back.

7 Kentucky Wildcats (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 31
Week 5: Kentucky 20, Florida 13
Week 6 Opponent: LSU

There’s only one win, but it’s a big one. The Wildcats struggled against Missouri and sputtered against South Carolina and Chattanooga, but beating the Florida team that pushed Alabama to the wall is a massive deal.

6 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Week 5: Oklahoma 37, Kansas State 31
Week 6 Opponent: Texas (in Dallas)

The Sooners have their shot to show whether or not they’re any good next week against Texas. There isn’t a killer win, but beating Nebraska, West Virginia, and Kansas State isn’t anything to blow off.

5 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Week 5: Penn State 24, Indiana 0
Week 6 Opponent: at Iowa

The win over Auburn looks a whole lot better now. Beating Indiana and Wisconsin aren’t any big whoop at the moment, but they’re still solid games that Nittany Lions got through. And now comes the showdown at Iowa.

4 Michigan Wolverines (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Week 5: Michigan 38, Wisconsin 17
Week 6 Opponent: at Nebraska

There isn’t any one amazing win yet, but there are five solid ones considering Western Michigan has just the one loss and beat Pitt, Northern Illinois and Rutgers aren’t bad, and beating Washington and Wisconsin is beating Washington and Wisconsin – even if that’s not as big as it might have seemed before the season.

3 Iowa Hawkeyes (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Week 5: Iowa 51, Maryland 14
Week 6 Opponent: Penn State

The win over Iowa State still matters, but it’s the 51-14 blowout over a previously unbeaten Maryland on the road that moves it up to the prime spot. That’s great – now take care of Penn State it’ll be time to get really excited.

2 Georgia Bulldogs (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Week 5: Georgia 37, Arkansas 0
Week 6 Opponent: at Auburn

The only thing keeping Georgia from No. 1 is the health of JT Daniels and the thin receiving corps. The defense has been totally dominant, the offensive line destroyed Arkansas, and this really might be the No. 1 team in the country.

1 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0)

Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Week 5: Alabama 42, Ole Miss 21
Week 6 Opponent: at Texas A&M

Great team came to Tuscaloosa, brash coach told everyone to eat popcorn, great team with brash coach left after getting rolled.

There are still flaws and concerns with a Bama team that came so close to going to overtime with Florida and hasn’t put together a full four quarters, but whatever. There will be tests over the second half of the season, but it’s another special Crimson Tide team.

CFN 2021 Rankings: Week 5
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Week 5 Scoreboard, Predictions For Every Game
Week 4 AP Rankings | Coaches Poll Rankings
Big Game Reactions: Cincinnati, Oregon, more 

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