How high will Oregon go? US LBM coaches poll ranking projection after wild Week 7
In the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, the battle for the top position is between Texas and Oregon. Will the Longhorns maintain their lead, or will they be overtaken by the Ducks following their victory against Ohio State?
Expect Oregon to narrow Texas’s lead and potentially gain numerous first-place votes. However, Texas’s impressive performance against Oklahoma suggests they’ll remain at No. 1 as the sole unbeaten team in the SEC.
The next point of interest is Ohio State’s position after they started the weekend at No. 2. There’s a strong argument they might drop to No. 3 due to a close defeat by Oregon, or possibly see Penn State take that spot following their overtime success at Southern California.
Meanwhile, Alabama and Tennessee managed to secure tight victories, with Tennessee needing extra time to edge past Florida.
Check out the anticipated top 10 rankings after another thrilling Saturday:
1. Texas (6-0)
The Longhorns started slowly against Oklahoma but rallied to a commanding 34-3 victory. The disparity between these two opponents is stark; Texas is vying for a national championship, while Oklahoma struggles to reach six wins and qualify for a bowl.
2. Oregon (6-0)
To be frank, had Ohio State succeeded in their away game, they might have claimed the top spot this week. Despite Oregon’s thrilling 32-31 win showcasing their elite status in FBS, they will likely settle for No. 2, picking up a substantial number of first-place votes, marking them as the first Big Ten team, aside from Michigan, to defeat Ohio State since Purdue in 2018.
3. Penn State (6-0)
After trailing 20-6 at halftime against Southern California, Penn State rallied in the second half thanks to a strong performance by quarterback Drew Allar and critical defensive plays, clinching a 33-30 overtime victory. The Nittany Lions may not be flawless, but they are performing well enough to contend for a top finish in the Big Ten and a playoff spot.
4. Ohio State (5-1)
With limited competitive options, Ohio State seems positioned to swap ranks with Oregon to land at No. 3. Although they may concede the lead to Penn State due to their unbeaten record, the Buckeyes should still surpass Georgia, pushing the Bulldogs down to No. 5.
5. Georgia (5-1)
Georgia has faced some challenges since starting SEC play, including a narrow victory over Kentucky, a deflating loss to Alabama, a less-than-stellar win against Auburn, and a recent 41-31 win over Mississippi State where they allowed one of the league’s weaker teams to score over 30 points. Quarterback Carson Beck also threw two interceptions, raising his total to five in the past three games.
6. Miami (6-0)
Miami was on a bye this week but is set to face a challenging road game against Louisville next Saturday. They will confront four bowl-eligible teams in their schedule ahead, including Duke, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse. The upcoming schedule appears manageable.
7. Alabama (5-1)
Despite the loss against Vanderbilt, Alabama remains in the top 10. A lackluster win over South Carolina did not change that either. However, close calls against weaker opponents raise some concerns, as the team has seemed quite vulnerable since initially dominating Georgia.
8. LSU (5-1)
Trailing by a touchdown with only minutes left, LSU managed to tie the game with less than 30 seconds remaining and ultimately secured a 29-26 overtime victory over Mississippi. This significant achievement may enhance the Tigers’ standing above Alabama, potentially leading to a two-spot improvement from last week’s rankings.
9. Clemson (5-1)
Clemson has strung together five consecutive victories, mounting a return to the top 10 for the first time since the 2023 preseason rankings. The team has shown remarkable improvement since their initial thrashing by Georgia, particularly on the offensive front, as Cade Klubnik positions himself as an All-American candidate, leading the team to score 40 or more points in four of their last five wins, including a resounding 49-14 triumph over Wake Forest.
10. Tennessee (5-1)
Needing overtime and managing only 23 points to defeat Florida isn’t particularly impressive, especially following Tennessee’s lackluster offensive performance in their previous loss to Arkansas. As a result, the Volunteers are likely to drop a position from last week’s rankings. However, with limited viable replacements—perhaps Notre Dame or Iowa State—Tennessee remains in the top 10 for now.