Commentators from every major media outlet that covers college football are falling over themselves trying to be the first to say that Auburn, with two losses, still has a shot at the BCS playoffs.
And, to be fair, the Tigers' convincing thumping of Georgia on Saturday has done them a lot of favors--and left SEC officials pondering a short-term future with only one team (Alabama?) in the mix.
But fear not white men in suits. A lot has to happen for Auburn to be, to use Spencer Tillman's tired expression, "a fly in the ointment" for the BCS. For Georgia, though, the Tigers have already proved to be the proverbial roach in the chicken burrito.
Here's our Top 10 as of November 13, 2017 (with won-loss records in parentheses).
NCAA College Football (CFB) Rankings
1. Alabama, (10-0)
Hate to say we told you so but, well, we told you so. 'Bama has been and will be our No. 1 until someone--even better than nationally ranked Mississippi State (in Starkville, no less)--proves us wrong. Receiver Calvin Ridley had 5 catches for 171 yards against the Bulldogs, including a big third-down catch on the Tide's game-winning drive.
2. Wisconsin, (10-0)
"Hangin' out... down the street... the same old s**t... we did last week..." Except this is hardly same old, same old, for the Badgers, who are 10-0 for the first time in program history. We'll keep saying it until somebody actually listens: Jonathan Taylor (29 carries, 157 yards vs. Iowa) for Heisman. Dude has 1,500-plus rushing yards and 12 TDs. And he's a freshman.
3. Oklahoma, (9-1)
Not that we'd complain when/if Baker Mayfield takes home the hardware in New York in December. Mayfield did it again against TCU (333 passing yards, 3 TDs) but while we promised ourselves we'd mention sophomore receiver Marquise Brown (who had 9 catches for 265 yards last week vs. Oklahoma State, but got no love from us), the Sooners' star against the Horned Frogs was RB Rodney Anderson, who had 290 total yards and 4 TDs on the night.
4. Clemson, (9-1)
A Clemson loss to Florida State might have opened the door for Auburn, but Dabo Swinney's Tigers delivered in the end against a game Seminoles team, even adding some window-dressing to the scoreline. If Swinney's men win the ACC, they're in.
5. Miami, (9-0)
Those of us who were questioning the 'Canes heading into last weekend's action, couldn't help but come away convinced after watching them thrash Notre Dame. Travis Homer (18 carries, 146 yards vs. the Irish) can certainly carry the mail, but will he be able to put up numbers against Clemson in the ACC championship game?
6. Georgia, (9-1)
We seem to be the only ones who think that the SEC is having a down year (relatively speaking), but even so one loss in the country's top conference isn't going to totally derail the Bulldogs' season. Another mistake, though...
7. Oklahoma State, (8-2)
The Cowboys have no legitimate shot at the BCS playoffs. Such is the dilemma of the Big 12. About the best RB Justice Hill (25 carries, 134 yards, 3 TDs at Iowa State on Saturday) can hope for is a chance to ruin rival Oklahoma's season by beating the Sooners in the Big 12 championship game (otherwise known as the worst idea in college football).
8. Auburn, (8-2)
We almost wish we could get away with a "top 7." That's how unenthused we are about the remaining teams on our list. The Tigers are hardly slouches, but we can't see them beating 'Bama. Of course, we've been wrong before. And they do get the Tide at home.
9. USC, (9-2)
The Pac-12's slim hopes of landing a team in the BCS playoffs ended with Washington's loss at Stanford Friday night. Still, the conference could land the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in April, with Trojans QB Sam Darnold (21-34, 329 yards, 2 TDs vs. Colorado), if he keeps playing well, that is. That may be the only reason to keep watching.
10. Notre Dame, (8-2)
Miami exposed the Irish, but the game gave ESPN/ABC a chance to flog their "30 for 30" documentary, regrettably entitled "Catholics Versus Convicts." The rest of the team's season will be a tougher sell.