The University of Alabama has secured a spot in the top four of the CBS Sports 138 college football rankings, which assess all FBS teams. This marks the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) continued dominance, as it claims three of the top four positions in the latest rankings.
Experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports noted the difficulties in ranking several teams within the top 30. For instance, the Florida Gators, despite defeating Ole Miss, fell out of the top 10 due to a challenging loss against Missouri. Similarly, the Oregon Ducks, who claimed victory over USC, suffered a setback against Oklahoma State. Amid these fluctuations, Alabama has emerged as one of the hottest teams in college football and is now discussing a potential No. 1 ranking as it prepares for a pivotal matchup against Georgia this weekend.
The SEC not only holds three of the top four spots but also boasts five teams in the top 10 and nine in the top 20 of the current rankings. Florida’s drop has not shaken the SEC’s strong representation.
The rankings also reveal a congested field of teams ranked between No. 20 and No. 40. According to the CBS Sports 138, teams such as Iowa (No. 20) to Nebraska (No. 28) all have average ballot rankings above 25.0. This indicates a significant number of teams exhibiting “top 25 quality” amidst imbalanced schedules and limited completed conference games.
Notable Movements in Rankings
- No. 35 Arizona (+11): The Wildcats climbed into the top 40 following a decisive win over Cincinnati, which handed the Bearcats their first loss. Arizona currently holds a 4-1 record.
- No. 34 Minnesota (+10): After triumphing over Washington and Michigan, the Golden Gophers reset their position in the Big Ten hierarchy and are positioning themselves as potential dark horse contenders.
- No. 64 NC State (+10): Following an upset victory over Louisville, the Wolfpack has moved up in the rankings, marking four consecutive games with 30 or more points scored.
- No. 37 Virginia Tech (-11): Despite a 4-1 record, the Hokies experienced a drop due to a competitive rankings logjam, with their average ballot ranking sitting at 33.75.
- No. 44 Penn State (-12): The Nittany Lions faced a downturn after a challenging game against Northwestern and will need improved offensive production to recover when they face USC.
- No. 49 Virginia (-13): The Cavaliers have struggled following their strong start, with only one FBS win since the season opener.
- No. 48 Michigan (-17): A slow start to the season has left the Wolverines at risk of falling further if they do not improve in upcoming games against Penn State.
The full CBS Sports 138 rankings, including positions 26 to 138, can be accessed online.
