Outkick’s Top Ten

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TUSCALOOSA, AL – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during pregame warmups prior to facing the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2013 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Kevin C. Cox Getty Images North America

After a wild holiday weekend Outkick’s top ten has changed quite a bit. 

So here we go. 

1. Alabama

The Tide are clicking on all cylinders on offense and the defense has pretty pretty consistent up until Nick Marshall played the best game of his career in the Iron Bowl. How many teams in the country can score 55 points despite their starting quarterback throwing three interceptions? Now the only question left in Bama’s season is would Nick Saban strangle Lane Kiffin to death if Missouri pulled off the upset in the SEC title game?  

2. Oregon

The Ducks sprinted past Oregon State and now get an opportunity to vanquish their lone loss in a rematch with Arizona. The Ducks lost earlier in the season as a 21 point favorite. Will history repeat itself in the Pac 12 title game? Surely not, right?

3. TCU

TCU smoked Texas and will finish 11-1 after it beats Iowa State this coming weekend. But the only way I leave TCU above Baylor in my final top four is if Baylor loses to Kansas State. Otherwise TCU gets jumped.  

But could the Big 12 get two teams in the playoff? It sure could if Alabama, Oregon or FSU lose conference title games. Would that make people question why we’re playing conference title games at all? Yep.  

4. Florida State

The Seminoles overcame four Jameis Winston interceptions to beat Florida by five. Now FSU faces its toughest test of the season — which isn’t really saying much — Georgia Tech in the ACC title game. I assume FSU will win by three or four and wait until the playoff when they’re crushed by Alabama or Oregon.  

5. Baylor

The Bears lost their quarterback to a concussion and then almost lost a massive lead against Texas Tech. But they hung on for a two point win. Now they’ll make the playoff and pass TCU if they can beat Kansas State to finish 11-1.

6. Ohio State

The Buckeyes beat Michigan, but lost their second quarterback of the season. Now they’ll be underdogs against Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes they still need at least two losses from the teams above them to make the inaugural playoff. 

7. Arizona

The Wildcats beat Arizona State and advance to the Pac 12 title game where they’ll try to beat Oregon for a third straight time. If they beat the Ducks again, the Wildcats would have the best resume of any two loss team. 

8. Mississippi State

The Bulldogs were beaten soundly by Ole Miss. I still believe 11-1 Mississippi State would have made the playoff, but with the loss they gave up the playoff ghost. America loses because they won’t get to see me in a loin cloth. 

9. Kansas State

Kansas State can earn a share of the Big 12 title with a win at Baylor on the final weekend of the year. Will they pull that off? I don’t think so. 

10. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech outlasted a Georgia’ing Georgia team to snag a big road win in Athens. Now Paul Johnson’s crew can nab an ACC title and end FSU’s title run. As good as the Yellow Jackets are playing this should be a fascinating game. 

Written by Clay Travis

Clay Travis is the founder of the fastest growing national multimedia platform, OutKick, that produces and distributes engaging content across sports and pop culture to millions of fans across the country. OutKick was created by Travis in 2011 and sold to the Fox Corporation in 2021.

One of the most electrifying and outspoken personalities in the industry, Travis hosts OutKick The Show where he provides his unfiltered opinion on the most compelling headlines throughout sports, culture, and politics. He also makes regular appearances on FOX News Media as a contributor providing analysis on a variety of subjects ranging from sports news to the cultural landscape. Throughout the college football season, Travis is on Big Noon Kickoff for Fox Sports breaking down the game and the latest storylines.

Additionally, Travis serves as a co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, a three-hour conservative radio talk program syndicated across Premiere Networks radio stations nationwide.

Previously, he launched OutKick The Coverage on Fox Sports Radio that included interviews and listener interactions and was on Fox Sports Bet for four years. Additionally, Travis started an iHeartRadio Original Podcast called Wins & Losses that featured in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports.

Travis is a graduate of George Washington University as well as Vanderbilt Law School. Based in Nashville, he is the author of Dixieland Delight, On Rocky Top, and Republicans Buy Sneakers Too.