With just one month left in the college football regular season, The Circuit creates their own top 25 poll, dives into Heisman rankings & playoff picks as things stand roughly ⅔ of the way through the 2021 season.
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Circuit Top 25 Poll
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1- Georgia Bulldogs
2- Cincinnati Bearcats
3- Oklahoma Sooners
4- Alabama Crimson Tide
5- Michigan State Spartans
6- Oregon Ducks
7- Ohio State Buckeyes
8- Wake Forest Demon Deacons
9- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10- Michigan Wolverines
11- Texas A&M Aggies
12- Oklahoma State Cowboys
13- Auburn Tigers
14- Baylor Bears
15- Ole Miss Rebels
16- Iowa Hawkeyes
17- UTSA Roadrunners
18- Kentucky Wildcats
19- Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
20- Houston Cougars
21- BYU Cougars
22- SMU Mustangs
23- NC State Wolfpack
24- Pittsburgh Panthers
25- Penn State Nittany Lions
The big change in our rankings is Alabama falling behind Cincinnati and Oklahoma. Most still think Alabama is the second best team in the country, and they very well may be right about that. BUT record still has to matter, and Oklahoma & Cincinnati haven’t lost yet.
Oh Michigan. You almost had us there! I still think they’re a top-10 team, but there is virtually no chance they can make the playoff now. The B1G is in more trouble than most might think; If Oregon, Oklahoma and Alabama run the table then there is virtually no way the B1G gets in, and that’s not even considering what Cincinnati does. Michigan State really needs to run the table if the Big Ten has any chance of making the playoff.
Last check-in, we asked if three power 5 conferences could miss out, and that scenario is still very much in play. If Oklahoma and Cincinnati win out, they both should be in. Then if Alabama beats Georgia in the SEC championship, then they both should be in. That would leave the Big Ten, Pac 12 & ACC on the outside looking in. Most likely a third power 5 conference will get in, but it’s no guarantee.
Circuit Heisman Watch Rankings
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1- Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State RB)
2- Matt Corral (Ole Miss QB)
3- Caleb Williams (Oklahoma)
4- Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati QB)
5- Jordan Davis (Georgia DT)
Move over quarterbacks! Our leader is a running back in East Lansing, and a big boy in the Georgia trenches has entered the conversation. Walker ran for FIVE touchdowns against undefeated Michigan, officially making that his Heisman moment. And Jordan Davis has been so incredibly dominant for a Georgia defense that has been so incredibly dominant that he has to be in our top 5. And Caleb Williams, who has only played about 2.5 games, is now all the way up to #3 because of his instant impact in Oklahoma. These three candidates highlight the lack of stellar QB play this season (looking at you Sam Howell & Spencer Rattler).
What Would the Playoff Look Like Today?
1 Oklahoma vs. 4 Cincinnati
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2 Alabama vs. 3 Georgia
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*This looks different than our rankings because there is virtually no possible way that Georgia and Alabama could end the season as #1 and #4, respectfully. If Georgia wins the SEC championship, Alabama won’t make it and if Alabama wins, they would jump the Bulldogs. So because both teams are too good to leave out, this is a projection of Alabama winning the SEC title game.
Semi-Final Predictions:
1 Oklahoma over 4 Cincinnati
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I love this Cincinnati team, and I hope they win the whole damn thing. Unfortunately Oklahoma seems to have found their guy under center. The Bearcats will play them tough, but the Sooners win in the end.
3 Georgia over 2 Alabama
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In a rematch of the SEC championship, Georgia gets their revenge and wins the game that really matters. That defense will get the better of Bryce Young and the Crimson Tide and Kirby Smart will finally defeat Nick Saban.
National Championship Prediction:
3 Georgia over 1 Oklahoma
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The Sooners are a really great team with Williams at quarterback, but they will not have seen a defense like THIS in the Big 12. Georgia will run over the Sooners en route to the national championship. GO DAWGS!