College Football Power Ratings: Penn State leaps Georgia, Big Ten reigns on top

If you’re a fan of the ACC and Big 12, perhaps you want to stop reading right now. If you feel like the college football world is against you and everybody is conspiring to relegate your conference to minor league status, this is not the story for you.

These power ratings certainly suggest the Big Ten and SEC are operating at a different level. There is more movement in the ratings this week, though most of the bigger changes come outside the top 12 programs we list here. As you peruse this week’s list, the first thing you’ll notice is that the top three teams come from the Big Ten.

Penn State jumped past Georgia for third this week because of a slight downgrade to Georgia’s defensive metrics following an incredible 44-41 road win over Tennessee. Don’t worry, Dawgs fans, the gap between you and Penn State is razor thin. In fact, it’s so close that if Ellis Robinson knocks down a pass instead of allowing a touchdown, you might still be in third.

Anyway, after you get past that top three, eight of the next nine teams are from the SEC. Miami is the only school from outside the two leagues to crack the top 12 this week, as Notre Dame fell out and was replaced by the Texas A&M team that beat it.

If you’re wondering, outside the top 12, four of the next five teams come from the Big Ten or SEC as well, as Notre Dame’s the only other team to crack the top 17. The highest-rated Big 12 team is Utah at No. 18. Florida State is the next-highest ACC team at No. 22, and if that feels low, the Seminoles began the season in the 50s. It’s a remarkable climb in a short amount of time.

While I am — and always will be — an advocate for current-season results mattering more than hypotheticals when it comes to putting together the field for the College Football Playoff, these power ratings are predictive, and they accurately reflect which two leagues are home to the teams expected to win on a weekly basis.

National title odds below via Fanduel Sportsbook.

Fell outside top 12: Notre Dame