College football Power Rankings for Week 5 – ESPN

If no longer for a failed 2-point conversion strive, who knows where we may perhaps well perhaps be 5 weeks into the college soccer season?

But Brent Venables’ Clemson defense made the play it had to manufacture, and the defending nationwide champion Tigers survived a 21-20 distress at North Carolina. The impossible thing about college soccer is the unpredictability from week to week, and valid whereas you tell no one in the ACC genuinely has a gamble in opposition to Clemson, something esteem Saturday’s shut to fail to spot occurs.

So right here we’re, and the fact is that rating the head six or seven teams in the nation at this point is a crapshoot. Cases may perhaps well perhaps potentially be made for all six or seven to be No. 1.

But for the time being, we’ll slip along with Alabama and Tua Tagovailoa. Air Tua already has thrown 23 touchdown passes with out a interceptions, and he tossed a school-fable six TDs on Saturday in the blowout victory over Ole Scramble away out.

5 of the head nine teams this week are from the SEC, and if no longer for Ohio Teach going in the No. 2 articulate, the head two would possess an “Iron Bowl” genuinely feel to it.

And what about the Pac-12? There are most likely to be no longer any unbeaten teams closing — and or no longer it’s no longer even October.

Listed below are the updated ESPN Vitality Rankings after Week 5:

1. Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC)

Maybe DeVonta Smith deserves his possess rating after his fable-breaking performance on Saturday in Alabama’s 59-31 demolition of Ole Scramble away out. The Alabama junior receiver caught 11 passes for 274 yards and had four of his 5 touchdown catches in the first half. The actual person throwing him the ball, Tua Tagovailoa, had a fine gorgeous day too, with six touchdown passes. If you is perhaps trying to possess to secure choosy, Alabama genuinely trailed on this game behind in the first quarter, and defensively, the Crimson Tide gave up 279 rushing yards. This is rarely any longer the Alabama defense of usual, in particular with the accidents, however the Tide can procure with anybody and possess now defeated 87 consecutive unranked opponents under Carve Saban, the longest flow in FBS history.

Up subsequent: Open date

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2. Ohio Teach (5-0, 2-0 Broad Ten)

It has nearly looked too straightforward for Ohio Teach, which won its fifth consecutive game by 24 or extra aspects this season, the most modern a 48-7 pummeling of Nebraska on Saturday sooner than what had been an electrical Memorial Stadium crowd to initiate the competition. But that modified in a slip, as the Buckeyes rolled to a 38-0 halftime lead in the form of dominant performance that ought to relieve peep to the college soccer world. There may perhaps be rarely any longer mighty Ohio Teach hasn’t done wisely so far. The Buckeyes are vastly improved defensively from a year in the past and were frightening gorgeous on offense. They’ve scored 42 or extra aspects in every game, and quarterback Justin Fields valid gets better a week. He has accounted for 23 touchdowns.

Up subsequent: vs. Michigan Teach (Saturday, 7: 30 p.m. ET, ABC)

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3. Auburn (5-0, 2-0 SEC)

Within the occasion you mix a championship-stage defense laden with future specialists up front and an offense that has rediscovered its groove with Gus Malzahn calling performs and freshman quarterback Bo Nix bettering weekly, you secure the form of initiate that Auburn is off to this season. The Tigers remained unbeaten Saturday with a dominant 56-23 home romp over Mississippi Teach, and so they boast thought to be one of many extra spectacular résumés in college soccer as we head to October. The question now: Can the Tigers navigate a schedule that is genuinely brutal the remainder of the map in which? Their subsequent three video games are all SEC side twin carriageway contests, including trips to nationally ranked Florida and LSU. After which in November, Georgia and Alabama each and every consult with the Plains.

Up subsequent: at Florida (Saturday, 3: 30 p.m. ET, CBS)

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4. Clemson (5-0, 3-0 ACC)

Dabo Swinney potentially acknowledged it most productive: Usually the team that performs the most straightforward doesn’t hang. And even though Clemson used to be “outplayed and outcoached” by North Carolina, per Swinney, the Tigers managed to flee 21-20 on the side twin carriageway and hang their 20th straight game. Clemson has an initiate date this coming Saturday sooner than returning home on Oct. 12 to face Florida Teach. The Tigers possess extra than a pair of things to clear up, in articulate doing a bigger job of maintaining quarterback Trevor Lawrence. They had better secure conversant in getting everyone’s most productive shot the remainder of the map in which. And given how usual the ACC is, or no longer it’s arduous to have a look at Clemson shedding to a conference foe this season and aloof going in the College Football Playoff.

Up subsequent: Open date

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5. Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC)

The Dawgs are coming off of a wisely-timed initiate date, following a important, physical hang over Notre Dame. The tip of the Vitality Rankings are laden with SEC teams, and Kirby Aesthetic’s club has been as spectacular as any individual with its physicality on each and every strains of scrimmage despite some accidents in the offensive line. And whereas you’ve got an skilled quarterback playing with the poise and effectivity that Jake Fromm has since he arrived on campus, that is the full extra heartening for the Dawgs, as they very most likely are a 7-0 initiate heading into the Florida game on Nov. 2.

Up subsequent: at Tennessee (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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6. Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Broad 12)

This switch quarterback ingredient has labored out valid good-trying for Oklahoma. The Sooners got one more enormous game from Jalen Hurts and blew previous Texas Tech in a 55-16 romp that has been the norm for the Sooners this season. They’ve racked up in spite of all the pieces 600 yards of total offense in all four of their contests, and Hurts had his first 400-yard passing game of the season. Some tougher checks await, however no one has even attain shut to slowing down the Sooners so far.

Up subsequent: at Kansas (Saturday, noon ET, ABC)

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7. LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC)

Now we know the main to slowing down Joe Burrow and an LSU offense that has set up in spite of all the pieces 45 aspects in every of its first four tilts: an initiate date. The Tigers scored 231 aspects in their first four wins sooner than getting this week off. Burrow already has thrown 17 touchdown passes. For point of view, in the old 5 seasons, LSU as a team never threw extra than 17 touchdown passes the full season. Ed Orgeron promised that this LSU offense may perhaps well perhaps be a form of, however did anybody ogle this coming?

Up subsequent: vs. Utah Teach (Saturday, noon ET, SEC Community)

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8. Wisconsin (4-0, 2-0 Broad Ten)

No longer that any individual is de facto into model aspects at this juncture of the season, however Wisconsin valid retains discovering a form of ways to hang. Per week after thumping Michigan, the Badgers remained unbeaten thanks to a pair of defensive touchdowns in a 24-15 home hang over Northwestern. Obviously, it also helps to possess a working help the caliber of Jonathan Taylor, who valid retains cranking out 100-yard video games. He now has rushed for 100 yards in 26 of his 31 profession video games.

Up subsequent: vs. Kent Teach (Saturday, noon ET, ESPNU)

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9. Florida (5-0, 2-0 SEC)

This is valid where Florida anticipated to be whereas exiting September, and there is reason to be optimistic, in particular in the map in which the Gators possess played on defense. They blanked outmanned Towson 38-0 on Saturday, the 2nd straight game whereby Florida has no longer allowed a touchdown. But the valid season starts now with a daunting four-game stretch that entails a home game in opposition to Auburn subsequent weekend, a slip to LSU the next week and a home matchup with Georgia the first weekend in November. The greatest disclose for the Gators is an offensive line that wants to typical and abet generate extra of a working game.

Up subsequent: vs. Auburn (Saturday, 3: 30 p.m. ET, CBS)

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10. Notre Dame (3-1)

There may perhaps be perhaps a lot of debate as as to whether or no longer the Combating Irish can play their map help into College Football Playoff consideration following their arduous-fought loss at Georgia in Week 4, however there is no debate about the map in which Notre Dame’s defense took matters into its possess fingers on Saturday in a 35-20 triumph over Virginia. The Cavaliers led 17-14 at the half however may perhaps well perhaps muster very most realistic a fourth-quarter discipline goal the remainder of the map in which in opposition to a Notre Dame defense that completely managed the 2nd half.

Up subsequent: vs. Bowling Green (Saturday, 3: 30 p.m. ET, NBC)

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11. Penn Teach (4-0, 1-0 Broad Ten)

After a little of a shaky hang two weeks in the past in opposition to Pittsburgh, there used to be nothing shaky about Penn Teach’s 59-0 dismantling of Maryland on Friday night on the side twin carriageway in the Nittany Lions’ Broad Ten opener. Quarterback Sean Clifford used to be famed with 398 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and one more rushing touchdown. Granted, or no longer it’s aloof early, however or no longer it’s potentially wise we make no longer ignore James Franklin’s club in the Broad Ten slip. And with such an offensive explosion, or no longer it’s straightforward to fail to spot the defensive side of the ball. But in four video games now, Penn Teach aloof hasn’t given up extra than 13 aspects.

Up subsequent: vs. Purdue (Saturday, noon ET, ESPN)

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12. Texas (3-1, 1-0 Broad 12)

It is map too early to eliminate Texas from the College Football Playoff equation, in particular if LSU goes on to hang the SEC championship. The Longhorns, coming off an initiate date, possess to address their industry, which they did two weeks earlier in a key home hang in opposition to Oklahoma Teach. They slip on the side twin carriageway subsequent week in opposition to West Virginia, and then comes the annual showdown with Oklahoma. In what’s readily shaping up as the year of the quarterback in college soccer, make no longer ignore Sam Ehlinger. He has accounted for 16 touchdowns and thrown valid one interception in his first four video games.

Up subsequent: at West Virginia (Saturday, 3: 30 p.m. ET, ABC)

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13. Oregon (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12)

The Geese had been off after a mighty-wanted side twin carriageway hang at Stanford the weekend sooner than, their first conference side twin carriageway victory exterior the articulate since a year in the past after they beat Cal. Their subsequent two video games are at home in opposition to Cal and Colorado, sooner than a key side twin carriageway slip to Washington on Oct. 19. The bye week may perhaps well perhaps abet the Geese secure freshman receiver Mycah Pittman help. He used to be the debate of the preseason except injuring his shoulder, and he used to be in a position to return to have a look at this previous week.

Up subsequent: vs. Cal (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox)

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14. Iowa (4-0, 1-0 Broad Ten)

Iowa remained unbeaten with a 48-3 nonconference battering of Heart Tennessee, and or no longer it’s no longer good-trying that the Hawkeyes are doing it with defense. They’ve held every of their first four opponents to 18 or fewer aspects and possess given up valid four touchdowns along the map in which. The following two weeks will spell out how major November shall be for Iowa in the Broad Ten slip. The Hawkeyes play at Michigan subsequent Saturday, adopted by a home date with Penn Teach.

Up subsequent: at Michigan (Saturday, noon ET, Fox)

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15. Boise Teach (4-0, 1-0 Mountain West)

The Broncos had been off after opening the Mountain West Convention segment of their schedule the week sooner than with a 30-19 hang over Air Power, albeit a pricey one. Sophomore center linebacker Ezekiel Noa, the team’s leading tackler, tore his ACL and broke his wrist, and he’ll slip away out the remainder of the season.

Up subsequent: at UNLV (Saturday, 10: 30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Community)

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16. Washington (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)

Washington won its third consecutive game after shedding to Cal in Week 2 with a 28-14 victory over USC at home, a decision that ought to relieve the Huskies wisely in the Pac-12 slip. It used to be the first assembly between the teams since 2016 and Washington’s first triumph over USC since 2015. Washington got a massive opt with the return of working help Salvon Ahmed, who rushed for a profession-high 153 yards after lacking the game the week sooner than with a leg injury. The Huskies’ subsequent two video games are each and every on the side twin carriageway, at Stanford and at Arizona, sooner than coming help home to face Oregon and Utah.

Up subsequent: at Stanford (Saturday, 10: 30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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17. Utah (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)

Per week after being uncovered by USC and trying out esteem a Pac-12 pretender, Utah got right here storming help with a formidable 38-13 victory over Washington Teach and trying out very mighty esteem a Pac-12 contender. The Utes had been playing without two of their starters on offense however aloof had been in a position to play retain-away from a Washington Teach offense that got right here into the game leading the nation with an average of 499.5 passing yards per game. The Utes, who had lost four straight on this sequence, had been in a position to retain Washington Teach quarterback Anthony Gordon on the sideline for far of the game and, extra major, miniature the Cougars to valid one touchdown.

Up subsequent: Open date

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18. UCF (4-1, 1-0 AAC)

Maybe or no longer it’s time for UCF to initiate a unique a hit flow. Per week eliminated from its first typical-season loss in 27 video games, UCF opened conference play with a 56-21 rout of UConn on Saturday at home. The Knights, with freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel throwing three first-half touchdowns, built a 42-0 halftime lead and never broke a sweat. They may perhaps well perhaps be on the outside trying in in relation to the College Football Playoff after falling at Pitt, however a Modern 300 and sixty five days’s Six bowl berth is aloof very mighty in play.

Up subsequent: at Cincinnati (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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19. Michigan (3-1, 1-1 Broad Ten)

Given the blowout loss to Wisconsin the old week, any hang used to be a colorful hang for Michigan, which took out some serious frustration in a 52-0 drubbing of Rutgers at home. The following month will form the Wolverines’ season, a formula or the opposite. For the length of that stretch, they’ll face Iowa at home, Penn Teach on the side twin carriageway and Notre Dame at home.

Up subsequent: vs. Iowa (Saturday, noon ET, Fox)

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20. Oklahoma Teach (4-1, 1-1 Broad 12)

The Cowboys had been map undervalued in the preseason polls, however they possess got demonstrated all thru the first month of the marketing campaign that they’re going to be avid gamers in the Broad 12 slip. Mike Gundy’s club bounced help wisely from its loss at Texas with a 26-13 home victory Saturday over previously unbeaten Kansas Teach. And whereas you have not any longer already had a gamble to glance the working help/receiver combo of Chuba Hubbard and Tylan Wallace play, make your self a opt and situation the DVR for Oklahoma Teach’s subsequent game. They mixed for 441 yards from scrimmage in the hang over the Wildcats.

Up subsequent: at Texas Tech (Saturday, noon ET, Fox Sports 1)

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21. SMU (5-0, 1-0 AAC)

It has been a whereas — extra than three decades — since SMU has started a season with this mighty momentum. The Mustangs raced out to a 41-0 lead on Saturday en route to a 48-21 side twin carriageway beatdown of South Florida. This is the first time SMU has been 5-0 since the 1983 season, when it used to be a member of the usual Southwest Convention. Three of the 5 wins by SMU this season possess attain away from home.

Up subsequent: vs. Tulsa (Saturday, 7: 30 p.m. ET, ESPNU)

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22. Wake Woodland (5-0, 1-0 ACC)

There are most likely to be no longer any so-known as signature victories, however the Demon Deacons are 5-0 for the first time since 2006 after preserving off Boston College for a 27-24 side twin carriageway victory on Saturday. That 2006 season used to be a special one for Wake Woodland, which used to be rewarded with a slip to the Orange Bowl. The perfect ingredient the Demon Deacons possess done this season is procure ways to hang. Three of their 5 W’s were by six aspects or fewer, and trying out down the schedule, there is perhaps plenty extra victories coming. After an initiate date, the next three video games are all at home — in opposition to Louisville, Florida Teach and NC Teach.

Up subsequent: Open date

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23. Colorado (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12)

Coming off an initiate date after a 34-31 hang on the side twin carriageway in opposition to Arizona Teach — a decision that appears to be like even better following the Sun Devils’ victory on Friday night over previously unbeaten Cal — the Buffs secure Arizona at home sooner than diving accurate into a troublesome three-game stretch in opposition to Oregon and Washington Teach on the side twin carriageway and then USC help home.

Up subsequent: vs. Arizona (Saturday, 4: 30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Community)

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24. Arizona Teach (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)

In a brief week, Arizona Teach bounced help from a important 34-31 loss to Colorado by occurring the side twin carriageway and beating Cal 24-17 on Friday, as Eno Benjamin got untracked with three touchdowns. The Sun Devils will face a key home test in opposition to Washington Teach on Oct. 12. They already possess two wins over ranked teams, counting the one over Michigan Teach.

Up subsequent: Open date

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25. Cal (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)

The Golden Bears fell 24-17 at home to Arizona Teach on Friday in what used to be their first defeat. Besides they lost quarterback Scoot Garbers, who left the game in the 2nd quarter after injuring his valid shoulder. The schedule very most realistic gets tougher for Cal going forward, with two of the next three contests coming on the side twin carriageway in opposition to Oregon and Utah. The Bears’ passing game genuinely struggled to generate mighty of the relaxation after Garbers left the game, which can perhaps well perhaps be in particular troubling if he’s out for a protracted length of time.

Up subsequent: at Oregon (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox)