D Poll: Week 10
The most boring D Poll of the season sees one of the most boring teams enter the ranking.
This week’s D Poll is neither earth-shattering nor shocking. In fact, this might be the most bland ranking I’ve ever put out.
The only notable result that altered the landscape significantly was Texas A&M’s thumping of LSU, which—spoiler alert—vaulted it up to No. 1 in this week’s ranking. If you’re surprised by that, I encourage you to recall what this poll is all about: the vibes. There are no better vibes than winning in Tiger Stadium at night against a team that fancied itself as being in the hunt for the College Football Playoff. Oh, and the Aggies didn’t just beat LSU—they freakin’ clobbered them into obscurity. And what’s even better is that the fallout of the defeat for the Tigers has been utter chaos, as Brian Kelly was fired and the coaching search that’s ensuing has been a clown show to the highest extent. So, yeah, good vibes in College Station.
Everything else remains pretty similar. There’s a new addition toward the bottom in Iowa, who just absolutely dismantled Minnesota, as well as a pretty significant rise for undefeated Navy.
In total, eight SEC schools are ranked, with five landing in the top 10. The Big Ten comes in second with five teams, and the Big 12—my baby—has five. Of the Power 4 conferences, the ACC comes in last with four teams in the D Poll. Only two Group of 5 (or 6) schools are ranked—Navy and Memphis—and the lone independent is, to no surprise, Notre Dame.
Usually, the D Poll would have intense breakdowns of why each team is where they are. That’s usually the best way to explain everything, especially when there’s a ton of movement. But with the top 10 remaining roughly the same, and with the back half of the ranking not having much shifting either, there really isn’t a point. I can assure you that this won’t always be the case. As you’re probably well aware, I’ve been prone to pour 5,000+ words into a D Poll. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—that is not today.
Here is the D Poll for Week 10. It’s kind of boring, and I apologize for that. Actually, I don’t. We were due for a week where the status quo stayed the same, and frankly, it’s somewhat refreshing.
Note: This is about vibes, feelings, and winning. Just remember that as you go through this list; if you don’t then you’ll probably be confused.
1. Texas A&M (+2)
Week 9 result: 49-25 win at LSU
2. Indiana (-1)
Week 9 result: 56-6 win vs. UCLA
3. Ohio State (-1)
Week 9 result: BYE
4. BYU (NM)
Week 9 result: 41-27 win at Iowa State
5. Georgia Tech (NM)
Week 9 result: 41-16 win vs. Syracuse
6. Alabama (NM)
Week 9 result: 29-22 win at South Carolina
7. Oregon (NM)
Week 9 result: 21-7 win vs. Wisconsin
8. Georgia (NM)
Week 9 result: BYE
9. Ole Miss (+2)
Week 9 result: 34-26 win at Oklahoma
10. Vanderbilt (-1)
Week 9 result: 17-10 win vs. Missouri
11. Miami (+3)
Week 9 result: 42-7 win vs. Stanford
12. Texas Tech (+1)
Week 9 result: 42-0 win vs. Oklahoma State
13. Cincinnati (+3)
Week 9 result: 41-20 win vs. Baylor
14. Louisville (+4)
Week 9 result: 38-24 win vs. Boston College
15. Houston (+4)
Week 9 result: 24-16 win at Arizona State
16. Navy (+5)
Week 9 result: 42-32 win vs. Florida Atlantic
17. Notre Dame (+3)
Week 9 result: BYE
18. Memphis (NR)
Week 9 result: 34-31 win vs. South Florida
19. Virginia (-2)
Week 9 result: 17-16 win at North Carolina
20. Texas (NR)
Week 9 result: 45-38 win at Mississippi State
21. Oklahoma (-6)
Week 9 result: 34-26 loss vs. Ole Miss
22. Iowa (NR)
Week 9 result: 41-3 win vs. Minnesota
23. Tennessee (NM)
Week 9 result: 56-34 win at Kentucky
24. Utah (NM)
Week 9 result: 53-7 win vs. Colorado
25. USC (NR)
Week 9 result: BYE