Top 25 and Heisman Ballots - After Week 13

Rankings, as always, are based on what teams have done so far, not how we believe they will finish. Leave a response below and beat blue.

Let's Go Bucks Index

1. Louisiana State (unchanged)

2. Ohio State (unchanged)

3. Clemson (unchanged)

4. Oklahoma (unchanged)

5. Georgia (down 1)

6. Minnesota (up 1)

7. Alabama (up 2)

8a. Penn State (down 2)

8b. Utah (up 3)

10. Baylor (up 2)

11. Wisconsin (up 1)

12. Michigan (up 2)

13. Florida (down 3)

14. Oregon (down 7)

15. Notre Dame (unchanged)

16. Auburn (unchanged)

17. Iowa (unchanged)

18. Cincinnati (up 1)

19. Boise State (up 1)

20. Memphis (down 2)

21. Oklahoma State (unchanged)

22. Virginia Tech (up 1)

23. Appalachian State (up 1)

24. USC (unranked)

25. Navy (unranked)

Others receiving votes: Louisville, Virginia, Kansas State, Iowa State, Arizona State

Dropped from rankings: #21b SMU, #25 Texas A&M

Let's Go Bucks Heisman Index

1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Chase Young (DE--OSU)

3. Jalen Hurts (QB--OU)

Others receiving votes: Justin Fields (QB--OSU), JK Dobbins (RB--OSU) 

Draper Top 25

1. Ohio State (up 1)

2. Louisiana State (down 1) 

3. Clemson (unchanged)

4. Georgia (unchanged)

5. Oklahoma (up 1)

6. Minnesota (up 2)

7. Penn State (down 2)

8. Florida (down 1) 

9. Alabama (up 1)

10. Utah (up 1)

11. Wisconsin (up 1)

12. Baylor (up 1)

13. Auburn (up 1)

14. Michigan (up 1)

15. Oregon (down 6)

16. Notre Dame (unchanged)

17. Iowa (unchanged)

18. Cincinnati (unchanged)

19. Memphis (unchanged)

20. Boise State (unchanged)

21. Oklahoma State (unchanged) 

22. Virginia Tech (unchanged)

23. Appalachian State (unchanged)

24. USC (new)

25. Navy (new)

Dropped from rankings:  #24 SMU, #25 Navy

Draper Heisman Ballot

1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Chase Young (DE--OSU)

3. JK Dobbins (RB--OSU)

Hoying Top 25

1. Louisiana State (unchanged)

2. Ohio State (unchanged)

3. Clemson (unchanged)

4. Georgia (up 1)

5. Oklahoma (up 2)

6. Baylor (up 3)

7. Minnesota (down 1)

8. Penn State (down 4)

9. Alabama (up 1)

10. Wisconsin (up 2)

11. Michigan (up 2)

12. Notre Dame (up 4)

13. Iowa (up 2)

14. Auburn (unchanged)

15. Utah (up 2)

16. Florida (down 8)

17. Cincinnati (up 3)

18. Oregon (down 7)

19. Boise State (unchanged)

20. USC (unranked)

21. Oklahoma State (up 1)

22. Louisville (unranked)

23. Virginia (up 2)

24. Kansas State (unranked)

25. Virginia Tech (down 1)

Dropped from rankings: #18 Memphis, #21 Southern Methodist, #23 Appalachian State

A few notes:

• LSU and Ohio State are separated by a razor's edge. An Ohio State win this week would put them up to #1, and a win over Minnesota would cement them there. Another win over Wisconsin would likely make things very, very close.
• I really can't explain the Florida drop other than realizing I had been giving them way too much credit for the Auburn win and not nearly enough grief for playing 2 FCS teams. 
• As for the lower Group of 5 teams falling out, the longer the season goes, the better the borderline Power 5 resumes look, because the Power 5 teams play better opponents week in and week out. SMU losing also killed Memphis's best win.

Hoying Heisman Ballot

1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Chase Young (DE--OSU)

3. Jalen Hurts (QB--OU)

Schweinfurth Top 25
1. LSU (same)

2. Ohio State (same)

3. Clemson (same)

4. Oklahoma (same)

5. Utah (up 1)

6. Minnesota (up 1)

7. Baylor (up 4)

8. Georgia (up 1)

9. Alabama (up 1)

10. Penn State (down 2)

11. Wisconsin (up 1)

12. Michigan (up 2)

13. Oregon (down 7)

14. Florida (down 1)

15. Notre Dame (same)

16. Memphis (same)

17. Cincinnati (same)  

18. Auburn (same)

19. Iowa (same)

20. Boise St. (same)

21. App State (up 1)

22. Oklahoma St. (up 2)

23. Navy (NR)

24. Virginia Tech (up 1)

25. Arizona State (NR)

Dropped from rankings: 21. SMU, 23. Texas A&M (NR)

Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Chase Young (DE--OSU)

2. Justin Fields (QB--OSU)

Seeberg Top 25

1. LSU (same)

2. Ohio State (same)

3. Clemson (same)

4. Georgia (up 1)

5. Oklahoma (up 1)

6. Alabama (up 1)

7. Utah (up 3)

8. Minnesota (same)

9. Wisconsin (up 2)

10. Michigan (up 2)

11. Oregon (down 7)

12. Penn State (down 3)

13. Baylor (up 1)

14. Florida (down 1)

15. Notre Dame (same)

16. Boise State (same)

17. Auburn (same)

18. Cincinnati (same)

19. Iowa (up 1)

20. Virginia Tech (up 1)

21. Memphis (down 2)

22. Oklahoma State (same)

23. Navy (NR)

24. Iowa State (NR)

25. Appalachian State (same)

Dropped From Rankings: #23 SMU, #24 Indiana

Dropped From Rankings: 

Seeberg Heisman Ballot

1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Chase Young (DE--OSU)

3. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)

Week 13: Franklin, My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn

Standings:
1.) Hoying 35-8 (4-8 upset)
2.) Schweinfurth 34-9 (2-10 upset)
2.) Seeberg 34-9 (1-11 upset)
4.) Draper 32-11 (2-10 upset)

Play time is over, Star Fox! For the Buckeyes, I mean; all the other teams can continue eating paste in the corner. Every other contender is playing a "meh" opponent or worse this week, as evidenced by the one, count 'em, ONE ranked matchup: PSU vs. OSU in Columbus. Yeah, symmetrically, Penn State is also playing a quality opponent this week, but they don't have to travel to Ann Arbor next week for another potential top ten matchup. No, they have to make sure they don't look ahead to their rivalry week matchup against...Rutgers. Enjoy Bush League Week in the SEC and hope for a couple of upsets across the landscape to keep you from falling asleep.

Penn State Nittany Lions @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes

Draper: Honestly, this game doesn't scare me a great deal.  Watching Penn State this year hasn't impressed me other than the first half vs. TTUN.  Clifford is a nice QB and KJ Hamler is talented, but there's an incredible gap at the top in talent.  Yes, the talent in State College is nearing the top of the remainder in the B1G, but OSU is on a different level.  Thankfully for the Lions, Chase Young (who made the last play in the 2018 game) is out for this ga.....wait, what? he's back?  Uh oh. This team is going to play with a fire that even goes above the remainder of this year's excellence.  I'm expecting a little nerves at the beginning and Shaka Tonie will make a play or two, but the talent disparity will emerge by the end of the first half.  The WR corps for OSU will make plays up and down the field and Dobbins will continue to eat.  Look for Fields to move into number 2 in the Heisman race after this game, and Chase Young will return to national prominence as he breaks the OSU single season sack record with 2 more.  He'll be double teamed on nearly every snap but you can't stop him...you can only hope to contain him.  Bucks roll on to the Game.  PSU: 17 -- OSU: 45

Hoying: The Nittany Lions under James Franklin have had Ohio State's number. Fortunately, they keep misdialing. Actually, the series under Franklin has been more like a tale of two cities: Columbus and State College. The Buckeyes have fallen asleep at the wheel for large chunks of every game in Happy Valley, but blew out the Kitties at home in 2015. As for 2017? That was a combination of a lot of turnovers, dumb special teams play (intentionally kicking off to their best player?), and penalties. I got the feeling all game long that as long as the Buckeyes had enough time the universe would right itself, and fortunately I was proven correct. I think some combination of the above would be the recipe for a Penn State upset this year, only in much larger quantities. Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley are long gone, and their replacements aren't exactly lighting the Big Ten on fire. And the Buckeyes somehow just happen to be playing better ball then they ever did under Urban (except for maybe the end of 2014). The Minnesota game showed how Penn State's mistakes can be exploited and how their defense can be taken advantage of. I don't think their "Five Hundred!" offense is going to work against Jeff Okudah, but KJ Hamler is the real deal and the Bullets might lose a few battles to him on Saturday. Watch that matchup closely; it'll provide clues as to whether Shea Patterson and Nico Collins can have similar success next week in Ann Arbor. As for this game? Bucks win. Comfortably. PSU: 17--OSU: 42

Schweinfurth: I have this odd calm about this game, and it kind of worries me. One of the reasons I have this feeling is how much I have watched Penn State's O-Line struggle against big, athletic d-linemen. Sound familiar? Oh yea, that's the entire Silver Bullet front 4. Add in a pissed off Chase Young and an inexperienced QB in Sean Clifford and I fear for the poor guy's life. What also gives me some peace is the coaching. Nittany Kitty HC James Franklin is a great recruiter. He is an awful in-game coach (see 4th and 4 zone read). Ryan Day has shown the ability to make adjustments mid quarters, while the last coaching staff tended to wait until halftime (and sometimes it was to late). The kittens in the secondary are susceptible to the big play, especially with Field's ability to extend plays. I have learned the last three years that this game is never easy. Pix Six U seems to have be a thing of pre-2014. The Lions are due a beat down and the Bucks are the most complete game in the country. Dobbins was right, why does this have to be a four quarter game? Go Bucks, Beat the Lions! PSU: 13--OSU: 41

Seeberg: Well, at least the one intriguing game of the week falls in Columbus.  However, it's a top 10 battle where the line opened at Bucks -19 and has held steady all week.  Penn State has been a tale of three teams this season.  The Lions looked rough early, barely outlasting a lousy Pitt squad, then improved drastically to throttle Maryland and Purdue.  Since October, however, Franklin's boys have been stuck in 3rd gear, sneaking by a great second half from TTUN, barely outlasting Indiana and sleepwalking to an L in Minneapolis.  That 9-1 record doesn't tell the whole story:  They haven't won a game by more than 7 against a team with a winning record all season.  News flash:  10-0 is a winning record, and with a rested/angry Chase Young back, it should be 11-0.  Mediocre QBs have lit the Nittanys up through the air all season.  Pitt's QB (Kenny Pickett- yeah I didn't have any idea who that was either) put up 372 passing yards and 0 picks, and it's not as if they fixed the issues, as the Gophers and Hoosiers combined for 700+ passing yards the last two weeks.  I'm with J.K. on this one.  Why does it have to be a four-quarter game?  Fields is big, Dobbins churns it up in the 3rd quarter, and starters get well-deserved rest yet again.  PSU: 13--OSU: 42

Upset Special

Draper: TCU over Oklahoma

Hoying: Indiana over Michigan

Schweinfurth:Texas over Baylor

Seeberg: Texas A&M over Georgia

Top 25 and Heisman Ballots - After Week 12

Rankings, as always, are based on what teams have done so far, not how we believe they will finish. Leave a comment and tell us who's out of his gourd.

Let's Go Bucks Index
1. Louisiana State (unchanged)
2. Ohio State (unchanged)
3. Clemson (unchanged)
4a. Georgia (up 1)
4b. Oklahoma (up 6)
6. Penn State (up 1)
7a. Minnesota (down 3)
7b. Oregon (up 2)
9. Alabama (down 1)
10. Florida (up 1)
11. Utah (up 2)
12a. Wisconsin (up 1)
12b. Baylor (down 6)
14. Michigan (up 1)
15. Notre Dame (up 1)
16. Auburn (down 4)
17. Iowa (up 5)
18. Memphis (unchanged)
19. Cincinnati (down 2)
20. Boise State (down 1)
21a. Oklahoma State (up 3)
21b. SMU (unranked)
23. Virginia Tech (unranked)
24. Appalachian State (unranked)
25. Texas A&M (unranked)

Others receiving votes: Indiana, San Diego State, Virginia

Dropped from rankings: #20a Texas, #20b Indiana, #22b Kansas State, #25 Navy

Let's Go Bucks Heisman Index
1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)
2. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)
3. Justin Fields (QB--OSU)

Others receiving votes: JK Dobbins (RB--OSU)

Draper Top 25
1. Louisiana State (up 1)

2. Ohio State (down 1) 

3. Clemson (up 1)

4. Georgia (up 1)

5. Penn State (up 2)

6. Oklahoma (up 5)

7. Florida (up 1)

8. Minnesota (down 5) 

9. Oregon (up 1)

10. Alabama (down 1)

11. Utah (up 4)

12. Wisconsin (up 3) 

13. Baylor (down 7)

14. Auburn (down 3)  

15. Michigan (down 1)

16. Notre Dame (unchanged)

17. Iowa (up 3)

18. Cincinnati (down 1)

19. Memphis (down 1)

20. Boise State (up 5)

21. Oklahoma State (up 1) 

22. Virginia Tech (new)
23. Appalachian State (up 1)
24. Southern Methodist (new)
25. San Diego State (new)

Dropped from rankings:  #20 Texas, #23 Indiana, #25 Kansas State

Draper Heisman Ballot

1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)
2. Jalen Hurts (QB--OU)
3. JK Dobbins (RB-- OSU)

Hoying Top 25

1. Louisiana State (unchanged)

2. Ohio State (unchanged)

3. Clemson (up 1)

4. Penn State (up 2)

5. Georgia (up 2)

6. Minnesota (down 3)

7. Oklahoma (up 7)

8. Florida (unchanged)

9. Baylor (down 4)

10. Alabama (unchanged)

11. Oregon (unchanged)

12. Wisconsin (unchanged)

13. Michigan (unchanged)

14. Auburn (down 5)
15. Iowa (up 8)

16. Notre Dame (down 1)

17. Utah (down 1)

18. Memphis (down 1)

19. Boise State (up 2)

20. Cincinnati (down 2)

21. Southern Methodist (new)

22. Oklahoma State (unchanged)

23. Appalachian State (up 1)

24. Virginia Tech (up 1)

25. Virginia (new)

Dropped from rankings: #19 Texas, #20 Kansas State

Hoying Heisman Ballot

1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Jalen Hurts (QB--OU)

3. JK Dobbins (RB-- OSU)

Schweinfurth Top 25
1. LSU (same)

2. Ohio State (same)

3. Clemson (same)
4. Oklahoma (up 2)

5. Oregon (up 4)

6. Utah (down 5)

7. Minnesota (down 2)
8. Penn State (same)
9. Georgia (same)
10. Alabama (down 3)
11. Baylor (down 7)
12. Wisconsin (same)
13. Florida (same)

14. Michigan (up 1)

15. Notre Dame (up 1)
16. Memphis (up 2)
17. Cincinnati (same)  

18. Auburn (Down 4)

19. Iowa (up 6)

20. Boise St. (same)

21. SMU (up 1)
22. App State (NR)
23. Texas A&M (NR)
24. Oklahoma St. (NR)
25. Virginia Tech (NR)

Dropped from rankings: 19. Indiana, 21. Navy, 23. Texas, 24. Illinois 

Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Justin Fields (QB--OSU)

3. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)

Seeberg Top 25
1. LSU (same)
2. Ohio State (same)
3. Clemson (same)
4. Oregon (same)
5. Georgia (same)
6. Oklahoma (up 2)
7. Alabama (down 1)
8. Minnesota (down 1)
9. Penn State (same)
10. Utah (same)
11. Wisconsin (up 4)
12. Michigan (up 1)
13. Florida (down 2)
14. Baylor (same)
15. Notre Dame (up 1)
16. Boise State (up 2)
17. Auburn (down 5)
18. Cincinnati (down 1)
19. Memphis (same)
20. Iowa (up 5)
21. Virginia Tech (down 1)
22. Oklahoma State (up 2)
23. SMU (NR)
24. Indiana (down 5)
25. Appalachian State (NR)

Dropped From Rankings: #22 Kansas State, #23 Navy

Seeberg Heisman Ballot
1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)
2. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)
3. Justin Fields (QB--OSU)

Week 12: The Horror! The Horror!

Standings:
1.) Hoying 31-7 (4-7 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 31-7 (2-9 upset)
3.) Seeberg 29-9 (1-10 upset)
4.) Draper 28-10 (2-9 upset)

Thankfully, there a lot of shiny objects to distract us from the massacre that's fixing to take place in Piscataway this Saturday. Playoff contenders in the SEC and B1G face stiff road tests. The B1G pecking order starts to take shape. And...Notre Dame plays a ranked AAC opponent, but I bet they won't win 42-0...

Georgia Bulldogs @ Auburn Tigers

Draper: The Bulldogs have owned the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry for a decent stretch (11 of the last 15 including an SEC championship game). I think we can (hopefully) agree that this is a playoff elimination game.  While Auburn may be eliminated already, the Dawgs need to keep winning to make people forget about losing to a 4-6 team at home but that doesn't matter since they're in the SEC....but I digress.  Auburn has fought valiantly in their recent big games vs. LSU and UF but come up short whereas UGA took down the Gators and are seeking to show they belong.  The Prayer at Jordan Hare is likely etched into the Georiga faithful's minds, but UGA is the better team and I think they stay alive.  I think they win closer than the experts think on the leg of Rodrigo.  UGA: 20 -- Aub: 17

Hoying: The Buckeyes may have the nation's top scoring defense, but there's one thing they've done that Georgia hasn't: surrender 21 points in a game. The Georgia offense has been sputtering a bit down the stretch, and they have to be kicking themselves that they let Justin Fields get away (for the record, I do not for a moment regret keeping Dwayne Haskins over Joe Burrow). Jake Fromm hasn't been himself lately, outside of a stellar performance against Florida, but do we really think he's going to be outplayed by BoNix? It's not like the Auburn offense has been doing any damage lately either, completely faceplanting against the same Florida team that the Bulldogs were able to dispatch. Yes, the Tiger D is fantastic as well, but this analysis pretty much comes down to my prediction for the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: Georgia's defense is just a little better. The Tigers' schedule continues to do them no favors, nor for potential playoff hopefuls Oregon and Alabama, who would like Auburn to actually win a few of these games to boost their resumes. UGA: 24--Aub: 21

Schweinfurth: BoNix! BoNix? BoNix! Yes, everyone's favorite maddening QB is back this week folks. This is a dude that makes a great play one minute and then facepalm the next. I really only think one of these teams is closer to being ranked correctly and it's not Auburn (although Georgia has looked like poo). This will be a game where Gary Danielson and company throw out the SEC DEFENSES ARE SO GOOD narrative (they're not). I'll flip over every once and a while for a few chuckles. UGA: 17--Aub: 9

Seeberg: Ah yes, here we have two second-tier SE...wait, UGA is #4??  Yikes.  Apparently every one-loss SEC team- regardless of to whom the loss occurs- is still a bona fide contenda.  Woof.  In any event, this one is a tough call.  UGA plays some solid D, particularly against the run, yet somehow Jake Fromm seems to have taken a step back for the Bulldogs offense.  Still, making Auburn one-dimensional worked for Florida, as relying on Mr. Nix got Auburned (the puns just write themselves) and it's likely to be a similar game plan for UGA.  Home crowd should keep it interesting, but just not quite enough for the Tigers, or War Eagle, or...whatever.  Woof indeed.  UGA: 26--Aub: 20

Minnesota Golden Gophers @ Iowa Hawkeyes

Draper: Here we go Gophers...you wanted a seat, well the table is set.  Everything is in front of you and it's time to prove that you belong.  I said I wanted to pick the Minnesota upset this week if it was against a nobody, but Iowa is a 'kind-of' nobody.  The biggest worry for me and the Gophers should be that this is a game that Kirk Ferentz habitually wins to guarantee another 10 year extension and B1G Coach of the Year.  Honestly, Minnesota looked pretty legit last week.  Yeah, they caught some breaks, but it wasn't a complete fluke (other than PSU is not as good as everyone thinks).  Iowa has struggled of late, and while the defense has been stout, I have no faith in the offense doing anything.  You know what, I'm rowing the boat here as the Gophers near the unthinkable and clinch a share of the B1G West with 2 games to go.  Minn: 20 -- Iowa: 13

Hoying: This may well be one of the most interesting matchups of the whole year. Can Minnesota prove last week wasn't a fluke by conquering a quality opponent on the road? Can Iowa work their Kinnick magic and finally beat a top team after coming oh-so-close 3 times already? Last week's loss to Wisconsin eliminated the Hawkeyes from title contention (barring Minnesota losing to Northwestern and Wisconsin losing to Purdue and Nebraska, so no) while Minnesota can all but wrap up the West win a win this Saturday. The Gophers forced a few key turnovers to doom Penn State, and that's the recipe for taking down Iowa as well: the Hawkeyes went -3 against Michigan and -2 against Penn State (but +1 against Wisconsin, which allowed Iowa to stay close while getting outplayed). Everything points to a letdown game for Minnesota, and we know that Iowa is where championship chases go to die (sigh), but I really really want to believe in Minnesota to keep rowing the boat after doubting them last week. I just can't bring myself to do it. Just beat Wisconsin, please, Gophers. Minn: 20--Iowa: 21

Schweinfurth: Yes! Probably the most B1G trophy ever created: The Floyd of Rosedale! Who doesn't like watching the victorious team lifting a bronze hog high. Look, Minnesota showed that they can move the ball against a (supposedly) strong defense last week. Penn State had no answer for the quick RPO game the Row Boaters threw out there. Iowa's offense is one dimensional and anemic. This game should include more Goldy head spinning. Minn: 35--Iowa: 14

Seeberg: Ah yes, the massive B1G west clash we all had circled on our calendars this August.  Right?  RIGHT?  Yeah, me neither.  The Gophers crack the top 10 for the first time in a couple decades (led by a Buckeye offspring in Antoine Winfield, Jr, naturally) and now head to Iowa whose surprising offensive explosion nearly pulled them even with Bucky's Badgers last week, falling a 2-point conversion short of a likely overtime.  Amazingly, this has all the trappings (pun intended) of that Buckeye debacle in Iowa City two years prior, as SkiUMah or whatever they say is coming off their biggest win in a half-century.  Sadly for the Gophers, Iowa has the correct recipe to win.  Run the ball to avoid INTs that hurt Penn State, force 3rd and longs, etc.  Penn State needed turnovers to escape Iowa with an ugly win, and without them, the Gophers' one week in the sun may quickly be enveloped in shadows and another potential undefeated matchup for our Buckeyes goes away with it.  Minn: 13--Iowa: 17

Navy Midshipmen @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Draper: I haven't watched a second of Navy football this year so take this with a grain of salt.  Navy finally got off the 43 year schnide in 2007 (who hasn't been there) but has won 4 of the last 12!  Can they do it again? The big lesson I've learned from my year's of college football fandom is this: "Don't ever....EVER... schedule service academies".  When chop-block-o-clock strikes, you never know what will happen.  The big question is which Notre Dame will show up; the powerful Irish squad that battled back on the road against UGA or the putrid mess that was stomped by the Wolverines?  I'm guessing that Navy's option will muddy things up (as it does) but the Irish simply have too much offense for the Midshipmen to withstand.  It's worth nothing that this will mark the end of the Irish's 273 game home sell-out streak. Navy: 28 -- ND: 38

Hoying: What do Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, Gerry Faust, Lou Holtz, Bob Davie, and Tyrone Willingham all have in common? They never lost to Navy. But Brian Kelly has, during that nasty 4-8 season between his two championship appearances with the Irish. Can we expect it to happen again? Maybe. Notre Dame has lost a step since last year's playoff squad. The last time they were in a game of consequence they got demolished by that team up north, which they followed up by darn near losing to Virginia Tech. The offense is OK but inconsistent; the running game and passing game don't work at the same time, and as we saw in the pouring rain in Ann Arbor, Brian Kelly's doesn't quite know how to get an appropriate mix of both. The defense is OK but they're going to have to perform better than usual because (1) Navy is a scoring machine, and (2) the triple option is a nightmare to defend even on a good day. Remember, Notre Dame is the team that let Michigan finally get their rushing attack back on track. Heck with it, I'm calling the upset. Navy: 35--ND: 31

Schweinfurth: Fun fact, Notre Dame is in jeopardy of losing their 272 game home sell out streak this week. Odd considering this is a ranked matchup. Anyway. The last time Notre Dame faced a ranked team who had to primarily run the ball was against the Wolverenies. How'd that work out. I'm not sold on this Notre Dame team at all. Ian Book has looked lost and, again, that defense has not played well. I have a hard time believing the Domers can be disciplined enough to stop the Navy option game. Navy: 28--ND: 27

Seeberg: Not entirely sure what to make of either opponent here.  The Golden Domers were flat out embarassed by TTUN while Navy has chugged along admiral-y (see what I did there?) but hasn't played anyone of consequence, save a 12-point loss to Memphis.  I expect Navy to be able to move the ball well, but any team that gives up 38 points to Tulane can't win in South Bend, can they?  Obviously we'll find out Saturday evening, but my guess is no.  ND: 41 -- Navy: 24

Oklahoma Sooners @ Baylor Bears

Draper: After last week's upset in Minneapolis, the Bears own the mantle of undefeated team that no one cares about.  The schedule has been putrid all year (outside of a nice win at Kansas State).  They luck was with them last week to take down TCU, but this is the week to prove themselves.  The Sooners have (for the most part) appeared to be the class of the Big 12, but a loss at KSU and a nailbiter win over Iowa State last week bring the dominance into question.  I think you have to lean on the fact that OU has the top 2 players (at the very least) on the field in this game in Jalen Hurts and C.D. Lamb.  Both have been phenomenal all year and I expect much of the same in this game.  The defense has been touted as improving, but they've been in too many tight games for me to completely buy in.  THe Bears run comes to an end with the offensive juggernaut putting the hammer down as Lincoln Riley is wooed to an even greater extent by the NFL.  OU: 45 -- Baylor: 20

Hoying: I didn't like Minnesota at #17 in the initial Playoff rankings, but I sort of got it. The Gophers had played an abysmal schedule to that point (kind of like Indiana now, which is why the Hoosiers won't be cracking the top 25 this season). But for the second week in a row, I am scratching my head as to why Oklahoma is ranked ahead of Baylor. What's OU's marquee win again? Texas? Baylor hasn't been beating the Alabamas and Ohio States of the world, but they did have that convincing win over Kansas State. You know, the team that BEAT Oklahoma. How deeply are the Bears feeling that disrespekt this week? Hopefully pretty hard, because they're going to have to do a lot better than their miracle wins over bad West Virginia and TCU teams if they're going to stay close in this one. It feels weird to see Baylor of all teams winning with defense, but it won't be as weird this week, because they're going to lose with defense. The Sooners, like our beloved Bucks, haven't scored fewer than 34 points in a game this year, and I don't expect them to stop now. Yeah, the defense has problems, but Baylor doesn't have the weapons to exploit them. Jalen Hurts gets some time to shine in primetime, hopefully enough to pull a few votes away from Joe Burrow and protect Troy Smith's all-time Heisman voting record. OU: 34--Baylor: 24

Schweinfurth: Baylor has been playing with fire the last two weeks. Bearly (lol) squeaking out wins late with big comebacks. Look, if the Sooner offense gets going, this is ova quickly. There is just too much firepower on the Sooner offense. Ceedee Lamb is going to have a field day and he'll carry Jalen Hurts back into the Heisman (second place) conversation. OU going away. OU: 42--Baylor: 21

Seeberg: To be fair, Baylor, oddly, plays defense all of a sudden which is a massive anomaly in the Big 12.  The Sooners, unless the schooner collapses, simply gallop past their opponents on offense.  Which squad wins out?  Baylor has the confidence but just not the talent.  Needing a 51-yard FG to force OT against a middling TCU unit (a game in which they scored 0 TDs in regulation, remember) is not indicative of an offense that can keep pace with OU, regardless of how good the D is.  Sooners pull away.  OU: 31--Baylor: 16

THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Draper: IT'S BUTTGERS WEEK!! Everyone's favorite time of the year! The serious question that will likely be addressed in the near future (not this year) is: Is it time to start the backups and rest the starters in this game?  Last week, the Buckeyes put on a clinic in dismantling the formerly ranked (hey, the committee claims LSU win over top 10 Texas) Maryland in the first half...then proceeded to make it even worse in the second half with all backups.  Keep in mind, that Maryland team beat Rutgers by 41.  In the words of the great poet Rafi from The League: "This...is gonna get gross".  Honestly, what can you say? Fields throws for 2 TDs and rushes for 1 before being pulled.  Dobbins has 2 rushing TDs including one of 60+.  Master Teague gets in on the action with another 2 TDs behind Chugs in the second half.  Also, while this is a dumb call, I'm going to make it.  The defense plays with their hair on fire to keep the seat warm for the Predator and pulls off a shutout (it's a dumb call because focus may be an issue, but I'm doing it anyway).  OSU: 70 -- RU: 0

Hoying: Fun fact: this is the first team that Ryan Day is facing for the second time, as Rutgers was part of the 3 game Urban suspension last year. The Scarlet Knights managed a field goal that day, upsetting my son and making me question Ohio State's decision to bring on Coach Day as Urban's successor. Let's hope he's learned his lesson. Here are some more fun facts: the only FBS team to score 100 points against another FBS team was Houston, against Tulsa, in 1968. The last team to score 100 points in a game was Rockford College, who beat Trinity Bible College 105-0 in 2003. The most lopsided game ever was the Georgia Tech - Cumberland game in 1916, with the Yellow Jackets winning 222-0 (watch this for more information on that massacre). And finally, You-Know-Who beat Rutgers 78-0 in Piscataway back in 2016, which as far as I could find is the largest margin of victory of an FBS team over another FBS team since Division I split into I-A and I-AA back in 1978. Giddy-up. OSU: 79--RSUNJ: 0

Schweinfurth: Buttgers is bad. I mean really bad. I wasn't kidding when I told someone the Buckeyes had 3 bye weeks in a row before Penn State. I'm pretty sure I could play QB and Ohio State would win. The Buckeyes could START the third string and win this one. If you watched last week, this one will look much the same. I know the starters will probably play the whole first half, but it may not be necessary. There is a big part of me that wants to see how many points the Buckeyes can put up in a half. This will look like a video game score in the end. Let's hang the double snow man, why not? OSU: 88--RU: 0

Seeberg: OK, for those unaware, we at Let's Go Bucks log in when we have a spare moment to make our picks.  The result is that each week we see varying amounts of our colleagues' choices.  This week I'm third in line after Draper and Hoying and their predicted scores for this one made me legitimately laugh out loud.  The terrifying part is that neither of them may be that far off.  It's an away game, which means that "emptying the bench" only consists of the full 70ish travel squad, not the 85 Buckeyes that saw action against Maryland last week, which resulted in 2! touchdowns for the visiting squad.  Still, it's just SO difficult to shut a team out that I'm guessing they'll toss in a mercy field goal against the 2nd/3rd stringers.  Keep everyone healthy, and let's get ready for an actually challenging 3-game season to end it.  OSU: 73--RU: 3

Upset Special

Draper: UCLA over Utah

Hoying: Nebraska over Wisconsin

Schweinfurth: Indiana over Penn State

Seeberg: Texas over Iowa State

Top 25 and Heisman Ballots - After Week 11

Rankings, as always, are based on what teams have done so far, not how we believe they will finish. Leave a comment and tell us who's out of his gourd.

Let's Go Bucks Index
1. Louisiana State (unchanged)
2. Ohio State (unchanged)
3. Clemson (up 2)
4. Minnesota (up 5)
5. Georgia (up 1)
6. Baylor (up 2)
7. Penn State (down 3)
8. Alabama (down 5)
9. Oregon (down 2)
10. Oklahoma (up 2)
11. Florida (down 1)
12. Auburn (unchanged)
13a. Wisconsin (up 2)
13b. Utah (down 2)
15. Michigan (down 1)
16. Notre Dame (unchanged)
17. Cincinnati (up 1)
18. Memphis (up 2)
19. Boise State (up 4)
20a. Texas (unranked)
20b. Indiana (up 1)
22a. Iowa (down 3)
22b. Kansas State (down 5)
24. Oklahoma State (unranked)
25. Navy (unchanged)

Others receiving votes: Virginia Tech, Appalachian State, SMU, Illinois

Dropped from rankings: #22 Wake Forest, #24 SMU

Let's Go Bucks Heisman Index
1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)
2. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)
3. JK Dobbins (RB--OSU)

Others receiving votes: Justin Fields (QB--OSU)

Draper Top 25

1. Louisiana State (up 1)

2. Ohio State (down 1) 

3. Minnesota (up 6)

4. Clemson (unchanged)

5. Georgia (up 1)

6. Baylor (up 2)

7. Penn State (down 2)

8. Florida (up 3)

9. Alabama (down 6)

10. Oregon (down 3)  

11. Oklahoma (unchanged)

12. Auburn (up 2)

13. Wisconsin (up 3) 

14. Michigan (down 2)

15. Utah (down 1)

16. Notre Dame (up 1)

17. Cincinnati (down 2)

18. Memphis (up 2)

19. Boise State (up 5)

20. Iowa (down 2)

21. Texas (new)

22. Oklahoma State (new) 

23. Indiana (down 2)
24. Appalachian State (new)
25. Kansas State (down 6)

Dropped from rankings: #22 Southern Methodist, #23 Wake Forest, #25 Navy

Draper Heisman Ballot

1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)
2. JK Dobbins (RB--OSU)
3. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)

Hoying Top 25

1. Louisiana State (unchanged)

2. Ohio State (unchanged)

3. Minnesota (up 4)

4. Clemson (unchanged)

5. Baylor (up 1)

6. Penn State (down 3)

7. Georgia (up 1)

8. Florida (up 1)

9. Auburn (up 1)

10. Alabama (down 5)

11. Oregon (up 1)

12. Wisconsin (up 1)

13. Michigan (down 2)

14. Oklahoma (up 4)

15. Notre Dame (down 1)

16. Utah (down 1)

17. Memphis (up 3)

18. Cincinnati (up 4)

19. Texas (new)

20. Kansas State (down 3)

21. Boise State (up 3)

22. Oklahoma State (new)

23. Iowa (down 5)

24. Appalachian State (new)

25. Virginia Tech (new)

Dropped from rankings: #19 Wake Forest, #21 Indiana, #23 Southern Methodist, #25 San Diego State

Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)
2. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)
3. JK Dobbins (RB--Ohio St)

Schweinfurth Top 25
1. LSU (same)

2. Ohio State (same)

3. Clemson (Up 2)
4. Baylor (Up 3)
5. Minnesota (Up 5)
6. Oklahoma (Up 5)
7. Alabama (Down 4)
8. Penn State (Down 5)
9. Georgia (Down 1)
10. Oregon (Down 1)
11. Utah (Down 5)
12. Wisconsin (Up 3)

13. Florida (Down 1)

14. Auburn (Down 1)

15. Michigan (same

16. Notre Dame (same)
17. Cincinnati (Up 2)  

18. Memphis (same)

19. Indiana (Up 1)

20. Boise St. (Up 2)

21. Navy (Up 2)

22. SMU (Up 3)

23. Texas (NR)

24. Illinois (NR)

25. Iowa (NR)*

Dropped from rankings: #17. Kansas St., 21. Wake Forest, 24. San Diego St. 
*Iowa being unranked last week was an oversight on my part last week. They should have been ranked over SDSU. This is my way of making it up to the Hawkeyes, even though they are probably not a rankable team.

Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Joe Burrow (QB--LSU)

2. Justin Fields (QB--OSU)

3. Jalen Hurts (QB--Okla)

Seeberg Top 25
1.  LSU (same)
2.  Ohio State (same)
3.  Clemson (up 2)
4.  Oregon (up 2)
5.  Georgia (up 2)
6.  Alabama (down 3)
7.  Minnesota (up 6)
8.  Oklahoma (same)
9.  Penn State (down 5)
10. Utah (down 1)
11. Florida (down 1)
12. Auburn (down 1)
13. Michigan (down 1)
14. Baylor (same)
15. Wisconsin (same)
16. Notre Dame (same)
17. Cincinnati (up 2)
18. Boise State (up 2)
19. Memphis (up 4)
20. Virginia Tech (new)
21. Indiana (same)
22. Kansas State (down 5)
23. Navy (up 1)
24. Oklahoma State (new)
25. Iowa (down 7)

Seeberg Heisman Ballot
1. Joe Burrow (QB-LSU)
2. Doesn't
3. Matter