The Georgia Bulldogs came into 2023 as the consensus National Championship favorite and a scarcity of doubters. As the year has gone on, skeptics began popping up each week due to some slow starts against inferior competition. The first two months of Georgia’s schedule lacked impressive wins, which led to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee slotting it behind Ohio State.

A matchup against a surging Missouri gave the Dawgs a chance to show why they are still the standard, and they passed the test. While it wasn’t a vintage blowout that we have grown accustomed to in the Kirby Smart era, it was a statement win nonetheless.

I tabbed Missouri as my sleeper in the SEC for a reason; it boasts a well rounded roster and showed they can match up physically with anyone on Saturday. A strong second half capped off by a pair of clutch interceptions powered the Bulldogs to their first big win of 2023.

While the committee still views Ohio State as the superior outfit, my top ranked team has the chance to pass them in the coming weeks. If the Bulldogs can pick up victories against Ole Miss, Tennessee and (presumably) Alabama in the SEC Championship, I don’t see how they aren’t the number one team.

While the defense isn’t as dominant as the previous two renditions, they are great situationally and can take a game over when needed. Carson Beck isn’t your usual first-year starter, as he doesn’t panic under pressure and plays better as the game goes on.

Brock Bowers could be back as soon as this week, giving Georgia a much needed jolt down the stretch.

I do want to give credit to Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers. They  held their own against two of the best teams in the SEC and are still in position to reach double-digit wins. 

I don’t think this team is a one year wonder either. With Luther Burden and several other key pieces likely to return in 2024, I fully believe Missouri can take advantage of its manageable schedule next fall.

On the other side of the conference, Alabama all but wrapped up the West in a 42-28 shootout against LSU. The same Alabama team that everyone told me was done for in September now looks as good as anyone in America.

Jalen Milroe may not be a first rounder like his three predecessors, however he played the game of his life Saturday night, rushing for four touchdowns in ‘Bama’s win,

This squad always had the talent to accomplish all their goals, they just needed it to develop. If I had a nickel every time someone prematurely labeled the Nick Saban dynasty dead, I’d be able to finance every coaching buyout for the next decade.

This Alabama team may be relatively weak to some of the juggernauts over the past 15 years, but the SEC as a whole has been down this year. 

Assuming they can avoid an upset in Jordan-Hare Stadium in the Iron Bowl, they’ll get a chance at redemption against Georgia with a spot in the playoff on the line.

No team  looks more dominant this season than Michigan, who  defeated its opponents by an average score of 41-7. The caveat to that is its schedule, which to this point has had more cupcakes than an end of season party for a little league baseball team that finished in third place.

J.J. McCarthy’s two pick sixes in the semifinal against TCU proved too much to overcome. This is McCarthy’s first big game since, and he will have his hands full against an elite defense in one of college football’s most hostile environments.

I don’t think we have ever seen a team do what Michigan is doing right now, making a run at a championship amidst a cheating scandal and potential punishment being levied from the Big Ten and NCAA.

I have had Michigan no lower than second in my rankings dating back to the preseason, this is arguably the most physical team in the nation and checks all the boxes of a National Championship unit.

These next few weeks will be vital in determining the future of Michigan football and Jim Harbaugh.

Now I’m not hating on Michigan or end of season little league baseball parties, but it’s fair to say that the Wolverines haven’t been tested yet. 

That will change this Saturday when they travel to Happy Valley to take on a desperate Penn State team looking to keep its playoff hopes alive. James Franklin looks to end the narrative that he can’t beat elite teams and show that his Nittany Lions are a top tier Big Ten program.

Chris’ College Football Top 25 Rankings:

1.Georgia Bulldogs (9-0) W vs Missouri 30-21, last week-1

2.Michigan Wolverines (9-0) W vs Purdue 41-13, last week-2

3.Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)  W vs Rutgers 35-16, last week-3

4.Florida State Seminoles (9-0) W vs Pittsburgh 24-7, last week-4

5.Washington Huskies (9-0) W vs USC 52-42, last week-5

6.Texas Longhorns (8-1) W vs Kansas State 33-30, last week-6

7.Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1) W vs LSU 42-28, last week-8

8.Oregon Ducks (8-1) W vs California 63-19, last week-7

9.Penn State Lions (8-1) W vs Maryland 51-15, last week-10

10.Ole Miss Rebels (8-1) W vs Texas A&M 38-35, last week-12

11.Louisville Cardinals (8-1) W vs Virginia Tech 34-3, last week-15

12.Oregon State Beavers (7-2) W vs Colorado 26-19, last week-16

13.LSU Tigers (6-3) L vs Alabama 42-28, last week-13

14.Missouri Tigers (7-2) L vs Georgia 30-21, last week-14

15.Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-2) W vs Oklahoma 27-24, last week-25

16.Oklahoma Sooners (7-2) L vs Oklahoma State 27-24, last week-9

17.Tennessee Volunteers (7-2) W vs UConn 59-3, last week-18

18.Utah Utes (7-2) W vs Arizona State 55-3, last week-19

19.Kansas Jayhawks (7-2) W vs Iowa State 28-21, last week-21

20.Arizona Wildcats (6-3) W vs UCLA 27-10, last week-unranked

21.Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3) L vs Clemson 31-23, last week-11

22.Tulane Green Wave (8-1) W vs East Carolina 13-10, last week-22

23.Kansas State Wildcats (6-3) L vs Texas 33-30, last week-23

24.James Madison Dukes (9-0) W vs Georgia State 42-14, last week-24

25.Liberty Flames (9-0) W vs Louisiana Tech 56-30, last week-unranked

Dropped out of rankings- Air Force, UCLA