Clemson finally persuaded enough voters in The Associated Press college football poll to make the Tigers No. 1 this week.
It’s about time.
Ohio State has been No. 1 since the preseason, but has played like a team deserving of the top-ranking only on and off against a schedule that was far from daunting.
Support for the Buckeyes has been dwindling but voters had not found one team it could rally around until the Tigers beat Florida State 23-13 on Saturday to wrap up a trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
Heat Check considers this better late than never. It’s not as if the Buckeyes have been bad, but they have reached November with nothing that looks like a truly impressive victory against a high-quality opponent. Clemson’s home wins against Notre Dame and Florida State are better than anything on the Buckeyes’ resume.
Maybe the AP poll voters were inspired by the College Football Playoff selection committee’s faith in the Tigers. The committee had them No. 1 in their first rankings last week and Clemson validated that on Saturday.
Heat checking the rest of the rankings after Week 10 of the college football season:
No. 1 Clemson (9-0)
Unless something goes very wrong for the Tigers, they should hold on to the top spot for a few weeks.
Next: at Syracuse. And then home for Wake Forest.
Heat check: Just right.
No. 2 Ohio State (9-0)
Maybe the Buckeyes are just as bored with their schedule as we are? Thank goodness we have another week to talk about who will start at quarterback as J.T. Barrett rejoins the team after a suspension.
Next: at Illinois.
Heat check: Just right.
No. 3 Alabama (8-1)
One dimensional is no way to beat the Crimson Tide. Even if that dimension is Leonard Fournette.
Next: at No. 20 Mississippi State.
Heat check. Just right.
No. 4 Baylor (8-0)
Finally, a big game involving the Bears.
Next: No. 12 Oklahoma.
Heat check: Too hot.
No. 5 Oklahoma State (9-0)
Cowboys are the big movers this week, going from forgotten unbeaten to a team that demands to be taken seriously. Also, Baylor and Oklahoma have to play in Stillwater. T. Boone Pickens himself could not have drawn up the schedule any better for his beloved school.
Next: at Iowa State.
Heat check. Too cold. Cowboys should be highest ranked Big 12 team.
No. 6 Notre Dame (8-1)
Coming off back-to-back road wins against winning teams, and did we mention the Irish lost at Clemson by two?
Next: Wake Forest.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 7 Stanford (8-1)
That opening loss to Northwestern is still puzzling, but it’s not a bad loss. And now the Oregon game looks like a chance for a solid win.
Next: vs. Oregon.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 8 Iowa (9-0)
It’s hard to poo-poo the Hawkeyes’ record and resume and also rank Ohio State in the top five. But Heat Check continues to do just that.
Next: Minnesota.
Heat check: Too hot.
No. 9 LSU (7-1)
Hard not to be gloomy about the Tigers after they got roughed up in Tuscaloosa, but they are still one ‘Bama slip up from getting back to the top of the SEC West standings.
Next: at Mississippi.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 10 Utah (8-1)
Special teams and turnovers. It might not be the sexiest way to win games, but it is the Utes’ way.
Next: at Arizona.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 11 Florida (8-1)
You know Houston didn’t seem to have much difficulty against that Vanderbilt defense.
Next: at South Carolina.
Heat check: Too hot.
No. 12 Oklahoma (8-1)
Sooners have been rolling since losing to Texas. But now comes Baylor and that has not gone well for OU the last two seasons: Bears 89, Sooners 16.
Next: at No. 4 Baylor.
Heat check: Just right.
No. 13 TCU (8-1)
Between Frogs QB Trevone Boykin and LSU’s Fournette, which one has a better chance to get back to the front of the Heisman race? Heat check’s guess would be Boykin, with a victory against unbeaten Baylor the day after Thanksgiving.
Next: Kansas.
Heat check: Just right.
No. 14 Michigan State (8-1)
Spartans have now lost a game they should have won and won a game they should have lost. Maybe that evens out, but they are still very confusing.
Next: Maryland.
Heat check: Who knows?
No. 15 Michigan (7-2)
An Ohio State victory against Michigan State in two weeks could set up a Michigan-Ohio State game for the Big Ten East title. Harbaugh vs. Meyer for big stakes in Year 1.
Next: at Indiana.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 16 Houston (9-0)
Cougars have been really good, but they are the Group of Five version of Baylor. We’re still learning just how good they are.
Next: No. 25 Memphis.
Heat check: Too hot.
No. 17 North Carolina (8-1)
Reminder: Tar Heels are couple of red-zone meltdowns against South Carolina in their opener from being undefeated.
Next: Miami.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 18 UCLA (7-2)
At the beginning of the season Heat Check was calling for UCLA to be ahead of — or at least on par with — USC. Heat check still believes the two Los Angeles schools are pretty much equal.
Next: vs. Washington State.
Heat check: Too hot.
No. 19 Florida State (7-2)
Turns out this is what a rebuilding year looks like at Florida State now. That’s not too bad.
Next: N.C. State.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 20 Mississippi State (7-2)
So you want to be a Heisman finalist, Dak Prescott? Here’s your chance.
Next: No. 3 Alabama.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 21 Temple (8-1)
Beating a 1-8 team doesn’t get you much, but taking care of business on the road with a short week of rest after a huge game shouldn’t get the Owls punished.
Next: at South Florida.
Heat check: Just right.
No. 22 Navy (7-1)
First time ranked since the final poll of the 2004 season and first regular-season ranking since 1979. Welcome aboard, Middies, whose only loss was to Notre Dame.
Next: SMU.
Heat check: Too cold.
No. 23 Wisconsin (8-2)
This is what a rebuilding season looks like for the Badgers. Also, not too bad.
Next: No. 24 Northwestern, Nov. 21.
Heat check: Just right.
No. 24 Northwestern (7-2)
Coach Pat Fitzgerald re-establishing himself as one of the best in the business after a couple of off years.
Next: at No. 23 Wisconsin
Heat check: Just right.
No. 25 Memphis
Mississippi is not helping the Tigers’ case.
Next: at No. 16 Houston.
Heat check: Just right.
