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Predicted college football rankings after Alabama's loss to Tennessee, Michigan loses

Predicted college football rankings after Alabama's loss to Tennessee, Michigan loses

Saturday afternoon's college football slate was packed with postseason implications. The move from four playoff teams to 12 playoff teams has completely changed the way we talk about wins and losses – not to mention the complete realignment of conferences that has resulted in some conferences being positively ranked Football teams are occupied.

Pour one out for Auburn, perhaps the best 2-5 team ever, and say a silent prayer tonight for Michigan fans whose postseason hopes are dashed after their third loss in seven weeks. That is, unless you're on the Ohio State train. In that case, you have a lot to look forward to after last week's tough loss, made even more palatable by Michigan's post-Harbaugh collapse.

Meanwhile, Tennessee defeated Alabama in one of the most entertaining showdowns of the day.

The college football rankings only change once a week, but on Saturdays the calculation changes constantly as teams are promoted and relegated at any time of the day. We can't claim to know the inner brain of the selection committee, but you actually have access to a keyboard and the daily scoreboard. Here's my best guess at how the AP Top 25 will shake out after a hectic day of (semi) football.

1. Texas Longhorns
2. Oregon Ducks
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
5. Georgia Bulldogs
6. Tennessee Volunteers
7. Miami Hurricanes
8. LSU Tigers
9. Iowa State Cyclones
10. Clemson Tigers
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
12. Indiana Hoosiers
13. BYU Cougars
14. Texas A&M Aggies
15. Boise State Broncos
16. Kansas State Wildcats
17. Illinois battles Illini
18. Alabama Crimson Tide
19. Ole Miss Rebels
20. Missouri Tigers
21. Pittsburgh Panthers
22. SMU Mustangs
23. Black Knights of the Army
24th Navy Midshipmen
25. Washington State Cougars

While we wait for the outcome of Georgia-Texas, the most consequential game so far today was Alabama-Tennessee. The Crimson Tide were trying to bounce back after a mediocre performance against South Carolina last week. In the meantime, it was a chance for the Volunteers to stake their claim as a top SEC school.

The ultimate winner was the home team Tennessee, which sent Alabama into something of a slump. That's a dramatic choice of words for a two-loss SEC school, but there are high expectations built into the Alabama football program. Kalen DeBoer took over for Nick Saban and immediately won his first matchup with UGA, sending the fandom's spirits to the moon. Then he lost to Vanderbilt and now Tennessee. Alabama is done with this cursed state for a while, but the damage is irreversible.

There's still a postseason path for the Crimson Tide, but it's there The much harder. The SEC is a bloodbath and the schedule doesn't let up much. Alabama still has Missouri, LSU and arch-rival Auburn on the schedule.

Indiana's commanding victory over Nebraska, previously a Top 25 hopeful, set the tone for today, with the Hoosiers rolling in a loaded Big Ten. A few more unexpected wins and we could be talking about Indiana as a top-five team. What a time to be alive.

Expect more updates after the night games. We're not done yet, folks.

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