A week featuring five big losses from perennial Top 25 teams, opens up space for a lot of movement all over the place in the polls this week. Namely two big losses right at the top, with Oklahoma going down to Iowa State in Norman. While Michigan lost to rival Michigan State in Ann Arbor by four points. When this happens, combined with wins from all the other teams around them, it’s a lot of chaos and free fall. Then, in the teens, North Carolina State stunned Louisville coming into Saturday action. Plus, there’s the LSU one point victory over conference foe Florida. Ending the night, Stanford got themselves back in, by defeating then unbeaten Utah. Only time will tell if things start leveling out, but through six weeks College Football has been a joy to watch. This is the W2Mnet College Football Top 25 for Week 6.

* just a reminder that eight staff members vote on the Top 25 Weekly *

W2Mnet College Football Top 25 (Week 6)

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (seven first place votes)

Record: 6-0 (3-0, 1st in SEC West)

Last Week: 1

The Aggies gave Alabama their first real hard fought game since Florida State in the opener. The Aggies went into this game as a 26.5 point underdog and down by 14 at the start of the fourth quarter made it interesting scoring 9 more before the clock ran out. Alabama showed a lot of fortitude in not letting the Aggies come all the way back and steal the win. While this win was not a pretty one, Alabama is still the team to beat coming out of the SEC and they will be better for having an unexpected challenge. – Daniel Anderson

Next Week: vs. Arkansas (2-3)

#2 Clemson Tigers (one first place vote)

Record: 6-0 (4-0, 1st in ACC Atlantic)

Last Week: 2

The good news is the Tigers didn’t need much effort in shutting out Wake Forest for three and a half quarters. The better news is they improve to 6-0 and have an early stranglehold on the Atlantic division with a win. The bad news is Clemson had to rely on both Zerrick Cooper and Hunter Johnson to finish the game after Kelly Bryant injured his ankle in the third quarter. He’ll get a checkup on Monday and go through treatment to see if he’ll play against Syracuse, but this could be a significant bump in the road to a repeat if Bryant has to miss any time. – Erik Watkins

Next Week: @ Syracuse (1-3)

#3 Penn State Nittany Lions

Record: 6-0 (3-0, 1st in Big Ten East)

Last Week: 4

The Nittany Lions continue to roar as they go on the road to Chicago and take down Northwestern 31-7, just barely missing out on their first shutout in the Big Ten and what would have been their third this year. Saquon Barkley scored twice in the first half, Trace McSorley had 245 yards passing and the defense continued its dominating ways, as they are averaging allowing just over thirteen a game against B1G opponents. – Harry Broadhurst

Next Week: OPEN, Next Game: vs. Michigan on 10/21

#4 Washington Huskies

Record: 6-0 (3-0, 1st in Pac-12 North)

Last Week: 5

After a day that was filled with multiple highly ranked teams falling at home. One of the glimmers of sunshine to tear through those dark clouds, was the Washington Huskies. Jake Browning accounted for three touchdowns, one being on the ground. He continues to quietly put together a solid resume as the top quarterback in this upcoming draft class. Even with the likes of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. – Tom M. John

Next Week: @ Arizona State (2-3)

#5 Georgia Bulldogs

Record: 6-0 (3-0, 1st in SEC East)

Last Week: 7

The Bulldogs running game took the spotlight away from their defense this week with a 45-14 win over Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs had 423 yards rushing by the end of the game. This Georgia team is a very good team that is looking to have a date with Alabama at the end of the season for the SEC championship. – Daniel Anderson

Next Week: vs. Missouri (1-4)

#6 Washington State Cougars

Record: 6-0 (3-0, 1st in Pac-12 North)

Last Week: 9

Just when it seemed like the Oregon Ducks might break through the top 25, they run into the active buzzsaw that is the Washington State Cougars. After knocking off Cal last week, the Ducks hosted Washington State with a bit of momentum but following three turnovers, the Cougars would run away with the game. Tom M. John

Next Week: @ California (3-3)

#7 TCU Horned Frogs

Record: 5-0 (2-0, 1st in Big 12)

Last Week: 11

Kenny Hill caught a touchdown. He passed for a touchdown and with under three minutes remaining ran for a touchdown as well, in a game that wound up being about who had the ball last. TCU is the only undefeated team in the Big XII and keep earning their way up the ranks too. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: @ Kansas State (3-2)

#8 Wisconsin Badgers

Record: 5-0 (2-0, 1st in Big Ten West)

Last Week: 8

Badgers find themselves firmly in control of the West side of the Big Ten, cementing that with a decisive 38-17 win at Nebraska. Jonathan Taylor runs for a career high 249 yards and a pair of scores. No real stumbling blocks ahead in the West, the biggest challenge for Wisconsin will be to not overlook teams, though back to back dates with Michigan and Iowa do loom in November. – Harry Broadhurst

Next Week: vs. Purdue (3-2)

#9 Ohio State Buckeyes

Record: 4-1 (2-0, 1st in Big Ten East)

Last Week: 10

‘Maryland is a threat’. Yeah, try telling that to the Buckeyes, who steamrolled the Terps by a final of 62-14. Up 41-7 at the break, the Buckeyes continued where they’ve left off the three previous weeks. This week’s game at Nebraska aside, the eyes of Buckeye Nation have to be looking squarely at the October 28th revenge game with Penn St. – Harry Broadhurst

Next Week: vs. Maryland (3-1)

#10 Miami Hurricanes

Record: 4-0 (2-0, 1st in ACC Coastal)

Last Week: 12

In a rivalry noted for Wide Right I, Wide Right II, Wide Left, and Block at the Rock, leave it to the offense to finally finish off a win and end a seven-year streak of futility against the archrivals. The defense made James Blackman run around for most of the game, limiting him to only 203 passing yards and two TDs. The ‘Canes tried their best to cash in on interceptions and field position, and finally did thanks to a Malik Rosier touchdown pass to Braxton Berrios halfway through the third quarter. Blackman and Rosier put on a show in the last fifteen minutes, with Miami deciding to go for it in the final seconds rather than risk another infamous missed kick. The gamble paid off as Darrell Langham beat his defender in the back of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, and a boost heading towards a key two-game homestand. – Erik Watkins

Next Week: vs. Georgia Tech (3-1)

#11 Auburn Tigers

Record: 5-1 (3-0, 1st in SEC West)

Last Week: 14

The Tigers gave Ole Miss their second blow-out loss in two weeks by defeating the Rebels 44-23. The final score makes the game look much closer than it was with Auburn having a 35-3 lead at the half. The Tigers have their offense and defense clicking right now making them a dangerous team in the SEC. – Daniel Anderson

Next Week: @ LSU (4-2)

#12 USC Trojans

Record: 5-1 (3-1, 1st in Pac-12 South)

Last Week: 13

Sam Darnold played like the man everyone expected him to be all year Saturday against Oregon State Beavers. He finished the game throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. The Beavers drop another game. While the Trojans get back to their normally, winning ways. – Tom M. John

Next Week: vs. Utah (4-1)

#13 Oklahoma Sooners

Record: 4-1 (1-1 in Big 12)

Last Week: 3

In what wound up becoming the dreaded trap game for the Oklahoma Sooners, the Iowa State Cyclones stun Oklahoma in Norman. The Sooners did tie the game at 31, but a TD with under three minutes was too much. Baker Mayfield’s two touchdowns and 306 yards were not enough. While the defense allowed 19 unanswered points and the game-winning score. Now, Oklahoma has to run the table in the Big XII, if they want any shot to get a playoff spot. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: vs. Texas (3-2) (Game in Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX)

#14 Michigan Wolverines

Record: 4-1 (1-1, 3rd in Big Ten East)

Last Week: 6

And the dream run for the Wolverines comes crashing down against Sparty once again, as Michigan St comes to the ‘Big House’ and leaves with a 14-10 win. It is the eighth time that MSU has beaten the Wolverines in the last ten years. Brian Lewerke both threw and ran for a score. MSU’s defense shut down Michigan until a botched punt (in this series, what are the odds) allowed the Wolverines to score in the third quarter. – Harry Broadhurst

Next Week: @ Indiana (3-2)

#15 South Florida Bulls

Record: 5-0 (2-0, 1st in American East)

Last Week: 15

The South Florida Bulls enjoyed a week off. The team continues unbeaten on the season, and now prepare for a game at home against a Cincinnati squad that lost big to the Central Florida Golden Knights. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: vs. Cincinnati (2-4)

#16 Oklahoma State Cowboys

Record: 4-1 (1-1, 6th in Big 12)

Last Week: 16

The Oklahoma State Cowboys handed the Texas Tech Red Raiders their first loss on the season last week. This week, Oklahoma State was off, as they prepare to face the winless Baylor Bears next week. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: vs. Baylor (0-5)

#17 Virginia Tech Hokies

Record: 5-1 (1-1, 4th in ACC Coastal)

Last Week: 17

Boston College proved to be just what the doctor ordered for the Hokies. Josh Jackson was back to his normal self, throwing for 322 yards and a score against the Eagles in a convincing win. The one struggle was again finding a way to close the game. After taking a 17-3 halftime lead, the Hokies only managed six points the rest of the way, and Anthony Brown further spoiled the party thanks to finding the end zone with less than six minutes left to go. With a Carolina swing coming to town over the next two weeks, VT is running out of time to fix the kinks before heading to Miami. – Erik Watkins

Next Week: OPEN, Next Game: vs. North Carolina on 10/21

#18 San Diego State Aztecs

Record: 6-0 (2-0, 1st in Mountain West, West Division)

Last Week: 20

It took a while, but in the second half, the San Diego State Aztecs ran away from UNLV. Rashaad Penny put in 170 yards on the ground, and scored two of the three second half touchdowns. Quarterback, Christian Chapman also had a running TD too. The Aztecs defense held UNLV scoreless in the second half, and the team continues undefeated on the season. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: vs. Boise State (3-2)

#19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Record: (5-1, Independent)

Last Week: 22

All eyes were on quarterback Ian Book in his first start for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. However, it’s the running game that won the game. Josh Adams and Deon McIntosh combined for 242 yards three rushing TD’s on the day. The Notre Dame defense held the North Carolina Tarheels to only 10 points on the day, and the Fighting Irish push their winning streak to four games. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: OPEN, Next Game: vs USC (5-1)

#20 North Carolina State Wolfpack

Record: 5-1 (3-0, 2nd in ACC Atlantic)

Last Week: 25

Yes, Lamar Jackson did account for three touchdowns. Yes, it was a close game for much of the night. However, the Wolfpack do it yet again, using defense to seal a 39-25 win. Nyheim Hines anchored NC State on the ground thanks to 102 yards and two scores, while Ryan Finley outdueled Jackson through the air and threw two touchdown passes of his own. Two key second-quarter stops helped build the lead, and Germaine Pratt removed any doubt with a pick-six at the end. If the Pack can survive the trap that is the Pitt Panthers, the following two games could make for some ACC history. – Erik Watkins

Next Game: @ Pittsburgh (2-4)

#21 Central Florida Golden Knights

Record: 4-0 (2-0, 2nd in American East)

Last Week: 24

Central Florida put on an absolute offensive clinic on the Cincinnati Bearcats. Quarterback, McKenzie Milton throws for four first half touchdowns (five in total), three of them went to Tre’ Quan Smith, who also ran in another as well. The rain may have played a factor, but nothing was stopping the UCF offense in this one. The Golden Knights stay undefeated for another week. – Sean Garmer

Next Game: vs. East Carolina (1-5)

#22 Stanford Cardinal

Record: 4-2 (3-1, 3rd in Pac-12 North)

Last Week: NR

No one in the PAC-12 wants to play the Stanford Cardinal. They are the ultimate spoiler right now and last night they provided evidence for why that is again. Upsetting the Utah Utes at home. Led by running back Bryce Love, the Cardinal asserted themselves into the conference title picture again, knocking off ranked Utah by three points. – Tom M. John

Next Week: vs. Oregon (4-2)

#23 Michigan State Wolverines

Record: 4-1 (2-0, 3rd in Big Ten East)

Last Week: NR

Don’t look now, but the Spartans find themselves right in the thick of things in a log jammed Big Ten East, having just knocked off in-state rival Michigan by a final of 14-10. The lone loss on the resume of MSU is that of a resurgent Notre Dame team, though that was a spanking. November appears to be looking like the put up or shut up month for Sparty as they go back to back home for Penn St and at the ‘Horseshoe’ to play the Buckeyes. – Harry Broadhurst

Next Week: @ Minnesota (3-2)

#24 Navy Midshipmen

Record: 5-0 (3-0, 1st in American West)

Last Week: NR

In a game that featured 1,178 total yards between Navy and Air Force, it wound up coming down to the wire. Air Force came back from down 38-17 in the third quarter, to take the lead 45-41 with under two minutes left. However, it wasn’t enough, as Zach Abey throws a clutch TD with 15 seconds left to give Navy the three-point win. Navy faced a tough test, and got through it to stay unbeaten. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: @ Memphis (4-1)

#25 Troy Trojans

Record: 4-1 (1-0, 3rd in Sun Belt)

Last Week: NR

After their huge win against LSU last week, the Troy Trojans received a week off. The Trojans return to Sun Belt Conference action against the South Alabama Jaguars who’ve had a rough season so far. – Sean Garmer

Next Week: vs. South Alabama (1-4)

Others Receiving Votes for this week’s Top 25: Louisville (2), Texas Tech (1), Kentucky (1)

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