Outkick's Top Ten: Hello Mississippi State

The first year of the college football playoff is shaping up to be one of the craziest in college football history. We're not even halfway through the season and we only have a handful of undefeated teams left in the country. I have no idea how the season will turn out and neither do you. And aside from making you all homeless with gambling picks, there have been very few guarantees this season. 

So without further ado, here's Outkick's top ten. 

1. Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have dominated three consecutive top ten SEC teams. Okay, okay, so LSU and Texas A&M were clearly overrated when State played them. The same can't be said about Auburn. With Kentucky, Arkansas, and UT-Martin as the next three opponents, I think Mississippi State is undefeated when they go on the road at Alabama. 

2. Ole Miss

The Rebels followed up the biggest win in school history by demolishing Texas A&M in front of the largest crowd to ever see an SEC football game. I'd say that's one hell of an encore performance. 

The Egg Bowl is the new Iron Bowl. 

3. Baylor

Sure, they gave up 58 points, but they scored 61. Including, amazingly, 24 points in the final 11 minutes against one of the top defenses in college football. Surviving a near defeat can work wonders for a team's psyche. Can the Bears beat a suddenly wobbly Oklahoma home team in Norman a month from now? I think so. 

4. Florida State

The Seminoles finally crack Outkick's top four teams. Not because they've been that impressive, but just because everyone else keeps losing. I expect FSU to beat Notre Dame by double digits next weekend. Which, coupled with the fact that they gave up 43 points to a 2-4 North Carolina team, is why I still don't have the Fighting Irish in Outkick's top ten. 

5. Auburn

I know Mississippi State won on Saturday, but did anyone else watching this game still think Auburn would win the majority of the games these two teams played on a neutral site? Maybe I'm an idiot, but I did. Auburn's used up its mulligan now and still has games at Ole Miss at Georgia and at Alabama left on the schedule. Damn. 

6. Oregon

The Ducks demolished UCLA, maintaning their status as the top team in the Pac 12. Stanford, at Utah, and at Oregon State still serve as tremendous land mines for the Ducks, who need to finish 12-1 to feel really good about their playoff chances. 

7. Alabama

The Crimson Tide was atrocious and lucky to win at Arkansas. But they won. Of the Tide's final six games, four are at home, with the only road games being at Tennessee and at LSU. But does the opponent really matter right now? Bama looked like a very average football team on Saturday night.  

8. TCU

Up 21 with 11 minutes to play at Baylor, TCU was incredibly close to taking a stranglehold over the Big 12 race. Instead TCU collapsed. Now what happens if Baylor, Oklahoma, and TCU all end up in a three-way tie at 11-1? It really good happen. Better break out the tiebreakers.  

9. Georgia

The Bulldogs lost their Heisman star running back and then went out and delivered the most impressive performance of the season, destroying Mizzou 34-0. Hutson Mason played a near flawless game and the Georgia defense put up its best performance since the second half against Clemson. If Gurley can get eligible again, the Bulldogs might be able to prove that every team in the SEC East isn't a hot mess. 

10. Michigan State

The Spartans weren't pretty against Purdue, but they got the win. Unfortunately, there just doesn't appear to be enough competition in the Big Ten to lift Sparty into the playoff picture.