The month of September was crazy. There were so many crazy, weird finishes and a few insane upsets along with three non-Power 5 programs upsetting Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Miami in Weeks 2 and 4. Appalachian State rode the crazy train before FBS newcomer James Madison pushed them off the tracks. Finally, the Sunflower State (Kansas and Kansas State) deserves some respect after a hot start. Heck, Syracuse, Coastal Carolina, Minnesota, Washington, and USC and UCLA, respectively, are undefeated too.
#1 GEORGIA (4-0) – The Dawgs came out hot on offense, and their defense in 3 games allowed only 10 points. But when they faced Kent State, they allowed 22 points in one game…to a Group of 5 opponent. Sad for the others, but let’s hope it’s just a glaring issue. Their first 3 games are…simple. But the Gators on October 29th, there’s no telling what they will look like.
#2 ALABAMA (4-0) – Texas answered, but the Crimson Tide survived and continues rolling. However, they face possibly three straight ranked opponents in Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Tennessee, before they play Mississippi State prior to their bye week. This will be the first time in years that Alabama is truly tested in the SEC.
#3 OHIO STATE (4-0) – THE Ohio State passed their monthly test and proved they have some defense. October should be fair in competition, but Rutgers, Michigan State, and Iowa will try tenderizing them before the Buckeyes travel to Happy Valley to play Penn State in a potential whiteout game. I smell an upset special in October.
#4 MICHIGAN (4-0) – Michigan pounded the living life out of weak competition. Reality set in when Maryland gave them everything they had before Michigan running back Blake Corum set the team on track. They travel back-to-back to Iowa and Indiana and either one of them could ruin their perfect season. If the Wolverines survive, they host Penn State and Michigan State. Michigan is now on a treacherous path in October.
#5 CLEMSON (4-0) – The Tigers…are hard to figure out. They have a proven elite defense with a struggling offense. Last week, the sides went into reverse but probably for one game. They faced their first true challenge against Wake, but now their biggest test of the season is against NC State. After that, they travel to Boston College and Florida State before returning home to host Syracuse. Clemson’s offense could be in a bad spot with NC State, Florida State, and even Syracuse (all 3 are 4-0).
#6 USC (4-0) – Lincoln Riley’s squad is very difficult to stop, but Oregon State became their first true test. Going into October, the state of Arizona is a cakewalk, but the middle of their schedule levels up in competition. They host Washington State, and the Cougars could rough them up a bit. Then they travel to Utah for what could be the game that decides who’s in charge of the Pac-12.
#7 KENTUCKY (4-0) – The team looks ready to compete for the SEC East title. They managed past Florida and Will Levis proved himself as a trustworthy quarterback. They travel to Ole Miss, host back-to-back games against South Carolina and cross-division rival Mississippi State, and travel down to Tennessee. South Carolina shouldn’t be an issue. The other three, however, will be.
#8 TENNESSEE (4-0) – If there’s a chance to make some real noise in the SEC and college football, now is the time for the Volunteers. They rest in the first month before traveling to Baton Rouge to face LSU. Then, they are home for the rest of the month against Alabama, UT Martin, and Kentucky. Tennessee upsetting Alabama and/or Kentucky will gain Georgia’s attention in the beginning of November.
#9 OKLAHOMA STATE (3-0) – The Pokes had their fun in September, but the real season begins in October. Their four games are against the Big 12’s entire state of Texas, and any of them could pose a threat to Ok State. Then they end the month at Kansas State. If Ok State’s defense made any progress ahead of better competition during the bye week, the smoke should clear by November.
#10 NC STATE (4-0) – The Wolfpack has a chance to prove they are the ACC’s best team in 2022. They travel to Clemson, host Florida State, then travels up to Syracuse before their bye, and end their month against Virginia Tech. Going 3-0 against those first three would make their bye week all the sweeter for the Pack.
#11 PENN STATE (4-0) – The Nittany Lions’ offense are playing well up to this point, but their October schedule turns into a gauntlet. Assuming they beat Northwestern, they travel to face Michigan before hosting Minnesota and Ohio State. Northwestern could wear down Penn State before facing those three toughest opponents of the Big Ten.
#12 UTAH (3-1) – Like Penn State, the Utes face most challenging schedule of the month. They host Oregon State, travel to UCLA, host the Bruin’s rival USC for leverage in the Pac-12, and ends their month after the bye at Washington State. Next to USC, Utah has no room for error and playing without tight end Brant Kuithe will make this more challenging. This is their one and only shot for playoff consideration.
#13 OREGON (3-1) – Oregon bounced back after their beat down against Georgia and are looking to fly high through October with ease. If Stanford and Arizona aren’t tough enough, then UCLA and Cal could likely give the Ducks a match to face.
#14 OLE MISS (4-0) – The Rebels continue to figure out their roster’s connection with plenty of transfers playing right now. They’re 4-0, but now they enter the SEC with questions on whether they’re fully prepared. Vanderbilt is winnable, but Auburn and LSU could swing both ways. Their upcoming matchup with Kentucky and Texas A&M at the end of October will show who the Rebels really are.
#15 WASHINGTON (4-0) – The Huskies could be a serious threat in the Pac-12. Indiana transfer quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is lethal and thrown over 300 yards every game since becoming a Husky. They can potentially sweep the October schedule, but UCLA will challenge them this upcoming weekend. Arizona and Cal could be tricky too.
#16 BAYLOR (3-1) – The Bears triumph over Iowa State on the road and hunts for another Big 12 title. But the overall competition in the Big 12 becomes fierce, so there’s no telling if the Bears can survive October unscathed. They host ranked Oklahoma State, travels to West Virginia in a hostile environment, host an improved and confident Kansas Jayhawks, and ends their month with a date at Texas Tech.
#17 TEXAS A&M (3-1) – The Aggies have a doozy of an October schedule. They travel to play Mississippi State, then travel back-to-back to Alabama and South Carolina, before ending their month against Ole Miss. A&M could either come out as the surprise contenders in the SEC West, or they come out battered after games against Mike Leach, Nick Saban, Spencer Rattler and company, and Lane Kiffin. Names no team wants to see on their schedule for the entire month.
#18 OKLAHOMA (3-1) – The Sooners return to the drawing board after an upset loss to Kansas State. The conference’s competition improved, but only to lead to a potential downfall. They must bounce back against TCU and Texas in that state for two weeks before hosting Kansas and Iowa State, which they are looking for revenge after a one-score loss last season.
#19 BYU (3-1) – They still have a date with in-state rival Utah State, but after that, hold on to your seatbelts in October. The Cougars travel to Vegas to face Notre Dame. Then they host Arkansas, travel to Liberty, and come back home to host East Carolina. This is a redeemable opportunity for BYU, but they need Arkansas and Notre Dame to take out the competition along the way.
#20 ARKANSAS (3-1) – The Razorbacks dream of an SEC West title bid could all be but a dream. Their entire month of September didn’t have much separation from the four opponents they’ve faced. After the loss to Texas A&M, some maybe second-guessing Arkansas’s chances of winning the West. They host Alabama at the beginning before following up with three straight road games against Mississippi State, BYU, and Auburn. We’ll see after the smoke clears and hope the Hogs don’t roast on an open fire in November.
#21 MINNESOTA (4-0)– Minnesota becomes a serious threat to the entire Big Ten conference. They’re well-rounded on offense with their two running backs and quarterback healthy and have a defense that no one wants to mess with. Home games against Purdue and Rutgers should be winnable, but road games at Illinois and Penn State will be challenging. As long as they stay healthy, continue rowing the boat, boys!
#22 WAKE FOREST (3-1) – The Demon Deacons cover their wounds after a hard-fought loss against Clemson. They face another tough foe in Florida State, and then it’s Army and Boston College. Finally, they end October against Louisville, which they should not underestimate quarterback Malik Cunningham.
#23 FLORIDA STATE (4-0) – Like NC State, the Seminoles enter October with a huge test against the toughest (and ranked) ACC teams ever on their schedule, except Georgia Tech at the end of the month. They face Wake Forest this weekend, then goes up the ranks to take on NC State at Raleigh. Finally, they go to the ACC throne to try and dethrone the Clemson Tigers. Good luck, Florida State.
#24 PITTSBURGH (3-1)– Pitt let the Tennessee game get away from them with injuries to follow-up. They’re ok now and enter October with an opportunity to take over the ACC again. Georgia Tech should be an easy win and Virginia Tech is a winnable matchup. But things get tricky when they travel to Louisville and UNC back-to-back after the bye. The last two will be obstacles of the month for the Panthers.
#25 KANSAS STATE (3-1) – The Wildcats look like the party crashers of the Big 12 after a major upset over Oklahoma. But it’s nothing new to Chris Kleiman since he owns the Sooners 3-1 (maintaining my composure as a Sooner fan). Now the Wildcats face Texas Tech, Iowa State, TCU, and Oklahoma State. They are all opportunities for the Kansas State to be the Big 12 alpha before hitting November with a tough, tough schedule of their lives.
10 NON-RANKED TEAMS THAT COULD BE RANKED IN OCTOBER
1) SYRACUSE (4-0)
2) NORTH CAROLINA (3-1)
3) UCF (3-1)
4) CINCINNATI (3-1)
5) NORTH CAROLINA (3-1)
6) WASHINGTON STATE (3-1)
7) KANSAS (4-0)
8) UCLA (4-0)
9) COASTAL CAROLINA (4-0)
10) FLORIDA (2-2)
The Wolf's Cave 
Leave a comment