Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt released his top 10 college football rankings after conference championship weekend.
Of the championship games, none was more anticipated than Georgia-Texas in the SEC. The game was a defensive duel: Texas held a 6-3 halftime lead.
Georgia looked down and out when Carson Beck suffered an injury that took him out of the game, but the UGA rushing offense came alive. Texas countered with a strong passing game and the two teams went to overtime tied at 16. The Longhorns kicked a field goal on their drive, but the Bulldogs scored a touchdown to win, 22-19.
Georgia slides up to No. 2 in Klatt’s rankings, while Texas falls to No. 6. The Bulldogs earned a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed for winning the SEC; Texas hosts Clemson in the first round.
A pair of playoff bubble teams played in the ACC championship. Clemson dominated SMU, holding a 31-14 lead going into the fourth, but SMU tied the game with 16 seconds left. However, the Mustangs’ special teams allowed a big return and with one play, Clemson moved into field-goal range. Clemson’s kicker Noah Hauser booted the game-winning 56-yard field goal.
The Big Ten championship between Oregon and Penn State was an offensive shootout. Oregon unleashed an excellent offensive game plan, but Penn State never relented. The Nittany Lions had a chance to tie the game late, but the Ducks picked off Drew Allar, sealing the game and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.
The Big 12 championship was not close. Arizona State thoroughly manhandled Iowa State, 45-19. As a result, the Sun Devils are the improbable winners of the Big 12 and get a first-round bye as the No. 4 seed.
Outside of the Power Four, the Boise State Broncos took care of business against the UNLV Rebels, 21-7. The Boise State offense relied on a steady diet from Ashton Jeanty, while the defense shut down UNLV’s offense. Boise State also earns a bye and the No. 3 spot.
The final College Football Playoff rankings were released on Sunday. Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona get to rest for an extra week. No. 12 Clemson plays No. 5 Texas at home, and No. 11 SMU travels to Beaver Stadium to play the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions. No. 10 Indiana and No. 7 Notre Dame play in an in-state rivalry, and No. 8 Ohio State plays No. 9 Tennessee.
Honorable Mentions: Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Clemson Tigers, SMU Mustangs
Here are Joel Klatt’s top 10 teams:
No. 10: Arizona State Sun Devils
Record: 11-2 (plus-11.8 average point differential)
Result: Big 12 championship win vs. Iowa State Cyclones 45-19
No. 9: Boise State Broncos
Record: 12-1 (plus-17.2 average point differential)
Result: Mountain West championship win vs. UNLV Rebels 21-7
No. 8: Indiana Hoosiers
Record: 11-1 (plus-28.7 average point differential)
Result: Off
No. 7: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 11-2 (plus-17.2 average point differential)
Result: Big Ten championship loss vs. Oregon Ducks 45-37
No. 6: Texas Longhorns
Record: 11-2 (plus-21.2 average point differential)
Result: SEC championship loss vs. Georgia Bulldogs 22-19
No. 5: Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 10-2 (plus-24.6 average point differential)
Result: Off
No. 4: Tennessee Volunteers
Record: 10-2 (plus-23.3 average point differential)
Result: Off
No. 3: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Record: 11-1 (plus-26.2 average point differential)
Result: Off
No. 2: Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 11-2 (plus-12.8 average point differential)
Result: SEC championship win vs. Texas Longhorns 22-19
No. 1: Oregon Ducks
Record: 13-0 (plus-18.8 average point differential)
Result: Big Ten championship win vs. Penn State 45-37
