FBS Computer Rankings: SEC and B1G Take 9 of Top 10 Spots

September 3, 2024 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

The SEC and B1G rule the rankings as one should expect after they took in six strong teams from other conferences. Unless you just awoke from hibernation, you are aware the SEC took Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12, while the B1G welcomed Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington from the PAC-12.

After one full weekend of football and a small piece of another (week zero), 11 of the top 12 spots in the Congrove Computer Rankings go to B1G and SEC schools. Furthermore, those conferences occupy 14 of the top 16 spots. Only independent Notre Dame at No. 10 and ACC member Louisville at No. 13 interrupt a complete takeover.

The weekly update of the CCR Top 134 was released on CollegeFootballPoll.com shortly after the completion of the 28-13 upset win by Boston College at Florida State game.

Big 12 schools take Nos. 18, 19 and 21, including newcomer Utah at that number 19 slot.

The majority of schools that switched affiliations were those 10 schools that took an exodus out of the PAC-12. The Big 12 picked up the aforementioned Utah, as well as Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State.

Two other PAC-12 schools - Cal and Stanford - were later saved by the ACC.  American Conference member SMU also moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Oregon was the computer's preseason number 1 team, and the Ducks keep that spot after the opening week action.

Oregon owns a wide enough power margin over everyone else to be safely deemed as the projected national champion. Determining who will be the No. 2 team on selection Sunday is a little more difficult as several teams are close enough in power rating that a home or away scenario would flip the predicted outright winner. those teams are Texas, Georgia, Ohio State and Ole Miss and they currently follow Oregon in that order.

Only two teams outside the Power 4 conferences are currently ranked in the computer's Top 25 with Memphis of the American Conference at No. 23, and Boise State out of the Mountain West at No. 24. Those rankings are important because the playoff will take the five highest-ranked conference champions, and seven at-large picks.

The ACC adds Miami (17) and SMU (20) among the Top 20.

A total of 96 teams began the season with a win, greatly aided by a 60-1 record for FBS teams against FCS schools