Computer Rankings: Covid-stricken Wisconsin Jumps Clemson For 2nd

November 1, 2020 by Staff

The Big Ten saw its second week of action, and second week of upsets, as every team in the conference except Wisconsin and Nebraska took to the field. The Badgers' game in Lincoln was canceled due to Covid issues at Wisconsin and will not be made up.

Every team in the Mountain West was also on the field for the second week, while the MAC and PAC-12 open play this coming week.

Alabama, a 41-0 winner at home over Mississippi State, continues to hang on to the No. 1 spot in the Congrove Computer Rankings, released within minutes of the conclusion of Saturday's final late night games. But there is a change at No. 2 as Wisconsin still managed to leapfrog Clemson after the Tigers won a much closer-than-expected game at home versus Boston College, 34-28. Clemson was without QB Trevor Lawrence due to a positive Covid test and the team will have to persevere without him again next week in an all-important game at Notre Dame.

Ohio State, Notre Dame and Indiana continue to occupy 4th through 6th in the rankings.

The Buckeyes were 38-25 winners at Penn State, while the Irish won 31-13 at Georgia Tech and the Hoosiers moved to 2-0 with a 37-21 victory at Rutgers. It's the first 2-0 start in the Big Ten for Indiana since 1991.

A quartet of PAC-12 teams are ranked 7th through 10th - a situation that is destined to change quickly once that conference takes the field. Oregon is No. 7, followed by USC, Cal and Utah. Six more PAC-12 teams are among the Top 25. Those schools only rank that high as they are essentially undefeated, though also winless.

Georgia, a 14-3 winner at Kentucky jumps from 14 to 11, and Florida advances from 15 to 12 after whipping Missouri 41-17 in Gainesville. Another SEC school, Texas A&M, grabs the No. 13 slot for the second straight week on the heels of a 42-31 win in College Station over Arkansas.

Michigan, a 27-24 loser in the Big House to rival Michigan State, drops from 7th to 17th. Oklahoma State dove from 11th to 19th after falling 41-34 at home to Treas. Penn State slid from 16th to 33rd upon the loss to Ohio State, and Minnesota descended from 19th to 37th as the result of a second straight loss - this time at Maryland, 45-44, on Friday night.

The top-ranked school from a Group Of Five conference is still Cincinnati (American conference)m which rises from 21st to 18th after crushing Memphis 49-10.

See the latest CCR Top 127.