2024 college football rankings: Ohio State jumps to No. 1; Penn State comes in at 5

After Vanderbilt’s upset win over Virginia Tech in Week 1, I took it upon myself to read “The Vanderbilt Hustler” for the first time because, well, student newspapers do a great job of covering theirs, especially when surprising news happens on campus. And because the Commodores upset the Hokies, I learned that the student section was so full before the game started that they closed it. And because the Commodores upset the Hokies, I also saw a story about Vanderbilt doing well with the expansion. Opportunity Vanderbiltprogram that provides full tuition scholarships to students whose families make less than $150,000 a year. And about 54% of the school’s past students are patrons of the program. That means if you are accepted, they are committed.

Here’s the truth, Vanderbilt. I don’t mind if you don’t win another game in the SEC or otherwise. But I have to tell you – winning football is what brought me here. Winning football is why I cry about the wonderful financial aid program you have done, because winning football is the catalyst for change.

Now, in the wake of Vanderbilt’s memorable 40-35 victory over No. 1 Alabama. 1 on Saturday, Opportunity Vanderbilt will hopefully draw more attention to parts of the university that would otherwise go unnoticed outside of Nashville and higher education journalism. Because Vanderbilt has invested in football. Because the Vanderbilt football team pulled off the most surprising upset of the year.

Well done, Vandy.

With that, here’s a look at my top 25 rankings following Week 6 of college football season:

1. State of Ohio (5-0)

Week 6 result: Iowa lost, 35-7

Ohio State became the first team to score in its home opener against Iowa in two years (Oct. 1, 2022, Michigan). That touchdown came on a 14-yard catch from Emeka Egbuka, who finished with nine catches for 71 yards and three TDs in the win. The Buckeyes are loaded with talent and have earned the right to be here, but now comes a top-five matchup against the Oregon Ducks for Big Ten power and possibly the No. 1 spot. 1 in the game to the winner.

2. Texas (5-0)

Week 6 result: It doesn’t work

3. In Oregon (4-0)

Week 6 result: Lost to Michigan State, 31-10

Despite Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel throwing multiple interceptions in the same game for the first time since November 2022, the Ducks rolled past the Spartans. Running back Jordan James rushed for 166 yards on 24 carries in the victory.

4. Georgia (4-1)

Week 6 result: Lose to Auburn, 31-13

With its victory in the old Deep South rivalry, Georgia is now one win away from starting a new winning season. However, the win was the Dawgs’ 27th in a row at Sanford Stadium.

5. Penn State (4-0)

Week 6 result: Lose to UCLA, 27-11

The Nittany Lions are focused on professional football this season where the defense has allowed just 18 points in their last three games. Without Nick Singleton available, Penn State rushed for its lowest total in a game all season – 85 yards, after entering the game averaging 251 per game.

6. Miami (Fla.) (6-0)

Week 6 result: Defeated Cal, 39-38

Take a bow, Cam Ward. After it looked like Miami was headed for an upset loss, and Ward’s Heisman chances were over, the Canes’ top QB led his team to a dramatic victory after trailing by 20 points in the fourth quarter. The win marked Miami’s biggest win since 2003.

7. Clemson (4-1)

Week 6 result: Lost to Florida State, 29-13

What was expected to be the ACC’s biggest game heading into the season turned out to be the Tigers’ way, doubling the Seminoles in total yards, 500-250. Dabo Swinney’s team is averaging 48.5 points per game since that Week 1 loss to Georgia.

8. Iowa State (5-0)

Week 6 result: Baylor lost, 43-21

Rocco Becht threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns as Matt Campbell’s team improved to 5-0, marking the program’s best start since 1980.

9. BYU (5-0)

Week 6 result: It doesn’t work

10. Tennessee (4-1)

Week 6 result: Lost at Arkansas, 19-14

Josh Heupel’s team took a 14-3 lead in the third quarter, and then everything went south for the Vols. Nico Iamaleava didn’t look like himself in this game, and it cost Tennessee, as Arkansas picked up its first home win over a top-five opponent since defeating the No. 3-ranked Volunteers back in 1999.

11. In Oklahoma (4-1)

Week 6 result: It doesn’t work

12. LSU (4-1)

Week 6 result: Doing nothing

13. Ole Miss (5-1)

Week 6 result: Lost to South Carolina, 27-3

The win was highlighted by not one, but two rushing touchdowns by 325-pound JJ Pegues in what was the 100th win of Lane Kiffin’s head coaching career. The Rebels forced two turnovers, recorded six sacks and totaled 10 tackles for loss in the win.

14. Alabama (4-1)

Week 6 result: Lost to Vanderbilt, 40-35

How’s this for stats: Alabama trailed Vanderbilt 13-0 less than seven minutes into the game. Vanderbilt scored 13 total points against Alabama in Nick Saban’s 19-year tenure.

Here’s another: At halftime, Bama trailed Vandy, 23-14. This is the first time Vandy has led the nation’s No. 1 team at halftime since 1977. Vandy coach Clark Lea was born in 1981.

And here are the final stats: Vanderbilt’s win over Alabama marks the program’s first win over a top-five opponent.

15. Notre Dame (4-1)

Week 6 result: It doesn’t work

16. Texas A&M (5-1)

Week 6 result: Lost to Missouri, 41-10

The Aggies trap the Tigers, tie them up and throw them into the zoo for us to point and laugh at. Texas A&M dominated the game from start to finish, leading 34-0 at one point in the third quarter. Quarterback Conner Weigman is back on the field, making it clear this month that he plans to hit the circuit-or-treat like Johnny Manziel.

17. Missouri (4-1)

Week 6 result: Lost to Texas A&M, 41-10

The Tigers played like a journalism school on Saturday, getting embarrassed on the road by an A&M program that made itself a CFP contender with a win and dropped Mizzou into the bubble category.

18. Boise State (4-1)

Week 6 result: Utah State lost, 62-30

Ashton Jeanty is playing out of this world for the first six weeks of the season. He had a jaw-dropping 186 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, and only needed one half to do it.

19. Kansas State (4-1)

Week 6 result: Doing nothing

20. Illinois (4-1)

Week 6 result: It doesn’t work

21. In Indiana (6-0)

Week 6 result: Lost to Northwestern 41-24

That was a win for the No. 6 Hoosiers, making them the first team this season to reach bowl eligibility. The Hoosiers have put up 500 yards of offense in their last three games and have the third-leading scoring offense in the nation.

Indiana had won just nine of its last 36 games before IU coach Curt Cignetti arrived. And the sixth win was important to Cignetti, who received a $250,000 bonus and an automatic one-year extension on his contract when IU reached bowl eligibility.

22. Pitt (5-0)

Week 6 result: North Carolina lost, 34-24

Pat Narduzzi has a great football team led by former Alabama QB Eli Holstein, who threw for 381 yards and three scores in a win over the Tar Heels. By winning, i The panthers reached 5-0 for the first time since 1991.

23. SMU (5-1)

Week 6 result: Lost to Louisville, 34-27

With the win, SMU now has a career-high 25 wins under its belt while knowing its only loss was to an undefeated BYU team. It’s possible the Mustangs could find their way to the ACC title game in the league’s 1st year.

24. Utah (4-1)

Week 6 result: Doing nothing

25. Navy (5-0)

Week 6 result: Defeated Air Force, 34-7

Navy and Army pretend it’s 1945, the last time both went undefeated with a combined record of 10-0. Each is a member of the American Athletic Conference, but they will play each other the weekend after the conference tournament. But there is a chance they could play for the AAC title.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and commentator for FOX Sports and podcast host “The Number One College Football Show.“Follow him @RJ_Omusha again subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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