By: David Ware (@davidware)
Welcome back CFSL nation to the second-ever Wareforce Power Index Ratings! Last week we saw and heard some controversy over who number one was and this week, we have a new number one! This week we saw some upsets and some nail-biters, so the question is what teams moved up and who moved down the rankings.
Conference play did not disappoint and this is where we will start to see the strength of schedule help some teams but maybe hurt others. Let’s not wait any longer and let’s dive into the top 10 teams after week four in the CFSL
10. Penn State
Welcome to the top 10 Penn State with a nice win over Oregon this week, Penn State gets back to .500 on the season. Their week one win against Florida helps their performance index rating. They do have a top 10 strength of schedule and a top 10 defense. The question is how Penn State will fair in a wild Big10 Conference will as they get deeper into conference play.
Overall Penn State has a C+ on the Season
9. Florida State
Another new team this week in the Wareforce Power Index as the Seminoles opened ACC play with a win against Notre Dame. They move to (3-1) with two huge wins against LSU and Penn State already this season. The big factor helping Florida State is their opponent’s strength of schedule which ranks for fifth best in the CFSL so far this season.
Overall Florida State has a B- on the Season.
8. Colorado
The trend of new teams continues as we have our third new team in this week’s top 10! Colorado started the season with two losses but has won the last two games to move back to .500 on the season. This week they not only upset last week’s #8 Texas A&M Aggies, but they also dominated them with a 35-point win at home.
Colorado is in the top 10 across the CFSL in the strength of schedule, net points, and offense versus the league. With the huge win this week, Colorado jumped up seven spots to lead all the CFSL and added 0.095 to their overall Wareforce Power Index rating. Can Colorado continue to climb up the rankings in the Big 12 and CFSL?
Overall Colorado has a B- on the Season.
7. Florida
Florida is the first team so far to stay in the top 10 but they do drop one spot after their win against Tennessee. Overall, the strength of schedule for the Gators is ranked for 11th best in the CFSL as well as their opponent’s strength of schedule being ranked 15th. Florida has the third-best offense in the league and the best offense in the SEC. The Gators may have started the season with a tough loss to Penn State, but they have pulled off three straight wins with two of them who have been ranked already.
Overall Florida has a B- on the Season.
6. Kentucky
Kentucky opened up SEC play against Alabama and came away with a huge win at home. The Wildcat’s defense has been the story all season as they have the best defense in the league and the conference, as well as the eighth-best offense in the league. They have continued to outscore everyone, and they have the fourth-best net points in all the CFSL. Kentucky is looking to try and make sure they have an automatic playoff bid in a very competitive conference. Moving up three spots this week in the Wareforce Power Index ratings, the Wildcats find themselves right outside the top five.
Overall Kentucky has a B+ on the Season.
5. Texas
Texas continues their winning ways as they enter Big 12 Conference play and pull out a three-point win against LSU. It was a nail-biter for sure and a possible game-of-the-week candidate, but it was so fun to watch. Texas has a top-10 offense and defense across the CFSL and is not looking to let another team win the Big 12 this year. One interesting stat is that this week’s 27 points are their lowest points in a win. Can they get back to the 50+ points per game and dominate like we have seen them do in the past?
Overall Texas has a B+ on the Season.
4. North Carolina
The Tar Heels keep their spot in the top five this week after a win against Virginia Tech. Their only loss of the season is against a top-five Auburn Tigers, who were first last week in the Wareforce Power Index. They are a solid team that ranks in the top five in three categories across the CFSL and their worst ranking of any statistic on their report card is 12th. North Carolina has some big games coming and will have the opportunity to prove they are the top team in the ACC. Is a conference title in store for a second straight year, only time will tell for North Carolina.
Overall North Carolina has an A on the Season.
3. USC
I know all about USC being the defending champs, and I know the hate messages are already being typed in league chat, but that is ok as the numbers once again do not lie. The Trojans have the best defense, third in net points and opponent’s strength of schedule, and seventh-best offense in the CFSL, but they have the 23rd-worst strength of schedule.
We all know that Michigan is a great team that has run into a buzzsaw of a schedule, and their now being (0-4) does not help USC at all. The good news is that the Michigan State Spartans will be traveling to USC this week and it will be an opportunity for USC to boost their strength of schedule. The great thing for the Trojans is that they control their destiny and all they have to do is keep winning and they will climb. I know they want to be on top right now, but time will soon tell if USC is the best team in the CFSL.
Overall USC has an A on the Season.
2. Auburn
I can hear the comments and questions already, “How does a team drop from the top spot even though they won?” Well, it happens, and it even happens in real life with the associated poll this week as Texas dropped from the top spot after winning. The simple reason why Auburn dropped a spot is because of their strength of schedule this week. They did dominate in their win against Georgia, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Tigers in first.
The Auburn Tigers still have not lost a regular season game since Justin Duke has taken over and they are ranked in the top five of all data points in the CFSL except the all-important strength of schedule. They are ranked 21st in the league in this category but they do have the second-best opponent’s strength of schedule. Auburn is in the same situation as USC as far as controlling their destiny. The fun part will be as both USC and Auburn have some big games coming up, who will be able to dethrone the top spot?
Overall, Auburn has an A+ on the Season
1. Ohio State
Welcome to the top spot Ohio State Buckeyes! This week they beat Michigan State in a huge conference win and continue to set the tempo for the rest of the CFSL. The Buckeyes have the best offense in the league as well as the second-best net points. Their opponent’s strength of schedule is good for seventh in the league. The margin that Ohio State is ahead of Auburn is a mere 0.003 points and if Ohio State has a close game and they do not get some style points, aka net points, Auburn could take the top spot back. Every team receives a bonus for their opponent’s net point differential and Ohio State and Auburn have a negative bonus but the difference in that bonus is what gave Ohio State the top spot.
Dropped Out
Three new teams in means three teams dropped out this week. Oklahoma even with the win dropped to 11th with only a 0.008 gap to close on Penn State for the 10th spot. Texas A&M dropped the most spots with their loss this week as they are now 15th. The Crimson Tide dropped three spots after losing to Kentucky this week.
What an Exciting Week
Thank you all for taking the time to check out this week’s Wareforce Power Index and we hope to see you back next week to see if we will have a new number one or how many new teams break into the top 10. One thing is for sure, we will see some exciting football, and controversy and chaos are sure to follow!
Until next time, keep your game face on and your spirits high!
