2017 ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings week 5

Another week of college football, means another week of the ACC Coastal Power Rankings.

Week five left one thing for certain, barring an injury or a boneheaded play, college football is a two-team race and whether you like it or not, we are all looking at a Clemson vs. Alabama III come January.

Of course it’s only five weeks in and there is still so much football to play, that nothing is a certainty.

With that in mind let’s see what others are doing around the College Football map.

In Big Ten country, the conference remains with three undefeated. Penn State is still looked at as the best and with possibly the best player in college football in Saquon Barkley, the Nittany Lions look hard to beat.

Plus even if you find a way to slow Barkley down, as Indiana did this weekend, PSU quarterback Trace McSorley is more than willing to carry the load.

The rest of the conference is still Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Badgers, as well as the Nittany Lions, all control their own destiny, and the Big Ten has made all three playoffs so far.

Moving west to the Pac-12 where the Apple Cup might have even bigger implications than last season. In last year’s Washington Bowl, the winner won the North.

The Huskies, who had one loss and were on the outskirts of a playoff hope, needed a win to give the Pac 12 a chance to make the CFP.

The Cougars, on the other hand, had three losses, and not only would’ve spoiled Washington’s season but the Pac-12’s too. Washington prevailed and the Pac-12 was saved.

This season the two teams are both undefeated and both could stay that way until the Apple Cup in late November. Right now the Cougars have the better win having beat USC, but the Huskies will be equally viable as the season progresses.

Also, don’t forget about Utah who is also undefeated as well as the Trojans who can easily rebound from their loss to the Cougars and still control their own destiny in the Pac 12 south.

Down in the Southwest, we arrive in Big 12 country where things could get complicated by the time the season is over. First, everyone in the Big 12 plays each other.

Then the best two teams, they don’t have conferences, play each other.

This means Oklahoma could beat TCU and then lose to the Horned Frogs in the conference championship game.

Not saying this can’t happen elsewhere, but it is guaranteed in the Big 12 and could be playoff suicide, even more so than not having a championship game.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if TCU and Oklahoma lose on the way to their first matchup and then don’t win out from there. Regardless, the Big 12 may seem like it’s down to two teams but with the way it is shaping out, lots of teams still have a shot.

For the fourth straight week, let me make it clear, the SEC is a two-team race. Georgia and Alabama are going to meet for the SEC championship game. Sure Florida and Auburn have a chance, but let’s be real, this one is set, let’s move on.

All that is left is the ACC. Look the SEC may be a two-team race, but the ACC is a one team race, there is Clemson and then there is everybody else. Period.

Of course, the Tigers still have to play whichever team that wins the coastal and that brings us to our real rankings.

By the way, If you are wondering how all that action impacted my top 10, check it out here:

This week I’ve asked Pat Green to supply our rank headings and he was more than willing to oblige. First up is the only ACC Coastal team with one win this season.