College Football Playoff rankings: 5 risers, 5 fallers after Week 10

As we prepare for Week 11’s College Football Playoff rankings, the bedlam from Week 10 — having taken place in the Sooner State or otherwise — must be acknowledged.

Upsets were frequent, College Football Playoff dreams died, and the sport was rejuvenated during a week of consequential results across the nation at the top of the totem pole.

Let’s take a look at who rose, and who fell, during one of the 2023 season’s most entertaining weeks of games.

College Football Playoff rankings: 5 risers, 5 fallers after Week 10

Riser: Oklahoma State

After getting a big victory over rival Oklahoma, you know Oklahoma State is a team set to noticeably rise.

Losing by 26 to South Alabama at home and, less than two months later, knocking off the No. 7 team in the country are the extreme ends of the Cowboys’ season; which now seems like a fever dream having claimed the win in the final Bedlam in Big 12 history.

Faller: Oklahoma

Oklahoma losing to rival Oklahoma State will lead to not only a big drop in their rankings but the post-taking the Sooners as a College Football Playoff threat seriously world.

After suffering back-to-back losses to teams ranked well below them, Oklahoma continues to sully its good name by proving time and again that the brights could get too bright.

Riser: Ole Miss

After a huge victory over Texas A&M, Ole Miss will certainly be on the rise in the College Football Playoff rankings as a one-loss team.

When your only loss is to Alabama on the road, you deserve the label of a very good team. This week you will see Ole Miss get a get that given the results of other teams in proximity rankings-wise.

Faller: Notre Dame

After an embarrassing loss to Clemson, Notre Dame will take a massive dip in the College Football Playoff rankings this week.

They may even be kicked out of the rankings.

The Fighting Irish that came in with so much hype has cooled off completely, and after losing to Clemson, a four-loss team, you know that ND has lost the plot.

Riser: Penn State

After an absolutely dominant 51-15 win over Maryland, Penn State will get a massive boost in the rankings.

When you can go on the road and beat a respectable opponent by 36 points you are entitled to it.

Faller: Air Force

After getting blown out at home by Army, everyone can expect that Air Force will fall out of the rankings completely. And likely for good.

When you are expected to win big at home and you get blown out by what some feel to be a non-competitive program, you will lose any credibility voters previously saw in you.

Riser: Washington

After picking up an impressive road victory against rival USC, Washington could see a bump at the expense of a team like Georgia and/or Florida State.

Washington has remained undefeated while beating very stiff competition, and this should be the week they get rewarded with a College Football Playoff spot.

Faller: USC

USC was a program that came into the season with insane hype and they have not lived up to their expectations. After losing 52-42 to Washington, the Trojans may be dropped out of the rankings completely.

While their rival Washington has shown that they can win in big games, USC has shown they cannot.

Riser: Alabama

After a rocky start to the season, including a loss to Texas and the most embarrassing two-touchdown victory perhaps ever in college football over USF, Alabama has truly turned on the jets in SEC play.

The Crimson Tide picked up a 42-28 victory over LSU in Week 10, which should lead them to getting a strong bump inside the College Football Playoff rankings’ top 10.

Faller: LSU

LSU came into this season as a team with SEC Championship predictions logged in their favor, but after suffering a 42-28 loss to Alabama, they will see a drop in the rankings.

Three losses with three games left to play is a bad look for Brian Kelly in his second season, even if the losses are to Alabama, Ole Miss, and Florida State.