College football rankings from 1 to 134 for Week 6: BYU, Colorado part of wide-open Big 12 race

The Big 12 lived up to most of commissioner Brett Yormak's promise through the first third of the season. 

Remember what Yormark said at Big 12 Media Days on July 9?  

"We will be the deepest conference in America, and every week will matter," Yormark said. "We have star power and parity. We will brand it as a race to the championship." 

Is it the deepest conference? The SEC holds that distinction right now in terms of the College Football Playoff race. The SEC boasts five top-10 teams in our latest 1-134 rankings. 

Does the Big 12 have star power and parity? Absolutely. Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is among the Heisman Trophy front-runners. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has 1,630 yards and 14 TDs. Deion Sanders has matched the Buffaloes’ win total from last season. 

OK, most of that star power resides in one place, but it is helpful that Colorado – which is ranked No. 34 in our rankings – is part of that parity and the race to the championship after September. Look at the five Big 12 teams ranked ahead of the Buffaloes. 

No. 16 BYU – highest-ranked team Big 12 team on our list – was picked to finish 13th in the conference’s preseason poll. No. 17 Iowa State is winning with a grind-it-out formula based on elite defense. No. 19 Kansas State still looks like the best team in the conference – but they had a 38-9 meltdown at BYU on Sept. 21. No. 21 Utah, No. 29 Arizona, No. 43 Texas Tech and No. 45 UCF are all one-loss teams in the top 50 that could just as easily win the conference. What brings that all together? 

Colorado, of course. The Buffaloes are off this week, but the Oct. 12 matchup against Kansas State will be the next moment for Coach Prime. Colorado has a chance to beat its win total from last season and put its stamp on the conference race. The Big 12 might not get two playoff teams, but at this point it looks like the most-entertaining race to find out who that one team will be. 

Here is our 1-134 rankings heading into Week 6.

MORE: College Football Playoff outlook after Week 5

College football rankings 2024

Top 25 for Week 5

1. Alabama (4-0) 

Kalen DeBoer had quite a first month as Alabama’s new coach, complete with victories against Wisconsin and Georgia. The Crimson Tide beat the Bulldogs 41-34 in a top-five thriller where Jalen Milroe totaled 374 passing yards, 117 rushing yards and four total TDs. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams averages 28.9 yards per catch – tops among FBS receivers with at least 10 catches. He might be the most-entertaining player in college football. Alabama travels to Vanderbilt in Week 6. 

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2. Texas (5-0)

Is this not fair to Texas? The Longhorns are beating opponents by an average of 38 points per game, and they have two potential first-round quarterbacks in Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning working with Steve Sarkisian. Manning (26 of 31, 324 yards, 2 TDs) proved how bright the future is in a 35-13 victory against Mississippi State. Manning also has a 200.4 passer rating this season. In the present tense, the Longhorns have a bye week to rest Ewers ahead of the Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma. Ewers is 1-1 against Oklahoma. Ewers averaged 317.5 passing yards with 5 TDs and three interceptions in those starts. 

MORE: Grading Arch Manning's first SEC start

3. Ohio State (4-0) 

Is Ohio State the most-complete team in the FBS? The Buckeyes lead the FBS in scoring defense (6.8) and are fourth in scoring offense (48.8). A methodical 38-7 victory at Michigan State showed the strengths on both sides. Freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith – who had two amazing one-handed catches against the Spartans – leads the team with six total TDs. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each average more than 8.0 yards per carry. Ohio State doesn't have the benefit of all those top-five SEC showdowns, but that doesn't mean they can't beat those teams. 

4. Tennessee (4-0) 

Tennesse had a bye week, and the Volunteers head into October with the top-ranked defense (176.0 ypg.) and rushing offense (294.0) in the SEC. Josh Heupel has a playoff-caliber team with substance, and sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava continues to grow into the role as a starter. Running back Dylan Sampson (10 TDs) and kicker Max Gilbert (54 points) ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the FBS in scoring. The Vols face Arkansas on the road in Week 6. 

5. Miami, Fla. (5-0) 

Did Da'Quan Felton catch the ball on that Hail Mary? Miami caught a break on a call reversal that gave the Hurricanes a 38-34 victory against Virginia Tech. Cam Ward passed for 343 yards and four TDs – but he also had two interceptions and a lost fumble. Ward is among the early Heisman Trophy contenders, and Miami travels to Cal in Week 6. 

6. Oregon (4-0) 

Are the Ducks over-ranked or under the radar with Dan Lanning? Oregon beat UCLA 34-13, and the Ducks limited UCLA to 1 of 10 third-down conversions. Dillon Gabriel leads the FBS with an 81.5% completion percentage, and receiver Tez Johnson (11-121, 2 TDs) has back-to-back 100-yard games. Oregon gets the Friday night spotlight against Michigan State. This ranking still feels right. 

7. Georgia (3-1) 

The Bulldogs were higher in the actual AP rankings, but this is a logical spot after the loss to Alabama. Georgia committed four turnovers and still nearly pulled off the greatest comeback in the history of a top-five matchup. Carson Beck (27 of 50, 439 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs) had two very different halves, and the running game just isn't dominant at this point. A two-game home stretch against Auburn and Mississippi State should help before the schedule ramps up. Texas, Tennessee and Ole Miss are still on the schedule. 

8. Penn State (4-0) 

Penn State continues to dominate with a ground attack that averages a Big Ten-best 251 rushing yards per game. Kaytron Allen (18-102, TD) and Nick Singleton (16-94, TD) keyed a 21-7 victory against Illinois, and the Nittany Lions are using the same formula Michigan used to win a national championship last season. USC and Ohio State are the only ranked teams on the schedule. Is this the year James Franklin breaks through? Too soon? 

9. Missouri (4-0) 

Eli Drinkwitz sounded off on critics of quarterback Brady Cook during the bye week and said, "People need to have their minds checked." Cook averages 236.5 yards per game, but the addition of running back Nate Noel – who averages 6.4 yards per carry – has been the key. Missouri faces a tricky road matchup at Texas A&M in Week 6. 

MORE: Picks against the spread for Week 6's Top 25 games

10. Clemson (3-1) 

The Tigers were ranked lower before the 34-3 loss to Georgia in the season opener. Clemson has averaged 55 points per game in three victories since, including a 40-14 romp against Stanford in Week 5. Freshman Bryant Wesco – yet another sensational first-year receiver – is emerging as a vertical threat for Cade Klubnik, who has 12 TDs and one interception in his last three games. Clemson plays at Florida State in a Week 6 in a game that has far different implications than what we thought in the preseason. 

11. Ole Miss (4-1) 

The Rebels lost 20-17 at Kentucky – a head-scratching home loss for Lane Kiffin where Ole Miss struggled on third down (1 of 10) and lost the time-of-possession battle 39:13-20:17. Jaxson Dart (18 of 27, 261 yards, TD) still made plays, and Tre Harris (11-176, TD) is flashing first-round talent. What is the problem? Penalties. Ole Miss has amassed 417 penalty yards – the fifth-most in the FBS. The Rebels travel to South Carolina in Week 6. 

12. Michigan (4-1) 

Which Michigan team will show up for Sherrone Moore at Washington in Week 6? The one that built a 24-3 lead behind a dominant running game with Kalel Mullings (111 yards, 2 TDs) – who had 100-plus yards and two TDs for the third straight game. Or the one that nearly blew that lead in a 27-24 victory against Minnesota? In two starts, Alex Orji is 17 of 30 for 118 yards, a TD and an interception. The most-popular question persists: How long is that sustainable?

13. USC (3-1) 

The Trojans rallied from a 21-10 half-time deficit against Wisconsin for a 38-21 victory, and Miller Moss had the game-clinching 7-yard TD run in the fourth quarter Moss (30 of 45, 308 yards, 3 TDs, INT) is averaging 295.5 passing yards with six TDs and two interceptions in two Big Ten starts. That is the way Lincoln Riley will attack the traditional Big Ten defenses. The Trojans' defense has been improved, and a road trip to Minnesota is next on the schedule. That sets up the Oct. 12 showdown against Penn State. 

14. LSU (4-1) 

The Tigers beat South Alabama 42-10, and they are another team that has recovered well from an early-season loss. Garrett Nussmeier leads the SEC with 15 TD passes, and the Tigers have scored 34 points or more in four straight games. Harold Perkins' season-ending injury is a huge loss, but the defense has improved. LSU is 16-1 at home under Brian Kelly and has a bye week to prepare for Ole Miss. The Rebels won a 55-49 shootout last season. 

15. Notre Dame (4-1) 

The Irish are inching closer to the playoff picture after a 31-24 victory against Louisville. Riley Leonard (17 of 23, 163 yards, 2 TDs) settled in as a passer. Leonard, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price all average more than 6.0 yards per carry, and the defense will keep Notre Dame in every game. The Irish still need to figure out third down – where they have a 34.5% conversion rate. The Irish have a bye week before an Oct. 12 matchup against Stanford. 

16. BYU (5-0)

The Cougars held on for a 34-28 victory at Baylor that will keep the Cougars in the rankings. BYU jumped out to a 28-3 lead before the Bears nearly pulled off the comeback. Jake Ratzlaff (17 of 31, 216 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) threw a pair of second-half interceptions, but the Cougars' defense limited the Bears to 2.8 yards per carry. BYU has a bye week before the Oct. 12 matchup against Arizona – which will test the pass defense again. 

17. Iowa State (4-0) 

The Cyclones rank fourth in the FBS in scoring defense (7.3 ppg.), and they opened Big 12 play with a 20-0 shutout at Houston. Iowa State also has a plus-7 turnover margin. Matt Campbell might have his best team, and you flip them with BYU in these rankings easily. Iowa State plays five straight unranked opponents, and that starts with Baylor in Week 6. 

18. Oklahoma (4-1) 

Oklahoma erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit at Auburn – no easy feat given the reputation at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kip Lewis' pick six helped the Sooners pick up their first SEC victory, and freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. (10 of 15, 161 yards) added 69 rushing yards and a touchdown. The defense remains solid around Danny Stutsman – who has 40 tackles – and a bye week will only help this team ahead of the Red River Rivalry with Texas. 

19. Kansas State (4-1) 

The Wildcats bounced back with a 42-20 victory against Oklahoma State. The Wildcats rolled up 300 rushing yards behind DJ Giddens (15-187, 2 TDs), and Avery Johnson (19 of 31, 259 yards, 3 TDs, INT) accounted for five total TDs. It was a decisive victory after the road meltdown at BYU, and it keeps the Wildcats in the thick of the Big 12 race. Kansas State gets a bye before the Oct. 12 matchup against Colorado. 

20. Louisville (3-1)  

The Cardinals missed an opportunity late against Notre Dame in a 31-24 road loss. A delay of game negated a fourth-and-1 conversion on the game's final drive. Louisville had two turnovers and finished 1 of 5 on fourth down, but Tyler Shough (24 of 41, 264 yards, 3 TDs, INT) nearly led a game-tying drive anyway. It's a painful loss for Jeff Brohm, but Louisville is capable of contending for the ACC championship. They can prove it in a fun ACC matchup against SMU in Week 6. 

21. Utah (4-1) 

The Utes used their mulligan in a 23-10 loss to Arizona. It was surprising considering it came at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah could not generate a running game (2.9 ypc.), and two turnovers led to more problems. Zach Wilson (20 of 40, 280 yards, TD, 2 INTs) was not as effective without that running game. It's a setback, and Cam Rising (hand) missed a third straight game. The bye week comes at the right time for Utah. 

22. Texas A&M (4-1) 

The Aggies were 4-1 at the end of last September, too. What's different? Mike Elko has brought a grind-it-out-attitude to College Station, and Le'Veon Moss (13-117) averaged 9.0 yards per carry in a 21-17 victory against Arkansas. Marcel Reed has a 52.9% completion percentage through two starts, but he has not thrown an interception, and the defense has given up 20 points or less in four victories. Can they pull the upset against Missouri? 

23. Indiana (5-0) 

It's time to rank the Hoosiers. Indiana averages 48.8 points per game – same as Ohio State – through five games. The Hoosiers have scored 40-plus points in four straight games under first-year coach Curt Cignetti. Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke passed for 359 yards, three TDs and two interceptions in a 42-28 victory against Maryland. There is not a ranked team on the schedule until the Nov. 9 matchup against Michigan. Remember when Cignetti ordered up the Wolverines and Buckeyes after being hired? We'll see that in November. 

24. UNLV (4-0) 

What a week for the Rebels. Quarterback Matthew Sluka opted to leave the team during the week over a NIL dispute. UNLV responded with a 59-14 blowout against Fresno State, and quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams finished 13 of 16 for 182 yards and three TDs. He added 119 rushing yards and a TD. The Rebels are one of five remaining Group of 5 unbeaten teams along with Army, James Madison, Liberty and Navy. 

DECOURCY: UNLV QB saga is not an indication NIL is ruining the sport

25. Illinois (4-1) 

The Illini fell to the edge of the top 25 after a 21-7 loss to Penn State, and Rutgers could go here based on its unbeaten record. It was still a solid September under Bret Bielema that included victories against Kansas and Nebraska that were ranked at the time. The Illini had 32 attempts for 34 rushing yards against Penn State. A much-needed bye week comes at the right time for Illinois.

College football 1-134 rankings: (1-25) 

A look at the top 25 teams in the FBS heading into Week 6: 

Rest of FBS (26-134) 

Here is a look at the rest of the FBS heading into Week 6: