The Jensen Top 12: A New Format

September 20, 2022 Eric Jensen CFB, Uncategorized 0

Recently a friend of mine, Bryan Brown (Twitter linked here excellent follow for football stuff) suggested this piece move from the top 15 to the top 12. Listen it is hard to argue against that logic, the new playoff format will be the top 12 teams in the nation, 12 is an easier number to analyze than 15, just solid logic all around. So we move to The Jensen top 12. This week with some nice little blurbs to hopefully give you an idea of what’s happening around the country in college football.

Here we go The Jensen Top 12:

  1. Georgia (1 last week): This is just the best team in the country. No one else is on their level. Tight End Brock Bowers just passes the eye test, he may be the most dominant tight end in the country. Fast, strong and good at everything you want a tight end to be good at. Georgia is just in a league of their own, Ohio State and Alabama have weaknesses Georgia has no weaknesses.
  2. Ohio State (2): The CJ Stroud show, best QB in the nation and it is not particularly close. 22-27, 365 yards and five touchdowns in not even three full quarters, the kid is just a different level of passer. It is clear he should be viewed as the best passing prospect in the nation for NFL scouts.
  3. Alabama (3): UL Monroe, you can’t learn much. Alabamas tests come in early October. October 1 at Arkansas, and then October 8th at home, a grudge match against Texas AM. We will find out a lot about the Crimson tide in the next three weeks.
  4. Michigan (4): Look dominant but have not played anyone. Seriously, this out-of-conference schedule was an absolute joke. They don’t really play anyone scary until week 7, Penn State.
  5. Oklahoma (5): If Nebraska was a trap game, the Sooners dominated it. This is a very good college football team with a very good college QB in Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel threw for 230 yards and racked up 55 on the ground, the former UCF signal-caller is the real deal and Oklahoma needs to be viewed as a contender.
  6. Clemson (6): DJ Uiagalelei has improved. That was a big thing for this Clemson squad, the defense is ferocious, I am very excited for ACC football.
  7. Arkansas (8): KJ Jefferson just does awe inspiring stuff literally every week it seems. The defensive line is monstrous, no reason the Razorbacks shouldn’t be viewed as a legitimate threat in the SEC. Alabama will be the test, but if they beat Alabama they need to be in the top four.
  8. USC (11): Turns out signing an offensive genius at head coach and bringing in the QB he hand-selected is a really good way to build a program, huh who would have guessed? Mario and Max Williams are a hell of a 2-3 to have behind Jordan Addison. Hard to see anyone stopping this USC offense, maybe Utah, but still this is the conference’s best chance to make the college football playoffs. Probably would have been smart to keep them around Mr. Kliavkoff.
  9. Penn State (NR): 3-0, good QB, dominated Auburn in one of the toughest places to play in the country. Until they lose they are one of the twelve best teams in the country.
  10. Tennesee (14): It’s Akron but promising signs from this defense. The next three games are Florida, LSU, Bama. You will find out very quickly whether you are going to even get a shot to compete with Georgia come early November.
  11. Oregon (NR): You see the Dan Lanning vision now. Dominate up front. That’s what Oregon did Saturday against BYU, they are the second-best team in the Pac-12 behind USC.
  12. Utah (15): If you start slow against literally any team on this list you are dead. The Utes are making it a habit to start slow, they need to get a lot figured out offensively and fast. Cam Rising has regressed a bit, he needs to get back into Rose Bowl form if the Utes are to be taken seriously as a national contender. The expectations are different now, winning the Pac-12 is no longer good enough, it is expected. Improvement must come and come quickly.

Want more on Utah, BYU and Utah State? Listen to the Pioneer Pigskin Podcast, here.

First three out

  1. Miami
  2. NC State
  3. Kentucky

Check out The Jensen Top 12 next week!