COLUMBUS — The defining game of college football’s regular season has come and gone.
LSU beat Alabama 46-41, but don’t let the final score tell the whole story. This was a dominant win for the Tigers, who led by 20 at halftime and never allowed Alabama to possess the football down one score in the second half. Anytime it needed an answer, LSU got it.
The performance will probably drop Ohio State from the top spot in the actual College Football Playoff rankings, as it did in our Blade poll.
Here’s our College Football Playoff picture heading into next week’s games:
1. LSU (def. Alabama 46-41)
What a resounding win for LSU. Not only did they get the Alabama monkey off its back, the Tigers did so in convincing fashion and former Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow all but locked up the Heisman. It’s an unbelievable story — the marriage between Burrow, Ed Orgeron, and the Tigers. So far, it has been a Hollywood script.
2. Ohio State (def. Maryland 73-14)
The Chase Young verdict will determine plenty about Ohio State, but Saturday was just another ho-hum victory as the Buckeyes thrashed Maryland 73-14. For the ninth consecutive game, all cylinders were in gear and clicking with high efficiency. Next up: Rutgers — and possibly 100 points.
3. Clemson (def. North Carolina State 55-10)
Clemson walloped another weak ACC opponent. It looked like Wake Forest, this week’s opponent, could provide an actual test, then the Demon Deacons were pounded by Virginia Tech. Still, Dave Clawson’s team is well-coached and has at least a chance to make things interesting.
4. Alabama (lost to LSU 46-41)
The Crimson Tide remain in the top four, but that’s only because of the present landscape. Barring a series of unexpected losses, Alabama will not make the College Football Playoff. For now, though, there are reasons to legitimately consider them the fourth-best team. Oregon and Utah can change that conversation in December.
First Published November 10, 2019, 6:47 p.m.
