Joey Galloway, Jesse Palmer update their Playoff rankings following Week 11
By Keith Farner
Published:
The top teams in college football took care of business this week, and that left most predictions for the College Football Playoff intact.
That’s how ESPN analysts Joey Galloway and Jesse Palmer read the landscape following Week 11. They were each impressed with the top ACC team on the road, and agreed on their top five: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Michigan and Georgia.
“Clemson went on the road, got a big win (at) Boston College, defense did not give up a touchdown,” Galloway said. “I think my biggest takeaway of the weekend was the gap these top five teams, and everyone else. Washington State, great win at Colorado. Oklahoma, the defense just scares you to death. These five teams are clearly the best five in the country.”
Palmer added that he still believes Oklahoma is No. 6 in the country.
“I think for the committee looking at these five teams are more complete teams, and it’s because of how much Oklahoma is struggling now on defense,” he said. “I was really, really impressed with Clemson. Getting that win at Boston College, that was supposed to be their biggest test before the playoff, and can Trevor Lawrence throw in the cold weather. He’s never played above the state of Virginia, and this defense.”
Ahead of rivalry week next week, this week’s schedule is largely manageable for most teams as they play a lower-level non-conference game where many starters should be out of the game midway through. But this week, Notre Dame playing Syracuse in Yankee Stadium will be an interesting test for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame’s schedule strength has been called into question, and beating Syracuse in this environment could go a long way to improving that resume.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
