Is LSU the best team in the country?

That was one of the most relevant questions coming out of Saturday’s college football action.

Thanks to Georgia’s stunning loss to unranked South Carolina, the top of this season’s College Football Playoff pecking order underwent perhaps its biggest shakeup this season.

As we mentioned last week with Auburn, 1 loss does not end Georgia’s chances of winning the SEC, nor does it eliminate the Bulldogs from the CFP chase.

But out of all of the teams on our CFP contender watch list, Georgia has the worst loss (worse than 13th-ranked Utah losing at USC).

Meanwhile, LSU topped Florida 42-28 in a battle of the unbeatens. The Tigers are smack dab in the middle of the CFP conversation after that win over UF and they still lead the country in scoring at 52.5 points a game. Who’s second? Alabama at 51 points per game.

We are keeping an eye on 2 Power 5 teams that entered the AP Top 20 this week for the first time in 2019: Baylor and Minnesota. But both have to prove a lot more before we consider them legit CFP semifinal hopefuls. The Bears get their shots to earn respect in back-to-back weeks in November against Oklahoma, then Texas. The Golden Gophers? They might be playing the respect card all the way until the season finale against Wisconsin if they remain unbeaten that long.

Here is our weekly look at the CFP contenders, broken down by groups. They will be listed in order of the newest Associated Press poll until the first CFP rankings come out.

Prime-time players

Alabama

The Crimson Tide traveled to Kyle Field, a very tough place to win, and took care of business against Texas A&M. The way things look now, when the Crimson Tide hosts LSU on Nov. 9, it will be a battle between No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP poll, and probably the CFP rankings too. Bama fans can be excused for wondering if their defense can stop Joe Burrow and Co. at all.

LSU

One massive challenge out of the way, another looming on the horizon. The Tigers proved their mettle on Saturday, staying focused and prevailing even when the Gators took the lead early in the second half. We just cannot wait for that Nov. 9 Crimson Tide-Bayou Bengals showdown, which could be a shootout. But first LSU must navigate games at Mississippi State and vs. Auburn.

Clemson

The Tigers slid to No. 3 in the AP poll, surpassed by the other Tigers from Baton Rouge. Clemson got its nobody-in-the-ACC-can-touch-us swagger back by trouncing Florida State. Trevor Lawrence is sliding out of the Heisman Trophy race because he is not putting up big numbers, but here is the really big number: 21, as in Clemson’s winning streak.

Ohio State

After a week off, the Buckeyes get back to work on Friday night at Northwestern. That game should not pose as much of a threat as it did last year when the Wildcats kept the Big Ten title game fairly close until well into the 4th quarter. OSU is 1 of 4 undefeated teams in the B1G; there are only 5 others in all of the remaining Power 5 conferences combined (2 SEC, 2 Big 12, 1 ACC, 0 Pac-12).

Oklahoma

The Sooners passed their biggest test in toppling Texas and are unlikely to face that big of a threat again unless Oklahoma meets Texas again in the Big 12 title game. We’re not buying into unbeaten Baylor yet — but Oklahoma’s trip to Waco on Nov. 16 could have everything riding on the line if things remain the way they are.

Wisconsin

It’s fair to question the Badgers’ strength of schedule. But at some point folks have to recognize Wisconsin’s defense. The Badgers posted their 4th shutout this season against Michigan State. According to ESPN, Wisconsin is the first team with 4 shutouts in its first 6 games since Minnesota in 1962. No matter the schedule, 4 eggs just are not supposed to happen in 2019.

Knocking at the door

Penn State

The difference between the Nittany Lions and everybody else on this list is that Penn State just has not made very many people say “wow” because the best teams PSU has beaten kept the games close. Saturday’s game against Iowa, a 17-12 win, was the latest example.

Notre Dame

A close call against USC won’t make too many people look upon the Fighting Irish as a Playoff contender and their strength of schedule took a hit with Georgia’s loss. The biggest challenge for Notre Dame comes after this week’s bye, with an Oct. 26 clash against Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Florida

Being impressive in a loss against a really excellent team on the road is a thing that, if history is any teacher, sticks with the CFP committee when late November comes. Gators fans can hang onto that after a tough loss at LSU. Notre Dame is ranked higher, but UF is the best 1-loss team in the nation.

Georgia

The Bulldogs have completely run out of margin of error. Thanks to that unexpected loss to the Gamecocks, Georgia cannot afford any slipups if it hopes to gain the CFP committee’s favor. So UGA must beat Florida, Auburn and the SEC West champ in the title game. That’s all.

On the fringes

Auburn

A bye week might help the Tigers get over their loss to Florida, but Gus Malzahn’s bunch still has to figure some things out in the wake of that defeat. Auburn is No. 100 in passing offense, the worst of anybody on this list. That’s even more glaring when you see how effective Bama and LSU are at passing.

Oregon

The Ducks crushed Colorado on Friday and now get ready for perhaps their biggest test left on the schedule: At rival Washington on Saturday. If Auburn loses a couple more times, Oregon’s “almost beat them” loss to the Tigers will hurt the Ducks even more.

Utah

A showdown with No. 17 Arizona State in Salt Lake City will go a long way toward deciding the Pac-12 South. Is it still possible for a Pac-12 team to run the table and get enough help to reach the CFP? It’s not impossible. But if I were the Pac-12 I’d plan on a trip to Pasadena for my champion and nothing more.

Dropped out: Texas