We have a new No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. LSU can enjoy this honor for a week or so.

After that the stuff that really matters will start cropping up.

Here’s why: The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season come out on Nov. 5.

Four days later, the issue of who is No. 1 will be settled on the field as the top-ranked Tigers travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the team they deposed this week at the top of the AP poll, Alabama.

Both LSU and Alabama have byes this week, so they won’t see the field until after the CFP rankings make their 2019 debut. Ditto for No. 3 Ohio State and No. 5 Penn State out of the Big Ten. No. 4 Clemson might as well have a bye — the Tigers face FCS team Wofford.

Step on to center stage, Gators and Dawgs.

No. 6 Florida and No. 8 Georgia will clash not only for bragging rights, but to essentially determine the SEC East Division winner and one half of the SEC Championship Game.

The loser is pretty much out of the CFP race.

Our entire list of “prime-time” players will stay intact next week and welcome the Georgia-Florida winner to their ranks.

The Wisconsin Badgers got clobbered in Columbus on Saturday, giving them consecutive losses and ending them as a CFP contender. The other team to fall off our list completely has reason to rue its fortune.

Auburn defeated Oregon, and the only losses the Tigers suffered were on the road against SEC foes, both ranked in the top 6. Is Auburn totally done as a CFP contender? Well, if Alabama defeats LSU, Georgia beats Florida, LSU loses a shocker somewhere else, so do the Tide, then the Tigers beat Georgia and Bama to somehow win a 3-way West Division tiebreaker and reach the SEC title game ….

You see the problem, right? Even if all of that wacky stuff happens, Auburn might still not get enough help. This is not like 2017 when 2-loss Auburn entered the SEC title game with a legit shot to make the Playoff. The Tigers just have too many teams in front of them this time.

We have also, almost begrudgingly, added 2 more teams to the CFP contender mix. They are both undefeated Power 5 teams — and both trail 2-loss Auburn in the AP poll, which tells you all you need to know about how highly regarded they are. Still, you have to at least nod in recognition of any Power 5 team entering November undefeated. So you’ll read a bit about Baylor and Minnesota now.

Um, you’re welcome?

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

LSU

After defeating another top-10 foe (that’s 3, for those keeping count) the Tigers are clearly the team to beat in the SEC and in the nation. Unless it’s Alabama. LSU was not great against Auburn, but, as the saying goes, great teams are not always great. They’re just great when they have to be. Do the Bayou Bengals truly qualify as great? This is going to be a fun 2 weeks of buildup for that enormous game in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama

After waxing a hapless SEC West foe and barely breaking a sweat, with their star quarterback sidelined following ankle surgery, the Crimson Tide are clearly the team to beat in the SEC and in the nation. Unless it’s LSU. For one week, Alabama didn’t have to answer any questions about its defense. That gives us 2 weeks to wonder whether they really can stop Joe Burrow and Co. The rest of the college football nation will come to a standstill to find out.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes wiped out Wisconsin, which was supposed to pose the toughest challenge of the season. No team has gotten within 24 points of OSU this season. The only team to score even 20 on the scarlet and gray was Florida Atlantic in the opener (we see you, Lane Kiffin). OSU is No. 2 in the nation in total defense (Wisconsin, which allowed 38 points and 431 yards to the Buckeyes, is still No. 1) and No. 7 in total offense. The next big test comes Nov. 23 at home against Penn State.

Clemson

No. 4 in the poll, No. 4 in total offense, No. 4 in total defense. It feels weird to say that the defending national champions are underrated, but doesn’t it feel like that is happening? Yeah, the ACC is awful. But all the Tigers can do when the pins are set up is knock ’em down. Unlike Oklahoma, Ohio State and a couple of others here, Clemson at least scheduled a decent nonconference opponent in Texas A&M. Computer whiz Jeff Sagarin rates Clemson’s schedule No. 54 (Bama is No. 61, Georgia 62nd).

Penn State

The Nittany Lions shut down another Big Ten foe, this time beating Michigan State 28-7. Penn State has a solid defense, but, as we brought up last week, the offense just does not rate with the rest of the elite, at No. 49 in the nation. They gained 302 yards on a Spartans defense that ranks 23rd overall but just 7th in the B1G. PSU actually has 2 unbeaten teams remaining: Of course OSU on Nov. 23, but up next for the Nittany Lions is a trip to Minnesota on Nov. 9.

Knocking at the door

Florida

A week off before the Georgia game gave Kyle Trask another week’s worth of practice and the coaching staff an even better feel for the quarterback’s strengths. Which leads to an interesting question: Who do you favor with both teams getting 2 weeks of preparation: Dan Mullen or Dawgs coach Kirby Smart?

Oregon

Since losing their opener to Auburn, the Ducks have won 7 in a row by an average score of 38-13. And in a program known for pinball-machine numbers on offense, Oregon is actually ranked higher in total defense (20th) than total offense (25th).

Georgia

The Dawgs need to put that loss to South Carolina and that slopfest against Kentucky in the rearview mirror fast. Everything Georgia wants to accomplish is still ahead. Beat Florida, beat Auburn, beat whoever in the SEC title game, and the CFP awaits. But that’s UGA’s only path.

Utah

The Utes are in the AP Top 10 for the first time since reaching No. 3 in October 2015. Again, the two 1-loss teams in the Pac-12 have gotten quite a bit of help in the past few weeks, and if Oregon or Utah run the table from here, they will carry quite a winning streak into the bowl season.

Oklahoma

The Sooners crashed just like their Sooner Schooner did a week earlier. Saturday’s stunning loss to unranked Kansas State did not end Oklahoma’s CFP hopes, but, unlike the SEC’s 1-loss teams that basically control their fate, the Big 12’s big name brand needs some help now.

We have to account for them now

Baylor

The Bears beat up on Texas-San Antonio, a below-average Conference USA program, on Sept. 7. Why do we mention this? Because that is Baylor’s best nonconference win. Oh, and the Bears have yet to face Oklahoma. That happens Nov. 16 and that will tell us how seriously to take Baylor.

Minnesota

Again, we turn to Mr. Sagarin’s trusty computer, which rates Minnesota — an undefeated Big Ten team, mind you — No. 24 in FBS. Twenty-four! That’s one spot behind 4-4 Michigan State. The Golden Gophers have a bye week to prepare for Penn State and, perhaps, make people believe in them.

Dropped out: Notre Dame, Auburn