Alright, the College Football Playoff selection committee’s first rankings drop on November 3, and believe it or not, some of the biggest wins from early in the season are looking totally different now. You know how it goes, a “signature win” in September can look like a total bust by October if that opponent craters. But then there’s the flip side, teams getting red hot and making a prior opponent’s victory look like pure gold. We need to talk about which ones are shining brightest right now, because some of these make you go, “Wait, seriously?”
Alabama’s Kentucky Win Is Pure Gold, No Joke
Remember way back on September 12, Week 2, when No. 12 Alabama laid a 45-17 smackdown on Kentucky? Guess what? Kentucky is *currently ranked No. 9* in the AP Poll. Let that sink in. The Crimson Tide handed the current SEC leader its ONLY loss all season, and they did it by four touchdowns. And get this: Bama had multiple first-half turnovers and was actually *down* at halftime! Then they just flipped a switch, outscoring Kentucky 32-0 in the second half. What an insane rebound for a first-year coaching staff, because Kentucky hasn’t lost since that game. That victory marks Alabama’s ninth straight over Kentucky, and it’s their *only* win over a team currently in the top 25. That means their entire Playoff resume might hinge on how much mileage they get out of beating the now-No. 9 Wildcats. Talk about a win aging like a fine wine!
Texas Stunned Ohio State, And It’s Still Massive
Over in the Big Ten, there’s another Week 2 showdown that’s looking even bigger now: No. 4 Texas’s 24-23 nail-biter against No. 1 Ohio State. Texas pulled off a crazy 20-point comeback win. Now, if Texas ends up in the mix of those SEC nine-win teams in a few weeks, that win over Ohio State is going to be HUGE. It’s one of the best nonconference victories of the entire season. Ohio State, despite that loss, is still No. 2 in the AP poll and one of only two unbeaten teams in Big Ten play. Sure, there’s talk about their season potentially going south without Julian Sayin, but the expectation is they’ll be fine. The Buckeyes are confident in their quarterback room behind Sayin, and they’ve got a Heisman candidate who can just take over games when he gets the ball. That Texas win wasn’t just a big moment, it’s a legitimate resume booster for both teams looking ahead to the committee’s decisions.
Houston’s Near-Miss Against Texas Tech Still Matters
Another one from early in the season, September 18 in Week 3, saw No. 13 Texas Tech barely squeak past No. 22 Houston, 28-26. Houston is now ranked No. 18, so that’s another win that’s held its value. Cougars coach Willie Fritz had the perfect quote after that narrow loss in Lubbock, where a failed two-point conversion at the very end was the difference: “There’s no moral victories.” He’s right, but the fact that Houston has climbed into the top 25 means Texas Tech’s win looks a whole lot better now than it might have felt at the time.
As the first College Football Playoff rankings drop on November 3, these early-season clashes are going to be under a microscope. Alabama, Texas, and Texas Tech all banked something meaningful when they faced these now-ranked opponents. This is what it’s all about folks, every game, every play, it all adds up when the committee starts drawing lines. We’ll be watching to see how much weight these “aged well” wins actually carry!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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