We’ve been tracking team resumes for the past two weeks to keep in mind who is playing a decent schedule and who is just feasting on lesser competition. It isn’t a perfect way to grade the resumes, but it gives us a decent idea where Clemson Football fits in with their peers.
Last week, Clemson had the best resume score in the nation, powered by a road victory over a Top 25 opponent. The Tigers remain at the top this week following their Top 25 home win against NC State, but their lead has narrowed, as other squads are also scoring points for road victories.
This is how the resumes for this week’s AP Top 5 look:
#1 Alabama – Resume score: 19
Alabama leaps Georgia to claim the top spot in the AP Top 25 this week, but not everything was great for the Tide this weekend. Starting quarterback Bryce Young sprained his shoulder and is day to day. They did get the road win against Arkansas. If the Razorbacks had not fallen out of the T25, Bama would have the best resume in the nation. Instead, they’re tied for 3rd.
#2 Georgia – Resume score: 20
Georgia slipped to the 2nd spot because they needed a late comeback against Missouri, which is not regarded as a good team. It was an eyesore for eye test trackers, but for a resume, it was a road victory against a Power Five opponent, their second of the season. Add the early win over Oregon, and Georgia still has the second-best resume in the country.
#3 Ohio State – Resume score: 13
Ohio State might look very good for the eye test, but there is a simple reason their resume score is this low: they have yet to leave Columbus for a football game. In fact, they only leave their home stadium four times this year. This probably won’t matter if the Buckeyes run the table, but if the CFP committee must split hairs between teams at the end of the season, their schedule could be a liability. As it stands right now, there are only two ranked teams on their slate. The Big Ten championship could add a third, but no one in the Western division has distinguished themselves yet. Resume could be a problem for the Buckeyes in the long run.
#4 Michigan – Resume score: 15
Michigan overtakes Ohio State on resume score because they decided to be more adventurous and travel to Iowa City for a game with the Hawkeyes, which they won. Eventually, however, the Wolverines will be in the same situation as the Buckeyes: they only play four road games all season, with only two ranked opponents. Like Ohio State, this isn’t likely to keep Michigan out of the playoffs if they are undefeated, but it could hurt them if they are being compared to teams that have better strength of schedules.
#5 Clemson – Resume score: 20.25
The Tigers have a slim lead over the Bulldogs for one main reason: I didn’t just count their opening season wins as neutral site victories. Clemson beat Georgia Tech in the Mercedes-Benz Dome, but that is in Georgia Tech’s backyard, so not a true neutral site. I gave that win slightly more points than a true neutral site game. Conversely, Georgia beat Oregon in the Mercedes-Benz Dome also, which is a short trek from Athens and a very long trek from Eugene, so I counted that closer to a home win than a neutral win. If I had not made those two adjustments, Georgia would have the lead on resume. With those adjustments – which are fair – Clemson is still slightly ahead.
This is this week’s Resume Top 25:
1. Clemson: 20.25
2. Georgia: 20
T3. Penn State: 19 – The Nittany Lions have one slight advantage over their Big Ten peers Ohio State & Michigan: Penn State was willing to play a non-conference Power Five opponent on the road. Yes, it was Auburn, but still P5, on the Plains and a victory.
T3. USC: 19 – If your eyes tell you the Trojans aren’t living up to expectations, consider if those expectations were set too high. The reality is that USC has the same resume as Alabama or Penn State: two road wins over the Power Five, one home win against the P5 and two home wins against the Group of Five. Eye test tells us the Crimson Tide is better, but that doesn’t mean the Trojans aren’t winning the most important stat: scoreboard.
T3. Alabama: 19
6. Kansas: 17 – The Jayhawks are finally ranked, and they deserve it. Now comes the hard part: a backloaded schedule with Norman and Waco. They host TCU this weekend.
T7. Michigan: 15
T7. UCLA: 15 – The Bruins were the quietest undefeated P5 team until this past Friday when they beat Washington. They are no longer in the shadows on the West Coast, and now have defending conference champion Utah coming to the Rose Bowl this weekend. Chip Kelly will have to earn his paycheck from this point forward.
T7. Ole Miss: 15 – The Rebels probably should have won by more against Kentucky, but that’s eye test stuff. Ole Miss appears nicely positioned to continue building their resume up to their November 12th clash with Alabama in Oxford.
T7. Florida State: 15 – The Seminoles hit a speed bump in Tallahassee against Wake Forest, who is starting to prove themselves as a very good team. That doesn’t mean Florida State isn’t improved over the past four seasons. They are still in a good position to work their way back into the Top 25.
11. TCU: 14 – I liked TCU in the Big 12 this season because of Sonny Dykes. Maybe I should have kept my eye on Max Duggan.
T12. Wake Forest: 13 – If you have to lose at home, at least lose at home to a Top 25 opponent. Teams often have a “Clemson hangover” but the Deacons wanted nothing to do with that. I think Wake is the 2nd best team in the ACC Atlantic, pending our chance to see Syracuse play a good team.
T12. Ohio State: 13
T12. Tennessee: 13 – Vols fans right now: “How do we drop on our bye week?” Two reasons. First, bye weeks don’t help your resume score because the other teams are out there winning and adding to their score while you are sitting at home. Second, Pitt lost to Georgia Tech and dropped out of the Top 25. That road win in Pittsburgh is still good, just not quite as good as it once was.
15. Oregon: 12.75 – Oregon has won four straight since their opening loss to Georgia on a ‘neutral’ field. Credit to head coach Dan Lanning for keeping the Ducks focused.
T16. Syracuse: 12 – Good news: The Orange is 5-0, Sean Tucker is rolling and quarterback Garrett Shrader is playing well. Bad news: their schedule is backloaded. They have a bye week, then host NC State, followed by at Clemson, Notre Dame, at Pitt, Florida State and at Wake Forest.
T16. Oklahoma State: 12 – I had to double check this score because it seemed low, but the Cowboys have only played four games and this past weekend’s win over Baylor was their first road game.
T16. Mississippi State: 12 – I like the Pirate. I just don’t trust the Pirate or his team. They host Arkansas this weekend? Nothing says ‘more cowbell’ like the Bulldogs losing a game to a squad on a two-game losing streak right after MSU gets ranked.
T16. Tulane: 12 – The Cincinnati Bearcats just entered the AP Top 25 and are the only Group of Five team ranked this week but keep an eye on the Green Wave. They sport a Top 25 road win against Kansas State.
T20. Duke: 11 – Mike Elko is doing some work. I mean, they appear to be on a collision course with the Tar Heels for the Coastal championship.
T20. Coastal Carolina: 11 – Hello there, my old friend. The Chants are still a good squad.
T22. Illinois: 10 – Hello there….Bret Bielema? Yeah, I didn’t see this coming either. I bet it felt good for him to win in Madison. He should have busted out a cigar and a red solo cup (too soon, State fans?).
T22. Maryland: 10 – Fear the Turtle….a little bit.
T22. BYU: 10 – Baylor dropped out of the AP Top 25, so that hurt the Cougars’ score, but the real problem is that they don’t play a P5 schedule. That will change in a couple years, but right now, BYU can’t put together a great resume if they play seven G5 teams.
T22. Utah: 10 – Outside the opening game against Florida, Utah’s opening schedule hasn’t been very difficult, so it has been a challenge for them to make up ground after the loss in The Swamp. They have UCLA on deck, so their chance has arrived.
T22. Washington State: 10 – Just being on this list is impressive for Wazzu.
T22. Kentucky: 10 – Tough loss on the road, but look who’s next. South Carolina. A get-right game. Just don’t wet the bed. A loss to the Gamecocks will put your fans into basketball mode.
Here are the teams that are ranked in the AP Top 25 but don’t have a top 25 resume:
14. NC State – resume score: 9 – The Wolfpack have a loss now, and frankly their resume going into the game wasn’t all that to begin with. State has an uphill battle from here, but still have chances against Florida State, Syracuse and Wake Forest ahead.
20. Kansas State – resume score: 7 – The Wildcats have some good wins. The problem is that loss at home to Tulane, a G5 team. It was brutal to their resume. KSU needs Tulane to keep winning and work their way into the Top 25 to lessen the impact of that upset.
21. Washington – resume score: 8 – The Huskies’ loss was on the road to a team now ranked in the AP Top 25. The problem is all their wins were at home.
24. Cincinnati – resume score: 8 – The Bearcats do have a win over Indiana, but otherwise, let’s be honest: Cincinnati is in the AP Top 25 based on reputation.
25. LSU – resume score: 9.5 – Don’t look now, but LSU has won four straight after their “neutral” site loss to Florida State.
There are a couple Top 25 matchups this weekend, as well as several upset opportunities. I expect more changes to the Resume Top 25 after next weekend.
Five weeks into the season John Chancey’s resume ranking has Clemson football in a much loftier place than those favored by the media
Clemson faces Boston College in Chestnut Hill in the Eagles’ annual Red Bandana Game. This game is a high profile event for BC, so it will be a prime-time game on ABC.
NC State will attempt to bounce back from the loss in Death Valley against Florida State, who will attempt to bounce back following a home loss to Wake Forest.
Ohio State and Michigan both hit the road for the first time this weekend. ESPN College Gameday will be in Lawrence, Kansas for the Jayhawks vs. the Horned Frogs. It will be a busy day in Los Angeles: Utah visits UCLA and Washington State will be at USC. Lastly, BYU gets another chance against a P5 opponent when they take on Notre Dame in Las Vegas.