Teams #21-25
21. Notre Dame: The Irish have come a long way since their early season troubles. They still have deficiencies, but they crushed Clemson and showed they deserved to be ranked.
22. Liberty: Hugh Freeze has done an incredible job with the Flames this season. He is down to his third-string quarterback, but keeps winning. He has baggage, but at this point, a Power Five program with a desperate fan base (cough….Auburn…cough…Nebraska..) would be willing to hire him.
23. Washington: I thought the Huskies would get the nod in the first rankings reveal, but after defeating Oregon State, who was in the first rankings, I don’t think the committee will snub them again. Kalen DeBoer has brought coaching stability to Seattle, and he found a good quarterback in the portal.
24. Florida State: The Seminoles finally get their ranking. It’s been a while since they have been worthy, but they deserve it, and not because of their win over a hapless Miami team. They have had a good season, and have a win over a Top 10 team on a not-quite-neutral field. A win over their struggling archrival never hurts though. Sorry Canes fans, but your team flat-out stinks.
25. Illinois: This has been a dream season so far for the Illini. The loss this weekend was a bummer for them, but they are still in a great position in the Big Ten West. They can also be a spoiler for Michigan if the Wolverines look ahead to the Ohio State game.