There aren’t a lot of great games this week, with several teams having byes, so bear with me. I went ahead and picked nine games, but in doing so I realized just how many teams are still in play for the CFP. So, I’ve included a list of 64 teams who are either undefeated or only have one or two losses. The list will get whittled down quickly as the season goes on. Here are the nine games followed by the list of teams still shooting for the CFP.
November 1st, 2025
(10) Miami 6-1 vs SMU 5-3
ESPN 11:00am
Miami travels to Dallas to take on the SMU Mustangs, no big deal, or is it. This is the first time this season Miami will play outside the state of Florida. SMU bought their way into the ACC to get back on the map. They did that last season by qualifying for the CFP. That isn’t happening this season. Rhett Lashlee and his team will try to take advantage of having a ranked Miami team in Dallas. Offensively, the Hurricanes are better, but SMU’s Kevin Jennings can be dangerous at times. This one will come down to who takes better care of the ball and special teams.
OTC’s Pick – Miami 28-20
(9) Vanderbilt 7-1 vs (20) Texas 6-2
ABC 11:00am
Vanderbilt has been having their best season since 1941 and after years of being a SEC cellar dweller, beating newcomer Texas at home would be the cherry on top. Texas has struggled offensively all season. The defense has carried them. Arch Manning has been a disappointment and Texas’s running game has been non-existent due to a poor offensive line. Deigo Pavia has led Vandy to new heights, passing for 1,698 yards, 15 TDs, and 5 INTS, while leading the team in rushing with 498 yards and 5 TDs. Pavia has the ‘It’ factor, and his team believes in him. I didn’t want to be a believer, but I am.
OTC’s Pick – Vanderbilt 26-20
Penn State 3-4 vs (1) Ohio State 7-0
FOX 11:00am
I probably shouldn’t have this one listed but there was so much hype about this game before the season and James Franklin getting Penn State over the hump that it seems wrong to ignore it. Let’s face it, after dropping games against UCLA and Northwestern Franklin was fired early to keep him from winning a game like this one. With starting QB Drew Allar out and not knowing what you’re going to get from Penn State, you must go with the Buckeyes on talent alone. But it would be only fitting for Penn State to win this game after everything that’s transpired.
OTC’s Pick – Ohio State 31-13
(23) USC 5-2 vs Nebraska 6-2
NBC 6:30pm
With the Trojans being 2-6 on the road since joining the Big Ten and Nebraska’s lack of success against ranked opponents, this seems like a game of futility. Both teams have hopes of running the table and making the CFP, but neither team has shown the ability to produce such results. Matt Rhule is 6-1 when one of his RBs rush for 100 yards or more. USC loses when they rush for 4 yards or less per carry. The key, HC Lincoln Riley, tends to abandon the running game too early if it isn’t working. Nebraska’s defense has struggled all season to stop the run but is one of the few FBS teams that has not allowed 400 total yards this season. USC has scored 31 points in six of its seven games. The Huskers struggle offensively in the redzone. USC is 2nd nationally in redzone defense. The Blackshirts strength this season has been pass defense. The Trojans have a top tier QB and NFL caliber receivers. This one comes down to Nebraska slowing USC down and matching them in points. Nebraska is at home and pulling out all the stops by calling for a Blackout. Penn State fans walk away afterwards shaking their heads, “That isn’t our guy.”
OTC’s Pick – USC 34-24
(18) Oklahoma 6-2 vs (14) Tennessee 6-2
ABC 6:30pm
The playoffs have started, the winner still has a slim shot at the CFP, the loser is done. Brent Venables’s Sooners faced one of the toughest schedules this season, and with high expectations in Norman, Venables is on a short leash. A loss here would be his third with games against Alabama, Missouri and LSU remaining. As we’ve seen over the last three weeks, things can get ugly fast. However, the large turnover of coaches this cycle may be a good thing for Venables. Tennessee is tough at home and Heupel will have schemed things up for the Sooners. With the Sooner’s offense going 3 and out 30% of the time, this one won’t be as close as people think.
OTC’s Pick – Tennessee 31-21
(17) Cincinnati 7-1 vs (24) Utah 6-2
ESPN 9:15pm
How good is Cincinnati really? We are about to find out. Utah QB Devon Dampier couldn’t go last week against Colorado, enter freshman Byrd Ficklin. All Ficklin did was pass for 140 yards and rush for 151 more with 3 total TDs. But if the Utes want to beat Cincy, they’ll have to slow done QB Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby has passed for 1,843 yards, 20 TDs, and 1 INT. He’s also rushed for 425 yards and 7 TDs, and that’s with two NFL caliber RBs on the team. Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor have combined for 944 yards and 7 TDs. The Bearcats also have four different receivers with over 400 yards in catches and 18 TDs. The Utes are at home and play good defense.
OTC’s Pick – Cincinnati 28-27
South Carolina 3-5 vs (7) Ole Miss 7-1
ESPN 6:00pm
After looking at the numbers, I’m tempted to take this one off the list, but I kept it for one reason. With Kiffin being a top candidate for almost every job out there, can he keep his team focused on a dangerous team looking to prove themselves. The Gamecocks will show up, but they don’t have enough to beat the Rebels.
OTC’s Pick – Ole Miss 31-20
Navy 7-0 vs North Texas 7-1
ESPN2 11:00am
Another playoff elimination game. With two high powered offenses and no defenses, this game looks to be a high scoring affair. Navy averages 293.8 yards rushing and 463.8 total yards per game. The Mean Green averages 501 total yards a game. North Texas’s rush defense is suspect, allowing 190.8 yards rushing per game. Everything in the game is strength against strength. Both teams thrive off QB play. For Navy it’s Blake Horvath who passed for 1,063 yards, 7 TDs, and 3 INTs, while rushing for 814 yards and 12 TDs. He has only been sacked 1 time. For the Mean Green, it’s Drew Mestemaker who has passed for 2,468 yards, 21 TDs, and 4 INTs. He’s also rushed for 64 yards, 4 TDs and been sacked 11 times. This one will be high scoring.
OTC’s Pick – North Texas 34-31
New Mexico 5-3 vs UNLV 6-1
MW Network 2:00pm
UNLV doesn’t have many threats left on their schedule after New Mexico, winning this one keeps what slim CFP hopes they have alive. Neither team plays defense, and New Mexico is pathetic when it comes to running the ball. The numbers hardly justify it making the list, but with UNLV only having one loss it made it.
OTC’s Pick – UNLV 41-22
The College Football Playoff committee will pick twelve teams this season for a shot at the national championship. We are quickly reaching that point in the schedule where teams will lock in or start dropping like flies. As of today, there are 6 teams who are still undefeated, closely followed by 17 one loss teams. And finally, there are 21 teams with two losses who still have hopes of getting in. Even at two losses a team’s chances are slim, but when talking CFP, three losses is a death blow. As top tier matchups happen teams will quickly find themselves in or out. Games like Georgia vs Georgia Tech, Michigan vs Ohio State, and Texas Tech vs BYU will surely mix things up.
The CFP, 6, 17, 21
The Six
Navy 7-0
Georgia Tech 8-0
BYU 8-0
Indiana 8-0
Ohio State 7-0
Texas A&M 8-0
The Seventeen
Tulane 6-1
North Texas 7-1
Memphis 7-1
Virginia 7-1
Louisville 6-1
Miami 6-1
Cincinnati 7-1
Texas Tech 7-1
Houston 7-1
Oregon 7-1
San Diego State 6-1
UNLV 6-1
Alabama 7-1
Ole Miss 7-1
Georgia 6-1
Vanderbilt 7-1
James Madison 6-1
The Twenty-one
Note Dame
Texas
Tennessee
Oklahoma
USC
Michigan
Utah
Missouri
Iowa
TCU
South Florida
Pittsburgh
Washington
Nebraska
Boise State
Wake Forest
Kennesaw State
Troy
Southern Miss
Western Kentucky
Hawaii
From 64 down to 12. Of course, there will be the bubble teams that everyone whines about should have got in. But it’s simple, just win out and it will all take care of itself.
Results of my game picks each week can be found at Off The Cob (lyleharmon-otc.com)
Stats gathered from ESPN – Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.