Week 10 of the 2021 season features one key change compared to the weeks prior: the first College Football Playoff rankings are out, giving everyone in the list of 25 teams a better idea of where they stand.

For Michigan State, its placement at No. 3 puts it firmly in the race for one of the four spots. But a trip to West Lafayette could make that ranking short-lived; Purdue has already knocked off one top-10 team this season. Fellow undefeated program Wake Forest, at No. 9 in the playoff rankings, has some work to do, and can’t afford a slip-up with a visit to Chapel Hill to face UNC.

Elsewhere, Auburn and Texas A&M battle in a key SEC clash in College Station, Oregon takes on Washington in Seattle, and one-loss Oklahoma State and Baylor both hit the road in the Big 12. 

Week 10 Best Bets: Composite Rankings Pick the Winners

Who has the edge in 16 of Week 10’s biggest games? Our writers’ and editors’ picks are in.

Standings to Date:

John Garcia: 93–52
Molly Geary: 92–53
Ross Dellenger: 86–59
Richard Johnson: 82–63
Pat Forde: 79–66

Week 10 straight-up picks:

More College Football Coverage:

• Top Takeaways From the First Playoff Rankings
• Coaching Carousel Notebook: What We’re Hearing
• Eight Surprisingly Mediocre Teams