The Crimson Tide have clearly established themselves as the best team in college football, but the Buckeyes are just as clearly #2. Both teams went on the road to face conference rivals in very hostile environments and both came away winners. Clemson survived an upset bid at the hands of North Carolina State while the other national title contenders, Texas A&M, Michigan and Washington all had bye weeks. Keep your eyes on Western Michigan. The Broncos completely dominated a very good Akron team 41-0 on the road. In the race for the “Group of Five’s” spot in a CFP New Year’s bowl invitation, Western Michigan and Boise State seem headed for quite a competition, although at this point, Western Michigan’s strength of schedule is far superior, #53 to #116 for Boise State. In other action around the nation, Nebraska, Baylor and West Virginia remained undefeated but untested for the most part with Baylor walloping Kansas 49-7 in Waco,Nebraska squeezing by Indiana 27-22 in Bloomington and West Virginia dominating Texas Tech 48-17 in Lubbock. A sluggish Houston managed a miracle 38-31 finish, holding Tulsa inches from the goal line as time ran out, Colorado continued it’s meteoric rise in the Pac 12 with a big 40-16 win over Arizona State, and Arkansas held off Ole Miss 34-30. This week #1 Alabama hosts # 4 Texas A&M in a much anticipated SEC West (and national) showdown. Stay tuned for weekly projections coming Wednesday.