National landscape, week four. Longhorns in it for the long haul.

The further we get into the season the more some things take shape. Clemson has clearly put the opening week beat down behind them. Auburn is still better at making excuses than fielding a functioning SEC quarterback. Florida can show a pulse playing in the likes of Starkville, MS.

Take a moment and let that one simmer. 😉

Similarly, Texas lost it's starting quarterback, but hasn't lost its step. At all. Of course, it helps when said starter's backup has a last name of Manning. But still, they have looked the part. Their only solid opponent was Michigan, whom they manhandled. But they've done what they were supposed to do against the others, including the cupcakes.

We'll know for sure after Georgia visits Austin next month, but for now they remain my top team in the SEC.

Scanning the other conferences and Group of 5's...Clemson continues to roll. Even with the loss compared to Miami's 4-0 record, I have the Tigers winning the ACC and getting the conference's only bid. In the Big10, staying with Oregon. Then I have Ohio State at 2a and Michigan at 2b. Ohio State's schedule thus far has been empty calories, but Michigan's loss to Texas still weighs heavier than its win over USC Saturday. Penn State also in the mix for the 2nd or 3rd Big10 playoff spot. 

Admittedly, this is where I go solely on what I have read or seen in just Sunday morning highlights. I can see the Big12 getting two spots, likely between these three teams: Utah, BYU, and UCF. Kansas State and Oklahoma State both lost, but they play each other this weekend. So the winner could get back in the mix. And the Group of 5 is a crapshoot between UNLV and Liberty, with NIU, Boise State and Memphis hanging around.

Enough of the plodding and the plotting. Here's this week's bracket:

1. Texas (bye)
2. Oregon (bye)
3. Utah (bye)
4. Clemson (bye)
5. Georgia (hosts)
6. Ohio State (hosts)
7. Alabama (hosts)
8. Michigan (hosts)
9. Tennessee 
10. BYU
11. UCF
12. UNLV

A few changes this week. Most notably, put Tennessee in as the last SEC team over previously seeded Ole Miss. Both could get in, but right now I'm sticking with four SEC teams and the Vols added to their resume with the win in Norman. Michigan gets the third Big10 spot ahead of Penn State this week. And BYU and UNLV get in instead of NIU and Boise State.

Anyway, as always, we close this weekly post with this: Those are at least some intriguing matchups in Round 1. $till not $old on making the $ea$on thi$ long. But I'd watch, and I gue$$ that'$ why they expanded, right?