We head into the final weekend of the first month of the regular season. There were some big time matchups around the country this past week, and the heat really gets turned up this Saturday. A reminder, my top four is represented by a team from each of the four major conferences, because that’s who gets the four byes in the College Football Playoff. Plus, No. 12 – unless they are ranked higher – is the predicted Group of Five representative, because those leagues get one of the 12 spots. Enjoy every weekend.

1. Georgia – The Bulldogs were off this past Saturday, and now it is on to Tuscaloosa for the big showdown with Alabama. Jalon Walker is having a stellar start to the season at linebacker. Georgia has won an astounding 42 consecutive regular season games.

2. Ohio State – The Buckeyes took down Marshall 49-14 to make it 3-0 on the season. Their schedule has been soft. Michigan has played both Texas and Southern Cal. The Big Ten opener is here now, as Ohio State takes on Michigan State in East Lansing.

3. Utah – The Utes pulled off a big victory at Oklahoma State to improve to 4-0. Kyle Whittingham has done a tremendous job in Salt Lake City and this team is a Big XII and CFP contender. Utah is 4-0 and has another big one against Arizona in SLC Saturday.

4. Miami – The Hurricanes put down an upset attempt in Tampa, taking down South Florida to make it 4-0 on the season. Miami is the favorite in the ACC, with Clemson gaining. The Hurricanes host Virginia Tech, which lost to Rutgers, Friday night in Hard Rock.

5. Texas – The Longhorns blew away Lou. Monroe to make it a perfect 4-0 on the season. Their win at Michigan looks even better after the Wolverines took down Southern Cal. Texas hosts Mississippi State in its first conference game as a new SEC member.

6. Alabama – The Crimson Tide hasn’t missed a beat three games into the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa. Jalen Milroe has been incredible at quarterback, accounting for 14 touchdowns through three games. The Dogs head to T-town Saturday night.

7. Tennessee – Sweet for Josh Heupel. The Vols went to Norman and beat the Oklahoma Sooners 25-15 to improve to 4-0 and win the SEC opener. Tennessee is off this week and then tangles with Arkansas, fresh off a victory on the Plains, in Fayetteville.

8. Ole Miss – The Rebels pulled away from Georgia Southern to make it 4-0 on the year. Ole Miss has been overwhelming thus far this season. The Rebels will have their toughest test yet, taking on Kentucky in Oxford in the SEC opener.

9. Missouri – The Tigers survived an overtime scare, nipping Vanderbilt 30-27 in Columbia to make it 4-0 and 1-0 in the league. Missouri is off Saturday and then comes a big SEC road test against Texas A&M in College Station. Eli Drinkwitz is doing very well in CoMo.

10. Michigan – The Wolverines deserve to be back in the conversation after an impressive victory over Southern Cal in the Big House. For the defending champs, this one keeps them in the CFP mix and in the hunt in the Big Ten.

11. Clemson – The Tigers have come back roaring since losing the season opener to Georgia, overpowering Appalachian State and N.C. State. This week they get Stanford at Death Valley.

12. James Madison – The Dukes are now in the top spot in the race for the Group of Five spot after a 70-50 victory over North Carolina in Chapel Hill. James Madison went over 50 in the first half. This was a win they’ll remember forever at JMU.