Mel & Todd: Louisville, Ohio State still dangerous

Throughout the college football season, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay kick off each week by settling a debate, looking at emerging NFL prospects and peeking ahead to next week. Among this week's topics: What is the most dangerous one-loss team in the country?

What is the most dangerous one-loss team in the country?

Mel Kiper: Ohio State

Louisville is really dangerous, but Ohio State is my pick. Did the young Buckeyes get a wake-up call at Penn State on Saturday night? The offense just didn't look right -- the line was manhandled in the second half -- and the special teams were a disaster. But remember: Most people thought Ohio State's inexperience would hurt it headed into the season, and the Buckeyes looked fantastic before Saturday. They're going to hit some rocky patches. The first half of the season showed Ohio State can play with any team in the country when it is playing at its best.

The defense isn't the issue, but the Buckeyes need to get back on track offensively. One loss won't sink them; they still control their own destiny. Their two toughest remaining games -- Nebraska and Michigan -- are both at home. I'm not a believer in the Cornhuskers at this point, but the Wolverines are loaded with talent. Michigan-Ohio State is going to be a fantastic game, and I think the winner will play in the Big Ten title game. So if the Buckeyes keep winning and down Michigan, they'd likely be the favorites in the conference championship game. And we've already seen what a one-loss Ohio State team can do once it makes the Big Ten title game and gets a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Todd McShay: Louisville

The toughest remaining game on Louisville's schedule is at Houston. And while that's no cupcake, it certainly doesn't look as daunting as it did a few weeks ago, before the Cougars lost to Navy and SMU. Louisville has a tough road to the ACC title game, sitting a game behind Clemson (and having lost their head-to-head game). But if the Cardinals finish 11-1 and their only loss is a six-point defeat on the road to Clemson, they'll have a real case to be included in the playoff, depending on how the other conferences end up.

From a personnel standpoint, Louisville's offense is on a different level, leading the FBS in yards per play (7.97), points per game (52.6) and adjusted Total QBR (91.5). Lamar Jackson makes the whole thing work with his dynamic talent. He can beat you through the air or with his legs (he's the eighth-leading rusher in college football). And I promise you no team wants to see this guy in a loser-goes-home game in the College Football Playoff.

Prospect on the rise

Kiper: Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama

Allen was tremendous in Alabama's win over Texas A&M on Saturday, and he had the signature moment that showed the Tide's defensive dominance. After putting a quick move on the left guard, the 6-foot-3, 294-pound Allen dove over the running back's attempted cut block to smash quarterback Trevor Knight and sack him. Allen also added a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

I've had Allen, who now has six sacks this season, in the top 10 of my Big Board, and I think he could be in play for the top pick come April. He's a relentless defender, whether he's playing end or tackle. He can play in any scheme. I love his power rush, but he has other moves, too. Allen had 12 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season, and he could have been a first-round pick then. I don't think he gets out of the top five now.

McShay: Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa

I got to watch Johnson live on Saturday and came away impressed. He finished the game with two sacks, but perhaps more impressively, he appeared to be frequently disruptive from my view at field level. Johnson is more violent and plays with a more consistent edge than Iowa DT Carl Davis, who went in the third round in 2015. Johnson needs to keep working on his leverage but if he's committed, he can be an impact player in the NFL.

Almost famous

Kiper: Cole Hikutini, TE, Louisville

Keep an eye on this kid in a loaded tight end class. The 6-5, 245 pound Hikutini could be a steal in the third or fourth round. After taking a circuitous route to Louisville -- he spent time at Sacramento State and City College of San Francisco -- Hikutini is having a breakout season for the Cardinals. In Louisville's rout of NC State on Saturday, he put up a career-high 118 yards on six catches, one of which was a score. He now has 27 catches (16 have been for first downs) for 393 yards and four touchdowns for the season. Hikutini is athletic, can run after the catch and creates separation late in routes. He could be a key cog in an NFL passing offense.

McShay: Joe Williams, RB, Utah

Williams' season got off to a rough start. He "retired" for undisclosed reasons, essentially quitting the team for a four-week period. But he returned two weeks ago and promptly posted 511 rushing yards and five touchdowns over that span. Crazy story. Williams' production alone makes him a player to watch down the stretch.

The big question for next week

Kiper: How will Clemson's Cordrea Tankersley handle Florida State's Travis Rudolph?

Clemson's toughest remaining regular-season game could come down to the Tigers' top cornerback shutting down the Seminoles' top receiver. Rudolph, who has 32 catches and three touchdowns this season, figures to see a lot of Tankersley, who is No. 24 on my latest Big Board. The 6-1, 190 pound Rudolph isn't the biggest nor the fastest, but he's consistently open, and he'll move all over the field. Tankersley (6-1, 200 pounds) is a big cornerback who consistently shuts down receivers but hasn't filled up the stat sheet this season. He had five interceptions in 2015, but none this season. If Tankersley locks down Rudolph, I expect Clemson to win.

McShay: Can Wisconsin get one step closer to the B1G Championship Game and beat Nebraska?

I think you could make an argument for Wisconsin's Paul Chryst as Coach of the Year. The Badgers gave Michigan and Ohio State all they could handle, and then won a hard-fought road game against Iowa when it would've been easy to have a letdown. Wisconsin's gauntlet continues on Saturday against unproven-but-undefeated Nebraska. After watching the Badgers up close against Iowa on Saturday, it's clear they're much closer to Michigan than Iowa in terms of overall skill. I know that Michigan and Ohio State are far more talented than Wisconsin, but I have a feeling if you gave Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer truth serum, the last team they'd want to face in the Big Ten Championship Game would be the Badgers.