New Years' Six Bowls Graphic by the College Football Playoff
Week 12 CFB Top 25 Rankings
I addressed my views regarding Michigan in the past and why I won’t have them ranked until there is something done to address their blatant cheating. My criteria for rankings is at the bottom of the article and also can be found in previous weeks.
We got plenty of top matchups assured before the final four are selected. Ohio State-Michigan*, Alabama-Georgia, Washington-Oregon State, and Oregon-Oregon State. We also have others like Florida State-Louisville nearly assured, and plenty of rivalry games, and conference championships that will move the current logjam that is the top ten right now. Things will shake out and they are starting to as we reach the pinnacle of the season. With that, let’s talk about where the best teams in college football are ranked.
1. Georgia (10-0) (Last Week #1. CFP Ranking #1) (Ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Ole Miss may not have much of a defense this season but putting 52 on anybody is impressive. The Bulldogs continue their onward march with their 27-game winning streak toward a three-peat with Tennessee and Georgia Tech before they will play Alabama for the SEC Championship in Atlanta.
2. Ohio State (10-0) (Last Week #2. CFP Ranking #2) (Ranked #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
I want to believe that Ohio State finally just got it all together on offense but it was against a 3-7 team who Ryan Day has averaged 45 points a game against. Still, you’d rather see your defense keep the other team from scoring and your offense look better than not against a team you should crush. Next up is a 5-5 Minnesota that is somehow still in the running for the Big Ten West.
3. Florida State (10-0) (Last Week #3. CFP Ranking #4) (Ranked #4 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Seminoles beat one of their chief rivals in a tight one against Miami. FSU goes 8-0 in the ACC and will play in the championship game in December where they’ll likely play Louisville. Next they get a tune up game against FCS North Alabama before their final game against their rival Florida Gators in the Swamp.
4. Washington (10-0) (Last Week #4. CFP Ranking #5) (Ranked #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Washington gets to 10 wins behind their Heisman candidate Michael Penix. Penix is the leader for that prestigious award and with good cause. He has been great in the face of solid defenses, has good stats, and highlight reel moments. If Washington just keeps winning, Penix will win the Heisman and the Huskies will be in the playoffs. They get another challenge with a trip to Oregon State next week.
5. Liberty (10-0) (Last Week #5. Unranked in the CFP) (Ranked #25 in the AP and Unranked in the Coaches Polls)
The Flames are the first team to reach 10-0 in the FBS this season (without an *). Kaidon Salter, Quinton Cooley, and CJ Daniels are as good as any quarterback-running back-wide receiver combination in the country. If Liberty wins their next three games and goes 13-0 they deserve a New Years’ Six Bowl, there’s no two ways about it.
6. James Madison (10-0) (Last Week #6. Unranked in the CFP) (Ranked #18 and #21 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
James Madison just pummeled UConn, 44-6. The Dukes are winning and appealing the stupid NCAA rule that prohibits them from playing in the postseason and if the NCAA knows what’s good for them (they usually don’t) they’ll let these kids play. They’ve earned it.
7. Oregon (9-1) (Last Week #7. CFP Ranking #6) (Ranked #6 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Ducks continue to impress and what sets them apart from other one loss teams I how elite they’ve looked on both sides of the ball and how even in their one defeat they didn’t look outmatched. They’re close to clinching their rematch with the Huskies for the last Pac-12 Championship.
8. Texas (9-1) (Last Week #8. CFP Ranking #7) (Ranked #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
With so many big matchups left to be played it really feels like Texas controls their own destiny and if they win out that they’ll find themselves in the top four. That will especially be the case if their biggest win, Alabama, keeps winning. With Quinn Ewers back, they’re isn’t a game left they shouldn’t be favored in until bowl season starts.
9. Alabama (9-1) (Last Week #9. CFP Ranking #8) (Ranked #8 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Tide clinched the SEC West with their win over Kentucky and can now focus on the Iron Bowl and a trip to Atlanta in December. Jalen Milroe has been the most improved quarterback from week one to this point in the season. It will be interesting to see him take on the Georgia defense and Bama try to stop Carson Beck when they play Georgia for the SEC Championship.
10. Louisville (9-1) (Last Week #12. CFP Ranking #10) (Ranked #9 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Jeff Brohm has done a great job at his alma mater. As long as they don’t fall behind North Carolina in the College Football Playoff Rankings they’ll meet Florida State for the ACC Championship and if a few other dominos go the right way a playoff berth for themselves. If they keep winning but just miss out that loss to 2-8 Pitt will really hurt.
11. Tulane (9-1) (Last Week #13. CFP Ranking #24) (Ranked #17 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Tulane is the leading Group of 5 team in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Even though I think Liberty and James Madison should be ahead of them, Tulane is a good team and a program on the rise. If they’re the G5 team to get to a New Years’ Six Bowl for the second straight season they’ll prove they belong on the field. Any conference still thinking of expansion should get this red hot team in the football city and football state in New Orleans, Louisiana.
12. Toledo (9-1) (Last Week #14. Unranked in the CFP) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Rockets have won nine straight but are in a crowded field among the Group of Five teams. The Rockets are Midwestern to their souls with a great rushing attack and a tough defense. They could easily go 13-1 by the end of this season and have clinched the MAC West Division and a MAC Championship game appearance.
13. Penn State (8-2) (Last Week #10. CFP Ranking #12) (Ranked #12 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Penn State fans have to be frustrated beyond understanding with James Franklin and their program right now. They have elite players in great program, but they are stalled. They’ll likely go 11-2 again but once again can’t beat Michigan* and Ohio State. They have to be asking at what point do they part ways with a good coach in the effort to be elite and win championships. I think they’ll give Franklin at least one more season in the new, division-less, 18-team Big Ten next year.
14. Oregon State (8-2) (Last Week #20. CFP Ranking #11) (Ranked #10 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Beavers have big chance to make people remember them in the final Pac-12 season and give Washington and in-state rival Oregon a parting gift to remember them by. They control their Pac-12 destiny with playing the two leading teams in the final two weeks of the season.
15. Missouri (8-2) (Last Week Unranked. CFP Ranking #9) (Ranked #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Missouri is on the verge of a 10-2 season and a New Years’ Six Bowl. They host floundering Florida and visit reeling rival Arkansas to finish this year. Even though I have to G5 teams in my current bowl projections, if one of them were to fall, Missouri would be my next team in.
16. Iowa (8-2) (Last Week #22. CFP Ranking #16) (Unranked in the AP and #23 Coaches Polls)
Someone has to win the Big Ten West and it may as well be Iowa. Even though a bunch of 5-5 teams are still alive in the division, Iowa with their great defense has to be favored to win it with Illinois and Nebraska remaining on their schedule.
17. North Carolina (8-2) (Last Week #23. CFP Ranking #20) (Ranked #22 and #20 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Tar Heels need help from Miami and Kentucky but if they get it and take care of their business against Clemson and rival NC State they’ll be the one to challenge FSU for the ACC crown.
18. Ole Miss (8-2) (Last Week #11. CFP Ranking #13) (Ranked #13 and #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Rebels find themselves in similar shoes as Missouri except they have a bit of a better resume to this point. They too should finish 10-2 with aspirations of a New Years’ Six Bowl game.
19. Oklahoma (8-2) (Last Week Unranked. CFP Ranking #14) (Ranked #14 and #13 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Despite two horrendous games that probably put them out of playoff contention, the Sooners are very much still alive in the Big 12, but are in need of some further help against OK State to get to the Big 12 title game.
20. Troy (8-2) (Last Week #24. Unranked in the CFP) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Troy has clinched one spot in the Sun Belt Championship game and has won it’s West Division. They’re doing a lot like they did last year, running the ball, playing good defense and marching toward a dozen wins again.
21. SMU (8-2) (Last Week #25. Unranked in the CFP) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Mustangs are undefeated in AAC play and are in the top four of that league with Tulane, Memphis, and UTSA. The goose egg in the conference loss column means they control their own destiny in winning a conference crown before they join the ACC next year.
22. Memphis (8-2) (Last Week Unranked. Unranked in the CFP) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Memphis and Tulane are out to prove that if any of the soon to be Power 4 Conferences want more teams from the soon to be Group of Six, they are the top two teams to look at. Their offense can shoot it out with anyone and that has them alive in AAC right now.
23. UNLV (8-2) (Last Week Unranked. Unranked in the CFP) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Don’t look now but the Rebels of the west are in first place in the Mountain West with Air Force. The two meet this weekend in Colorado Springs where UNLV hopes to extend Air Force’s losing streak to three games and take first place for themselves.
24. Miami (OH) (8-2) (Last Week Unranked. Unranked in the CFP) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Redhawks are on a collision course for a rematch with Toledo but this time in Detroit and for the MAC Championship.
25. New Mexico State (8-3) (Last Week Unranked. Unranked in the CFP) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
With all of the teams that have the name Aggies, it’s surprising that New Mexico State is playing the best right now, but Jerry Kill’s team is doing just that. They’ll take on Liberty for the Conference USA Championship in December.
Game of the Week
Washington vs. Utah
Rose Bowl (Semi-Final) – Ohio State vs. Washington
Sugar Bowl (Semi-Final) – Georgia vs. Florida State
Cotton Bowl – Ole Miss vs. James Madison
Orange Bowl – Alabama vs. Penn State
Fiesta Bowl – Texas vs. Oregon
Peach Bowl – Louisville vs. Liberty
National Championship – Georgia over Ohio State
Teams on the Radar
LSU (7-3)
NC State (7-3)
Kansas State (7-3)
Arizona (7-3)
The rankings are if the season ended today. But the bowl projections are how I think the future will shake out the rest of the season. In my rankings, wins, and losses count. I will try my best to be consistent about this and never rank a team with two losses above a team with one loss, unless head-to-head results say otherwise.
These rankings are how well a team is playing and how well they have played. Things like being undefeated count and will count all year. Plenty of one-loss teams who are top ten in talent and where they will finish aren’t here. There are certainly teams ranked that would lose to them, but those teams at the moment are having better seasons by having won all their games.
Follow me on X and we can talk college football and you can tell me if you agree or not with my rankings. Also check out my Forkball articles on the college football rankings, The Ohio State Buckeyes, and the BYU Cougars.
