The Week 14 Power Rankings with Conference Championships Ahead

1. Ohio State (12-0) (Last Week #1) (#1 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Buckeyes got the wolverine off their backs! Ohio State is 12-0, and has won 16 straight games. They’ve won six straight games against top ten opponents dating back to when they defeated Indiana in 2024. The offense is elite and improving with each game. The defense just gets stops. The Bucks are shooting for back-to-back national championships. Their toughest test is since Notre Dame back in January is this Saturday in Indianapolis. Indiana is absolutely for real, and Ohio State will need their best game to beat the Hoosiers.

2. Indiana (12-0) (Last Week #2) (#2 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #2 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Hoosiers didn’t even allow it to be close. They blasted the Boilermakers, and Indiana secured their berth in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hoosiers made history with their first 12-win season, their first undefeated and untied season, and their second ever undefeated season, their first since 1945. They go toe-to-toe with Ohio State, who they have not beaten since 1988. Yet they are not intimidated. It will be a heavyweight clash with neither side holding a huge advantage. No one is better right now than the Indiana Hoosiers.

3. Georgia (11-1) (Last Week #4) (#3 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Clean Old Fashioned Hate was another close one! Georgia was a lock with the win (probably even with a loss), regardless of SEC Championship Game status. But the Dawgs will happily stay in Atlanta for their fourth straight SEC Championship Game appearance. It will be a rematch for Georgia one way or the other. They’ll get either Bama, who beat them, or Ole Miss, who they beat. The SEC crown will be on the line, as well as a top two seed in the College Football Playoff.

4. Oregon (11-1) (Last Week #5) (#5 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #4 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Ducks are in the College Football Playoff, now it’s just a matter of where they will be seeded. With Ohio State and Indiana from the same conference and ahead of them, it is unlikely Oregon will get a first-round bye this year. They will be more than happy to welcome a team to Eugene and the Autzen Zoo in late December. That will be a tough place for whatever team gets that matchup in the first round of the playoff.

5. Texas Tech (11-1) (Last Week #6) (#4 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #5 and #6 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Texas Tech is in, and will need to beat BYU again to have any hope for a first-round bye. The disrespect to them, BYU, and the Big 12 is real, and vastly unwarranted. The fact that the 11-2 loser of the Big 12 Championship Game could be snubbed for a 10-2 team that finished too far out of their conference standings to play for a championship is ridiculous and should be rejected.

6. Ole Miss (11-1) (Last Week #7) (#6 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #6 and #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

There were some guesses as to where Lane Kiffin was going, but Ole Miss is going to the College Football Playoff with an 11-1 season! There’s no doubt that this fact is what matters most to Ole Miss fans. The team was right to not let Kiffin coach them there after he decided to leave. There’s nothing wrong with him leaving, and nothing wrong with them saying we aren’t going to let someone lead our team who is not committed to them.

7. BYU (11-1) (Last Week #8) (#11 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

SEC fans can shill for their teams all they want, it doesn’t change that BYU should be in over any 10-2 team. Win or lose against Texas Tech, the Cougars (and the Red Raiders) should be in the College Football Playoff. A team that finishes their regular season 11-1 and plays for a Power Four conference championship should be in. That was the precedent set last year, when it hurt BYU so it should be held to this year when it would help them.

8. Texas A&M (11-1) (Last Week #3) (#7 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

It takes nothing away from Texas A&M and the caliber of team they have that I thought this upset would happen, and that it did. Some of us Buckeye fans thought Texas A&M’s players looked an awful lot like Ohio State’s did after a rivalry loss last year, and they went on a four-game tear and won the national championship. Mike Elko’s team is capable of the same feat.

9. James Madison (11-1) (Last Week #9) (#25 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #19 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

James Madison will become huge Duke fans if they beat Troy to win the Sun Belt. If James Madison goes 12-1 as Sun Belt Champions, and Duke 8-5 as ACC Champions, then James Madison deserves to be the fifth conference champion in the College Football Playoff, and not the ACC Champion.

10. North Texas (11-1) (Last Week #10) (#24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #20 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Mean Green are playing for an American Conference title and likely a College Football Playoff berth on December 6th! They’ll take on Tulane this Friday with the winner likely being the #12 seed in the College Football Playoff. North Texas fans better enjoy Coach Morris, who is headed to Oklahoma State, but players like Drew Mestemaker and Caleb Hawkins who may follow him. Big 12 fans, take notice of this team, coach, and stars. You’ll likely be meeting them in 2026.

11. Miami (10-2) (Last Week #11) (#12 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #12 and #13 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The top eight in the Power Rankings should be considered locks for the College Football Playoff. Two of them will be guaranteed conference champions, with the potential for a third. So, with three more conference champions that will automatically qualify, that leaves one or two slots for Miami, Notre Dame, Utah, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt. Any argument that puts Notre Dame in has to also put Miami in because they have the same record, and Miami beat Notre Dame. If that’s ignored than there isn’t much point in playing Power 4 teams outside of one’s conference.

12. Notre Dame (10-2) (Last Week #12) (#10 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #9 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Notre Dame, Miami, Utah, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt are all rooting for Georgia on Saturday. If Georgia beats Bama than that could open up another slot for one of these teams. If Alabama continues to be the owner of the Georgia Bulldog, than that may only leave one spot for these five teams to lobby for, and if it comes down to that, the Sooners may top the Irish.

13. Utah (10-2) (Last Week #13) (#15 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #15 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The schools from the Sunflower State made it tough on Utah over the last two weeks, but the Utes won and got to 10-2. Utah needed some help to get into the Big 12 Championship and into the College Football Playoff, but didn’t get enough aid in the former, which will likely keep it out of the latter. They’re likely headed to the Alamo Bowl like their rivals from Provo did last year. A match-up I’d like to see is them against former Pac-12 rival USC. It would make it the second season in a row where the Alamo Bowl was the best non-playoff bowl of Bowl Season. I believe they’re the best 10-2 team in college football. Utah may not get in the playoff, but has a stronger case than teams like Texas.

14. Oklahoma (10-2) (Last Week #14) (#8 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #8 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

A lot people have Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff already and while they have a good resume, they are far from a lock. Or, at least, they should be far from a lock. Their 10-2 stacks up strongly against the 10-2 of Miami, Notre Dame, Utah, and Vanderbilt. Of all of the 10-2 teams, they’re probably in the best shape in the view of the College Football Playoff Committee.

15. Alabama (10-2) (Last Week #15) (#9 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #10 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

If Alabama loses to Georgia, at 10-3, they should be out of the College Football Playoff. That loss to Florida State is that bad and should be counted against them. They control their own destiny and can still wipe it off the board, but they can’t do it with three losses. This is a win to get in situation for the Tide. Or at least, it should be. Even the SEC should take this stance, and if Bama lost advocate for Vanderbilt.

16. Vanderbilt (10-2) (Last Week #16) (#14 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #13 and #12 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

This has been a historically good season for Vanderbilt. It should be recognized as such. That being said, the Commodores are out of the College Football Playoff, and while Diego Pavia is a Heisman finalist, he shouldn’t be the winner.

17. Virginia (10-2) (Last Week #17) (#17 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #16 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Cavaliers are the ACC’s last hope. If they beat Duke, the conference is assured at least one playoff berth. If they lose, and the ACC Champion is an 8-5 Duke, it’s likely the conference won’t get a team in the playoff this year. The American Conference champion and another Group of Five Champion like possibly James Madison at 12-1 or UNLV at 11-2 would be more deserving.

18. Navy (9-2) (Last Week #19) (Unranked in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #23 and #25 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

With Army winning the American Conference championship last year and Navy still in contention for it going into this final weekend before conference championships this year, the classic game between these two needs to be moved. I posted on X this week why I think Thanksgiving would be the perfect place for America’s Game. It would also not leave America’s team with their most important game unplayed on Selection Sunday. Navy’s 28-17 win had them in contention for the conference title game, but Tulane’s College Football Playoff ranking was the tie-breaker, sending them to the title game.

19. Tulane (10-2) (Last Week #20) (#20 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #21 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Tulane is still the odds on favorite to be the Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff. I think they’re looking up at North Texas and James Madison. The game on Friday between them and the Mean Green will likely decide who is the #12 seed this month. The Green Wave do have solid wins over Northwestern and Duke. Their win over Duke could even knock the ACC out of the College Football Playoff and open then door for Group of Five teams, if Duke upsets Virginia.

20. UNLV (10-2) (Last Week #21) (Unranked in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Dan Mullen has sustained the success of Barry Odom and UNLV is again in the Mountain West Championship with 10-plus wins. In 2026, the new Mountain West will be headlined by UNLV and New Mexico, with UNLV being the top dog with the continued rise of Las Vegas as a sports town. Now, they’re trying to enter that season as reigning champions.

21. Texas (9-3) (Last Week #23) (#13 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

I knew this would be a good game and picked Texas to win. Texas has a fantastic defense that has quietly been a huge asset for them this season. Arch Manning is showing why the hype was there to begin with. Texas is a great team that has had a good season, but does not belong in the College Football Playoff. They aren’t going to be left out for scheduling and playing Ohio State, they’re going to be left out for being one of only four teams to lose to the 4-8 Florida Gators this year.

22. Arizona (9-3) (Last Week #24) (#18 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #22 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Wildcats closed their regular season with a bang. They defeated their rival, Arizona State, 23-7, and finished in the top four of the Big 12. Arizona finishes on a five-game winning streak and is primed for a big bowl game. This season is one for Arizona to build something off of.

23. USC (9-3) (Unranked Last Week) (#16 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #17 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

While 9-3 and a third place finish in the Big Ten isn’t the standard for USC, it’s nothing to downplay either. The Trojans played a stretch of seven straight games against teams that are going bowling and went 4-3. More importantly, despite the three losses USC has been a consistent team, and an improving team. Their defense, which has always been their Achilles’ heel in the Lincoln Riley Era, played maybe it’s best season with him as their coach. It may not seem like a lot, but they average giving up 20 less yards and two less points per game this year as opposed to last year.

24. Houston (9-3) (Unranked Last Week) (#21 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

It’s ridiculous that being 9-3 in a Power Four conference doesn’t get you ranked in the top 25. And before anyone says anything about Houston’s schedule, let’s look at Tennessee. I have no ax to grind against the Vols. I have family in East Tennessee and love a lot of Big Orange fans. Tennessee, however, is 8-4 this year, and every win has come against teams with a losing record, and every loss against teams with a winning record. That doesn’t make the Vols bad, but it does mean a team like Houston who’s beaten opponents with winning records is doing better than them.

25. New Mexico (9-3) (Unranked Last Week) (Unranked in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The tiebreakers this year have been particularly crazy. It’s strange seeing teams with the same conference records but worse overall records getting into conference championship games over teams that have won more. Some of these Group of Five conferences may want to make overall record a deciding factor in the future to help them get their teams with the highest postseason sealing in the conference championship. New Mexico beat two of the other three teams that tied for first place in the Mountain West, but aren’t going to the conference championship game. That doesn’t seem right. Still, the Lobos have had a fantastic season, and will be one of the top two teams in the Mountain West in 2026.

College Football Playoff Projection

First Round

5. Oregon (11-1) vs. 12. North Texas (12-1)

Friday, December 18th, 2025 – Eugene, Oregon

6. Texas A&M (11-1) vs. 11. Virginia (11-2)

Saturday, December 19th, 2025 – College Station, Texas

7. Ole Miss (11-1) vs. 10. Notre Dame (10-2)

Saturday, December 19th, 2025 – Oxford, Mississippi

8. Texas Tech (11-2) vs. 9. Oklahoma (10-2)

Saturday, December 19th, 2025 – Lubbock, Texas

Quarterfinals

1. Ohio State (13-0) vs. 8. Texas Tech (12-2)

Thursday, January 1st, 2026 – Pasadena, California

3. Indiana (12-1) vs. 6. Texas A&M (12-1)

Thursday, January 1st, 2026 – Miami, Florida

2. Georgia (12-1) vs. 10. Notre Dame (11-2)

Thursday, January 1st, 2026 – New Orleans, Louisiana

4. BYU (12-1) vs. 5. Oregon (12-1)

Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 – Arlington, Texas

Semifinals

3. Indiana (13-1) vs. 10. Notre Dame (12-2)

Thursday, January 8th, 2026 – Glendale, Arizona

1. Ohio State (14-0) vs. 4. BYU (13-1)

Friday, January 9th, 2026 – Atlanta, Georgia

National Championship

1. Ohio State (15-0) vs. 10. Notre Dame (13-2)

Monday, January 19th, 2026 – Miami, Florida

National Champions

1. Ohio State (16-0)

That is how I believe things play out for the rest of the season and how the College Football Playoff Committee ranks teams headed into the playoff, and how the playoff plays out. If I were seeding the top 12 teams after the season, it would look as follows.

1. Ohio State (13-0)

2. Georgia (12-1)

3. BYU (12-1)

4. Indiana (12-1)

5. Oregon (11-1)

6. Texas A&M (11-1)

7. Ole Miss (11-1)

8. North Texas (12-1)

9. Virginia (11-2)

10. Texas Tech (11-2)

11. Utah (10-2)

12. Oklahoma (10-2)

First Four Out

13. Miami (10-2)

14. Notre Dame (10-2)

15. Vanderbilt (10-2)

16. UNLV (11-2)