Last Word on College Football
Top 25 Week 13
After a relatively quiet Week 12, Rivalry Weekend provided a seismic shift at the top of our poll this weekend. And, with Week 13 being the last weekend of the regular season, there are permanent implications for the College Football Playoff.
Alabama was dethroned atop the rankings; they became Auburn‘s second top-ranked victim this season. Miami also fell from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Hurricanes, however, will still have an opportunity to play for and win a conference championship. The Tide do not. Other than Auburn, this week’s big winners were Clemson and Wisconsin.
How much did Rivalry Weekend shake up our weekly poll of writers?
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LAST WORD ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25
WEEK 13
| Rank
|
Team |
Points
|
Previous
|
|
1. |
|
448 | 3 | |
| Clemson won the Palmetto Bowl 34-10, finishing the regular season 11-1. Enough said. The Tigers will get back to work on Monday as the prepare for the ACC Championship game next week against Miami.
|
||||
2. |
|
424 | 4 | |
| The Sooners started fast and didn’t look back in defeating West Virginia 59-31. Oklahoma is now one game away from a playoff berth and will look for that next week against the TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game.
|
||||
3. |
|
412 | 5 | |
| Wisconsin is playing its best football of the season as they head into the Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State. The defense has given up just a single TD in the last 3 games and QB Alex Hornibrook had his best game (3 TDs & no INT) against Minnesota this week; a positive sign indeed.
|
||||
4. |
|
408 | 6 | |
| The Tigers beat the top ranked team in the nation for the second time this season on Saturday. Auburn has made their statement, and its hard seeing a two-loss Auburn not in the CFP if they win the SEC Championship this Saturday.
|
||||
5. |
|
366 | 1 | |
|
The Crimson Tide suffered their first loss of the season. With a weak non-conference schedule and not even a division title in hand, Alabama might be on the outside of the CFP for the first time.
|
||||
6. |
|
362 | 7 | |
| The Bulldogs kept their playoff hopes alive with an easy 38-7 win over Georgia Tech. Jake Fromm threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns as they ran up 471 yards of total offense. Next week Kirby Smart’s club will try to avenge their only loss when they play Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.
|
||||
7. |
|
337 | 8 | |
| The Buckeyes overcame a 14-point deficit and pulled away late from a game Michigan squad. The injury to QB J.T. Barrett notwithstanding, Ohio State heads to the Big Ten Championship Game against undefeated Wisconsin.
|
||||
8. |
|
322 | 2 | |
| The slow starts on the road finally caught up to the Hurricanes. The quest for a perfect season may be over, but a playoff berth is still possible. A win over Clemson will make this week’s lost a distant memory.
|
||||
9. |
|
297 | 10 | |
| Penn State finished the year regular season 10-2 after destroying Maryland 66-3, backup QB Tommy Stevens had over 100 yards rushing and 3 rushing touchdowns.
|
||||
10. |
|
271 | 11 | |
|
The Knights played in one of the best games of the weekend. UCF needed a last minute kickoff return for a touchdown to survive the War on I-4 against USF. Scott Frost‘s job turning UCF from 0-12 to 11-0 is undeniable. |
||||
11. |
|
270 | 13 | |
| The Trojans had their first bye week of the season as they prepare to play Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night.
|
||||
12. |
|
266 | 11 | |
| The Horned Frogs get a second shot at Oklahoma. While TCU probably can’t crack the top four, they can keep Oklahoma from getting into the CFP. A win in the Big 12 Championship Game also assures them a spot in a NY6 Bowl.
|
||||
13. |
|
240 | 16 | |
| Stanford broke open a close battle with Notre Dame late, winning The Legends Trophy for the third straight year. Next Friday, the Cardinal face USC for the Pac-12 title.
|
||||
14. |
|
219 | 15 | |
| The Huskies throttled intrastate rival Washington State, denying them a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Washington should get a nice bowl placement as its reward.
|
||||
15. |
|
174 | 16 | |
| Another late season collapse from Notre Dame. They still have a strong resume, but it feels like much the same from Brian Kelly’s squad. Can the Irish miraculously sneak into the CFP with some Championship Week chaos?
|
||||
16. |
|
163 | 19 | |
| The Spartans dominated Rutgers and quietly finished tied for second in the nation’s toughest division. Unfortunately, Michigan State will probably miss out on a New Year’s Six Bowl.
|
||||
17. |
|
148 | 18 | |
| Along with Scott Frost, Mike Norvell might be the hottest G5 commodity in coaching circles. Memphis rolled to an easy win setting up a old fashioned shootout in the American Athletic Championship Game this weekend. The winner will get the G5 bid to the NY6 Bowl.
|
||||
18. |
|
147 | 21 | |
| The Tigers handled business in their final home game of 2017. Danny Etling led the way with 347 yards and three touchdowns as LSU steamrolled Texas A&M 45-21.
|
||||
19. |
|
141 | 23 | |
| Yet again, an Oklahoma State team with tremendous athletes and an explosive offense will finish the season watching other teams play in the big games. It seems like its the same old song and dance for the Cowboys.
|
||||
20. |
|
120 | 20 | |
| Northwestern has been in Wisconsin’s shadow all season in the Big Ten West. The Wildcats will get yet another opportunity to shine in a quality bowl game after a nine-win season. Does anyone do more with less than Pat Fitzgerald?
|
||||
21. |
|
96 | 14 | |
| An epic letdown for the Cougars on a cold and dreary night in Seattle. With a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game on the line, Washington State laid an absolute egg in the Apple Bowl. Look for another mid-December bowl for Old Crimson.
|
||||
22. |
|
85 | NR | |
| The young Hokies continue to show promise. But with Clemson, the rise of Miami, and the certain re-emergence of Florida State, it’s going to be tough for Justin Fuente and Company to get over the 9-3 hump.
|
||||
23. |
|
45 | 22 | |
| The first regular season under Charlie Strong comes to an end. At 9-2, this season was as much a success for Strong as it was for the Bulls.
|
||||
24. |
|
33 | 17 | |
| Not a good weekend for Mississippi State fans. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald suffered a gruesome injury, rumors are swirling about coach Dan Mullen, and they lost to a bowl-ineligible Ole Miss team lead by their back-up QB.
|
||||
25. |
|
24 | NR | |
| The Aztecs re-enter our poll on the strength of a ten win season and an early season win against surging Stanford. While the AAC probably has the G5 NY6 Bowl bid locked up, the Mountain West is still represented well. | ||||
NORTHWESTERN (9-3)
VIRGINIA TECH (9-3)
SAN DIEGO STATE (10-2)
Others Receiving Votes: Fresno State (8), Louisville (7), North Carolina State (6), Troy (5), James Madison (3), Toledo (2), Michigan (1).
Looking Ahead
We go from Rivalry Week straight into Championship Week. The College Football Playoff committee will, as they do every year, have some tough decisions to make. If Wisconsin loses, will a one-loss, division champion Wisconsin make it in? What about the loser of the ACC Championship Game? Does TCU make a big jump if they beat Oklahoma and claim the Big 12 title? And, the big question remains what to do with one-loss Alabama.
Only ten Power Five teams have a chance to play this weekend (Omitting FSU’s make-up game, of course). And just to be considered for the CFP, almost every team must win.
College football, as it should be.
About the Poll: Eighteen LWOCFB writers rank the Top 25 teams across the nation weekly to determine the best teams from around the country.
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