Last Word on College Football
2017 Final Regular Season Top 25
It’s here. After a regular season that shows why college football is the greatest sport on earth, Selection Sunday sets the stage for the sport’s second season.
Championship Weekend settled the score within the conferences, but there’s still questions left nationally. With Ohio State‘s win against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, will the Buckeyes edge out the title-less Alabama Crimson Tide for the fourth College Football Playoff spot? Or can USC stage a Coup de Playoffs and sneak in off the strength of their Pac-12 Championship?
And what about the only unbeaten in FBS football? UCF is not only the only unbeaten, but probably the most exciting team in the nation as well. They are certainly a lock for the the Group-of-Five New Year’s Six Bowl slot, but should they be considered for the elusive fourth CFP slot?
The CFP Committee has all the power today, but our 18 voters have been giving you rankings each week. Here is the final regular season Last Word On College Football Top 25 for the 2017 season.
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LAST WORD ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25
WEEK 14
(2017 Final Regular Season Top 25)
| Rank
|
Team
|
Points
|
Previous
|
|
1. |
|
450 | 1 | |
| The Tigers dominated Miami in the ACC Championship Game 38-3. Earning their third consecutive ACC championship and trip to the CFB Playoffs. Up next is the CFP Semifinals, likely in the Sugar Bowl.
|
||||
2. |
|
431 | 2 | |
| The Sooners used a dominating second half performance en route to a 41-17 victory and a third straight Big 12 championship. Oklahoma has secured a playoff spot for the second time in three years.
|
||||
3. |
|
415 | 6 | |
| The Bulldogs punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff with a 28-7 win over Auburn. In avenging their only loss of the season Georgia won its first SEC title since 2005. Jake Fromm continued his strong play throwing for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
|
||||
4. |
|
387 | 5 | |
| Alabama finishes the regular season with only one loss, but no titles — not even at the division level. Will the rare empty trophy case keep the Tide out of the CFP for the first time? Or will Bama roll in again on the strength of record?
|
||||
5. |
|
385 | 7 | |
|
Ohio State is locked in a battle with Alabama for the fourth spot. The Buckeyes have three things Alabama doesn’t: A conference championship, a second loss, and one really bad loss. This is why college football is so compelling.
|
||||
6. |
|
339 | 3 | |
| The Badgers weren’t able to wear down the Buckeyes like they have other teams this season. Ohio State’s explosive plays were the difference between a sure spot in the CFP and a likely spot in the NY6.
|
||||
7. |
|
330 | 11 | |
| The Trojans won the Pac-12 title for the first time since 2008 with a 31-28 win over Stanford Friday night. USC got 140 yards rushing with two touchdowns from Ronald Jones II. They also became the first Pac-12 South team to win the conference championship since the conference split into two divisions in 2011.
|
||||
8. |
|
321 | 4 | |
| The Tigers couldn’t repeat their home field success in the SEC Championship Game. Without Kerryon Johnson, and with Georgia’s defense playing much better, the Tigers shot the playoffs didn’t make it past the second series.
|
||||
9. |
|
312 | 10 | |
| Not only are the Knights FBS’ only undefeated team, but they’ve got to be the most exciting team as well. Two back-to-back weeks with instant classic wins against teams with a combined record of 22-3. America’s darling team.
|
||||
10. |
|
307 | 9 | |
|
Penn State is the one team that seems to be left out of the conversations with top ten teams. After winning the Big Ten last season and still getting jumped by Ohio State, you can see why Nittany Lion fans feel like they aren’t getting respect. |
||||
11. |
|
270 | 8 | |
| The comeback season ended under the lights of Bank of America Stadium for the Hurricanes. It’s apparent Miami isn’t ready for the big stage yet. But a decent bowl berth and win will show that “The U” is back and will be a force to be reckoned with in the ACC for years to come.
|
||||
12. |
|
238 | 13 | |
| The Cardinal fought gamely before falling to USC in the Pac-12 Title Game, 31-28. Stanford will most likely conclude its 2017 season in either the Holiday Bowl or Alamo Bowl.
|
||||
13. |
|
229 | 12 | |
| TCU couldn’t keep up with Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game. Kenny Hill staged a comeback in the 2nd quarter, but the Frogs fell to The Sooners 41-17. The only question now is will they end up in the NY6 or not?
|
||||
14. |
|
205 | 14 | |
| The Huskies sat at home this week, content at spoiling Washington State’s P12 Championship dreams the week before. Next, Washington will await its bowl assignment, which will almost certainly be either a NY6, Alamo or Holiday Bowl.
|
||||
15. |
|
199 | 15 | |
| After a great start to the season, the Irish finish losing two of their last three. But the Irish still have a great resume, losing three games to three division winning teams with a combined seven losses.
|
||||
16. |
|
160 | 16 | |
| The Spartans just didn’t have the depth to compete over the long haul of the season. Nine wins against a top-heavy Big Ten East is still a quality 2017 season for Dantonio and company.
|
||||
17. |
|
158 | 18 | |
| The Tigers righted the ship after a shocking loss to Troy to finish in the Top 25. Ed Orgeron has a successful first season, but everyone knows that things can turn quickly on a coach in the SEC.
|
||||
18. |
|
153 | 19 | |
| Another round of Mike Gundy drama in Stillwater this week. The Cowboys keep their coach and find out shortly where they’ll be playing in late December after another late season let down.
|
||||
19. |
|
120 | 20 | |
| Pat Fitzgerald might be the most under-rated coach in football. Yet again, he’s in the final regular season poll with nine wins at a small school with limited resources. Northwestern should be glad he loves where he’s at.
|
||||
20. |
|
111 | 21 | |
| Washington State is very similar to Oklahoma State. Always threatening to break through, but never quite getting that elusive championship. Will Mike Leach be in Pullman next season to make another run?
|
||||
21. |
|
102 | 17 | |
| The Tigers took UCF into overtime. Their only losses this season were to UCF, and with a win over UCLA, look for Memphis to be in a relatively high-level bowl. Will Mike Norvell stay in Memphis for 2018?
|
||||
22. |
|
73 | 22 | |
| 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. |
|
38 | 24 | |
| The Bulldogs keep their spot in the Top 25 even after a fourth loss to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. If the CFP sees this the way our voters do, this will help Alabama get into the top four.
|
||||
24. |
|
32 | NR | |
| Boise State avenged their loss to Fresno State a week ago by winning another Mountain West championship in Boise on Saturday. All the Broncos do is just win, year in and year out.
|
||||
25. |
|
31 | NR | |
| The Wolfpack sneak back into the Top 25 on the strength of the ACC and Notre Dame. Much like Virginia Tech, it’s going to be hard for N.C. State to move up the ladder in the ACC because of the dominance of the top teams. | ||||
VIRGINIA TECH (9-3)
Others Receiving Votes: USF (24), Louisville (12), James Madison (4), San Diego State (4), South Carolina (3), Toledo (3), Troy (2), Florida Atlantic (1), Kansas State (1).
Looking Ahead
We’ll find out how the CFP Committee sees things shortly. And then all of these teams will get one more chance to move up (or down) during Bowl season.
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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