The latest AP Poll Top 25 rankings are out after a wild Week 12 in college football. The landscape? It’s shifting fast. From jaw-dropping comebacks to blowouts, the playoff race is getting intense.
There are only a couple weeks left in the regular season, so every snap suddenly feels like it matters. Let’s take a look at the biggest highlights and changes in the AP Poll as we head for the finish line.
Ohio State Dominates to Retain Top Spot
Ohio State still owns the top spot. They rolled past UCLA with a 48-10 win, moving to 10-0.
The Buckeyes looked sharp on offense, with quarterback Julian Sayin passing for 184 yards and a touchdown before sitting out the second half. Their defense made things miserable for UCLA, who couldn’t get much going without Nico Iamaleava.
Indiana’s Unbeaten Streak Continues
Indiana just keeps winning. Now 11-0, they’re hanging near the top of the poll.
Head coach Curt Cignetti’s squad has been steady all season, and it’s hard not to respect how they keep grinding out victories.
Texas A&M’s Miraculous Comeback
Texas A&M pulled off the weekend’s wildest comeback. Down 30-3 at halftime against South Carolina, they stormed back with 28 unanswered points and won 31-30.
That keeps the Aggies perfect at 10-0 and sets them up nicely for the SEC title game. What a turnaround.
Georgia’s Season-Defining Win
Georgia looked every bit the contender in their win over Texas. They controlled the game from start to finish.
With two games left, the Bulldogs are still lurking in the top five and look like a real threat for both the CFP and SEC title.
Ole Miss and Texas Tech Stay Strong
Ole Miss avoided an upset scare from Florida, thanks mostly to Kewan Lacy’s monster day—224 yards and three scores. The Rebels are still in the top 10, chasing their first-ever playoff berth.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, handled UCF and improved to 10-1. Cameron Dickey and Reggie Virgil each found the end zone twice, and the Red Raiders have locked in a top-10 spot.
Oregon and Oklahoma’s Key Wins
Oregon rebounded from a sloppy outing against Iowa, blasting Minnesota 42-13 to reach 9-1. Their earlier loss to Indiana might haunt them, but the Ducks are still hanging around the playoff conversation.
Oklahoma picked up a big win over Alabama. A clutch pick-six from Eli Bowen and some timely field goals pushed the Sooners back into the top 10.
Notre Dame and Alabama’s Mixed Fortunes
Notre Dame stretched its winning streak to eight with a 37-15 win over Pitt. Jeremiyah Love stood out, racking up 147 yards and a touchdown.
Alabama, on the other hand, dropped a close one to Oklahoma, 23-21. The Tide had a shot at the end but couldn’t finish, snapping their eight-game streak and picking up their first SEC loss.
Movers and Shakers in the AP Poll
Here’s how the rankings shifted this week:
- BYU up one to 11th.
- Vanderbilt up one to 12th.
- Utah up two to 13th.
- Miami up two to 14th.
- Georgia Tech down one to 15th.
- USC up one to 16th.
- Texas down seven to 17th.
- Michigan stays at 18th.
- Virginia up one to 19th.
- Tennessee up one to 20th.
- James Madison down three to 21st.
- North Texas new at 22nd.
- Missouri new at 23rd.
- Tulane new at 24th.
- Houston new at 25th.
Others getting votes: Navy, Illinois, SMU, Arizona State, Louisville, Iowa, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Arizona, UNLV, Washington, South Florida, East Carolina, and UConn. Some surprises there? Maybe, but that’s what makes this time of year so fun.
Looking Ahead
The regular season’s winding down, and honestly, the College Football Playoff race is just wild right now. Every game feels like it could flip the script for a team—one mistake and it might all be over.
Some of these matchups? They’re about as dramatic as it gets. The stakes are sky-high, and it feels like anything can happen.
Want to keep up with the latest rankings? Check out the AP Poll Top 25 rankings.
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