The top 12 teams in the AP Top 25 all won their games in Week 11, leaving the upper ranks largely unchanged heading into Week 12. Oregon and Ohio State, however, made noticeable progress after convincing victories, while some teams near the bottom of the rankings faced setbacks.
Oregon overwhelmed Michigan 31-7 on Saturday at Autzen Stadium, with quarterback Dylan Raiola celebrating a touchdown from wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan. Their dominant performance pushed the Ducks up from 18th to 15th in the latest AP poll prediction, reflecting growing confidence in their late-season surge.
Ohio State also climbed the ladder, beating Northwestern 28-19 and moving from 22nd to 19th in the rankings. The Buckeyes’ solid win helped them leapfrog several teams, edging closer to the top 15, where they could contend for a major bowl game spot.
At the top of the table, Georgia maintained its position as No. 1 after a 48-21 win over Missouri, while Utah stayed No. 2 following a narrow 40-39 victory against Arizona. UCLA, Notre Dame, Miami, and Indiana also held steady in the top six after their respective wins. Miami’s 36-25 triumph over Duke may result in a slight drop, but the poll is expected to keep the overall order intact.
The middle of the rankings saw Boise State, Iowa, BYU, and Wake Forest all preserve their spots with wins. Iowa’s 28-7 win against Purdue earned them a jump from 16th to 13th, while Boise State’s 46-41 victory over Oregon State kept them at 14th.
Louisville and Liberty entered the rankings, debuting at 24th and 25th respectively after close victories. Louisville edged North Carolina 16-14, and Liberty topped Middle Tennessee 28-23. Florida also reappeared at 21st after a 21-14 win over Kentucky.
Some teams lost ground following defeats. Houston dropped from 14th to 22nd after a 42-32 loss to Colorado, and South Carolina, which fell out of the rankings, suffered another defeat. LSU slipped from 25th to unranked after a narrow 22-21 loss to Texas. USC dropped from 15th to 18th after losing 27-13 to Indiana, while Kentucky fell from 13th to 17th.
Ole Miss’s position remains uncertain for this ranking cycle as their game against Oklahoma is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, after the poll deadline. The AP Top 25 will treat Ole Miss as if they had a bye week, maintaining their previous 19th place until the result is confirmed.
Texas Tech, Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama all held their spots within the top 10 after convincing wins. Texas Tech crushed Oklahoma State 52-27, Texas narrowly defeated LSU 22-21, Tennessee beat Texas A&M 22-7, and Alabama downed Vanderbilt 21-6.
The Week 12 AP poll, released Sunday evening, is expected to reflect these outcomes with little movement at the top but noticeable shifts in the lower half of the rankings. The biggest changes are likely to come from teams like Oregon and Ohio State rising, while Houston, South Carolina, and New Mexico are predicted to fall or drop out.
The college football season edges closer to its climax with teams jockeying for positioning. The top 12 holding steady suggests a tight race for playoff spots, while battles for rankings beyond the top ten continue to shape the postseason picture.
According to Yahoo Sports.
