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College Football Rankings Week 15: B/R's Official Top 25

Brian PedersenNov 29, 2014

With nearly every team playing its final game of the regular season, this weekend was supposed to reveal the best college football teams in the country. But did we get clarity, or just more confusion, based on the Week 14 results? You'll have to check out our rankings to see.

The Bleacher Report Top 25 is voted on by 19 members of our college football team: writers Keith Arnold, Ben Axelrod, Phil Callihan, Justin Ferguson, Andrew Hall, Kyle Kensing, David Kenyon, Ben Kercheval, Adam Kramer, Brian Leigh, Brian Pedersen, Barrett Sallee, Brad Shepard, Erin Sorensen, Marc Torrence and Greg Wallace, as well as editors Eric Bowman, Hunter Mandel and Max Rausch.

Each voter submits their ballots based on observations made during the just-completed week's games. Teams receive 25 points for a first-place vote, all the way down to one point for being ranked 25th, and then the top 25 vote-getters are ranked in order of their point totals.

Check out B/R's Week 15 poll, then give us your thoughts in the comments section.

Others Receiving Votes

1 of 26

Nebraska fell out of contention for a Big Ten title a week ago, but the Cornhuskers still had a rivalry game to play this weekend. It was a fun one Friday when they went to Iowa and escaped with a 37-34 victory, but it wasn't enough to get back into the rankings.

Here are the teams that received votes but didn't earn enough to be in our Top 25.

  • Nebraska (25)
  • LSU (17)
  • Utah (15)
  • Memphis (14)
  • Marshall (13)
  • Stanford (11)
  • Duke (4)
  • Arkansas (3)
  • Western Kentucky (1)

25. Colorado State Rams

2 of 26

Week 14 result: Lost 27-24 at Air Force

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 35

Last week's ranking: 24th

Colorado State (10-2, 6-2 Mountain West) saw its nine-game win streak end when Air Force kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired.

The Rams trailed 24-10 before scoring twice to knot the game, tying it at 24-24 on a two-yard TD catch by Rashard Higgins from Garrett Grayson. Higgins had 12 receptions for 193 yards and two TDs, while Grayson threw for 366 yards and three TDs.

Dee Hart also ran for 115 yards for the Rams, who have their first 10-win season since 2002.

24. USC Trojans

3 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 49-14 vs. Notre Dame

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 37

Last week's ranking: 25th (tied)

USC (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) got six touchdown passes from Cody Kessler in a dominating win over Notre Dame, as it was leading 35-0 in the second quarter.

Kessler had five TD passes in the first half, finishing with 372 yards on 32-of-40 passing. George Farmer caught two TD passes, while Nelson Agholor caught 12 balls for 120 yards and a TD.

Javorius Allen ran for 93 yards, and Justin Davis added 81 for the Trojans, who amassed 577 total yards and held Notre Dame to 349. The Trojans intercepted Everett Golson once and held him to 61 yards of total offense.

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23. Minnesota Golden Gophers

4 of 26

Week 14 result: Lost 34-24 at Wisconsin

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 48

Last week's ranking: 22nd (tied)

Minnesota (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) fell short of winning the West Division title, squandering a 14-point second-half lead at Wisconsin.

The Golden Gophers led 17-3 before Wisconsin scored 24 points in less than 15 minutes to take control, preventing them from their first trip to the Big Ten title game.

David Cobb ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Mitch Leidner had two rushing scores but only threw for 95 yards on 5-of-18 passing. Minnesota slowed Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon in the first half, but the nation's leading rusher finished with 151 yards.

22. Boise State Broncos

5 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 50-19 vs. Utah State

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Fresno State in Mountain West championship game

Poll points: 73

Last week's ranking: Not ranked

Boise State (10-2, 7-1 Mountain West) clinched the Mountain Division title with an impressive home win over the Aggies and will host the conference championship game next weekend. A win there will likely cinch up the Broncos' spot in a major bowl, as they currently rank as the highest-rated team from a Group of Five conference.

Jay Ajayi ran for 229 yards and five touchdowns for Boise, while Grant Hedrick threw for 191 yards and two TDs on 18-of-24 passing.

Boise forced three Utah State turnovers and held the Aggies to 268 yards.

21. Louisville Cardinals

6 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 44-40 vs. Kentucky

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 98

Last week's ranking: 22nd (tied)

Louisville (9-3, 5-3 ACC) rallied to a rivalry win for Bluegrass State supremacy behind freshman quarterback Kyle Bolin, who after replacing injured starter Reggie Bonnafon (knee) in the first half carried the Cardinals offense.

Bolin threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-31 passing, with DeVante Parker catching six balls for 180 yards and three scores. However, it was Brandon Radcliff's second rushing TD of the day, from four yards out, that gave Louisville the winning score with 2:47 left.

Louisville won despite committing four turnovers, icing the game when Gerod Holliman intercepted his 14th pass of the season to tie the FBS single-season record.

20. Auburn Tigers

7 of 26

Week 14 result: Lost 55-44 at Alabama

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 113

Last week's ranking: 16th

Auburn (8-4, 4-4 SEC) seemed unstoppable for many parts of the Iron Bowl and on pace for a second straight victory in the classic rivalry matchup. Then its season-long issue of making stops on defense reared its ugly head, turning what was a nine-point lead late in the third quarter into a near-blowout.

The Tigers gained 630 yards against an Alabama defense that came in surrendering just 283.5 per game, allowing them to lead 36-27 with 3:30 left in the third. But then the Crimson Tide scored touchdowns on four straight possessions, while Auburn's own offense began to sputter after moving at will for three periods.

Nick Marshall threw for a school-record 456 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-43 passing, but a key interception during Alabama's run helped swing momentum. The Tigers got 206 receiving yards and two scores from Sammie Coates, while D'haquille Williams had 121 receiving yards, but their run game only contributed one TD.

Auburn had to kick five field goals after getting stuffed in the red zone, including three times in the first half.

19. Clemson Tigers

8 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 35-17 vs. South Carolina

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 130

Last week's ranking: 21st

Clemson (9-3, 6-2 ACC) ended a five-game losing streak to its in-state rival, paced by freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson's heroic performance.

Watson threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores, despite playing with a torn ACL, according to coach Dabo Swinney.

"Watson, who sprained the knee against Georgia Tech two weeks ago, tore the ACL in practice last week, Swinney said," according to ESPN.com's David M. Hale. "Clemson was told that with a brace securing the knee, Watson could continue to play without risking additional damage."

The Tigers also got 191 rushing yards and a TD from Wayne Gallman, and Artavis Scott had seven catches for 185 yards and both of Clemson's TD receptions.

18. Oklahoma Sooners

9 of 26

Week 14 result: Bye

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Oklahoma State

Poll points: 138

Last week's ranking: 19th

Oklahoma (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) was the lone ranked team to sit out Thanksgiving weekend, getting an extra stretch of rest before the annual Bedlam clash with Oklahoma State. That means freshman running back Samaje Perine should be fresh as he tries to follow up his record-setting performance from a week ago.

Perine ran for 427 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Kansas, setting the FBS single-game mark.

The Sooners could get back quarterback Trevor Knight, who missed the last two games with a neck injury.

17. UCLA Bruins

10 of 26

Week 14 result: Lost 31-10 vs. Stanford

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 163

Last week's ranking: 9th (tied)

UCLA (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) squandered its chance to win the South Division, needing only a home victory against a struggling team but instead getting blown out as its offense was stifled.

Quarterback Brett Hundley threw a 15-yard touchdown pass less than four minutes into the game but finished with only 146 yards on 17-of-32 passing. Hundley was also held to minus-18 rushing yards, getting sacked four times and never gaining more than three yards on any run.

The Bruins led 10-7 early in the second quarter before Stanford dominated the rest of the game. It was UCLA's third home loss this season.

16. Arizona State Sun Devils

11 of 26

Week 14 result: Lost 42-35 at Arizona

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 172

Last week's ranking: 12th

Arizona State (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) lost the Territorial Cup for the first time since 2011, failing to rally late despite a spark from a change at quarterback.

Backup passer Mike Bercovici came in for the Sun Devils while the team was trailing 35-21 in the fourth quarter, and he threw for 123 yards and two touchdowns after Taylor Kelly had tossed two TD passes and 144 yards. But Bercovici's interception on his second drive set up Arizona's final touchdown with 8:31 left.

The Sun Devils, who won the South Division a season ago, held Arizona to 333 yards and forced two turnovers, but they also allowed seven sacks and a defensive touchdown when Kelly was stripped on the opening possession and Arizona's Anthony Lopez returned the loose ball 25 yards for the score.

ASU had a defensive score itself, with Demetrius Cherry's two-yard fumble-return TD tying the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.

15. Georgia Bulldogs

12 of 26

Week 14 result: Lost 30-24 (in OT) vs. Georgia Tech

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 205

Last week's ranking: 8th

Georgia (9-3, 6-2 SEC) took a three-point lead with 18 seconds left in regulation but then gave up a 53-yard field goal to force overtime. Quarterback Hutson Mason was then intercepted after Georgia Tech had taken the lead, causing the Bulldogs' first loss to their rivals since 2008.

Mason, who threw for 194 yards on 18-of-28 passing, gave Georgia a 24-21 lead on a three-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Mitchell with 18 seconds remaining. Georgia's other TDs came on a 99-yard fumble-return score by Damian Swann and a one-yard run from Nick Chubb, who ran for 129 yards for his seventh consecutive 100-yard game.

Tech scored on its first overtime possession, a two-yard run from Zach Laskey. The Bulldogs blocked the extra point, however, setting up the opportunity to win with a touchdown, but Mason's pass on 2nd-and-goal from the 9-yard line was picked off by D.J. White.

14. Missouri Tigers

13 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 21-14 vs. Arkansas

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Alabama in SEC championship game, Atlanta

Poll points: 210

Last week's ranking: 17th

Missouri (10-2, 7-1 SEC) wrapped up a second consecutive East Division title by rallying from a 14-3 deficit at home, getting a 12-yard touchdown run from Marcus Murphy with 4:38 left for the winning score.

The Tigers locked up the victory when Markus Golden recovered an Arkansas fumble with 2:13 left.

"Missouri wouldn't have been in position to win the East without Markus Golden, and they wouldn't have won Saturday's game without him, either," wrote Greg Ostendorf of ESPN.com. "Golden, the reigning SEC defensive player of the week, finished with three tackles, two for a loss, a forced fumble and recovered a fumble on the Razorbacks' final drive to seal the victory."

Missouri trailed 14-6 entering the fourth quarter but tied it on a four-yard TD pass from Maty Mauk to Jimmie Hunt with 12:41 left. A Bud Sasser pass to Darius White for the two-point conversion completed the comeback.

Mauk threw for 265 yards on 25-of-42 passing, and Missouri racked up 423 yards against an Arkansas team that had shut out its previous two opponents.

13. Ole Miss Rebels

14 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 31-17 vs. Mississippi State

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 224

Last week's ranking: 18th

Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3 SEC) avenged last season's overtime loss to its in-state rival and ruined Mississippi State's playoff hopes with a solid Egg Bowl victory.

Bo Wallace threw for 296 yards and ran for a one-yard touchdown in his final home game. Backup quarterback Jeremy Liggins added another one-yard TD run. Ole Miss scored three times on the ground, including a 91-yard scoring rush from Jaylen Walton, who finished with 148 yards.

The Rebels' only passing TD came on a 31-yard throw from Jordan Wilkins to Cody Core that gave them a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter.

12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

15 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 30-24 (in OT) at Georgia

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Florida State in ACC championship game, Charlotte, North Carolina

Poll points: 263

Last week's ranking: 15th

Georgia Tech (10-2, 6-2 ACC) ended a five-game skid in the rivalry game known as "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate," forcing overtime with a long field goal on the final play of regulation and then cinching the victory with an interception.

The Yellow Jackets fell behind 24-21 with 18 seconds left but then tied the game on a 53-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. Zach Laskey scored on a two-yard run in OT, but the extra point was blocked. Yet that miss didn't matter after D.J. White intercepted Hutson Mason at the 5-yard line.

Tech ran for 399 yards, with Laskey gaining 140 yards with three TDs. Quarterback Justin Thomas managed only 98 yards of total offense and a passing TD, and his fumble with less than three minutes left in regulation set up Georgia's go-ahead score.

The Yellow Jackets clinched their first 10-win season since 2009 and will be playing in their third ACC title game.

11. Wisconsin Badgers

16 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 34-24 vs. Minnesota

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Ohio State in Big Ten championship game, Indianapolis

Poll points: 288

Last week's ranking: 14th

Wisconsin (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) fought back from a 17-3 hole to win the West Division title, while Melvin Gordon continued to climb the single-season rushing charts.

Gordon ran for 151 yards and a touchdown, a one-yard scamper with 10:57 left that capped a 24-0 run for the Badgers and gave them a 27-17 lead. Gordon has rushed for 2,260 yards this season, fourth best in FBS history.

The Badgers have won seven straight since a 20-14 loss at Northwestern, but for the second straight home game they trailed by double digits early only to rally for the victory.

Joel Stave threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-18 passing, while Corey Clement ran for 89 yards and a score. Wisconsin will be playing in the Big Ten title game for the third time in four seasons, beating Michigan State in 2011 and Nebraska in 2012.

10. Kansas State Wildcats

17 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 51-13 vs. Kansas

Up next: Dec. 6 at Baylor

Poll points: 303

Last week's ranking: 11th

Kansas State (9-2, 7-1 Big 12) breezed past rival Kansas at home behind another record-setting day from wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who broke one more of his father's school career records and tied another.

Lockett had nine catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns, the second a six-yard reception from Jake Waters in the second quarter that gave him 26 for his career to tie Kevin Lockett's school mark. He broke his father's receptions record, with the son's total now sitting at 222, and already had beat Kevin's school record for career receiving yardage.

Waters threw four TD passes and completed 21 of 27 passes for 294 yards, with Curry Sexton making nine catches for 141 yards and a score. The Wildcats, who beat the Jayhawks for the sixth straight year, held Kansas to 197 yards and intercepted two passes.

K-State will get a chance to play for a piece of the Big 12 title next week at Baylor, a game that could also help determine if the conference gets a team into the playoffs.

9. Mississippi State Bulldogs

18 of 26

Week 14 result: Lost 31-17 at Ole Miss

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 304

Last week's ranking: 4th

Mississippi State (10-2, 6-2 SEC) saw its playoff dreams die at the hands of its rival, losing the Egg Bowl and ceding the West Division title to Alabama.

The Bulldogs led 10-7 in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run from Dak Prescott, who also threw for 282 yards and a TD. But then Ole Miss scored 17 unanswered points to take control, including a 91-yard TD run by Jaylen Walton.

MSU pulled within 24-17 on Prescott's 32-yard TD pass to De'Runnya Wilson early in the fourth quarter, but Ole Miss bumped its lead back to 14 with 9:14 remaining. The Bulldogs ran for 163 yards but only got 44 from Josh Robinson, his fifth straight game under 70 yards.

The Bulldogs allowed 532 yards, including 205 on the ground.

8. Arizona Wildcats

19 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 42-35 vs. Arizona State

Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Oregon in Pac-12 championship game, Santa Clara, California

Poll points: 334

Last week's ranking: 13th

Arizona (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12) won the South Division title behind a big-play defense, efficient offense and some help from Stanford to set up a second game with Oregon in the conference championship.

The Wildcats' victory over the Sun Devils was their first since 2011, and combined with UCLA's loss at home to Stanford, it gave them their first outright Pac-12 division or conference title ever. It also marked the program's first 10-win season since 1998.

Nick Wilson ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns, including a 72-yard run midway through the third quarter to give Arizona a 35-21 lead. After ASU pulled within a touchdown and got the ball back, Tra'Mayne Bondurant intercepted ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici to set up a game-cinching 20-yard TD pass from Anu Solomon to Samajie Grant.

Solomon threw for 208 yards and two TDs on 15-of-21 passing, with Grant hauling in both TDs. Arizona's defense chipped in with seven sacks and two takeaways, the first a fumble recovery that Anthony Lopez brought back 25 yards for the game's opening TD.

Arizona is the only team to have beaten Oregon this season, winning 31-24 in Eugene on Oct. 2.

7. Michigan State Spartans

20 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 34-10 at Penn State

Up next: TBD bowl game

Poll points: 336

Last week's ranking: 9th (tied)

Michigan State (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) was held to a season low in yardage, 298, but thanks to defense and special teams it had little trouble cruising past host Penn State to reach 10 wins for the fourth time in the past five seasons.

R.J. Shelton opened the game with a 90-yard kickoff-return touchdown for the Spartans, who only led 13-3 at halftime. The offense woke up in the second half, with Jeremy Langford scoring on a pair of short TD runs as part of his 118 yards for the day, while Tony Lippett caught a 10-yard TD pass from Connor Cook.

Cook threw for 180 yards on 13-of-25 passing.

MSU held Penn State to 233 yards, including only 38 on the ground, and forced two turnovers.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

21 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 42-28 vs. Michigan

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Wisconsin in Big Ten championship game, Indianapolis

Poll points: 388

Last week's ranking: 7th

Ohio State (11-1, 8-0 Big Ten) earned what could best be described as a costly victory, wrapping up a perfect regular season in conference play but in the process losing its top offensive playmaker to injury.

Redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett went down with what was later determined to be a broken ankle early in the fourth quarter. The injury happened on a run play, with OSU leading 28-21, after Barrett had thrown for 176 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 89 yards and two scores.

"We lost a Heisman candidate today," Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said after the game.

Cardale Jones replaced Barrett and led OSU on a scoring drive capped by Ezekiel Elliott's 44-yard TD run, then Darron Lee scored on a 33-yard fumble return one minute later for a 21-point lead. Elliott finished with 121 rushing yards and two TDs.

OSU has lost two quarterbacks this season, with Braxton Miller going down with a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp. Barrett had accounted for 3,772 yards of total offense and 45 TDs.

5. Baylor Bears

22 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 48-46 vs. Texas Tech (in Arlington, Texas)

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Kansas State

Poll points: 391

Last week's ranking: 5th

Baylor (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) still has a chance to make a statement in its regular-season finale, against a highly ranked Kansas State team, but it did itself no favors in the eyes of the playoff selection committee with Saturday's performance.

The Bears led 42-17 with 6:44 left in the third quarter, its last score coming on a 27-yard touchdown catch by Levi Norwood from Seth Russell, who came in after Bryce Petty took a hit to the head and left the game. Petty was diagnosed with a "mild concussion," according to Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports.

Baylor's defense struggled all game to slow down Texas Tech's passing game, allowing 598 yards and six touchdowns to freshman Patrick Mahomes and 712 yards overall. The Red Raiders pulled within two points with 1:42 left, but Baylor's defense sacked Mahomes on the two-point conversion play to seal the victory.

Petty threw for 210 yards and two TDs before his injury, while Russell threw for 82 yards and a TD. Shock Linwood ran for 158 yards and two scores.

Despite a win over TCU earlier this season, Baylor has trailed TCU in the playoff rankings all year. According to Graham Watson of Yahoo Sports, "Baylor probably will have to have a superior effort against Kansas State to even get close to TCU, and that could be difficult if quarterback Bryce Petty isn’t able to play."

4. TCU Horned Frogs

23 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 48-10 at Texas

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Iowa State

Poll points: 411

Last week's ranking: 6th

TCU (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) turned what could have been a dangerous holiday road game into a resume-polishing blowout, using six turnovers to romp past Texas on Thanksgiving.

The Horned Frogs only had 368 yards, a season low, but they scored two defensive touchdowns and had four scoring drives start in Texas territory.

Trevone Boykin threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 50 yards and a score, while Aaron Green ran for 73 yards and a TD. TCU's other TDs came on a 40-yard fumble return by Terrell Lathan and a 33-yard interception return by Josh Carraway.

TCU can clinch a share of its first Big 12 title with a win next week over last-place Iowa State.

3. Florida State Seminoles

24 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 24-19 vs. Florida

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Georgia Tech in ACC championship game, Charlotte, North Carolina

Poll points: 438 (one first-place vote)

Last week's ranking: 3rd

Florida State (12-0, 8-0 ACC) slightly tweaked its nearly season-long script by holding on to a late lead rather than scoring late for the victory, winning its 28th straight game despite a horrible first half from quarterback Jameis Winston.

Winston was intercepted three times in the first quarter, and four times overall, as he finished with just 125 passing yards along with two touchdowns. Both of those came in the second quarter, giving the Seminoles a 21-9 lead.

FSU trailed 9-0 before Terrance Smith scored on a 94-yard interception return. It held the lead the entire second half, but after Roberto Aguayo's 37-yard field goal with 3:23 left upped the lead to five points, FSU needed a defensive stop to thwart a Florida comeback.

Though the Seminoles finished a second straight regular season without a loss, their play of late doesn't bode well for remaining perfect, especially with a tough game coming in the ACC title match.

"Good luck preparing for Georgia Tech's option offense on a week's notice," wrote Jon Solomon of CBS Sports. "If the Seminoles end up undefeated, they will have earned it next week."

2. Oregon Ducks

25 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 47-19 at Oregon State

Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Arizona in Pac-12 championship game, Santa Clara, California

Poll points: 456 (three first-place votes)

Last week's ranking: 2nd

Oregon (11-1, 8-1 Pac-12) made quick work of its in-state rivals to win a seventh straight Civil War, likely the final game played in the state by Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Mariota, considered a major contender for the Heisman Trophy, accounted for 406 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. He threw for 367 yards and four TDs on 19-of-25 passing and ran for 39 yards and two scores.

Byron Marshall had 165 yards of total offense, including a 77-yard TD catch, and Royce Freeman ran for 135 yards as Oregon racked up 565 total yards.

The Ducks, who held Oregon State to 362 yards, get a chance to avenge their only loss of the season when they face Arizona in Friday's Pac-12 title game.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

26 of 26

Week 14 result: Won 55-44 vs. Auburn

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Missouri in SEC championship game, Atlanta

Poll points: 470 (15 first-place votes)

Last week's ranking: 1st

Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) had already locked up a spot in the SEC title game before kickoff, but the Crimson Tide still needed to look impressive in the Iron Bowl to remain in the good graces of the selection committee.

Scoring 28 points in less than a quarter of play in the second half to turn a close game into a runaway helped in that effort.

The Crimson Tide avenged last season's last-second loss to Auburn by scoring four touchdowns in 14:34, going from down 36-27 late in the third quarter to leading by 19 points with 3:46 left in the fourth. A 75-yard touchdown pass from Blake Sims to Amari Cooper—who had 13 catches for 224 yards and three TDs—started the comeback, just 10 seconds after Auburn took a nine-point lead.

Sims threw for 312 yards and four TDs, but he was also intercepted three times. The last of those picks came early in the third quarter, allowing Auburn to convert the takeaway into a TD for a 33-21 lead.

T.J. Yeldon ran for 127 yards and two TDs, while Henry added a 25-yard TD run. Sims also had a rushing score.

It was the highest-scoring game in Iron Bowl history, with Alabama also scoring its most points ever against Auburn.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.

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