College Football Rankings 2014: Power Ranking All 128 Teams for Week 12
Now that the College Football Playoff selection committee has begun releasing its weekly rankings, it's become the most important Top 25 in the country. This isn't up for debate.
But when it comes to the most comprehensive ranking of all 128 FBS programs, look no further than Bleacher Report's weekly power rankings.
The rankings are comprised of an average of five ratings: The Associated Press media and Amway Coaches polls, Bleacher Report's Top 25, ratings guru Jeff Sagarin's computer ratings and my personal ranking.
Take a look at how the 128 FBS teams are ranked heading into Week 12 and then give us your take in the comments section.
Nos. 128-91
1 of 53
Interim coach Clint Bowen got his first win with Kansas in Saturday's 34-14 victory over Iowa State, matching the same number of conference victories that predecessors Charlie Weis and Turner Gill each had in multiple seasons on the job.
The Jayhawks gained 514 yards of total offense, getting 100-yard rushing games from both Corey Avery and Tony Pierson.
- 128. Georgia State (1-9, 0-7 Sun Belt)
- 127. Eastern Michigan (2-7, 1-4 Mid-American)
- 125. (tie) SMU (0-8, 0-4 American)
- 125. (tie) New Mexico State (2-8, 1-5 Sun Belt)
- 123. (tie) Troy (2-8, 2-4 Sun Belt)
- 123. (tie) Kent State (1-8, 0-5 Mid-American)
- 122. UNLV (2-8, 1-5 Mountain West)
- 121. Miami, Ohio (2-8, 2-4 Mid-American)
- 120. Idaho (1-8, 1-5 Sun Belt)
- 118. (tie) Tulsa (2-7, 2-4 American). The Golden Hurricane snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 38-28 home win over SMU. Dane Evans threw for 286 yards and five touchdowns, while Zack Langer ran for 167 yards.
- 118. (tie) Massachusetts (2-7, 2-3 American)
- 117. Army (3-6)
- 116. Connecticut (2-7, 1-3 American)
- 115. Florida International (3-7, 2-4 Conference USA)
- 114. Buffalo (3-6, 1-4 Mid-American)
- 113. Southern Mississippi (3-7, 1-5 Conference USA)
- 112. Florida Atlantic (3-7, 2-4 Conference USA)
- 111. Hawaii (2-8, 1-4 Mountain West)
- 110. Wake Forest (2-7, 0-5 ACC)
- 108. (tie) UTSA (2-7, 1-4 Conference USA)
- 108. (tie) Old Dominion (4-6, 2-4 Conference USA)
- 107. North Texas (3-6, 1-4 Conference USA)
- 106. New Mexico (3-6, 1-4 Mountain West)
- 105. Appalachian State (4-5, 3-2 Sun Belt). The Mountaineers won their third straight game, 31-29 at home over Louisiana-Monroe, as Bentlee Critcher kicked a 39-yard field goal with 29 seconds left.
- 104. Louisiana-Monroe (3-6, 2-3 Sun Belt)
- 103. South Florida (2-6, 2-3 American)
- 102. Tulane (3-6, 2-3 American). The Green Wave kept their faint bowl hopes alive with a 31-24 upset win at Houston. Tanner Lee tossed three touchdown passes, and Dontrell Hilliard scored TDs on a rush and reception while recording 192 all-purpose yards.
- 101. Ohio (5-5, 3-3 Mid-American)
- 100. South Alabama (5-4, 4-3 Sun Belt)
- 99. Ball State (3-6, 2-3 Mid-American)
- 98. Kansas (3-6, 1-5 Big 12)
- 97. Wyoming (4-6, 2-4 Mountain West)
- 96. Akron (4-5, 2-3 Mid-American)
- 94. (tie) Texas State (5-4, 3-2 Sun Belt)
- 94. (tie) San Jose State (3-6, 2-3 Mountain West)
- 93. Vanderbilt (3-7, 0-6 SEC)
- 92. Colorado (2-8, 0-7 Pac-12)
- 91. UAB (5-5, 3-3 Conference USA)
Nos. 90-61
2 of 53
It's been a down year for Fresno State, but the Bulldogs are still alive to defend their Mountain West title after beating San Jose State 38-24 at home on Saturday.
A year after winning 11 games and starting 10-0, Fresno opened this season 0-3, yet is only a half-game behind Nevada and San Diego State for first place in the West Division. The Bulldogs beat SDSU and visit Nevada on Nov. 22.
- 90. UTEP (5-4, 3-2 Conference USA)
- 89. Western Kentucky (4-5, 2-4 Conference USA)
- 88. Fresno State (4-6, 3-3 Mountain West)
- 87. Indiana (3-6, 0-5 Big Ten)
- 86. Purdue (3-7, 1-5 Big Ten)
- 85. Iowa State (2-7, 0-6 Big 12)
- 84. Texas Tech (3-6, 1-5 Big 12)
- 83. Middle Tennessee (5-4, 4-1 Conference USA)
- 82. Illinois (4-5, 1-4 Big Ten)
- 81. Syracuse (3-7, 1-5 ACC)
- 80. Navy (4-5)
- 79. San Diego (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West)
- 78. Central Michigan (6-4, 4-2 Mid-American)
- 77. Washington State (3-7, 2-5 Pac-12)
- 76. Northwestern (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten)
- 75. Rutgers (5-4, 1-4 Big Ten)
- 74. Bowling Green (6-3, 4-1 Mid-American). The Falcons can clinch a second straight MAC East Division title with a win Wednesday at home against Kent State.
- 73. Oregon State (4-5, 1-5 Pac-12)
- 72. Western Michigan (6-3, 4-1 Mid-American)
- 71. Air Force (7-2, 3-2 Mountain West). The Falcons matched their highest win total since 2011 with a 48-21 win at UNLV. Air Force ran for 386 yards, led by Jacobi Owens' 135 rushing yards and a touchdown.
- 70. North Carolina State (5-5, 1-5 ACC)
- 69. Pittsburgh (4-5, 2-3 ACC)
- 67. (tie) Virginia (4-6, 2-4 ACC)
- 67. (tie) North Carolina (4-5, 2-3 ACC)
- 66. Temple (5-4, 3-3 American)
- 65. Rice (6-3, 4-1 Conference USA)
- 64. Michigan (5-5, 3-3 Big Ten)
- 63. Louisiana-Lafayette (6-3, 5-0 Sun Belt)
- 61. (tie) Northern Illinois (7-2, 4-1 Mid-American)
- 61. (tie) Houston (5-4, 3-2 American)
Nos. 60-51
3 of 53
Penn State entered this season still under the thumb of NCAA sanctions that included a postseason ban, but after that penalty was lifted the Nittany Lions had a shot to play in their first bowl game since January 2012. That possibility became a lot more realistic after Penn State won 13-7 at Indiana on Saturday, ending a four-game losing streak.
Bill Belton ran for a season-high 137 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. The Lions' defense held Indiana to 221 yards, limiting Hoosiers standout running back Tevin Coleman to just 71 yards.
- 60. Virginia Tech (4-5, 1-4 ACC)
- 59. Kentucky (5-5, 2-5 SEC)
- 58. Toledo (6-3, 5-0 Mid-American)
- 57. Arkansas State (6-3, 4-1 Sun Belt). The Red Wolves became bowl-eligible for the fourth straight year, all with different coaches, after crushing South Alabama 45-10. Arkansas State held the Jaguars to 201 yards.
- 56. California (5-4, 3-4 Pac-12)
- 55. Penn State (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten)
- 53. (tie) UCF (5-3, 3-1 American)
- 53. (tie) Nevada (6-3, 3-2 Mountain West)
- 52. Oklahoma State (5-4, 3-3 Big 12)
- 51. Georgia Southern (8-2, 7-0 Sun Belt)
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48. (tie) South Carolina Gamecocks
4 of 53
Average rating: 51.5
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Florida
South Carolina (4-5, 2-5 SEC) has lost four of five, its only victory coming against an FCS team, and in conference play the Gamecocks have allowed 39.1 points per game.
48. (tie) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
5 of 53
Average rating: 51.5
Week 11 result: Won 40-24 at UAB
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Louisiana Tech (7-3, 6-0 Conference USA) won its fifth straight and remained atop the West Division behind three rushing touchdowns from Kenneth Dixon.
Dixon, who ran for 79 yards, has scored 14 rushing TDs this season, tied for sixth in FBS. Cody Sokol added 200 passing yards and two TDs, and the Bulldogs forced three turnovers.
The Bulldogs have nearly doubled last season's win total of four.
48. (tie) Boston College Eagles
6 of 53
Average rating: 51.5
Week 11 result: Lost 38-19 vs. Louisville
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Boston College (6-4, 3-3 ACC) lost for the fourth time this season at home, including its last three in Chestnut Hill, as quarterback Tyler Murphy had his worst game of the year with four interceptions and only 41 rushing yards.
The Eagles led 13-3 but then allowed 21 unanswered points and were forced to throw. Murphy, who averages less than 19 pass attempts per game, threw for 149 yards and a TD with four picks on 7-of-15 passing.
47. BYU Cougars
7 of 53
Average rating: 51.0
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. UNLV
BYU (5-4) has an agreement to play in the Miami Beach Bowl if it reaches bowl eligibility, which can happen with one more victory in its final three. The next two opponents are a combined 2-18, making it very likely the Cougars will play in a bowl game for the 10th straight year.
The Cougars are 1-4 since losing quarterback Taysom Hill to a season-ending leg injury. Christian Stewart has thrown for 1,308 yards and 10 touchdowns in his relief.
46. Texas Longhorns
8 of 53
Average rating: 50.5
Week 11 result: Won 33-16 vs. West Virginia
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Oklahoma State
Texas (5-5, 4-3 Big 12) moved to .500 and kept itself in the running for a bowl bid despite a 2-4 start, with its defense coming up huge to slow down West Virginia's offense.
Cedric Reed was a one-man wrecking crew, sacking Clint Trickett three times, including one for a fourth-quarter safety. And Johnathan Gray was the singular force on offense, with 101 rushing yards and three TDs.
45. Arkansas Razorbacks
9 of 53
Average rating: 49.0
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. LSU
Arkansas (4-5, 0-5 SEC) remains in search of its first conference win since 2012, but its final three league opponents have a combined record of 22-7.
44. Tennessee Volunteers
10 of 53
Average rating: 47.0
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Kentucky
Tennessee (4-5, 1-4 SEC) comes off its bye still riding the momentum of its overtime win over South Carolina, a game that snapped a two-game losing streak and continued the rise of sophomore quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
Dobbs has lifted the Volunteers' offense since making his debut during a loss to Alabama, with 734 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns including 241 rushing yards and three scores. He's helped boost the Vols' offense to 97th nationally thanks to 1,094 yards in the past two games.
43. Utah State Aggies
11 of 53
Average rating: 46.0
Week 11 result: Won 20-3 at Wyoming
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. New Mexico
Utah State (7-3, 4-1 Mountain West) became bowl-eligible for the fourth straight season and stayed in the hunt for the Mountain Division title thanks to two touchdowns from JoJo Natson.
Natson returned a punt 80 yards for a score and had a 66-yard TD run to build a 17-0 first-quarter lead, then held Wyoming to just a field goal as the Aggies won their third straight.
Kent Myers, Utah State's fourth starting quarterback this season, threw for 150 yards on 13-of-16 passing.
42. Washington Huskies
12 of 53
Average rating: 45.5
Week 11 result: Lost 44-30 vs. UCLA
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Arizona
Washington (6-4, 2-4 Pac-12) had no answer for UCLA's offense, and even with Shaq Thompson having another big game in his move from linebacker to running back the Huskies had to play catch-up all day.
Thompson ran for 100 yards on 16 carries, while quarterback Cyler Miles ran for 62 yards and a touchdown to go with 155 passing yards. The Huskies also got a 100-yard kickoff return TD from John Ross, who has scored this season via a run, pass and on a return.
41. Memphis Tigers
13 of 53
Average rating: 42.5
Week 11 result: Won 16-13 at Temple
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Tulane
Memphis (6-3, 4-1 American) rallied from a 10-point deficit, getting a 31-yard field goal from Jake Elliott as time expired to take over first place in the conference with a key road victory.
Paxton Lynch threw for 230 yards on 21-of-28 passing, with Brandon Hayes rushing for 75 yards and adding a 17-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 10 late in the first half. The Tigers held Temple to 298 yards and limited the Owls to one field goal after the first quarter.
Memphis has doubled last season's win total and is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008.
40. Cincinnati Bearcats
14 of 53
Average rating: 42.33
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 13 vs. East Carolina
Cincinnati (5-3, 3-1 American) is in a three-way tie for second place in the American, a half-game behind Memphis. The Bearcats are also a win away from being bowl-eligible for the fifth straight season.
39. East Carolina
15 of 53
Average rating: 39.83
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 13 at Cincinnati
East Carolina (6-2, 3-1 American) may have fallen out of the picture for a New Year's Day bowl game, but the Pirates still have a chance to win the conference title as they sit tied for second and a half-game behind Memphis.
Shane Carden has thrown for 2,791 yards and 18 touchdowns, most of that going to Justin Hardy (65 catches, 814 yards, six TDs) and Isaiah Jones (55 catches, 575 yards, four TDs).
38. Iowa Hawkeyes
16 of 53
Average rating: 39.5
Week 11 result: Lost 51-14 at Minnesota
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Illinois
Iowa (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) lost badly on the road for the second straight time, giving up the most points since 1995 and falling out of the race for the West Division.
After Mark Weisman scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to start the game, the Hawkeyes allowed 51 straight points and yielded 291 rushing yards as well as four TD passes to a Minnesota team that had thrown only seven in the previous eight games.
Iowa managed 205 yards and committed three turnovers in the loss.
37. Maryland Terrapins
17 of 53
Average rating: 39.0
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Michigan State
Maryland (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) has qualified for a bowl game in its first season in the conference, and now the goal is to improve the Terrapins' status to get a higher invite.
Injuries have again limited Maryland's offense, with the Terps using three quarterbacks this season. Backup Caleb Rowe is done for the year, though C.J. Brown has managed to tally 1,857 yards and 14 total touchdowns. Top receiver Stefon Diggs was just ruled out for the rest of the season with a lacerated kidney, and he was leading the team with 52 catches for 654 yards and five TDs.
36. Boise State Broncos
18 of 53
Average rating: 32.8
Week 11 result: Won 60-49 at New Mexico
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. San Diego State
Boise State (7-2, 4-1 Mountain West) won a wild one in Albuquerque, allowing 28 first-quarter points and more than 500 rushing yards but ultimately getting past the Lobos thanks to 498 yards of total offense and six touchdowns from quarterback Grant Hedrick.
Hedrick threw for 367 yards and four TDs and ran for 131 yards and two scores, while Jay Ajayi ran for 161 yards and two TDs. The Broncos trailed 49-38 midway through the third quarter before scoring the game's final 22 points.
New Mexico had 627 yards, including 505 on the ground, but after scoring 42 points in the first half the Lobos were held to a single TD and 177 yards after halftime.
35. Stanford Cardinal
19 of 53
Average rating: 32.25
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Utah
Stanford (5-4, 3-3 Pac-12) has recorded its most losses in a season since 2009, but still can lock up a sixth straight bowl appearance with one more victory. Its defense has been solid all year, but on offense the Cardinal have struggled to move the ball consistently and produce in the red zone.
The Cardinal ranks fifth in total defense, at 281.1 yards per game, but last time out gave up 45 points in a loss at Oregon. Stanford's offense averages only 387.8 yards per game, and their red-zone conversion rate of 64.9 percent is third-worst in the country.
In 37 trips to the red zone, Stanford has managed 16 touchdowns and eight field goals.
34. West Virginia Mountaineers
20 of 53
Average rating: 32.0
Week 11 result: Lost 33-16 at Texas
Week 12 matchup: Bye
West Virginia (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) dropped its second straight, falling behind 24-3 despite outgaining Texas on the night.
Clint Trickett threw for 248 yards on 36-of-49 passing, but he was intercepted once and failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season. Wendell Smallwood and Dreamius Smith scored rushing TDs, but both came in the fourth quarter.
33. Miami (Florida) Hurricanes
21 of 53
Average rating: 31.9
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Florida State
Miami (6-3, 3-2 ACC) has won three straight heading into a game that has taken on major national implications, with unbeaten Florida State coming into town looking to stay in the playoff race.
The Hurricanes have averaged 44 points per game during their win streak, with running back Duke Johnson leading the charge. He's run for 1,213 yards this season, with five straight 100-yard games, including 588 yards and four TDs over the past three games.
Miami's defense has also improved as the season has progressed, ranking 11th in total yards allowed at 312.4 per game.
32. Louisville Cardinals
22 of 53
Average rating: 30.8
Week 11 result: Won 38-19 at Boston College
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Louisville (7-3, 5-3 ACC) rebounded from its home loss to Florida State, in which it squandered a big first-half lead, by rallying from an early 10-point deficit to run away with a convincing victory.
The Cardinals got three touchdowns from backup quarterback Reggie Bonnafon, including on a 36-yard run, while Brandon Radcliff scored twice on the ground and DeVante Parker caught eight passes for 144 yards and a score.
The defense came up huge again, as well, with Gerod Holliman intercepting three passes to up his total to 13 and the Cardinals holding Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy to a season-low 41 rushing yards.
31. Minnesota Golden Gophers
23 of 53
Average rating: 30.2
Week 11 result: Won 51-14 vs. Iowa
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 Ohio State
Minnesota (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) passed the first of its many late-season tests, crushing Iowa at home, but still faces three teams with a combined 23-4 record.
Against Iowa, the Golden Gophers ran for 291 yards and got four touchdown passes from Mitch Leidner, who threw for 138 yards on 10-of-13 passing and ran for 77 yards. Maxx Williams was stellar in the receiving game, scoring three TDs and making numerous great catches.
The Gophers also forced three turnovers and held the Hawkeyes to 205 yards to remain tied with Nebraska and Wisconsin atop the Big Ten's West Division.
30. Florida Gators
24 of 53
Average rating: 29.67
Week 11 result: Won 34-10 at Vanderbilt
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. South Carolina
Florida (5-3, 4-3 SEC) won its second straight outside of the Swamp, following up the big win over Georgia in Jacksonville with a convincing victory that puts the Gators a game away from being bowl-eligible.
Treon Harris threw for 215 yards while rushing for 49 yards and two touchdowns, with Jeff Driskel and Kelvin Taylor adding rushing TDs as part of 214 yards on the ground.
The Gators forced four turnovers, giving them 21 takeaways this season.
29. Colorado State Rams
25 of 53
Average rating: 29.0
Week 11 result: Won 49-22 vs. Hawaii
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Colorado State (9-1, 5-1 Mountain West) won its eighth in a row, gaining 580 yards in a game where its quarterback was banged up and best receiver didn't play.
Garrett Grayson threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns on 13-of-24 passing, with Dee Hart rushing for 115 yards and a TD and Treyous Jarrells gaining 69 yards with two scores. Charles Lovett filled in as the top receiving threat with Rashard Higgins sitting out because of a shoulder injury, catching four passes for 134 yards and a TD.
28. USC Trojans
26 of 53
Average rating: 28.4
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 13 vs. California
USC (6-3, 5-2 Pac-12) comes out of its bye week still with a shot to win the South Division title, but cannot lose again. The Trojans have looked good on offense most of the season, but their defense has struggled at times.
The most consistent player for the Trojans has been quarterback Cody Kessler, who has throw for 2,548 yards and 25 touchdowns. Javorius Allen has added 1,124 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, with Nelson Agholor catching 66 passes for 863 yards and eight TDs.
26. (tie) Texas A&M Aggies
27 of 53
Average rating: 26.9
Week 11 result: Won 41-38 at Auburn
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Missouri
Texas A&M (7-3, 3-3 SEC) looked very bad at home last week against a Sun Belt team, a victory that came after three increasingly worse losses in conference play. Yet now the Aggies suddenly have momentum heading into the final stretch after their impressive win at Auburn.
And the spark for their team came in the form of true freshman quarterback Kyle Allen, who threw for 277 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-29 passing in his first career start. Allen had all four of his TDs in the first half, including a 60-yard throw to Malcome Kennedy just 1:28 into the game.
The Aggies nearly blew a 35-17 halftime lead, which was padded thanks to Deshazor Everett's TD on a blocked field goal return just before the half. Despite allowing 582 yards, including 363 on the ground, A&M's defense recovered two fourth-quarter fumbles to seal the victory.
26. (tie) Missouri Tigers
28 of 53
Average rating: 26.9
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Texas A&M
Missouri (7-2, 4-1 SEC) brings a three-game win streak into a two-week road trip to Texas A&M and Tennessee, a stretch that will make or break the Tigers' chances of winning a second East Division title.
Despite ranking 115th in total offense, Mizzou has a one-game lead over Georgia because its defense has carried it all season. It has allowed 37 points over the past three games, and for the year allows 339.8 yards per game.
Shane Ray is fifth nationally in sacks, at 10.5, and his 16 tackles for loss are fourth-most in the country.
25. Utah Utes
29 of 53
Average rating: 26.4
Week 11 result: Lost 51-27 vs. Oregon
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Stanford
Utah (6-3, 3-3 Pac-12) was bit by the bad luck bug, but it was the Utes' own doing, and their inability to regroup from Kaelin Clay's mistake meant a second straight loss.
Clay caught five passes for 152 yards, and finished with 331 all-purpose yards, but on the tail end of what would have been a 79-yard touchdown catch to give Utah a 14-0 lead he inexplicably dropped the ball just short of the goal line. Oregon's Joe Walker scooped it up and returned it for a tying touchdown, sending momentum completing in the Ducks' direction.
"I know how important points are, so I take full responsibility,'' Clay told The Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "I got carried away.''
Utah rallied to get within 30-27 early in the fourth quarter, but three late touchdowns—including one on an interception return score—by Oregon made the final margin much larger.
24. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
30 of 53
Average rating: 26.0
Week 11 result: Won 56-23 at North Carolina State
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Clemson
Georgia Tech (8-2, 5-2 ACC) won its third straight to remain a game back of Duke for the Coastal Division lead, using 479 rushing yards to battle back from a 13-7 deficit.
The Yellow Jackets got 157 rushing yards and a touchdown from Synjyn Davis, while Tim Byerly ran for 87 yards and two TDs and also threw a touchdown pass. Tech also benefited from two huge defensive plays, with D.J. White returning an interception 38 yards for a TD and Quayshawn Nealy scoring on a 43-yard fumble return in a three-minute span in the second quarter.
Tech ranks third in the country in rushing, at 335.6 yards per game, but now hosts a Clemson team that gives up only 90.9 rushing yards per game.
23. Marshall Thundering Herd
31 of 53
Average rating: 24.0
Week 11 result: Won 63-17 at Southern Mississippi
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Rice
Marshall (9-0, 5-0 Conference USA) spotted Southern Miss a 14-0 lead before waking up and running over the Golden Eagles, with Remi Watson contributing four touchdowns to the cause.
Watson ran for three scores and caught a 2-yard TD pass from Rakeem Cato, who was 13 of 19 for 186 yards and two scores to extend his FBS-record streak of games with a touchdown throw to 41.
The Thundering Herd ran for 335 yards, upping their rushing average to seventh nationally at 295.1 yards per game. Cato added 92 rushing yards and a TD, while Steward Butler had 118 yards on the ground with two scores.
22. Oklahoma Sooners
32 of 53
Average rating: 21.8
Week 11 result: Lost 48-14 vs. Baylor
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Texas Tech
Oklahoma (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) suffered one of its worst losses ever at home, a game it led 14-3 and seemed to have complete control of before Baylor ran off 45 straight points.
Trevor Knight threw two first-quarter touchdown passes, but finished with only 146 yards on 12-of-27 passing before going down with an injury in the fourth quarter after getting sandwiched between two Bears players. Coach Bob Stoops announced Monday that X-rays were negative on Knight, but his status for this weekend is still uncertain.
It was the first time Oklahoma has lost at home to Baylor.
21. Duke Blue Devils
33 of 53
Average rating: 21.2
Week 11 result: Won 27-10 at Syracuse
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Virginia Tech
Duke (8-1, 4-1 ACC) scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to break a 10-10 tie, getting a punt return touchdown from Jamison Crowder and a long touchdown catch from Issac Blakeney to win its fourth straight and remain atop the Coastal Division.
Blakeney had both of the Blue Devils' offensive TDs, gaining 94 of the 161 yards that Anthony Boone threw for. Duke managed only 259 yards, but it held Syracuse to 224 yards and forced two turnovers.
20. Wisconsin Badgers
34 of 53
Average rating: 20.2
Week 11 result: Won 34-16 at Purdue
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Nebraska
Wisconsin (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) got another huge game from Melvin Gordon, who also got involved in the receiving game as the Badgers rolled behind a balanced offense.
Gordon ran for 205 yards and a touchdown and also hauled in a 27-yard TD catch as part of Joel Stave's 219 passing yards and two TDs.
The Badgers held Purdue to 230 yards, including only 26 on the ground, and rank first in the country in total defense at 251.1 yards allowed per game.
19. Arizona Wildcats
35 of 53
Average rating: 19.8
Week 11 result: Won 38-20 vs. Colorado
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Washington
Arizona (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12) bounced back from its worst offensive performance of the season by rediscovering its run game after failing to top 100 rushing yards in two of its previous three outings.
Nick Wilson ran for 153 yards, while quarterback Anu Solomon ran for 105 yards to go with 211 passing yards and four touchdowns. Solomon has 3,120 yards of total offense and 25 passing TDs this year.
The Wildcats ran for 288 yards and used four turnovers to seal the win, with Tra'Mayne Bondurant scoring on a fumble return to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.
18. Clemson Tigers
36 of 53
Average rating: 18.6
Week 11 result: Won 34-20 at Wake Forest
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Georgia Tech
Clemson (7-2, 6-1 ACC) survived a trap game at struggling Wake Forest, breaking a 20-20 tie in the fourth quarter with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Cole Stoudt to Artavis Scott with 10:53 left.
Stoudt threw for 282 yards and three TDs, improving to 3-0 since taking over as starter for the injured Deshaun Watson, while Wayne Gallman ran for 106 yards and a TD.
The Tigers have won six in a row, and the 20 points allowed were the most since a 50-35 victory over North Carolina to start the streak. They are second in FBS in total defense with 252 yards allowed per game, allowing only 119 yards overall and just seven on the ground to Wake Forest. Clemson's scoring defense is No. 12 overall, at 18.4 points per game.
17. LSU Tigers
37 of 53
Average rating: 17.2
Week 11 result: Lost 20-13 (in OT) vs. Alabama
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Arkansas
LSU (7-3, 3-3 SEC) looked like it was going to pull off some more late magic while also crashing the SEC's playoff party, but ended up falling short in another classic with Alabama.
After recovering a fumble deep in Alabama territory late in the fourth quarter, LSU went up 13-10 with 50 seconds left on Colby Delahoussaye's 39-yard field goal. But then the Tigers allowed Alabama to march quickly downfield, aided by a kickoff out of bounds, and tie the game on a field goal with three seconds left.
In overtime, Alabama scored quickly and then LSU put its hopes in struggling quarterback Anthony Jennings, but he was incomplete on all four passes and finished with just 76 yards on 8-of-26 passing with a touchdown and an interception.
16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
38 of 53
Average rating: 16.6
Week 11 result: Lost 55-31 at Arizona State
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Northwestern
Notre Dame (7-2) saw its playoff hopes go up in flames in the desert, and there wasn't much searching going on to find out how it all went wrong. The onus was on quarterback Everett Golson, who committed five turnovers—giving him 17 in the past six games—and saw two of his four interceptions returned for touchdowns.
"Our guys were ready to play and you can't play sloppy like that," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly told reporters (h/t USA Today). "It's ridiculous."
The Fighting Irish trailed 34-3 before scoring just before halftime, part of a 28-0 run to get within a field goal in the fourth quarter. Golson threw for 446 yards, yet after ASU added a touchdown he was picked off for the fourth time and it was returned 58 yards by Lloyd Carrington to make it 48-31.
15. UCLA Bruins
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Average rating: 16.4
Week 11 result: Won 44-30 at Washington
Week 12 matchup: Bye
UCLA (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) finished its road schedule undefeated with an impressive win in Seattle, leading 31-10 at the half behind Brett Hundley's 302 passing yards and four total touchdowns.
Hundley scored on runs of four and six yards in the first half, adding TD passes to Kenneth Walker and Mossi Johnson as part of a 476-yard effort that including a 28-yard TD run from linebacker Myles Jack. Paul Perkins added 98 rushing yards, giving him 1,169 yards this season.
The Bruins are 6-0 in road and neutral-site games in 2014, and now finish at home against USC and Stanford.
14. Georgia Bulldogs
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Average rating: 15.0
Week 11 result: Won 63-31 at Kentucky
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Auburn
Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC) ended its long stretch away from home with its most points in SEC play in 72 years, obliterating Kentucky on the road in a perfect bounce back from the rough loss to Florida in Jacksonville.
Nick Chubb ran for 170 yards and a touchdown, giving him 671 yards and six TDs in his four starts in place of the suspended Todd Gurley. The Bulldogs ran for 305 yards, bumping their rushing offense to 15th nationally at 256.3 yards per game.
Hutson Mason also had a career game, with 174 yards and four touchdowns on 13-of-16 passing, while Isaiah McKenzie scored on punt and kickoff returns.
13. Kansas State Wildcats
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Average rating: 12.6
Week 11 result: Lost 41-20 at TCU
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Kansas State (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) was run over on the road by TCU to fall out of sole possession of first place in the conference, and could drop completely out of the race if it loses at tough West Virginia on Nov. 20.
The Wildcats had no answer for TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin, who had 342 yards of total offense, including three rushing TDs. K-State's run game couldn't compete, gaining only 34 yards, putting extra pressure on Jake Waters to carry the team through the air.
Waters did his best, throwing for 291 yards and two touchdowns, but K-State was playing from behind almost the entire game. The lone bright spot from the game was Tyler Lockett's 11-catch, 196-yard performance that included a 70-yard TD reception, and in the process he passed father Kevin as the Wildcats' all-time receiving yards leader with 3,073.
11. (tie) Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Average rating: 12.4
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Wisconsin
Nebraska (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) takes a four-game win streak into a critical West Division clash in Madison, with star running back Ameer Abdullah's status uncertain after suffering a knee injury in the Cornhuskers' last game.
Coach Bo Pelini told reporters Monday (h/t ESPN.com) that "we'll see on Saturday" if Abdullah is able to play. He's rushed for 1,250 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.
The Cornhuskers are averaging 280.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks 10th in FBS. That includes 571 rushing yards from quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., who has also thrown for 1,827 yards and 13 TDs.
11. (tie) Michigan State Spartans
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Average rating: 12.4
Week 11 result: Lost 49-37 vs. Ohio State
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Maryland
Michigan State (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) had looked nearly unstoppable during its six-game win streak, during which it had averaged more than 48 points per game. The Spartans had that offense against Ohio State, gaining 536 yards with big games from Connor Cook and Jeremy Langford, but their normally strong defense had no answer for the Buckeyes.
MSU allowed 568 yards, more than double the 279.4 yards per game it had been yielding coming in. It had given up 95.4 rushing yards per game but OSU ran for 268, leading to the ability to turn a 21-14 first-half deficit into a comfortable victory.
Cook threw for 358 yards and two touchdowns, while Langford ran for 137 yards and three scores, but MSU suffered its first Big Ten loss since 2012 to end a 13-game conference win streak.
10. Arizona State Sun Devils
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Average rating: 9.0
Week 11 result: Won 55-31 vs. Notre Dame
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Oregon State
Arizona State (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) made a huge statement with its win over Notre Dame, a victory that was as much due to Fighting Irish quarterback Everett Golson's mistakes as the Sun Devils' own performance.
ASU forced five turnovers, all by Golson, with four interceptions that included touchdown returns by Damarious Randall and Lloyd Carrington. The first was part of a 34-0 run to give the Sun Devils a 34-3 lead, and the latter came with 3:41 to help ice the win.
The Devils were outgained 487-412 and gave up 28 straight points to Notre Dame to make it 34-31 midway through the fourth quarter, but then they regrouped and got a 4-yard TD pass from Taylor Kelly to Demario Richard before Carrington's return. Kelly threw for 224 yards and three TDs on 17-of-28 passing, with D.J. Foster rushing for 120 yards.
Since losing 62-27 at home to UCLA in early October, ASU has won five straight.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
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Average rating: 8.6
Week 11 result: Won 48-0 vs. Presbyterian
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 SEC) ended a two-game skid with a easy win over FCS Presbyterian, gaining 640 yards and holding the Blue Hose to only 156.
The Rebels scored 39 seconds into the game on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Bo Wallace to Vince Sanders. Wallace rebounded from a pair of rough games to throw for 140 yards and two TDs on 11-of-15 passing, while also rushing for a score.
Jordan Wilkins ran for 171 yards and a TD, while Mark Dodson added two scores and 128 yards on just three carries.
It was Ole Miss' fourth game this season holding an opponent to three points or less, but it was the Rebels' first shutout victory since September 2012.
8. Ohio State Buckeyes
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Average rating: 8.4
Week 11 result: Won 49-37 at Michigan State
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Minnesota
Ohio State (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) improved to 21-0 in conference regular-season games under Urban Meyer, but none has been as big as the dominant performance in winning at Michigan State. It gives the Buckeyes that much-needed quality win in order to improve their reputation with the College Football Playoff selection committee.
OSU had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in the same game for the first time since 2006, according to ESPN College GameDay, with quarterback J.T. Barrett continuing his maturation from an uncertain redshirt freshman to a dark-horse Heisman candidate. He threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-26 passing, while also rushing for 86 yards and two TDs.
"Assuming Ohio State plays 13 games, J.T. Barrett is currently on pace for 3,960 yards and 49 touchdowns," tweeted Bleacher Report OSU lead writer Ben Axelrod. He has thrown for 2,156 yards and 26 TDs while rushing for 582 yards and eight scores.
Ezekiel Elliott ran for 154 yards and two scores, and Devin Smith had six catches for 129 yards and a score. Michael Thomas added a 79-yard TD catch, and for the year OSU ranks 10th in FBS with 512.1 yards per game.
7. Auburn Tigers
47 of 53
Average rating: 7.6
Week 11 result: Lost 41-38 vs. Texas A&M
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Georgia
Auburn (7-2, 4-2 SEC) found itself on the wrong end of the luck factor of sports after coming out ahead in that area so many times the past two weeks, losing two late fumbles on drives that could have tied or won the game to complete a major rally.
The Tigers lost a fumble at the Texas A&M 2-yard line with 2:37 left, then again inside the Aggies' 30-yard line with less than a minute to go. This came a week after Auburn forced a fumble just before the goal line at Ole Miss and recovered it in the end zone late in the fourth quarter of a 35-31 road win.
Luck aside, Auburn had a chance to win the game despite being down 14-0 after three minutes and trailing 35-17 at halftime when A&M returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown just before the break. Nick Marshall had 286 yards of total offense with three TDs, two on the ground, and Cameron Artis-Payne ran for 221 yards and two scores in the comeback effort.
But what hurt the Tigers more than anything was their defense, or lack thereof, as USA Today's Dan Wolken wrote:
"The tackling in the second- and third-level has been pitiful," he wrote. "Texas A&M racked up 453 yards, which followed Ole Miss getting 487, South Carolina going for 535 and Mississippi State collecting 469."
6. Baylor Bears
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Average rating: 5.8
Week 11 result: Won 48-14 at Oklahoma
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Baylor (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) had been left for dead after losing at West Virginia last month, a team that didn't seem capable of making a push for the playoffs because of its weak nonconference schedule. Yet after destroying Oklahoma on the road for the Bears' first-ever win in Norman, they're in a three-way tie with Kansas State and TCU for the Big 12 top spot.
And thanks to a head-to-head victory over TCU, Baylor is right back in the national title conversation.
"We play so much better when we are mad and upset," quarterback Bryce Petty told Max Olson of ESPN.com. "We can't ever be happy, can't ever be satisfied...when we come out determined and ready to rock and roll, it's going to be a good day for us."
Petty threw for 387 yards and a touchdown on 32-of-42 passing, hitting Corey Coleman for a 33-yard TD pass early in the second quarter to pull Baylor within 14-10 and start a run of 45 straight points. After that it was the Bears' run game that produced the next five TDs, two each from Devin Chafin and Shock Linwood and another from Coleman.
Baylor snapped a 37-game road losing streak to ranked teams.
5. TCU Horned Frogs
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Average rating: 5.4
Week 11 result: Won 41-20 vs. Kansas State
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Kansas
TCU (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) knocked off the last of its tough opponents in impressive fashion, romping past Kansas State to forge a three-way tie for first place in the conference with Baylor and Kansas State. But as Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports noted, this could actually lead to a stressful few weeks for the Horned Frogs since they cannot do much to improve their standing down the stretch.
"So just when Gary Patterson's team looks like it could be in the clear, creaming the last team on its schedule with a winning record, Baylor may sneak up to pull the playoff red carpet right out from under the Frogs," Forde wrote.
That's because Baylor had its own impressive win, at Oklahoma, and still has to play Kansas State to bump up its resume.
But back to TCU: against Kansas State it was again a lot of Trevone Boykin, who because he didn't have running back B.J. Catalon available due to injury became far more mobile than in previous games this season. Boykin ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns to go with 219 passing yards and a TD. The Frogs also got a huge game from backup running back Aaron Green, who ran for 171 yards, including a 65-yard TD.
3. (tie) Oregon Ducks
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Average rating: 4.4
Week 11 result: Won 51-27 at Utah
Week 12 matchup: Bye
Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) got a huge early break, compliments of a major Utah gaffe, but after that it was more of the usual for the Ducks. That means a lot of Marcus Mariota dominating.
Mariota had 338 yards of total offense with four total touchdowns, rushing for 99 yards and a score while connecting twice with Dwayne Stanford to clinch the Pac-12's North Division title. It was a victory that took a major turn early when, after Utah's Kaelin Clay caught a deep pass for what would have been a 79-yard touchdown, he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.
Joe Walker picked it up for Oregon and returned it the distance for a fumble return TD that tied the game at 7-7, a huge momentum swing the Ducks used to start a 24-0 run.
"On a day in which the football felt dicey everywhere in America, Oregon earned what it flew away from Utah with on Saturday — a victory," wrote John Canzano of the Oregonian.
The game wasn't all positives for Oregon, which saw three major contributors go down with injury. Top cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, center Hroniss Grasu and tight end Pharaoh Brown all were hurt during the game, and Oregon spokesman Andy McNamara tweeted Monday that Brown is out for the season with a leg injury.
3. (tie) Florida State Seminoles
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Average rating: 4.4
Week 11 result: Won 34-20 vs. Virginia
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Miami, Florida
Florida State (9-0, 6-0 ACC) again had to come from behind, but this time it was only a 13-7 first-quarter deficit. The Seminoles scored 21 points in a 10-minute span to win their 25th straight game.
The Seminoles had only 376 yards and committed three turnovers, with Jameis Winston getting intercepted twice while throwing for 261 yards with a TD pass and a rushing score. Karlos Williams ran for two TDs, and Rashad Greene had 13 catches for 136 yards and a score.
FSU now hits the road for its final regular-season test, a game at hot Miami. The defending national champions have beat the Hurricanes four straight times by an average of 18 points per game.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
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Average rating: 3.0
Week 11 result: Won 20-13 (in OT) at LSU
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 vs. Mississippi State
Alabama (8-1, 5-1 SEC) didn't play its best game, by a long shot, but did the necessary things down the stretch to pull out the overtime win at LSU and keep itself in the playoff hunt. The same goes for quarterback Blake Sims, who after struggling for three quarters he came alive in the fourth quarter and OT.
"I was happy that I had the opportunity to be in that situation," Sims told Brett Martel of The Associated Press (h/t Yahoo).
Sims threw for 209 yards on 20-of-45 passing, but on Alabama's tying drive in the final minute of regulation and in overtime he completed six of eight passes for 80 yards and the winning 6-yard TD pass to DeAndrew White. Sims' other TD pass came in the first half to Amari Cooper, who had eight catches for 83 yards to become Alabama's career leader in receiving yards with 2,951.
The Tide's defense held LSU to 259 yards, and currently ranks fourth in FBS at 275.2 yards per game.
1. Mississippi State Bulldogs
53 of 53
Average rating: 2.2
Week 11 result: Won 45-16 vs. UT-Martin
Week 12 matchup: Nov. 15 at Alabama
Mississippi State (9-0, 5-0 SEC) won its 11th straight game, taking a break from the SEC gauntlet by easily beating an FCS team in its final tune-up before the big showdown Saturday at Alabama.
Dak Prescott threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns and added a 48-yard TD run, while Ashton Shumpert and Brandon Holloway paced a running game that gained 254 yards. MSU outscored UT-Martin 31-0 in the second and third quarters to make this one a runaway.
MSU plays two of three on the road to end the season, with both road games against ranked teams.
Statistical information courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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