College Football Rankings 2014: Power Ranking All 128 Teams for Week 15

After last week's epic round of college football games, we're down to just 30 teams with another contest left in the regular season. After that, it's nothing but bowl games and playoffs, and suddenly the 2014 season will be over.

But there are still power rankings to look forward to!

Bleacher Report's power rankings are comprised of an average of five ratings: the Associated Press Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll, 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 15, and then give us your take in the comments section.

Nos. 128-91

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UTSA's 2014 season didn't go anywhere nearly as well as hoped, finishing with a 4-8 record despite more than 30 seniors on the roster. But the Roadrunners went out on top, knocking off North Texas 34-27 on Saturday in their season finale.

Brandon Armstrong scored on a 21-yard run with 4:18 left for the game-winner after North Texas rallied from a 15-point deficit.

• 128. SMU Mustangs (0-11, 0-7 American)
  
• 127. Eastern Michigan (2-10, 1-7 Mid-American)
• 126. Georgia State (1-11, 0-8 Sun Belt)
• 125. New Mexico State (2-10, 1-7 Sun Belt)
• 124. Troy (3-9, 3-5 Sun Belt)
• 123. Idaho (1-10, 1-7 Sun Belt)
• 122. Connecticut (2-9, 1-6 American)
• 121. Kent State (2-9, 1-6 Mid-American). The Golden Flashes got a five-yard touchdown pass from Colin Reardon to Chris Humphrey with one minute for a 27-24 home win over Akron. The victory prevented Akron from becoming bowl-eligible. 
• 120. UNLV (2-11, 1-7 Mountain West)
• 119. Tulsa (2-10, 2-6 American)
• 118. Miami, Ohio (2-10, 2-6 Mid-American)
• 117. Army (4-7)
• 116. Massachusetts (3-9, 3-5 Mid-American)
• 115. Southern Mississippi (3-9, 1-7 Conference USA)
• 114. South Florida (4-8, 3-5 American)
• 113. Florida Atlantic (3-9, 2-6 Conference USA)
• 112. North Texas (4-8, 2-6 Conference USA)
• 111. Tulane (3-8, 2-5 American)
• 109. (tie) San Jose State (3-9, 2-6 Mountain West)
• 109. (tie) Florida International (4-8, 3-5 Conference USA)
• 107. (tie) UTSA (4-8, 3-5 Conference USA)
• 107. (tie) Akron (5-7, 3-5 Mid-American)
• 106. Buffalo (5-6, 3-4 Mid-American)
• 105. Wake Forest (3-9, 1-7 ACC)
• 104. Louisiana-Monroe (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt)
• 103. New Mexico (4-8, 2-6 Mountain West)
• 102. Wyoming (4-8, 2-6 Mountain West)
• 101. Ohio (6-6, 4-4 Mid-American)
• 99. (tie) Vanderbilt (3-9, 0-8 SEC)
• 99. (tie) Hawaii (4-9, 3-5 Mountain West)
• 98. Ball State (5-7, 4-4 Mid-American). The Cardinals ended their season on a high note, winning 41-24 at MAC East Division champion Bowling Green. Ozzie Mann threw three touchdown passes, and Jahwan Edwards ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns as Ball State finished the year 4-2 after a 1-5 start. 
• 97. Old Dominion (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA)
• 96. Kansas (3-9, 1-8 Big 12)
• 95. South Alabama (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt)
• 94. Syracuse (3-9, 1-7 ACC)
• 93. Texas State (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt). The Bobcats got four total touchdowns from quarterback Tyler Jones and 165 rushing yards from Robert Lowe in a 54-31 win at Georgia State. Texas State finished tied for fourth in the Sun Belt, but two teams above it aren't eligible for bowls, giving it a good shot at earning the program's first bowl bid.
• 92. Purdue (3-9, 1-7 Big Ten)
• 91. Appalachian State (7-5, 6-2 Sun Belt)

Nos. 90-61

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Navy had to defend a potential game-tying two-point conversion three times in the final minute, the first two negated by penalty, to hold on to a 42-40 win at South Alabama on Friday that locked up bowl eligibility for the Midshipmen.

Keenan Reynolds ran for 119 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 61 rushing scores for his career, while Noah Copeland added 112 yards and two scores.

Navy, which faces Army on Dec. 13 in Baltimore, has already accepted a bid to play in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23.

• 89. (tie) Iowa State (2-9, 0-8 Big 12)
  
• 89. (tie) Colorado (2-10, 0-9 Pac-12)
• 86. (tie) Temple (5-6, 3-4 American)
• 86. (tie) Middle Tennessee (6-6, 5-3 Conference USA)
• 86. (tie) Bowling Green (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American)
• 85. Indiana (4-8, 1-7 Big Ten). The Hoosiers avoided their first winless conference season since 2011, rallying from a 13-3 deficit to win 23-16 at rival Purdue. Zander Diamont scored on a one-yard run with 27 seconds left for the victory, while Tevin Coleman ran for 130 yards to give him 2,036 for the season. 
• 84. UTEP (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA)
• 82. (tie) Fresno State (6-6, 5-3 Mountain West)
• 82. (tie) UAB (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA)
• 81. Central Michigan (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American)
• 80. Washington State (3-9, 2-7 Pac-12)
• 79. Oregon State (5-7, 2-7 Pac-12)
• 76. (tie) Texas Tech (4-8, 2-7 Big 12)
• 76. (tie) Rice (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA)
• 76. (tie) Arkansas State (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt)
• 75. Illinois (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten). The Fighting Illini appear headed for their first bowl game since 2011 after winning 47-33 at Northwestern. Reilly O'Toole threw for 147 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for 147 yards, while Josh Ferguson had two rushing TDs. 
• 73. (tie) Western Michigan (8-4, 6-2 Mid-American)
• 73. (tie) Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4, 7-1 Sun Belt)
• 72. San Diego State (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West)
• 69. (tie) Virginia (5-7, 3-5 ACC)
• 69. (tie) Northwestern (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten)
• 69. (tie) Michigan (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten)
• 68. Navy (6-5)
• 67. Oklahoma State (5-6, 3-5 Big 12)
• 66. Georgia Southern (9-3, 8-0 Sun Belt)
• 65. Rutgers (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten)
• 61. (tie) Toledo (8-4, 7-1 Mid-American). The Rockets earned a share of the West Division title with a 52-16 win at Eastern Michigan. Logan Woodside threw for 323 yards and five touchdowns, and Kareem Hunt ran for 110 yards and a score for Toledo, which won't play in the MAC title game because it lost the head-to-head tiebreaker with West champ Northern Illinois. 
• 61. (tie) North Carolina (6-6, 4-4 ACC)
• 61. (tie) Nevada (7-5, 4-4 Mountain West)
• 61. (tie) California (5-7, 3-6 Pac-12)

Nos. 60-51

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Western Kentucky made a compelling case to avoid being left out of a bowl again after knocking off previously unbeaten Marshall 67-66 in overtime on Friday.

Brandon Doughty threw for 491 yards and a Conference USA-record eight touchdowns, and his two-point conversion pass to Willie McNeal in overtime gave the Hilltoppers the victory. Leon Allen added 237 rushing yards and a TD.

Western Kentucky went 8-4 last season only to be passed over for a bowl game as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

• 60. Houston (7-4, 5-2 American)
  
• 59. Western Kentucky (7-5, 4-4 Conference USA)
• 56. (tie) Virginia Tech (6-6, 3-5 ACC)
• 56. (tie) Pittsburgh (6-6, 4-4 ACC)
• 56. (tie) Kentucky (5-7, 2-6 SEC)
• 55. North Carolina State (7-5, 3-5 ACC)
• 54. Penn State (6-6, 2-6 Big Ten)
• 53. East Carolina (8-3, 5-2 American)
• 52. Air Force (9-3, 5-3 Mountain West). The Falcons got a 39-yard field goal from Will Conant as time expired to beat Colorado State, 27-24. It's only the fourth season of nine or more wins for Air Force since 2000.
• 51. Maryland (7-5, 4-4 ACC)

50. Northern Illinois Huskies

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Average rating: 46.88

Week 14 result: Won 31-21 at Western Michigan

Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Bowling Green in Mid-American championship, Detroit

Northern Illinois (10-2, 7-1 Mid-American) rallied from 14 points down late in the first half to win its fifth straight division title, outlasting the Broncos on the road for the West crown.

Drew Hare ran for a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, while also throwing for 159 yards and a TD. The Huskies also took advantage of six Western Michigan turnovers.

48. (tie) Miami Hurricanes

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Average rating: 46.5

Week 14 result: Lost 35-23 vs. Pittsburgh

Up next: TBD bowl game

Miami (6-6, 3-5 ACC) lost its third straight game, falling at home for the second time in that stretch despite outgaining Pittsburgh by 61 yards.

The Hurricanes trailed nearly the entire game, taking running back Duke Johnson out of the game but not getting enough production from quarterback Brad Kaaya. Kaaya threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns, while Johnson ran for 89 yards but had only 18 carries.

Miami allowed 226 rushing yards.

48. (tie) Boston College Eagles

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Average rating: 46.5

Week 14 result: Won 28-7 vs. Syracuse

Up next: TBD bowl game

Boston College (7-5, 4-4 ACC) had an off day moving the ball but still had little trouble beating Syracuse to wrap up the regular season.

Tyler Murphy threw for 160 yards and a touchdown while adding 20 rushing yards to give him 1,079 yards on the ground this season, setting an ACC record for a quarterback. Tyler Rouse and Jon Hilliman had second-half TD runs, and Myles Willis opened the game with a 95-yard kickoff return score.

The Eagles held Syracuse to 128 yards and forced two turnovers.

45. (tie) Utah State Aggies

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Average rating: 44.5

Week 14 result: Lost 50-19 at Boise State

Up next: TBD bowl game

Utah State (9-4, 6-2 Mountain West) came up short of winning a second straight Mountain Division title, getting beat handily on the road after entering the game tied with Boise for first place.

The Aggies were held to 268 yards, falling to 0-3 on the season when they failed to register at least 300 yards. Kent Myers lost as a starter for the first time, throwing for 159 yards with an interception, and added 43 rushing yards with a touchdown.

Utah State, which scored on both a blocked extra-point attempt and a fumble return, is headed to a bowl game for a school-record fourth straight year.

45. (tie) Texas Longhorns

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Average rating: 44.5

Week 14 result: Lost 48-10 vs. TCU

Up next: TBD bowl game

Texas (6-6, 5-4 Big 12) got blown out at home on Thanksgiving, turning it over six times and giving up a pair of defensive touchdowns to end a three-game win streak.

Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes threw four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Swoopes, who also lost a fumble in the first quarter that TCU brought back for a score, threw for 200 yards and a touchdown and ran for 61 yards.

The Longhorns held TCU to 368 yards, far below their 531.6 yards-per-game average, but couldn't overcome the turnovers.

45. (tie) South Carolina Gamecocks

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Average rating: 44.5

Week 14 result: Lost 35-17 at Clemson

Up next: TBD bowl game

South Carolina (6-6, 3-5 SEC) finished its worst regular season in seven years by losing to Clemson for the first time since 2008.

Dylan Thompson threw for 249 yards and a touchdown, giving him 3,254 for the season to set the school record, while Pharoh Cooper ran for a TD.

The Gamecocks allowed 491 yards, raising their season total given up to 5,203 in 12 games. Last year they allowed 4,550 in 13 games.

Coach Steve Spurrier confirmed Monday to Josh Kendall of The State (h/t B/R's Barrett Sallee) he would return in 2015, which would be his 11th season at the school.

44. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

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Average rating: 44.33

Week 14 result: Won 76-31 vs. Rice

Up next: Dec. 6 at Marshall in Conference USA championship

Louisiana Tech (8-4, 7-1 Conference USA) scored 48 second-half points to turn a four-point game into a blowout, clinching the West Division title in the process.

Defending C-USA champ Rice pulled within 28-24 early in the third quarter before the Bulldogs exploded for 41 unanswered points. They finished with 677 yards, getting 387 passing yards and four touchdowns from Cody Sokol and 137 rushing yards with three scores from Kenneth Dixon.

Louisiana Tech also forced four turnovers, scoring twice on those takeaways.

43. BYU Cougars

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Average rating: 42.5

Week 14 result: Won 42-35 at California

Up next: Dec. 22 vs. team TBD in Miami Beach Bowl

BYU (8-4) won its fourth straight game, getting a huge performance from quarterback Christian Stewart to deny host California a shot at a bowl bid.

Stewart threw for 433 yards and five touchdowns, raising his totals to 2,262 yards and 22 TDs since replacing injured starter Taysom Hill in the fifth game of the season. His 38-yard scoring pass to Jordan Leslie with 2:39 left was the go-ahead score.

Leslie and Mitchell Juergens each had two touchdown catches, combining for 262 receiving yards on 12 receptions.

42. UCF Knights

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Average rating: 41.63

Week 14 result: Won 16-0

Up next: Dec. 4 at East Carolina

UCF (8-3, 6-1 American) kept in the hunt for a piece of its second consecutive conference title with a sloppy road victory over in-state rival South Florida.

The Knights managed only 295 yards and turned it over three times, scoring a pair of second-quarter touchdowns and adding a safety later on. UCF held South Florida to only 200 yards, however, including five rushing yards.

UCF has allowed 14 points in its past three games and for the season is fourth in yards allowed at 271.2 per game.

40. (tie) Washington Huskies

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Average rating: 40.0

Week 14 result: Won 31-13 at Washington State

Up next: TBD bowl game

Washington (8-5, 4-5 Pac-12) scored the game's first 31 points behind a balanced offensive attack while keeping Washington State's potent passing game out of the end zone until the fourth quarter to win the Apple Cup.

Dwayne Washington ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns, one a 60-yarder, and Cyler Miles threw for 249 yards and two scores. WSU quarterback Luke Falk threw for 355 yards and two touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice as the Cougars turned it over three times.

40. (tie) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Average rating: 40.0

Week 14 result: Lost 49-14 at USC

Up next: TBD bowl game

Notre Dame (7-5) ended the regular season with a four-game losing streak, getting blown out in Los Angeles to fall even further from its lofty ranking in late October.

"Just six weeks ago, the Fighting Irish were trying to argue their way into the playoff picture, pointing toward a controversial last-play penalty that wiped out a win at Florida State," wrote Dan Wolken of USA Today. "Now they're trying to figure out why the season imploded with five losses in their last six games."

Everett Golson completed only seven of 18 passes for 75 yards with an interception, his 14th of the season, before getting pulled in favor of Malik Zaire.

Notre Dame's defense allowed 577 yards, giving up six touchdown passes to USC quarterback Cody Kessler.

38. (tie) Tennessee Volunteers

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Average rating: 39.0

Week 14 result: Won 24-17 at Vanderbilt

Up next: TBD bowl game

Tennessee (6-6, 3-5 SEC) locked up bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010, getting the sixth victory against its in-state rival behind a strong defensive and special teams effort.

The Volunteers held Vanderbilt to 272 and forced three turnovers, while they got a 76-yard punt return touchdown from Cameron Sutton in the first quarter.

Joshua Dobbs added two rushing TDs, finishing with 91 yards on the ground to go with only 92 passing yards and two interceptions.

38. (tie) Iowa Hawkeyes

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Average rating: 39.0

Week 14 result: Lost 37-34 (in OT) vs. Nebraska

Up next: TBD bowl game

Iowa (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) squandered a 17-point second-half lead, falling in overtime to guarantee a fifth straight season with at least five losses.

The Hawkeyes led 24-7 after Drew Ott scored on a 12-yard punt return after Nebraska's punter kicked the ball into a blocker. But after that Iowa's defense couldn't make stops, allowing Nebraska to score on four of its last six possessions.

Jake Rudock threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and John Lowdermilk scored on a 17-yard interception return in the first quarter. But Iowa also turned the ball over four times.

37. Cincinnati Bearcats

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Average rating: 38.0

Week 14 result: Won 14-6 at Temple

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Houston

Cincinnati (8-3, 6-1 American) won its sixth straight game to remain in contention for a piece of the conference title, relying on its defense to carry the team with its offense unable to produce.

The Bearcats managed only 255 yards, getting a three-yard Mekale McKay touchdown catch from Gunner Kiel and a one-yard scoring run from Mike Boone in the second quarter. It was all defense after that, holding Temple to two field goals and 267 yards while forcing two turnovers.

Cincinnati hasn't allowed a touchdown in the past two games, and other than a 54-46 win over East Carolina it has given up an average of eight points per game in the other five contests during the win streak.

The Bearcats will earn a piece of the American title with a win Saturday, sharing the crown with Memphis (and possibly UCF).

36. West Virginia Mountaineers

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Average rating: 33.83

Week 14 result: Won 37-24 at Iowa State

Up next: TBD bowl game

West Virginia (7-5, 5-4 Big 12) ended a three-game losing streak with a solid season-ending road victory led by Skyler Howard in his first start at quarterback.

Howard threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, getting the nod over Clint Trickett after he suffered a concussion last game against Kansas State. Mario Alford had two of Howard's touchdown receptions.

Rushel Shell added 146 rushing yards and a touchdown, as the Mountaineers managed 285 yards apiece via the air and on the ground.

35. Texas A&M Aggies

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Average rating: 33.0

Week 14 result: Lost 23-17 vs. LSU

Up next: TBD bowl game

Texas A&M (7-5, 3-5 SEC) fell at home for the third time this season, finishing with five losses in seven games after a 5-0 start.

The Aggies were held to 228 yards, their third in the last five games with fewer than 300 yards after averaging more than 560 yards per game in the first seven. Kyle Allen threw for 144 yards and a touchdown, and Trey Williams had a 41-yard rushing TD that put A&M up 7-0 in the first quarter.

34. Duke Blue Devils

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Average rating: 32.3

Week 14 result: Won 41-21 vs. Wake Forest

Up next: TBD bowl game

Duke (9-3, 5-3 ACC) used a 21-point first quarter to snap a two-game losing streak, wrapping up a second straight season of at least nine wins for the first time in school history.

The Blue Devils got 275 passing yards and a touchdown from Anthony Boone, while Jamison Crowder had eight catches for 102 yards and a TD to go with Issac Blakeney's 107 receiving yards on seven receptions. Boone also ran for a score, and Thomas Sirk added an 18-yard TD pass.

Duke forced two turnovers, including a fumble recovery in the end zone by Casey Blaser.

33. Stanford Cardinal

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Average rating: 31.9

Week 14 result: Won 31-10 at UCLA

Up next: TBD bowl game

Stanford (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) spoiled UCLA's division title hopes, exploding on offense behind Kevin Hogan's best game of the season.

Hogan threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-19 passing while also rushing for 46 yards. The TDs came in a six-minute span during the second quarter that put the Cardinal up 21-10.

Remound Wright ran for 64 yards and two TDs, and Stanford's defense held UCLA to 262 yards.

32. Colorado State Rams

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Average rating: 31.8

Week 14 result: Lost 27-24 at Air Force

Up next: TBD bowl game

Colorado State (10-2, 6-2 Mountain West) saw its nine-game win streak come to an end, as well as its hopes for a division title, losing on a last-second field goal.

The Rams rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie the game at 24 on two-yard touchdown catch by Rashard Higgins, who had 12 receptions for 193 yards and two TDs to raise his season totals to 89 catches, 1,640 yards and 17 scores. The yardage and touchdowns lead FBS.

Garrett Grayson threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns, while Dee Hart ran for 115 yards and a score.

31. Arkansas Razorbacks

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Average rating: 31.0

Week 14 result: Lost 21-14 at Missouri

Up next: TBD bowl game

Arkansas (6-6, 2-6 SEC) couldn't hold on to an 11-point lead on the road, allowing a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to end a two-game win streak and finish in last place in the West Division.

The Razorbacks were held to 288 yards of total offense, getting two touchdown passes from Brandon Allen but only 133 passing yards. A pair of lost fumbles slowed the momentum, along with the run game being held to 155 yards.

Despite the loss, Arkansas will be headed to a bowl game for the first time since 2011.

30. Memphis Tigers

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Average rating: 30.8

Week 14 result: Won 41-10 vs. Connecticut

Up next: TBD bowl game

Memphis (9-3, 7-1 American) assured itself at least a share of its first conference title since 1971, winning its sixth straight game to triple its victory total from a year ago.

The Tigers, who lead UCF and Cincinnati by a half game in the standings, got 194 passing yards and four touchdowns from Paxton Lynch. They held Connecticut to 269 yards and forced two turnovers, holding a seventh opponent to 17 or fewer points.

29. Florida Gators

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Average rating: 30.0

Week 14 result: Lost 24-19 at Florida

Up next: TBD bowl game

Florida (6-5, 4-4 SEC) ended the Will Muschamp era with a valiant effort, but its continued lack of offensive consistency prevented it from making a late comeback to knock off the defending national champions.

"We had our opportunities to get it done and we didn't get it done," Muschamp told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "It falls on my shoulders and that's why they're looking for a new coach."

The Gators led 9-0 in the first quarter on a trio of field goals from Austin Hardin, who kicked four for the game but also missed two in the second half. Florida used four Jameis Winston interceptions (including three in the first quarter) to set up its offense, but it only managed three points in the second half and finished with just 282 yards.

Treon Harris threw for 169 yards and a touchdown, but he completed only 13 of 32 passes and had two interceptions, one of which was returned 94 yards for a touchdown.

28. Marshall Thundering Herd

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Average rating: 28.9

Week 14 result: Lost 67-66 (in OT) vs. Western Kentucky

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Louisiana Tech in Conference USA championship

Marshall (11-1, 7-1 Conference USA) had its 12-game losing streak and perfect season end in a wild regular-season finale, losing when Western Kentucky converted a two-point conversion in overtime.

The Thundering Herd tallied a whopping 708 yards but allowed 738. Rakeem Cato threw for 417 yards and seven touchdowns—extending his FBS record for consecutive games with a passing TD to 44—but he also threw four interceptions that helped Western Kentucky build a 42-21 lead early in the second quarter.

Cato's day was overshadowed by Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty, who threw for 491 yards and a Conference USA-record eight touchdowns.

Marshall also got 233 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Steward Butler.

27. Utah Utes

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Average rating: 27.4

Week 14 result: Won 38-34 at Colorado

Up next: TBD bowl game

Utah (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12) finished with a winning record in the conference for the first time since joining the Pac-12, taking the lead midway through the fourth quarter on a 20-yard interception return score by Dominique Hatfield.

It was the only turnover in what was otherwise an offense-driven game, with the Utes gaining 439 yards including 311 passing yards and three TDs from quarterback Travis Wilson. Devontae Booker added 95 rushing yards and a score to move to 1,350 yards for the season.

Kaelin Clay had 10 catches for 88 yards and two scores.

26. Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Average rating: 27.2

Week 14 result: Lost 34-24 at Wisconsin

Up next: TBD bowl game

Minnesota (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) wasn't able to hold on to a 14-point second quarter lead and in the process lost out on a chance to play in its first conference championship game.

The Golden Gophers went up 17-3, fueled by touchdown runs from David Cobb and Mitch Leidner, before Wisconsin's defense and running back Melvin Gordon took over. Cobb finished with 118 yards. And Leidner scored twice on the ground but had only 95 yards on 5-of-18 passing.

Minnesota finished with only 272 yards but still finished with eight or more wins for the second straight year for the first time since 2002-03.

25. USC Trojans

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Average rating: 25.4

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

Up next: TBD bowl game

USC (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) wrapped up its regular season with a dominating win over Notre Dame, with quarterback Cody Kessler tossing more touchdown passes than any other opponent against the Fighting Irish.

Kessler threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns, five of those coming in the first half, as the Trojans jumped out to a 35-0 lead. They finished with 577 yards, with Nelson Agholor catching 12 passes for 120 yards and a TD.

USC held Everett Golson to just 75 passing yards before he was pulled, limiting Notre Dame to 349 total yards.

24. Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Average rating: 24.8

Week 14 result: Won 37-34 (in OT) at Iowa

Up next: TBD bowl game

Nebraska (9-3, 5-3 Big 12) got a nine-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. to Kenny Bell in overtime to knock off Iowa on road, reaching nine wins for the seventh straight season.

But that didn't manage to be enough for coach Bo Pelini, who was fired Sunday despite a 67-27 record with the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska trailed 24-7 late in the third quarter before rallying to take a 28-24 lead. Then after Iowa went up three the 'Huskers forced overtime when Drew Brown kicked a 20-yard field goal with eight seconds left.

Armstrong threw for 202 yards and four touchdowns but was intercepted twice, while Ameer Abdullah ran for 106 yards to give himself 1,523 for the season and 4,500 for his career. Abdullah needs 281 yards to surpass Mike Rozier for the school's career rushing record.

Kenny Bell caught two touchdown passes, and De'Mornay Pierson-El returned a punt 80 yards for his third such touchdown this season.

23. Boise State Broncos

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Average rating: 24.0

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

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

Boise State (10-2, 7-1 Mountain West) locked up the Mountain Division with a convincing victory over one of two teams it began the weekend tied for first with.

Jay Ajayi ran for 229 yards and five touchdowns, giving him 1,619 yards and 24 scores this season. Grant Hedrick added 191 yards and two TDs on 18-of-24 passing as the Broncos gained 498 yards.

Boise, which appears in line for the Group of Five's automatic bid to a major bowl game, held Utah State to 268 yards and forced three turnovers.

22. LSU Tigers

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Average rating: 23.4

Week 14 result: Won 23-17 at Texas A&M

Up next: TBD bowl game

LSU (8-4, 4-4 SEC) pounded out 384 rushing yards to earn a Thanksgiving road victory, reaching eight wins for the 15th consecutive season.

Leonard Fournette ran for 146 yards and a touchdown, a 22-yard run that tied the game at 7-7 in which he bulldozed over a Texas A&M defender on the way to the end zone. The freshman is up to 891 yards with eight TDs this season.

Anthony Jennings added 119 rushing yards while throwing for 107 and a score, and LSU's defense held A&M to 228 yards while forcing two turnovers.

21. Louisville Cardinals

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Average rating: 22.0

Week 14 result: Won 44-40 vs. Kentucky

Up next: TBD bowl game

Louisville (9-3, 5-3 ACC) got a four-yard touchdown run from Brandon Radcliff with 2:47 left to cap a shootout victory over visiting Kentucky, winning the in-state rivalry and preventing the Wildcats from becoming bowl-eligible.

The win was sealed in the final minute when Gerod Holliman intercepted a pass from Patrick Towles. It was Holliman's 15th interception this season, tying the FBS record.

Radcliff ran for 67 yards and two scores, but the offensive hero was freshman quarterback Kyle Bolin. He replaced Reggie Bonnafon early because of injury and threw for 381 yards with three TDs on 21-of-31 passing.

20. Clemson Tigers

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Average rating: 21.0

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

Up next: TBD bowl game

Clemson (9-3, 6-2 ACC) ended a five-game losing streak to South Carolina, doing so behind the heroic effort of injured freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Watson, who missed games earlier this season with a broken hand and didn't play last week because of a knee sprain, threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores despite playing with a torn ACL, according to coach Dabo Swinney (via ESPN.com).

The Tigers have averaged 45.3 points in games Watson starts (and finishes) compared to 25.1 when he does not.

Clemson held South Carolina to 63 rushing yards, improving to sixth nationally in rushing defense at 97.7 yards allowed per game.

19. Arizona State Sun Devils

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Average rating: 18.6

Week 14 result: Lost 42-35 at Arizona

Up next: TBD bowl game

Arizona State (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) came up short in its bid for a second straight South Division title, forcing three ties but never leading in its loss at in-state rival Arizona.

The Sun Devils held Arizona to 333 yards but gave up 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns to Nick Wilson. D.J. Foster ran for only 34 yards for ASU, which switched quarterbacks in the fourth quarter as Mike Bercovici tried to rally the team in place of Taylor Kelly.

Bercovici threw two TD passes, but an interception midway through the fourth set up Arizona's last touchdown.

The Sun Devils still finished with nine or more wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996-97.

18. Auburn Tigers

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Average rating: 18.0

Week 14 result: Lost 55-44 at Alabama

Up next: TBD bowl game

Auburn (8-4, 4-4 SEC) had a 12-point second-half lead in the Iron Bowl, seemingly having host Alabama on the ropes after converting a third interception into early points in the quarter. But then the Tigers' leaky defense sprung a major leak, giving up five touchdowns in just over 18 minutes of play to get run off the field.

Despite gaining 628 yards themselves, the Tigers allowed 532 yards and had no answer for Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, who caught 13 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. That included 39- and 75-yard TD catches in the third quarter that pulled Alabama within 36-34.

Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson paid the price for one last bad effort from his unit, getting fired Sunday.

Nick Marshall threw for a school-record 456 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-43 passing, but his interception late in the third quarter set up Alabama's go-ahead score in the fourth.

Sammie Coates had five catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns for Auburn.

17. UCLA Bruins

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Average rating: 17.4

Week 14 result: Lost 31-10 vs. Stanford

Up next: TBD bowl game

UCLA (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) blew a chance to win the South Division, getting overwhelmed at home by a Stanford team that broke out of a season-long offensive slump at just the right time.

The Bruins led 10-7 before their offense was shut down by the Cardinal, with Brett Hundley managing only 146 passing yards and one touchdown in what was likely his final home game. Hundley was also sacked 35 times, raising his season total to 35.

Paul Perkins ran for 116 yards, raising his total to 1,378, but UCLA overall had just 262 yards of offense in losing at home for the third time this season.

16. Oklahoma Sooners

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Average rating: 15.4

Week 14 result: Bye

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) had Thanksgiving weekend off, extra time to rest up for the annual Bedlam game against its rivals. An added bonus for this game: trying to keep the Cowboys, who are 5-6, from becoming bowl-eligible.

The Sooners had hoped to get quarterback Trevor Knight back after missing the past two games with a neck injury suffered late in the Nov. 8 home loss to Baylor, but coach Bob Stoops announced Monday that Knight would not play, per Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com.

In his absence, Cody Thomas has held down the position, but the offense has been led by running back Samaje Perine, who last time out set the FBS single-game rushing record with 427 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Kansas.

That performance helped lift Oklahoma to No. 9 nationally in rushing offense at 265.4 yards per game.

15. Missouri Tigers

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 13.8

Week 14 result: Won 21-14 vs. Arkansas

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

Missouri (10-2, 7-1 SEC) won its second consecutive East Division title, rallying from a 14-3 deficit against an Arkansas team that hadn't allowed points to its previous two opponents.

The Tigers managed 423 yards against the Razorbacks, with quarterback Maty Mauk continuing his late-season rise with 265 passing yards and a four-yard touchdown pass to Jimmie Hunt that (along with the two-point conversion) tied the game at 14 early in the fourth quarter.

Marcus Murphy scored on a 12-yard run with 4:38 for the game-winner; then Missouri's defense did the rest. The Tigers held Arkansas to 288 yards, including 155 on the ground for a team that was rushing for 226.2 yards per game coming in.

Mizzou managed to win the East despite getting shut out at home earlier this year by Georgia as well as losing at home to an Indiana team that would finish 4-8.

14. Georgia Bulldogs

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 13.2

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

Up next: TBD bowl game

Georgia (9-3, 6-2 SEC) lost the "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate" game for the first time since 2008 despite taking a lead with 18 seconds left in regulation.

The Bulldogs scored on a three-yard touchdown pass from Hutson Mason to Malcolm Mitchell to go up 24-21, but they couldn't keep Georgia Tech from driving quickly and forcing overtime on a 53-yard field goal. Tech scored first in OT, though Georgia blocked the extra point. But then Mason was intercepted at the 5-yard line to end the game.

Mason threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, while Nick Chubb ran for 129 yards and a score. Georgia also got a 99-yard fumble return TD from Damian Swann in the second quarter after he ripped the ball out of a pile of players at the goal line.

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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Average rating: 13.0

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

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

Georgia Tech (10-2, 6-2 ACC) ended a five-game skid to its in-state rival when D.J. White intercepted a pass in overtime to seal the victory.

White's pick came after the Yellow Jackets scored on their possession, but the extra point was blocked. This came after Tech fell behind 24-21 with 18 seconds in regulation. Then Harrison Butker forced OT with a 53-yard field goal at the buzzer.

Zach Laskey ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns, part of 399 yards rushing yards for Georgia Tech, which now is fourth in the country in rushing at 338.4 yards per game.

Justin Thomas completed only six of 16 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, with his lost fumble in the fourth quarter setting up Georgia's go-ahead score.

12. Ole Miss Rebels

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Average rating: 11.2

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

Up next: TBD bowl game

Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3 SEC) avenged last year's overtime Egg Bowl loss while also sending senior quarterback Bo Wallace out a winner in his final home game.

Wallace shook off an early interception, his 11th of the season, to throw for 296 yards despite only completing 13 of 30 passes. He also scored on a one-yard run, while backup Jeremy Liggins scored from a yard out during a 17-0 run that gave the Rebels a 24-10 lead.

Jaylen Walton ran for 148 yards, his 91-yard TD run late in the third quarter giving Ole Miss a two-score advantage. Cody Core added a 31-yard TD catch from Jordan Wilkins on a fourth-quarter trick play to ice the game.

Ole Miss ended a three-game SEC losing streak.

10. (tie) Wisconsin Badgers

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Average rating: 11.0

Week 14 result: Won 34-24 vs. Minnesota

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

Wisconsin (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) locked up the West Division and a spot in its third conference title game as Melvin Gordon moved closer to challenging for the FBS single-season rushing record.

Gordon ran for 151 yards and a touchdown, a one-yard run that gave the Badgers a 27-17 lead. Gordon, who has 2,260 yards for the season, also caught a four-yard TD pass from Joel Stave. Stave threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Gordon is 368 yards behind Barry Sanders for the FBS record with two seasons left.

Wisconsin held Minnesota to 272 yards, lowering its No. 2 defense to 260.3 yards per game.

10. (tie) Arizona Wildcats

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 11.0

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

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

Arizona (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12) won the South Division title after knocking off its in-state rival in a wire-to-wire victory, starting the win off with a defensive touchdown and then making big stops in the fourth quarter.

Anthony Lopez returned a fumble 25 yards for a score less than a minute into the game, and Tra'Mayne Bondurant intercepted Mike Bercovici in the fourth quarter to set up the Wildcats' final touchdown. In between, Nick Wilson ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns (including a 72-yard TD run), and Anu Solomon threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score.

Samajie Grant caught both TD passes, but he won't start for Arizona in the Pac-12 title game after being cited for suspicion of DUI on Saturday.

Linebacker Scooby Wright, a finalist for several major national awards, had five tackles for loss and a forced fumble to give him an FBS-leading 28 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles.

9. Kansas State Wildcats

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Average rating: 9.8

Week 14 result: Won 51-13 vs. Kansas

Up next: Dec. 6 at Baylor

Kansas State (9-2, 7-1 Big 12) beat its in-state rival for a sixth consecutive year paced by wide receiver Tyler Lockett's record-setting day.

Lockett caught nine passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing father Kevin Lockett's school career receptions record while tying his TD mark. Tyler Lockett already had overtaken his dad for the career yardages mark.

Curry Sexton added nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown, while Jake Waters threw for 294 yards and four scores.

K-State held Kansas to 197 yards.

8. Mississippi State Bulldogs

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Average rating: 9.2

Week 14 result: Lost 31-17 at Ole Miss

Up next: TBD bowl game

Mississippi State (10-2, 6-2 SEC) saw its playoff chances fall at the hands of its in-state rival, losing the Egg Bowl for its second loss in the last three games.

Dak Prescott accounted for 330 of the Bulldogs' 445 yards of offense, scoring on a one-yard run for a 10-7 lead in the second quarter. But he couldn't account for MSU's defense, which allowed 532 yards as Ole Miss scored 17 straight points to take control.

That included a 91-yard touchdown run by Ole Miss' Jaylen Walton after it appeared MSU had stopped him in the backfield.

"I didn't think we were getting in the playoff anyway," MSU coach Dan Mullen told CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd.

The Bulldogs could still have a shot at a major bowl bid, selected by the playoff committee, depending on how they finish in the final playoff rankings.

7. Michigan State Spartans

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 8.2

Week 14 result: Won 34-10 at Penn State

Up next: TBD bowl game

Michigan State (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) took a while to get its offense moving, but the Spartans were never heavily challenged on the road en route to reaching 10 wins for the fourth time in the past five seasons.

The Spartans didn't score their first offensive touchdown until midway through the third quarter, leading 13-3 at the half thanks to a pair of field goals and R.J. Shelton's 90-yard kickoff return score to open the game. But then Jeremy Langford ran for 118 yards and two second-half touchdowns, raising his season totals to 1,360 yards and 19 scores.

Connor Cook threw for 180 yards and a touchdown pass to Tony Lippett, the receiver's 11th of the season after managing only four in his first three years.

MSU held Penn State to 233 yards, lowering its season average to 293.5 yards per game, seventh best in FBS.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

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Average rating: 7.2

Week 14 result: Won 42-28 vs. Michigan

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

Ohio State (11-1, 8-0 Big Ten) wrapped up a perfect conference slate, outlasting a pesky Michigan team at home, but in the process it lost its breakout star to a major injury.

Freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett broke his ankle early in the fourth quarter, an injury that required surgery and will knock him out for the rest of the season. He finished the year with numerous school offensive records, accounting for 3,772 yards and 45 total touchdowns, including a passing TD and two rushing scores against the Wolverines.

Cardale Jones will replace Barrett, but OSU's offense figures to weigh heavily on its run game, which gained 233 yards and got 121 and two touchdowns from Ezekiel Elliott.

OSU forced two turnovers, with Darron Lee returning a fumble 33 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

5. Baylor Bears

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Average rating: 5.8

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

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Kansas State

Baylor (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) nearly squandered a 25-point second-half lead and also saw its quarterback suffer a head injury in a game that could have an impact on its stance with the playoff selection committee.

The Bears led 45-20 with just over two minutes left in the third quarter only to see Texas Tech score four touchdowns in less than 15 minutes. It took a sack on a two-point conversion try with 1:42 left followed by a onside kick recovery by Shock Linwood to seal the win.

Bryce Petty threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns, but he was knocked out of the game in the third quarter and suffered a concussion. Coach Art Briles told Jake Trotter of ESPN that Petty "was better (Sunday)...right now we're feeling like he's going to be ready to go Saturday."

Linwood ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns, but Baylor allowed 712 yards, including 598 passing yards by Patrick Mahomes.

4. Florida State Seminoles

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 5.4

Week 14 result: Won 24-19 vs. Florida

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

Florida State (12-0, 8-0 ACC) won its 28th straight game, once again having to play catch-up, but for once it was the Seminoles who held the advantage down the stretch and had to play defense to win rather than rally late.

The comeback came early after Florida led 9-0 thanks to three first-quarter interceptions thrown by Jameis Winston. But then its own defense turned the game around, with Terrance Smith returning a pick 94 yards for a touchdown. Winston then connected with tight end Nick O'Leary for a pair of TD passes to put the Seminoles up 21-9.

Winston was held to just 125 passing yards and had four interceptions, giving him 17 picks this season. He was uplifted by 144 rushing yards from Dalvin Cook, who stepped up after Karlos Williams left the game with a concussion.

FSU managed only a field goal in the second half, but its defense limited Florida to only three points after halftime as well.

That same defense will get a firm test in the ACC title game against a Georgia Tech team that's won five straight and is averaging 338.4 rushing yards per game.

3. TCU Horned Frogs

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 3.8

Week 14 result: Won 48-10 at Texas

Up next: Dec. 6 vs. Iowa State

TCU (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) used its defense to overwhelm host Texas on Thanksgiving, a convincing performance that will be the last chance for the Horned Frogs to impress the playoff committee with a regular-season finale against Iowa State providing little chance to do the same.

The Frogs forced six turnovers, scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns—Terrell Lathan's 40-yard fumble return in the first quarter and a 33-yard interception return score by Josh Carraway—while holding Texas to 290 yards.

TCU's own offense wasn't spectacular, but it got the job done against a Texas team that was allowing only 337.5 yards per game. Trevone Boykin threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 50 yards with a score, while Aaron Green added 73 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The Frogs are second in the country in turnovers forced with 36 and have a plus-18 turnover margin.

2. Oregon Ducks

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 3.0

Week 14 result: Won 47-19 at Oregon State

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

Oregon (11-1, 8-1 Pac-12) crushed its rival too easily with the Civil War, with quarterback Marcus Mariota putting another significant performance onto his Heisman-worthy resume.

Mariota finished with six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) and 406 yards of total offense, giving him 4,106 yards and 47 TDs on the season. He's the presumptive Heisman Trophy favorite and could lock up the award depending on how the Pac-12 title game goes, according to Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports.

"Simply put, if Mariota avenges this season’s sole loss against Arizona, he’s most likely going to win the trophy," Mandel said.

Royce Freeman ran for 135 yards. And Byron Marshall had 131 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Oregon held Pac-12 career passing leader Sean Mannion to only 162 yards and one score.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

USA TODAY Sports

Average rating: 1.0

Week 14 result: Won 55-44 vs. Auburn

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

Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) came out ahead in the highest-scoring Iron Bowl in history, locking up the West Division title and holding on to the top spot in our rankings. The Crimson Tide also exorcised some of the demons from last year's Kick-Six loss to Auburn that kept them from a chance at a third straight national title.

Down 33-21 early in the third quarter—after Blake Sims' third interception led to an Auburn touchdown—Alabama scored TDs on five straight possessions to turn the shootout in its favor. Sims rebounded to finish with 312 passing yards and four touchdowns, three of those caught by Amari Cooper (13 receptions, 224 yards). Derrick Henry's 25-yard TD run capped the second-half scoring binge.

T.J. Yeldon added 127 rushing yards and two TDs, and Alabama allowed 628 yards and 44 points.

All that stands between the Tide and a playoff spot is Missouri, the East Division champion. Alabama will be heavily favored in that game.

"The only major concern for the Tide should be a letdown—but given what's at stake, that's unlikely," wrote Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports.

All statistical information courtesy of CFBStats.com.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.