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B/R's 2025 College Football Experts Top 25 Rankings After Week 12
There were a handful of notable takeaways from Week 12 of the college football season, but none bigger than Oklahoma knocking off Alabama in Tuscaloosa, shaking up the College Football Playoff picture in the process.
Notre Dame cruised to victory against a red-hot Pittsburgh team, Arizona upset ranked Cincinnati and Navy topped South Florida to throw the Group of Five race into chaos once again.
Now it's time for Bleacher Report's updated top 25 ranking after all the Week 12 action, with the college football writing staff of Adam Kramer, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard making up our voting panel.
Let the debate begin!
Nos. 25-21
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25. SMU (7-3, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 12 Result: BYE
Next Week: vs. Louisville
With a 5-1 record in ACC play, the Mustangs are still very much alive in the conference championship picture, as two of their losses came during non-conference play against Baylor and TCU. Quarterback Kevin Jennings entered the week leading the ACC with 2,810 passing yards to go along with 21 touchdowns, and the defense is allowing just 16.3 points per game in conference play.
24. Houston (8-2, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 12 Result: BYE
Next Week: vs. TCU
The Cougars briefly popped into the AP poll at No. 22 heading into Week 10, but promptly dropped back out with a bad loss to West Virginia. They rebounded last weekend against UCF to improve to 5-0 on the road, and have taken a nice step forward this year following consecutive 4-8 finishes. Texas A&M transfer Conner Weigman has 2,113 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, and he has brought some welcome stability under center.
23. Tennessee (7-3, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. New Mexico State (42-9)
Next Week: at Florida
Joey Aguilar threw a pair of interceptions in the first half, but in between led three straight touchdown drives, and that was more than enough offense for the Vols to run away from an overmatched New Mexico State squad. The Volunteers outgained the Aggies 194-27 on the ground, with DeSean Bishop leading the charge with 80 yards on 16 carries and a score. Florida on the road and Vanderbilt at home wrap up the regular-season slate.
22. James Madison (9-1, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. Appalachian State (58-10)
Next Week: vs. Washington State
The Dukes eclipsed 300 rushing yards for the fourth time this season, with Jobi Malary (8 carries, 105 yards, 3 TD) and Wayne Knight (16 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD) leading the way, and the offense scored 50 points for the third time in the last four games. Meanwhile, the defense allowed just 146 yards and 1-of-12 on third down conversions in a dominant all-around game. With South Florida losing, they might be the new top dogs in the Group of Five picture.
21. Missouri (7-3, Previous Rank: 25)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. Mississippi State (49-27)
Next Week: at Oklahoma
Ahmad Hardy had 300 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, good for the most rushing yards by anyone at the FBS level this season. That was more than enough for the Tigers to wear down the Bulldogs, as they outscored them 28-10 to close out the game. Their three losses put them on the wrong side of the playoff picture, but they are more than capable of playing spoiler next weekend against Oklahoma.
Nos. 20-16
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20. North Texas (9-1, Previous Rank: 23)
Week 12 Result: Win at UAB (53-24)
Next Week: at Rice
Behind 189 yards and five touchdowns from running back Caleb Hawkins, North Texas rolled to victory against the same UAB team that upset Memphis. The Mean Green built a 31-7 lead in the first half, with Drew Mestemaker adding 298 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while the defense tallied four takeaways. With South Florida falling to Navy, they join James Madison as the leading candidates for the Group of Five playoff bid.
19. Texas (7-3, Previous Rank: 15)
Week 12 Result: Loss at Georgia (10-35)
Next Week: vs. Arkansas
A seven-yard touchdown pass from Arch Manning to Ryan Wingo with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter pulled the Longhorns within four points of the lead, but they didn't score again, as Georgia rattled off 21 unanswered points to end the game. With a non-existent rushing game, Manning threw 43 passes and finished with 251 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It was three strong quarters against a top-tier team, and a fourth quarter to forget.
18. Virginia (9-2, Previous Rank: 18)
Week 12 Result: Win at Duke (34-17)
Next Week: BYE
The Cavaliers had a tough draw coming off last week's upset loss to Wake Forest, but answered the call against a high-powered Blue Devils offense. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah was limited to a season-low 213 yards on 18-of-35 passing while failing to throw multiple touchdown passes for the first time in 2025. On the other side, Chandler Morris had 316 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while J'Mari Taylor led the way on the ground with 18 carries for 133 yards and two scores.
17. Miami (8-2, Previous Rank: 22)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. NC State (41-7)
Next Week: at Virginia Tech
Carson Beck threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, Girard Pringle Jr. tallied 17 carries for 116 yards and the Hurricanes defense picked off CJ Bailey twice in a dominant all-around performance from a rejuvenated Miami team. They have won their last two games by a 79-17 margin, following a 1-2 stretch that included losses over Louisville and SMU.
16. USC (8-2, Previous Rank: 17)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. Iowa (26-21)
Next Week: at Oregon
The Trojans trailed 21-7 late in the second quarter, but cut into that lead with field goals on either side of halftime, then pitched a shutout on defense in the second half while finding the end zone twice to complete the comeback. Makai Lemon had 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown, Jayden Maiava added 254 passing yards and Bryan Jackson had a pair of rushing touchdowns. The Trojans are now 6-1 in Big Ten play.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Utah (8-2, Previous Rank: 14)
Week 12 Result: Win at Baylor (55-28)
Next Week: vs. Kansas State
With 380 rushing yards and 8.8 yards per carry, the Utes effectively ran Baylor into the ground in a lopsided road win to improve to 5-2 in Big 12 play. Byrd Ficklin (6 carries, 166 yards, 2 TD) and Wayshawn Parker (15 carries, 129 yards, TD) both had big games on the ground, while Devon Dampier made the most of his 13 pass attempts with 80 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson had 430 passing yards in the loss.
14. Michigan (8-2, Previous Rank: 16)
Week 12 Result: Win at Northwestern (24-22)
Next Week: at Maryland
After missing two field goals earlier in the game, 2024 All-American Dominic Zvada hit the game-winning, 31-yarder as time expired to help Michigan escape with a victory and keep their fringe playoff hopes alive. It was an ugly game for the Wolverines, who turned the ball over five times, but they weathered the storm and avoided the upset playing a neutral site game at Wrigley Field.
13. Vanderbilt (8-2, Previous Rank: 12)
Week 12 Result: BYE
Next Week: vs. Kentucky
The Commodores have reached eight wins for the first time since 2013, and after checking in No. 14 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, they still have a lot to play for down the stretch. A home game against Kentucky and a road matchup with Tennessee wrap up the regular season, and if they finish 10-2 with their only losses coming on the road against Alabama and Texas, they will be squarely on the bubble for an at-large bid.
12. Georgia Tech (9-1, Previous Rank: 9)
Week 12 Result: Win at Boston College (36-34)
Next Week: vs. Pittsburgh
Haynes King completed 26-of-34 pass attempts for 371 yards and a touchdown, but the dual-threat standout was held in check on the ground with 53 yards on 15 carries. The Yellow Jackets piled up 628 total yards, but also allowed 537 yards against a Boston College team with a 1-10 record on the year. It took 19 fourth quarter points and a 23-yard field goal from Aidan Birr with 11 seconds remaining for them to pull out the win, but they are still in the driver's seat in the ACC race.
11. BYU (9-1, Previous Rank: 10)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. TCU (44-13)
Next Week: at Cincinnati
BYU was overmatched against Texas Tech in Week 11, falling behind 26-0 before scoring their only points of the game in the fourth quarter. However, they were still in good shape to give the Big 12 a second team in the playoff field if they could bounce back from that performance, and came out swinging against TCU. The Cougars scored the first 17 points of the game en route to a 27-10 win with Bear Bachmeier finishing with 296 passing yards, 59 rushing yards and 2 total touchdowns to lead the way.
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Nos. 10-6
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10. Alabama (8-2, Previous Rank: 4)
Week 12 Result: Loss vs. Oklahoma (21-23)
Next Week: vs. Eastern Illinois
With a 6-1 record in SEC play, the Crimson Tide still have a good chance of playing in the conference championship game, but their road to the College Football Playoff is not nearly as clear as it was prior to Saturday's loss. A season-high three turnovers, including a pick-six to help the Sooners build an early 10-0 lead, ended up being too much to overcome in Kalen DeBoer's first home conference loss at Alabama. The Crimson Tide now need to win the Iron Bowl to secure their spot in the SEC title game.
9. Notre Dame (8-2, Previous Rank: 11)
Week 12 Result: Win at Pittsburgh (37-15)
Next Week: vs. Syracuse
The Fighting Irish defense limited Pitt to 0-of-13 on third-down conversions and held the Panthers offense to just 3.8 yards per play to run their winning streak to eight in a row since their 0-2 start. CJ Carr threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while Jeremiyah Love had 23 carries for 147 yards and a score. Notre Dame built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and were in complete control from start to finish.
8. Oklahoma (8-2, Previous Rank: 13)
Week 12 Result: Win at Alabama (23-21)
Next Week: vs. Missouri
With back-to-back wins on the road against Tennessee and Alabama, the Sooners are playing as well as any team in the nation right now, and they have given their playoff hopes a massive shot in the arm in the process. John Mateer had 138 passing yards, 23 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, Eli Bowen had a pick-six in the first quarter and Tate Sandell nailed all three of his field goal attempts. Winning out against Missouri and LSU at home should punch their ticket to the playoff.
7. Ole Miss (10-1, Previous Rank: 8)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. Florida (34-24)
Next Week: BYE
Florida gave Ole Miss everything it could handle for three quarters, leading 24-20 at halftime before both teams were kept off the scoreboard in the third quarter, but the Rebels ultimately avoided the upset with a pair of Kewan Lacy touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Lacy finished with 224 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries, and Ole Miss piled up 538 yards of total offense while clamping down on the defensive side of things after halftime.
6. Texas Tech (10-1, Previous Rank: 7)
Week 12 Result: Win vs. UCF (48-9)
Next Week: BYE
For the third time in the last four games, Texas Tech limited the opposition to less than 10 points, and it was a 38-2 blowout at halftime. Cameron Dickey (77 yards, 2 TD) and Reggie Virgil (35 yards, 2 TD) led the way on the ground, while Behren Morton had 149 yards and a touchdown pass before heading to the bench late in the first half with a 38-2 lead. A road game against West Virginia is the last box to check as they look to clinch their spot in the playoff field.
5. Oregon Ducks (9-1, Previous Rank: 6)
5 of 11
Week 12 Result: Win vs. Minnesota (42-13)
Next Week: vs. USC
The Ducks turned in lackluster offensive performances in wins over Wisconsin and Iowa in Week 9 and Week 11, but were back to the high-powered attack they showed early in the season on Friday night against Minnesota.
Dante Moore completed 27-of-30 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns, while Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison combined 129 rushing yards and three scores as the Ducks racked up 510 total yards.
Next week's showdown with USC will be a matchup of teams with 6-1 record in Big Ten play, and the winner will be in a great position to secure a spot in the playoff field.
4. Georgia Bulldogs (9-1, Previous Rank: 5)
6 of 11
Week 12 Result: Win vs. Texas (35-10)
Next Week: vs. Charlotte
After three hard-fought quarters, the Bulldogs flexed their muscles in the fourth with 21 unanswered points to come away with a convincing win.
Gunner Stockton had a hand in all three of those late scores, throwing for two scores and running for a third, and he finished with 229 passing yards, 29 rushing yards and five total touchdowns.
The Georgia defense completely erased the running game, allowing just 23 yards on 17 carries while logging seven tackles for loss and three sacks.
3. Texas A&M Aggies (10-0, Previous Rank: 3)
7 of 11
Week 12 Result: Win vs. South Carolina (31-30)
Next Week: vs. Samford
The Aggies trailed 30-3 at halftime, but stormed all the way back with four second-half touchdowns to pull off the biggest second-half comeback in school history.
After three first-half turnovers, the Aggies found the end zone in each of their first four drives of the second half, though a late fumble still made things interesting as they had to dig in to protect a one-point lead over the final 10-plus minutes.
A cupcake game against Samford awaits next weekend before they close out the regular season in Austin against Texas.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (11-0, Previous Rank: 2)
8 of 11
Week 12 Result: Win vs. Wisconsin (31-7)
Next Week: BYE
Fernando Mendoza was surgical under center, completing 22-of-24 pass attempts for 299 yards and four touchdowns, and the Hoosiers scored the final 24 points of the game to cruise to their 11th victory of the season.
The Indiana defense allowed just 168 total yards while forcing a pair of turnovers and limiting the Badgers offense to 2-of-11 on third-down conversions and just eight first downs total.
A road game against Purdue is now all that stands in the way of an undefeated regular season.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0, Previous Rank: 1)
9 of 11
Week 12 Result: Win vs UCLA (48-10)
Next Week: vs. Rutgers
The Buckeyes built a 34-0 lead before the Bruins put points on the board and cruised to victory to maintain their hold on the No. 1 spot in the national picture.
Julian Sayin had 184 yards and a touchdown, but it was the running game that carried the day with Bo Jackson (112 yards, TD), Isaiah West (61 yards, TD) and James Peoples (42 yards, 2 TD) leading a rushing attack that tallied 222 yards.
On defense, the Buckeyes held UCLA to 222 yards and only eight first downs.
B/R Top 25 Ranking After Week 12
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B/R Top 25
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia
5. Oregon
6. Texas Tech
7. Ole Miss
8. Oklahoma
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. BYU
12. Georgia Tech
13. Vanderbilt
14. Michigan
15. Utah
16. USC
17. Miami
18. Virginia
19. Texas
20. North Texas
21. Missouri
22. James Madison
23. Tennessee
24. Houston
25. SMU
Others Receiving Votes: Tulane
What's Next
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The Week 13 schedule may not be loaded with head-to-head clashes of ranked opponents, but there is still a lot of good football on deck next weekend.
The biggest game of the week belongs to the Big Ten, as USC travels to Eugenio to take on Oregon in a matchup of teams that are both 6-1 in conference play. With a win, the Trojans could potentially move to the right side of the College Football Playoff picture, while the Ducks look to solidify their status as the No. 3 team in the conference behind Ohio State and Indiana.
BYU at Cincinnati and Pitt at Georgia Tech looked better heading into Week 12 before the Bearcats and Panthers both lost, but they still have the potential to be extremely competitive games, with those two teams now in a prime position to play spoiler.
Missouri at Oklahoma is the best matchup of the week in the SEC with a number of the conference's top dogs playing late-season cupcake games. Texas A&M (Samford), Alabama (Eastern Illinois) and Georgia (Charlotte) will all be heavy favorites, while Auburn will need to be careful not to overlook a Mercer team that has won nine straight.
In the Group of Five playoff race, James Madison (vs. Washington State) and North Texas (at Rice) will both be in action and looking to improve to 10-1 on the year, while Tulane (at Temple) is also still alive in that conversation.
See you all next weekend!
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