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B/R's 2025 College Football Experts Top 25 Rankings After Week 14
Before Saturday's action even started, the college football playoff picture had already been shaken up in a big way when Texas upset Texas A&M on Friday night.
Michigan (vs. Ohio State), Tennessee (vs. Vanderbilt), Pitt (vs. Miami) and Georgia Tech (vs. Georgia) all failed to pull off upsets, but their losses still led to a shakeup in the top 25 picture, while SMU falling to California opened the door for Duke to sneak into the ACC championship game.
Now it's time for Bleacher Report's updated top 25 ranking after all the Week 14 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. Navy (9-2, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 14 Result: Win at Memphis (28-17)
The Midshipmen secured a share of the AAC regular season title with a road win over a good Memphis team, improving to 7-1 in conference play behind strong games from Blake Horvath (100 passing yards, 54 rushing yards, 2 TD) and Alex Tecza (103 rushing yards, 2 TD). Road losses to North Texas and Notre Dame are the only blemishes on their resume, and a win in the annual Army-Navy game in two weeks would give them a second straight 10-win campaign.
24. Tennessee (8-4, Previous Rank: 19)
Week 14 Result: Loss vs. Vanderbilt (24-45)
The Volunteers lack a signature win after losing to Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt this season, but they might be the best four-loss team in the country thanks to a high-powered offense that entered Saturday's game averaging 42.3 points per contest. Joey Aguilar (29-of-44, 299 yards, 1 TD) and DeSean Bishop (20 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD) both had solid games offensively, but the defense simply had no answer for Diego Pavia.
23. Houston (9-3, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 14 Result: Win at Baylor (31-24)
The Cougars capped off a 15-play, 74-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run from Dean Connors with 1:57 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Cougars their ninth win of the season. Conner Weigman had 201 passing yards, 121 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. His strong play this season after transferring from Texas A&M helped lead Houston to its first winning record since joining the Big 12, following consecutive 4-8 finishes.
22. Arizona (9-3, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 14 Result: Win at Arizona State (23-7)
The Wildcats' defense forced five turnovers, Noah Fifita threw for 286 yards and a touchdown and Arizona spoiled Arizona State's chances of potentially securing a spot in the Big 12 championship. All things considered, it was a nice bounce-back season for Arizona following a disappointing 2024 campaign where they started the year ranked and finished 4-8. A five-game winning streak got them to nine wins for just the eighth time in school history.
21. Tulane (10-2, Previous Rank: 24)
Week 14 Result: Win vs. Charlotte (27-0)
The Green Wave secured a spot in the AAC championship with Saturday's shutout win over Charlotte, and a victory over North Texas next weekend would likely clinch the Group of Five playoff spot. They managed to overcome three giveaways, including a pair of interceptions from Jake Retzlaff, by limiting the 49ers to 142 total yards and getting a pair of takeaways of their own. This is the third time in the last four years Tulane has won at least 10 games.
Nos. 20-16
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20. James Madison (11-1, Previous Rank: 21)
Week 14 Result: Win at Coastal Carolina (59-10)
Much of the discussion surrounding the Group of Five playoff spot has centered around AAC contenders North Texas and Tulane, but the Dukes are also still in the running following an undefeated run through Sun Belt play. Their only loss came to Louisville back in Week 2, and they outscored the opposition by a staggering 340-121 margin in their eight conference wins. Alonza Barnett III had three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in Saturday's lopsided victory.
19. Michigan (9-3, Previous Rank: 15)
Week 14 Result: Loss vs. Ohio State (9-27)
With just 163 total yards, nine first downs and three field goals, the Wolverines' offense was unable to keep pace with No. 1 Ohio State, as the Buckeyes doubled them up on time of possession and more than doubled their total yardage. Freshman Bryce Underwood completed 8-of-18 pass attempts for 63 yards and an interception, and a potent Wolverines running game was limited to a season-low 100 yards on 24 carries.
18. North Texas (11-1, Previous Rank: 20)
Week 14 Result: Win vs. Temple (52-25)
The Mean Green have not had a winning record since 2018 when they were still a member of Conference USA, and they had never reached 10 wins prior to this year. Breakout star Drew Mestemaker had 366 yards and three touchdowns to cap off a regular season where he threw for 3,835 yards and 29 touchdowns against only four interceptions, and a win in the AAC championship game could be the final step in securing the Group of Five playoff spot.
17. USC (9-3, Previous Rank: 17)
Week 14 Result: Win vs. UCLA (29-10)
The Trojans rode big games from Jayden Maiava (21-of-29, 257 passing yards, 2 TD) and King Miller (17 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD) to their ninth win of the season, improving on last year's 7-6 finish. They wrapped up the regular season tied for fourth in the Big Ten standings with a 7-2 record in conference play, behind only Indiana (9-0), Ohio State (9-0) and Oregon (8-1).
16. Virginia (10-2, Previous Rank: 16)
Week 14 Result: Win vs. Virginia Tech (27-7)
For just the second time since its inception in 2005, Virginia will be playing in the ACC championship game, with their only other trip coming in 2019 when it suffered a 62-17 blowout loss at the hands of Trevor Lawrence and Clemson. In Saturday's convincing win over in-state rival Virginia Tech, the running game tallied 197 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense surrendered just six first downs and logged a pair of takeaways.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Utah (10-2, Previous Rank: 14)
Week 14 Result: Win at Kansas (31-21)
Devon Dampier threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns, while his counterpart, Jalon Daniels, was picked off three times, helping the Utes overcome a porous run defense to reach 10 wins a year after finishing with a disappointing 5-7 record. Their only losses this season came against Texas Tech and BYU, but that unfortunately leaves them as the clear No. 3 team in a conference that is going to receive a maximum of two playoff spots.
14. Texas (9-3, Previous Rank: 18)
Week 14 Result: Win vs. Texas A&M (27-17)
After a disappointing start to the season that led to significant scrutiny for quarterback Arch Manning and the team as a whole, the Longhorns went 6-1 over their final seven games, with the lone loss coming on the road against Georgia. Manning had 179 passing yards, 53 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Tre Wisner tallied 155 rushing yards and two scores, and the defense buckled down to allow just seven points in the second half while sealing the win with a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions. Will it be enough to convince the CFP committee they deserve a playoff spot?
13. Vanderbilt (10-2, Previous Rank: 13)
Week 14 Result: Win at Tennessee (45-24)
The Commodores outscored the Vols by a 24-3 margin in the second half, and Diego Pavia added another chapter to a memorable season with a lopsided victory to keep Vanderbilt in the College Football Playoff conversation. Pavia had 268 passing yards, 165 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Sedrick Alexander chipped in 115 yards and three scores on the ground. It's the first 10-win season in school history.
12. Miami (10-2, Previous Rank: 12)
Week 14 Result: Win at Pittsburgh (38-7)
Despite being the top ACC team in the latest College Football Playoff ranking, the Hurricanes entered Saturday facing an uphill battle to secure a spot in the conference championship game, though they took care of what they could control with a convincing win. Carson Beck completed 23-of-29 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, Malachi Toney had 13 receptions for 126 yards and a score, and the defense held the Panthers to 1.4 yards per carry thanks to six tackles for loss and four sacks.
11. Alabama (10-2, Previous Rank: 11)
Week 14 Result: Win at Auburn (27-20)
An Auburn team that entered the game 1-6 in SEC play gave Alabama everything it could handle in the Iron Bowl, but the Crimson Tide came out on top to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. What was a 17-0 lead in the first half eroded into a 20-20 tie early in the fourth quarter after Auburn rattled off an 88-yard touchdown drive, but Alabama answered with a 15-play, 75-yard drive of its own to close out the win. Ty Simpson completed just 19-of-35 pass attempts for 122 yards, but he had three touchdown throws and took care of the football while Auburn turned it over twice.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Notre Dame (10-2, Previous Rank: 10)
Week 14 Result: Win at Stanford (49-20)
With no conference championship game to further bolster their case next weekend, the Fighting Irish did their best to make a statement against an overmatched Stanford team. They scored a touchdown on five of six drives during the first half to build a 35-3 halftime lead, then cruised to their 10th straight win after starting the year 0-2. Star running back Jeremiyah Love set the Notre Dame single-season record with his 21st touchdown, overtaking Jerome Bettis (20, 1991).
9. BYU (11-1, Previous Rank: 9)
Week 14 Result: Win vs. UCF (41-21)
The lone blemish on BYU's resume this season was a 29-7 loss on the road against Texas Tech in Week 11, and they will have an opportunity to avenge that as the two are set to square off in the Big 12 championship game next weekend. After falling behind 14-0 on Saturday, the Cougars ripped off 31 unanswered points against UCF to avoid an upset, with LJ Martin tallying 95 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while Bear Bachmeier completed 21-of-25 passes for 289 yards and a score.
8. Oklahoma (10-2, Previous Rank: 8)
Week 14 Result: Win vs. LSU (17-13)
The Sooners' defense limited LSU to 198 total yards and nine first downs, which helped offset a three-interception game from John Mateer and helped lead the Sooners to victory. Mateer also threw for 318 yards and two second-half touchdowns, tying things at 10-10 with 1:47 left in the third quarter and landing the go-ahead blow on a 58-yard strike to Isaiah Sategna III with 5:04 remaining in the game. After checking in at No. 8 in the latest CFP rankings, the Sooners likely clinched their spot in the field.
7. Ole Miss (11-1, Previous Rank: 7)
Week 14 Result: Win at Mississippi State (38-19)
Trinidad Chambliss threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns, Kewan Lacy had 27 carries for 143 yards and a score and Ole Miss never trailed while winning the Egg Bowl for the third time in a row and fifth time in the last six years. Now the focus shifts to Lane Kiffin's decision, how that impacts the Rebels' outlook for the College Football Playoff and the ripple effect it will have on the college football landscape.
6. Texas A&M (11-1, Previous Rank: 3)
Week 14 Result: Loss at Texas (17-27)
The Aggies were outscored 24-7 in the second half, and Marcel Reed threw a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions, as Texas A&M suffered its first loss of the season and no longer has a path to the SEC championship game. A one-point victory over Notre Dame in Week 3 still stands out as a bright spot on their resume, but road wins against LSU and Missouri have lost some of their luster. While the Aggies should still be comfortably in the CFP field, it will be interesting to see how far they slide down the seeding list.
5. Oregon Ducks (11-1, Previous Rank: 5)
5 of 11
Week 14 Result: Win at Washington (26-14)
The Ducks survived a tough test on the road against Washington to finish as one of the nation's top one-loss teams, and while they do not have a spot in the Big Ten championship game, they should be comfortably in the playoff field.
Oregon's standout rushing attack managed just 106 yards on 42 carries, but Dante Moore threw for 286 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, while the defense had two takeaways.
After starting 13-0 a year ago, the Ducks fell to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl to open the playoffs, and this time around they will not have the same lofty expectations to navigate.
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1, Previous Rank: 6)
6 of 11
Week 14 Result: Win at West Virginia (49-0)
For the fourth time in their last five games, the Red Raiders' defense held the opposition under 10 points, logging their second shutout of the year while limiting West Virginia to 180 total yards, 1.7 yards per carry on the ground and nine first downs.
Behren Morton threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns, Jacob Rodriguez had another offensive touchdown to add to his impressive season as a linebacker and the defense tallied nine tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions.
A rematch with BYU is up next in the Big 12 championship game, as they handed the Cougars a lopsided 29-7 loss in Week 11.
3. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1, Previous Rank: 4)
7 of 11
Week 14 Result: Win at Georgia Tech (16-9)
The Bulldogs' defense did a fantastic job corralling dual-threat star Haynes King, limiting him to 181 passing yards, 39 rushing yards and zero touchdowns after he entered the week averaging 339.9 total yards per game.
Gunner Stockton was just 11-of-21 passing for 70 yards, but his seven-yard strike to Zachariah Branch late in the second quarter ended up being the game's only touchdown.
Nate Frazier (16 carries, 108 yards), Josh McCray (13 carries, 43 yards) and Stockton (15 carries, 42 yards) helped Georgia control things on the ground, and the Bulldogs punched their ticket to the SEC championship game.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (12-0, Previous Rank: 2)
8 of 11
Week 14 Result: Win at Purdue (56-3)
The Hoosiers completed the first undefeated regular season in school history by dominating the Boilermakers, punching their ticket to the Big Ten championship game in the process.
It was their fourth win of the season by at least 50 points, and the fifth time they have allowed fewer than 10 points as the defense surrendered just 10.9 points per game on the year.
Heisman front-runner Fernando Mendoza had 117 passing yards and three total touchdowns in an abridged performance, while the rushing attack piled up 355 yards and the defense surrendered just 1.6 yards per carry.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0, Previous Rank: 1)
9 of 11
Week 14 Result: Win at Michigan (27-9)
The Buckeyes' defense kept Michigan out of the end zone while allowing just 163 total yards, avoiding a rivalry week upset to finish the regular season undefeated and punch their ticket to the Big Ten championship.
Julian Sayin completed 19-of-26 pass attempts for 233 yards and three touchdowns, throwing one score each to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, while Bo Jackson had 22 carries for 117 yards to anchor the rushing attack.
A showdown with Indiana in the Big Ten championship game awaits next week with a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff on the line.
B/R Top 25 Ranking After Week 14
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B/R Top 25
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Georgia
4. Texas Tech
5. Oregon
6. Texas A&M
7. Ole Miss
8. Oklahoma
9. BYU
10. Notre Dame
11. Alabama
12. Miami
13. Vanderbilt
14. Texas
15. Utah
16. Virginia
17. USC
18. North Texas
19. Michigan
20. James Madison
21. Tulane
22. Arizona
23. Houston
24. Tennessee
25. Navy
Others Receiving Votes: UNLV
What's Next
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Conference championship weekend is on the horizon!
After days of dissecting all the hypotheticals and tie-breakers trying to sort out all the different potential showdowns for conference championship games, the matchups are now officially set.
Here's what's on tap next weekend across the FBS landscape:
ACC: Virginia vs. Duke
Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Indiana
Big 12: BYU vs. Texas Tech
SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama
AAC: North Texas vs. Tulane
CUSA: Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State
MAC: Western Michigan vs. Miami (Ohio)
Mountain West: TBD
Sun Belt: Troy vs. James Madison
How much weight will the playoff committee place on these games, especially when multiple playoff contenders are not taking the field in conference championship games?
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