College Football Rankings 2015: Power Ranking All 128 Teams for Week 14
The 2015 college football regular season isn't officially over, not with a handful of games set for this coming weekend. But many teams have already turned in their helmets and shoulder pads, while others have started preparations for an upcoming bowl game.
The Bleacher Report power rankings, however, are still in midseason form.
The power rankings are comprised of an average of five sources: B/R's weekly Top 25, the Associated Press Top 25, the Amway Coaches Poll, ratings guru Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings and the author's personal rankings for every FBS school. The top 50 teams are broken down individually, while the rest of the 128 FBS teams are summarized in a few easy-to-digest chunks.
Check out where everyone ranks after the final full week of the 2015 action, and then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Nos. 128-91
1 of 53
Georgia State won one game in its first two seasons of FBS play, but after Saturday's 31-21 home victory against Troy, the Panthers are within reach of their first bowl invitation. They have won three straight but would need to knock off Georgia Southern on the road to lock up that sixth win.
Idaho won't be going to a bowl, but Saturday's 38-31 win against Texas State gave the Vandals their fourth victory of the season. They had only three wins in the previous three years.
- 128. Charlotte 49ers (2-10, 0-8 Conference USA)
- 127. Eastern Michigan Eagles (1-11, 0-8 Mid-American)
- 126. North Texas Mean Green (1-11, 1-7 Conference USA)
- 125. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1-11, 0-7 Sun Belt)
- 124. UCF Knights (0-12, 0-8 American)
- 123. Hawaii Warriors (3-10, 0-8 Mountain West)
- 122. Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (3-9, 2-6 Mid-American)
- 121. Wyoming Cowboys (2-10, 2-6 Mountain West)
- 119. (tie) Texas State Bobcats (3-8, 2-5 Sun Belt)
- 119. (tie) Kent State Golden Flashes (3-9, 2-6 Mid-American)
- 118. Kansas Jayhawks (0-12, 0-9 Big 12)
- 116. (tie) UTSA Roadrunners (3-9, 3-5 Conference USA)
- 116. (tie) New Mexico State Aggies (3-8, 3-4 Sun Belt)
- 115. UTEP Miners (5-7, 3-5 Conference USA)
- 114. Army Black Knights (2-9)
- 113. Tulane Green Wave (3-9, 1-7 American)
- 112. Old Dominion Monarchs (5-7, 3-5 Conference USA)
- 111. Idaho Vandals (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt)
- 109. (tie) UNLV Runnin' Rebels (3-9, 2-6 Mountain West)
- 109. (tie) Ball State Cardinals (3-9, 2-6 Mid-American)
- 108. Massachusetts Minutemen (3-9, 2-6 Mid-American)
- 107. Florida Atlantic Owls (3-9, 3-5 Conference USA)
- 106. Fresno State Bulldogs (3-9, 2-6 Mountain West)
- 105. SMU Mustangs (2-10, 1-7 American)
- 104. Rice Owls (5-7, 3-5 Conference USA)
- 103. Troy Trojans (3-8, 2-5 Sun Belt)
- 102. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (4-7, 3-4 Sun Belt)
- 101. Oregon State Beavers (2-10, 0-9 Pac-12)
- 100. Florida International Golden Panthers (5-7, 3-5 Conference USA)
- 99. South Alabama Jaguars (5-6, 3-4 Sun Belt)
- 97. (tie) Purdue Boilermakers (2-10, 1-7 Big Ten)
- 97. (tie) Georgia State Panthers (5-6, 4-3 Sun Belt)
- 96. Buffalo Bulls (5-7, 3-5 Mid-American)
- 95. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-8, 1-7 Big Ten)
- 94. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-9, 1-7 ACC)
- 93. Colorado Buffaloes (4-9, 1-8 Pac-12)
- 92. San Jose State Spartans (5-7, 4-4 Mountain West)
- 91. Vanderbilt Commodores (4-8, 2-6 SEC)
Nos. 90-61
2 of 53
Indiana got 350 passing yards and four touchdowns from Nate Sudfeld in a 54-36 win Saturday at Purdue, giving the Hoosiers the sixth win needed to lock up a bowl bid. It will be their first postseason game since 2007.
- 89. (tie) Nevada Wolf Pack (6-6, 4-4 Mountain West)
- 89. (tie) Boston College (3-9, 0-8 ACC)
- 88. New Mexico Lobos (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West)
- 86. (tie) Maryland Terrapins (3-9, 1-7 Big Ten)
- 86. (tie) Akron Zips (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American)
- 85. Kentucky Wildcats (5-7, 2-6 SEC)
- 81. (tie) Virginia Cavaliers (4-8, 3-5 ACC)
- 81. (tie) Tulsa Golden Hurricane (6-6, 3-5 American)
- 81. (tie) Syracuse Orange (4-8, 2-6 ACC)
- 81. (tie) South Carolina Gamecocks (3-9, 1-7 SEC)
- 80. Connecticut Huskies (6-6, 4-4 American)
- 79. East Carolina Pirates (5-7, 3-5 American)
- 78. Ohio Bobcats (8-4, 5-3 Mid-American)
- 76. (tie) Iowa State Cyclones (3-9, 2-7 Big 12)
- 76. (tie) Colorado State (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West)
- 75. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-7, 2-6 Big Ten)
- 74. Central Michigan Chippewas (7-5, 6-2 Mid-American)
- 73. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-9, 1-7 ACC)
- 72. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (7-5, 6-2 Conference USA)
- 71. Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-7, 2-6 Big Ten)
- 70. Missouri Tigers (5-7, 1-7 SEC)
- 69. Texas Longhorns (4-7, 3-5 Big 12)
- 68. Utah State Aggies (6-6, 5-3 Mountain West)
- 67. Marshall Thundering Herd (9-3, 6-2 Conference USA)
- 66. Indiana Hoosiers (6-6, 2-6 Big Ten)
- 65. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten)
- 63. Kansas State Wildcats (5-6, 2-6 Big 12)
- 63. Air Force Falcons (8-4, 6-2 Mountain West)
- 61. (tie) Western Michigan Broncos (7-5, 6-2 Mid-American)
- 61. (tie) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (8-4, 6-2 Conference USA)
Nos. 60-51
3 of 53
Southern Mississippi won Conference USA's West Division with an impressive 58-24 win Saturday at defending division champ Louisiana Tech. The Golden Eagles will play Saturday at Western Kentucky for the league title, which they last won in 2011.
- 60. Duke Blue Devils (7-5, 4-4 ACC)
- 59. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-5, 4-4 American)
- 58. Arizona Wildcats (6-6, 3-6 Pac-12)
- 57. Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6, 4-4 ACC)
- 56. North Carolina State Wolfpack (7-5, 3-5 ACC)
- 55. Northern Illinois Huskies (8-4, 6-2 Mid-American)
- 54. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (9-3, 7-1 Conference USA)
- 53. Georgia Southern Eagles (8-3, 6-1 Sun Belt)
- 52. Boise State Broncos (8-4, 5-3 Mountain West)
- 51. Auburn Tigers (6-6, 2-6 SEC)
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50. Penn State Nittany Lions
4 of 53
Average rating: 51.0
Week 13 result: Lost 55-16 at Michigan State
Up next: TBD bowl game
Penn State (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) heads into the postseason having suffered its worst loss in more than two years, finishing up on a three-game skid.
The Nittany Lions are tied for first in the country with 44 sacks, but they've also given up 39 quarterback takedowns. This has led to a second straight rough year for junior Christian Hackenberg, who threw 20 touchdown passes as a freshman but only 28 the last two seasons.
49. Arkansas State Red Wolves
5 of 53
Average rating: 48.75
Week 13 result: Won 52-28 at New Mexico State
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Texas State
Arkansas State (8-3, 7-0 Sun Belt) has won seven straight to clinch its fourth conference title in the past five seasons.
Blake Anderson, the first coach the Red Wolves have had for multiple seasons since 2009-10, has an offense that averages 39.7 points per game and has scored more than 50 points the past two contests.
48. Appalachian State Mountaineers
6 of 53
Average rating: 48.0
Week 13 result: Won 28-7 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
Up next: Dec. 5 at South Alabama
Appalachian State (9-2, 6-1 Sun Belt) is likely to finish with 10 wins in just its second season of FBS play, which would be the program's most wins since six consecutive 10-win campaigns from 2005-10 at the FCS level.
The Mountaineers' losses this year are to unbeaten Clemson and Sun Belt leader Arkansas State. In their nine victories they've won by an average of 25.8 points.
47. Miami (Florida) Hurricanes
7 of 53
Average rating: 47.0
Week 13 result: Won 29-24 at Pittsburgh
Up next: TBD bowl game
Miami (8-4, 5-3 ACC) won four of five games under interim head coach Larry Scott, turning things around after Al Golden was fired following a 58-0 home loss to Clemson.
The Hurricanes are tied for sixth in the country in turnover margin, taking a plus-13 tally into the postseason.
46. Arizona State Sun Devils
8 of 53
Average rating: 46.0
Week 13 result: Lost 48-46 at California
Up next: TBD bowl game
Arizona State (6-6, 4-5 Pac-12) finished up a disappointing regular season by blowing a 24-3 first-half lead on Saturday. The Sun Devils' troubles in the red zone existed all season, highlighted by settling for six field goals inside the 20-yard line against California.
The 52.5 percent touchdown rate in the red zone ranks 106th in FBS, worse than all but three other bowl-eligible teams.
44. (tie) Washington Huskies
9 of 53
Average rating: 42.0
Week 13 result: Won 45-10 vs. Washington State
Up next: TBD bowl game
Washington (6-6, 4-5 Pac-12) won its last two games by a combined score of 97-17 to lock up bowl eligibility for a sixth straight season.
The Huskies were young on offense but got strong play from a pair of key freshmen, as quarterback Jake Browning threw for 2,671 yards and running back Myles Gaskin had 1,121 rushing yards with seven 100-yard games.
44. (tie) Louisville Cardinals
10 of 53
Average rating: 42.0
Week 13 result: Won 38-24 at Kentucky
Up next: TBD bowl game
Louisville (7-5, 5-3 ACC) rallied from a 24-7 halftime deficit to win for the fifth time in six games, a massive comeback after starting the year 0-3.
Freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson was in and out of the starting lineup, but regardless of his status, he was the Cardinals' best offensive weapon. He leads the team with 734 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, with four 100-yard games, including 186 in the comeback win against Kentucky.
43. Texas Tech Red Raiders
11 of 53
Average rating: 39.5
Week 13 result: Won 48-45 at Texas
Up next: TBD bowl game
Texas Tech (7-5, 4-5 Big 12) recorded a strong bounce-back season after going 4-8 a year ago, capping it with a wild win over Texas that marked the Red Raiders' first victory in Austin since 1997.
The Red Raiders averaged 46.6 points per game, second-best in the country, thanks to 4,767 yards of total offense from sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes II and 1,455 rushing yards from senior DeAndre Washington. Washington has 421 yards with five touchdowns in Tech's last two games.
42. Texas A&M Aggies
12 of 53
Average rating: 39.0
Week 13 result: Lost 19-7 at LSU
Up next: TBD bowl game
Texas A&M (8-4, 4-4 SEC) started out 5-0 for the second year in a row before its offense began to struggle, resulting in three conference losses in which it failed to top 10 points.
Quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray rotated throughout the year as starter, combining to throw for 2,896 yards and 22 touchdowns but also 14 interceptions. The Aggies had a minus-four turnover margin, losing the turnover battle in three of their four defeats.
41. Bowling Green Falcons
13 of 53
Average rating: 38.67
Week 13 result: Won 48-10 at Ball State
Up next: Dec. 4 vs. Northern Illinois in Mid-American Championship Game (in Detroit)
Bowling Green (9-3, 7-1 Mid-American) is set to play in the conference title game for the third straight year, fueled by an offense that tied for fourth in FBS at 44.2 points per game and topped the 40-point mark eight times.
Senior quarterback Matt Johnson, who missed all but one game last season with a broken hip, leads the nation with 4,465 passing yards and is second with 41 touchdowns.
40. Pittsburgh Panthers
14 of 53
Average rating: 38.5
Week 13 result: Lost 29-24 vs. Miami (Florida)
Up next: TBD bowl game
Pittsburgh (8-4, 6-2 ACC) had its most regular-season wins since 2009, making for a successful debut under first-year head coach Pat Narduzzi. Three of the Panthers' losses came to teams with 10 or more victories, including ACC Coastal Division champion North Carolina and unbeaten Iowa.
Freshman Qadree Ollison, who took over the starting running back position after an injury to reigning conference rushing leader James Conner, gained 1,048 yards to give Pitt a 1,000-yard rusher for the third time in four years.
39. Toledo Rockets
15 of 53
Average rating: 38.2
Week 13 result: Lost 35-30 vs. Western Michigan
Up next: TBD bowl game
Toledo (9-2, 6-2 Mid-American) missed out on a chance to play in its first conference title game since 2004 by falling at home in the regular-season finale. That was the first of two significant losses over the weekend for the Rockets, the latter being coach Matt Campbell's departure to take over the Iowa State program.
Campbell had gone 35-15 in four seasons, winning at least nine games each year. The past two Toledo teams tied for first in the West Division, with the 2015 squad also picking up wins against power-conference schools Iowa State and Arkansas.
38. San Diego State Aztecs
16 of 53
Average rating: 36.88
Week 13 result: Won 31-14 vs. Nevada
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Air Force in Mountain West Championship Game)
San Diego State (9-3, 8-0 Mountain West) finished the regular season on an eight-game win streak to blow through the conference, winning each of those league games by at least 14 points.
The Aztecs are tied for fifth in FBS in total defense, allowing 283.6 yards per game. And during their win streak, junior running back Donnel Pumphrey averaged 144.9 rushing yards per game with 13 of his 16 touchdowns.
37. California Golden Bears
17 of 53
Average rating: 36.5
Week 13 result: Won 48-46 vs. Arizona State
Up next: TBD bowl game
California (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12) will be playing in its first bowl game since 2011 thanks to an improved defense and continued strong play from quarterback Jared Goff, who could be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft if he turns pro.
Goff, rated first on Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller's big board, threw for a school-record 4,252 yards with 37 touchdowns this season. He had a career-high 542 yards with five TDs in the regular-season finale against Arizona State, helping the Golden Bears rally from a 24-3 deficit.
36. South Florida Bulls
18 of 53
Average rating: 36.13
Week 13 result: Won 44-3 at UCF
Up next: TBD bowl game
South Florida (8-4, 6-2 American) finished second in the East and handed division winner Temple its only loss of the season. The Bulls took a huge step in head coach Willie Taggart's third year, doubling their 2014 win total.
The nation's No. 11 run offense and improved quarterback play from sophomore Quinton Flowers—who had 13 of his 21 touchdown passes in the final four games—paced a four-game win streak and victories in seven of eight games after a 1-3 start.
34. (tie) West Virginia Mountaineers
19 of 53
Average rating: 33.9
Week 13 result: Won 30-6 vs. Iowa State
Up next: Dec. 5 at Kansas State
West Virginia (7-4, 4-4 Big 12) has allowed 52 points during a four-game win streak, giving up only six over the last two contests, helping to turn around a season that saw the Mountaineers drop four straight to start conference play.
Wendell Smallwood has run for 1,306 yards, the most by a West Virginia rusher since 2009, and the team per-game average of 241.5 yards ranks 13th in the country.
34. (tie) Washington State Cougars
20 of 53
Average rating: 33.9
Week 13 result: Lost 45-10 at Washington
Up next: TBD bowl game
Washington State (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) won its most conference games since 2003, though a head injury to FBS passing leader Luke Falk caused him to miss the Cougars' finale against rival Washington.
Even without that final game, Falk has thrown for 4,266 yards and a school-record 36 touchdowns. His 387.8 yards per game are tops in the nation, and his 70.7 percent completion rate is second-best.
33. BYU Cougars
21 of 53
Average rating: 33.3
Week 13 result: Won 51-28 at Utah State
Up next: TBD bowl game
BYU (9-3) recorded its most victories since 2011 and will be playing in a bowl game for the 11th year in a row. The Cougars agreed before the season to play in either the Las Vegas or Hawaii Bowl if they were eligible.
An injury to senior quarterback Taysom Hill in the season opener paved the way for freshman Tanner Mangum to become a star. He threw a Hail Mary pass to beat Nebraska in that game and finished the regular season with 3,062 yards and 21 touchdowns. The yardage is the most by a BYU quarterback since Max Hall had 3,560 yards in 2009.
32. Memphis Tigers
22 of 53
Average rating: 32.5
Week 13 result: Won 63-0 vs. SMU
Up next: TBD bowl game
Memphis (9-3, 5-3 American) won its first eight games this season as part of a school-record 17-game win streak, but losses in three of the final four kept the Tigers from contending for a division title after sharing the AAC crown in 2014.
The 19 wins the past two years are the most in school history, and that success ultimately led to the loss of head coach Justin Fuente. A day after the regular-season finale, Fuente was named Virginia Tech's new coach, leaving offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey as the interim coach.
Quarterback Paxton Lynch, a junior, has thrown for 3,670 yards and 28 touchdowns with only three interceptions in 407 pass attempts.
31. Mississippi State Bulldogs
23 of 53
Average rating: 32.13
Week 13 result: Lost 38-27 vs. Ole Miss
Up next: TBD bowl game
Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4 SEC) lost two of its final three games to finish tied for fifth in the West Division, but the Bulldogs had been picked to finish last among seven teams.
Senior quarterback Dak Prescott single-handedly carried the Bulldogs offense, his 329.5 yards per game accounting for 73 percent of its total offense. Prescott was responsible for 35 touchdowns, and he had only four interceptions on 435 attempts.
MSU will be playing in a bowl for a sixth consecutive season, the longest stretch in school history.
30. UCLA Bruins
24 of 53
Average rating: 31.5
Week 13 result: Lost 40-21 at USC
Up next: TBD bowl game
UCLA (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12) finished in third place in the South Division after having a shot to win it and play in its third conference final in five seasons.
True freshman quarterback Josh Rosen has thrown for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns, going five full games without an interception at one point. The Bruins defense suffered numerous injuries that sapped its depth, including losing stars such as linebacker Myles Jack and end Eddie Vanderdoes.
28. (tie) Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
25 of 53
Average rating: 29.5
Week 13 result: Won 49-28 vs. Marshall
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Southern Mississippi (in C-USA Championship Game)
Western Kentucky (10-2, 8-0 Conference USA) won the East Division, its first title since joining the FBS ranks in 2007. The Hilltoppers did so behind an offense that tied for fourth in the country in scoring at 44.2 points per game thanks to a nation-leading 42 touchdown passes from quarterback Brandon Doughty.
Doughty, a sixth-year senior who missed two years' worth of games because of knee injuries, has thrown 91 TDs the last two seasons. He ranks 27th in FBS history with 11,977 passing yards, and his 105 career TD passes are tied for 18th all-time.
28. (tie) Arkansas Razorbacks
26 of 53
Average rating: 29.5
Week 13 result: Won 28-3 vs. Missouri
Up next: TBD bowl game
Arkansas (7-5, 5-3 SEC) won its most games in conference play since 2011 despite straying away from the power run attack that produced a pair of 1,000-yard rushers a season ago. Alex Collins ran for 1,392 yards and 17 touchdowns, but it was the passing of senior Brandon Allen that made the biggest impact on the year.
Allen has thrown for 3,125 yards and 29 TDs compared to 3,837 yards and 33 TDs the previous two seasons. This year he had three 400-yard games and tied an SEC record with seven TDs in a 51-50 loss to Mississippi State.
27. Georgia Bulldogs
27 of 53
Average rating: 27.5
Week 13 result: Won 13-7 at Georgia Tech
Up next: TBD bowl game
Georgia (9-3, 5-3 SEC) fell far short of projections in the conference for yet another season, and that ultimately cost longtime coach Mark Richt his job. Despite winning at least nine games for the 11th time in his 15 seasons, Richt and the school parted ways on Sunday.
“It got to the point where there wasn’t enough confidence my leadership could get it done,” Richt said Monday at a press conference while sitting next to athletic director Greg McGarity, the man who fired him.
Georgia's season went downhill when running back Nick Chubb suffered a knee injury in an October loss to Tennessee. That was a second straight defeat for the Bulldogs, who over their final six games averaged 15.8 points, including a 27-3 loss to rival Florida.
Richt went 5-10 against Florida.
26. Tennessee Volunteers
28 of 53
Average rating: 26.3
Week 13 result: Won 53-28 vs. Vanderbilt
Up next: TBD bowl game
Tennessee (8-4, 5-3 SEC) has won its most games since 2007, finishing on a five-game winning streak to recover from early struggles that saw the Volunteers blow several double-digit leads during the first half of the season.
Jalen Hurd's 1,158 rushing yards paced a run game that averaged 223.5 per contest, ranking second in the SEC. The Vols were 13th in the league a year ago and hadn't ranked better than eighth in any of the previous eight seasons.
25. Wisconsin Badgers
29 of 53
Average rating: 25.0
Week 13 result: Won 31-21 at Minnesota
Up next: TBD bowl game
Wisconsin (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) ranks first nationally in scoring defense, allowing 13.1 points per game, which enabled it to reach nine wins for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. First-year head coach Paul Chryst overcame injuries and inexperience to the backfield to ensure the Badgers make a bowl game for the 14th straight year.
Depending on what happens in the bowl game, Dare Ogunbowale's team-high 769 rushing yards would be the first time the Badgers failed to have a 1,000-yard rusher since 2004. Last year Melvin Gordon ran for more than 2,500 yards, and backup Corey Clement gained 949. But Clement was limited to just three games because of injury.
24. Temple Owls
30 of 53
Average rating: 24.8
Week 13 result: Won 27-3 vs. Connecticut
Up next: Dec. 5 at Houston in AAC Championship Game
Temple (10-2, 7-1 American) won the East Division, its first title of any kind since sharing the Mid-American's East Division in 2009. Its 10 wins are the most since 1979 and aided by a school-record 7-0 start.
The Owls allowed 18.8 points per game during the regular season, holding five opponents to 12 or fewer points. Jahad Thomas ran for 1,188 yards and 17 touchdowns, gaining nearly as much by himself as Temple had as a team on the ground in 2014.
A win this weekend will give the program its first conference title since 1967, when it played in the Division III Middle Atlantic Conference.
23. LSU Tigers
31 of 53
Average rating: 23.6
Week 13 result: Won 19-7 vs. Texas A&M
Up next: TBD bowl game
LSU (8-3, 5-3 SEC) didn't look pretty in its final regular-season game, missing three field goals and not taking the lead until the third quarter, but it was also during that period that head coach Les Miles' future was apparently decided. After being carried off the Tiger Stadium field and singing along with the crowd, Miles was told he wasn't losing a job that all signs pointed to him not having beyond this past weekend.
“We seemed to undershoot our mark this year,” Miles said, per Brett Martel of the Associated Press (h/t Yahoo Sports).
LSU began the season 7-0 and was ranked second in the initial playoff standings before losing three in a row. During that stretch, its one-dimensional offense was exposed when Leonard Fournette ran into tougher defenses.
Fournette leads FBS in rushing at 158.27 yards per game, but he averaged 97.3 over the Tigers' final four games.
22. Navy Midshipmen
32 of 53
Average rating: 23.2
Week 13 result: Lost 52-31 at Houston
Up next: Dec. 12 vs. Army (in Philadelphia)
Navy (9-2, 7-1 American) suffered the program's first loss in conference play last week, missing out on a chance to play for the league title in its inaugural season in the AAC. The Midshipmen were in line to earn a bid to a New Year's Six-affiliated bowl game had they won out, but instead they'll play in the Military Bowl on their home field.
Quarterback Keenan Reynolds has upped his FBS record for career rushing touchdowns to 83, which also ties him with former Wisconsin star Montee Ball for the all-time total TD mark. In his last game he also threw for a career-best 312 yards on 13-of-16 passing, having thrown for 652 in Navy's previous 10 games.
A victory over rival Army in two weeks will give Navy its third 10-win season since 2004.
21. Utah Utes
33 of 53
Average rating: 22.8
Week 13 result: Won 20-14 vs. Colorado
Up next: TBD bowl game
Utah (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) sputtered down the stretch after an amazing start, losing three of its final six games, but the Utes still tied for first place in the South Division and compiled their best league mark since moving from the Mountain West in 2011.
Running back Devontae Booker ran for 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns before suffering a knee injury that knocked him out of Utah's final two games. Without him, the Utes scored only 29 combined points after averaging 33.6 points with him in the lineup.
The Utes can reach 10 wins for the first time since 2010 with a bowl victory.
20. USC Trojans
34 of 53
Average rating: 20.8
Week 13 result: Won 40-21 vs. UCLA
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Stanford in Pac-12 Championship Game (in Santa Clara, California)
USC (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) managed to ride out a roller coaster of a season that saw yet another coaching change as well as a 3-3 start, winning five of six down the stretch to claim the South Division and a shot at its first conference title since 2008.
The way the Trojans rallied behind interim head coach Clay Helton, who took over for Steve Sarkisian in mid-October, was enough to have the school name him as the permanent coach on Monday.
Its head coaching position considered one of the best jobs in the country, USC's move to stay in-house rather than hire a big name proved to be a major surprise. While it appears to be universally praised by the Trojans players, it wasn't a move that impressed critics.
“In many ways, all USC did was punt on 4th-and-short,” Bleacher Report's Bryan Fischer wrote.
Helton and USC can now focus on trying to beat a Stanford team it lost to by 10 at home in September.
19. Houston Cougars
35 of 53
Average rating: 19.2
Week 13 result: Won 52-31 vs. Navy
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Temple in AAC Championship Game
Houston (11-1, 7-1 American) won the West Division after crushing Navy at home, and now it gets to play for its first conference title since 2006. If not for an injury to dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. that limited his play in a mid-November loss to Connecticut, the Cougars could have had their first-ever unbeaten regular season.
First-year head coach Tom Herman carried over the success he had as Ohio State's offensive coordinator, which made him a hot commodity during a year when so many major FBS jobs have opened up. However, on Monday, Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle reported Herman had “agreed in principle” to a new contract.
Ward, a junior, has thrown 16 touchdown passes and run for 17 scores with 893 yards on the ground. He's second behind Navy's Keenan Reynolds in rushing yards among quarterbacks.
18. Florida Gators
36 of 53
Average rating: 18.6
Week 13 result: Lost 27-2 vs. Florida State
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Alabama in SEC Championship Game (in Atlanta)
Florida (10-2, 7-1 SEC) won its first East Division title since 2009 but heads into the conference title game playing its worst football of the season. Had the Gators not managed a fourth-quarter safety against Florida State they would have suffered their first shutout since 1988.
Before that Florida averaged 305.3 yards per game in a trio of uninspiring wins against Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Florida Atlantic, needing overtime for that last one. Those opponents went a combined 10-26 this season.
“The offense is clearly limping into the Georgia Dome after the 27-2 loss to Florida State and narrow escape from the clutches of Florida Atlantic,” Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee wrote. “But there are 12 other SEC teams that are jealous of that limp, because limping in the Georgia Dome in December is better than not walking into it at all.”
17. Michigan Wolverines
37 of 53
Average rating: 17.4
Week 13 result: Lost 42-13 vs. Ohio State
Up next: TBD bowl game
Michigan (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) didn't end coach Jim Harbaugh's first regular season on a high note, suffering its worst loss to rival Ohio State since 2010, but that's about all that went wrong for the Wolverines in 2015. Harbaugh's return to Ann Arbor brought with it high hopes for the future, yet instead he was able to produce results right away.
The Wolverines are fourth in FBS in total defense, allowing 281.3 yards per game, and during a five-game win streak, they recorded three consecutive shutouts. Even after yielding a season-high seven third-down conversions to OSU, they still have the third-best defense on third down at 25.6 percent.
Senior quarterback Jake Rudock, a graduate transfer from Iowa, came alive in the final month of the season with 1,296 passing yards and 11 touchdowns over his final four games.
15. (tie) Oregon Ducks
38 of 53
Average rating: 16.8
Week 13 result: Won 52-42 vs. Oregon State
Up next: TBD bowl game
Oregon (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12) ends the regular season as possibly the hottest team west of Oklahoma, having won six straight, including victories over both teams that will play this weekend for the conference title.
The return of quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. from a broken finger turned the Ducks' season around. The graduate transfer from Eastern Washington threw 21 touchdown passes and averaged 310.8 yards over the final six games.
The Ducks rank sixth in rushing offense, gaining 287.75 yards per game for their best production on the ground since 2012. Sophomore Royce Freeman, with 1,706 yards and 14 TDs, needs 100 yards to pass LaMichael James' school record set in 2011.
15. (tie) Northwestern Wildcats
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Average rating: 16.8
Week 13 result: Won 24-14 vs. Illinois (in Chicago)
Up next: TBD bowl game
Northwestern (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) finished second in the West Division, registering as many wins as in the two previous seasons combined while posting its best conference record since 2000.
The Wildcats are eighth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 16.4 points per game. The defense held seven of the team's 12 opponents to 14 or fewer points, helping to overcome an offense that managed only 20.7 points and 332.6 yards per game.
Northwestern's best weapon all year was sophomore running back Justin Jackson, the first rusher with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since Tyrell Sutton in 2005-06.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Average rating: 15.0
Week 13 result: Lost 58-23 vs. Oklahoma
Up next: TBD bowl game
Oklahoma State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) lost its final two games to put a sour note on one of the best seasons in school history. After pulling out several late victories during a 10-0 start, the Cowboys were unable to rally against Baylor or Oklahoma and thus missed out on a shot to play for a national title.
Not having sophomore Mason Rudolph, one half of its two-headed quarterback system, for most of Saturday's game was a hurdle OK State couldn't overcome. Senior JW Walsh had to attempt more passes in the first half than he had in the previous 11 games, and though he threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns it wasn't enough to keep up.
The Cowboys reached 10 wins for the fourth time in the last six seasons thanks to a defense that led the Big 12 with 38 sacks and was second with 89 tackles for loss.
13. Ole Miss Rebels
41 of 53
Average rating: 14.4
Week 13 result: Won 38-27 at Mississippi State
Up next: TBD bowl game
Ole Miss (9-3, 6-2 SEC) can count 2015 as a major success even if it didn't include a division title. The Rebels won at rival Mississippi State for the first time since 2003 and can lay claim to being the only team to knock off West champ Alabama this season.
They also have consecutive nine-win seasons for just the second time since the 1960s and are a bowl victory away from getting to 10 wins for the first time since 2003.
Chad Kelly, who was booted from Clemson and had to spend a year in junior college, has set school records for passing yards (3,740), total offense (4,167) and total touchdowns (37).
12. TCU Horned Frogs
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Average rating: 10.6
Week 13 result: Won 28-21 (in 2 OT) vs. Baylor
Up next: TBD bowl game
TCU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) finished in a tie for second in the conference after sharing the crown with Baylor a year ago. A season-long rash of injuries finally caught up with the Horned Frogs down the stretch, losing two of their last four, but they finished on a high note (and avenged last year's lone setback) by knocking off Baylor in the finale.
Whether TCU opts to have players with jersey numbers 28 and 21 sitting side-by-side in next year's team picture—similar to Baylor situating linemen with the numbers corresponding to its 2014 result against the Frogs—remains to be seen.
Despite the injury issues, TCU still had a strong year thanks to quarterback Trevone Boykin. The senior averaged 380.6 yards of total offense per game and accounted for 40 touchdowns, coming back from injury to account for three TDs against Baylor, including both in overtime.
11. Baylor Bears
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Average rating: 10.2
Week 13 result: Lost 28-21 (in 2 OT) at TCU
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Texas
Baylor (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) seemed like an unstoppable force for the first two-plus months of the season, but in November it proved to be human just like any other team. Injuries caught up to the Bears, as did the elements, as their uptempo offense couldn't deal with sloppy conditions in the season-finale loss to TCU.
Who knows what would have happened had quarterback Seth Russell (and then Jarrett Stidham) not gotten hurt or had the skies not opened up this past Friday. Baylor fell short of a third straight piece of a Big 12 title, as well as a playoff bid, but barring a major collapse will get to 10 wins for the third year in a row and the fourth time in five seasons.
Before Art Briles, who took over as head coach in 2008, Baylor sometimes needed three seasons to get to 10 victories.
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Average rating: 9.4
Week 13 result: Lost 38-36 at Stanford
Up next: TBD bowl game
Notre Dame (10-2) would have made the playoff committee seriously consider its emphasis on conference champions had it managed to hang on against Stanford. But the Fighting Irish couldn't make a stop on a final drive after DeShone Kizer gave them a lead with 30 seconds left on a rushing touchdown.
The fact Notre Dame was in position to compete for a championship this late in the season is a testament to its development of depth. Kizer was effectively the third-string quarterback in the spring behind Everett Golson (who transferred) and Malik Zaire, but after Zaire suffered an injury in the second game of 2015, the redshirt freshman stepped in and had four games with at least 300 yards of total offense and accounted for 28 TDs.
And freshman running back Josh Adams, who had three 100-yard games in the final four games, was effectively the Irish's No. 4 option before the season began.
9. Florida State Seminoles
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Average rating: 9.2
Week 13 result: Won 27-2 at Florida
Up next: TBD bowl game
Florida State (10-2, 6-2 ACC) isn't gearing up for the conference title game this week, the first time that's happened since 2011. But a fourth consecutive win over Florida and a fifth year of 10 or more wins in coach Jimbo Fisher's six seasons qualify this as another successful campaign, especially in light of how young the Seminoles were after sending so many impact players to the NFL in the offseason.
Saturday's win was as big for recruiting as anything else, as the schools routinely compete for the same prospects. Those on the defensive end will likely take note of how great FSU has performed on the road in the rivalry of late, giving up 16 points in the last three trips to Gainesville.
Dalvin Cook, the school's single-season rushing leader with 1,658 yards and 18 touchdowns, is second nationally at 150.7 yards per game. Despite lingering hamstring issues, he finished the regular season with four straight 100-yard games and seven TDs in that stretch.
8. North Carolina Tar Heels
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Average rating: 8.8
Week 13 result: Won 45-34 at North Carolina State
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Clemson in ACC Championship Game (in Charlotte)
North Carolina (11-1, 8-0 ACC) has won 11 straight games since a season-opening loss to South Carolina that's proving more and more puzzling by the week. That result (as well as two wins over FCS teams) is also likely to prevent the Tar Heels from earning a playoff spot even they manage to knock off the nation's No. 1 team in the conference title game.
If that happens, it won't be because the Tar Heels needed to get lucky. Their performance during the school-record win streak has been quite impressive—both in terms of how the offensive combination of quarterback Marquise Williams and Elijah Hood has jelled but also the leaps and bounds the defense made in 2015 under first-year coordinator Gene Chizik.
Williams became the school's career total offense leader in the regular-season finale, while Hood's 1,280 yards are second-most in school history. UNC's defense allows 5.21 yards per play, down from 6.53 in 2014, and it allowed more than 18 points per game less than a year ago.
7. Stanford Cardinal
47 of 53
Average rating: 7.4
Week 13 result: Won 38-36 vs. Notre Dame
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. USC in Pac-12 Championship Game (in Santa Clara, California)
Stanford (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12) still needs a lot of help to be able to sneak into the College Football Playoff, but taking Notre Dame out of the picture was a good first step. Next will be to win its third conference title in four seasons.
The Cardinal won their last game by the same score they fell to Oregon earlier this month, a setback that seemed to eliminate them from playoff contention. Instead, they're still hopeful that winning a league that is sending 10 of 12 schools to bowl games—the highest percentage of any conference—will be looked at positively by the playoff committee.
To beat Notre Dame, Stanford had to get into field-goal range with only 30 seconds to work with. A critical facemask penalty helped, but so did the poise of senior quarterback Kevin Hogan, who threw for 269 yards and four touchdowns on 17-of-21 passing, including a long completion to Devon Cajuste that helped set up Conrad Ukropina's game-winning kick as time expired.
“I challenge anybody to find a better two-minute quarterback in the nation than Kevin Hogan,” Stanford head coach David Shaw said, per David Lombardi of ESPN.com.
5. (tie) Michigan State Spartans
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Average rating: 6.0
Week 13 result: Won 55-16 vs. Penn State
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Iowa in Big Ten Championship Game (in Indianapolis)
Michigan State (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) will be playing for its second conference title in three years after its most dominant performance of the season, wrapping up the East Division title in the process. The previous victory at Ohio State mattered more in terms of the standings and overall resume, but putting up a season-high 55 points against a solid Penn State defense was still a major accomplishment.
The Spartans got back quarterback Connor Cook, who missed the previous game and part of the one before that with a shoulder injury. He looked no worse for wear, with three touchdown passes, and in 337 attempts this season he's been intercepted just four times.
MSU had its fourth game of 2015 in which it forced at least three turnovers, with Demetrious Cox returning a fumble 77 yards for a TD. The Spartans have five defensive TDs this season.
A win against Iowa in Indianapolis figures to lock up a playoff spot since it would mean MSU would have knocked off two previously unbeaten teams in a three-week span.
5. (tie) Iowa Hawkeyes
49 of 53
Average rating: 6.0
Week 13 result: Won 28-20 at Nebraska
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Michigan State in Big Ten Championship Game (in Indianapolis)
Iowa (12-0, 8-0 Big Ten) remains the biggest anomaly among playoff contenders, having just finished its first perfect regular season since 1922 with another just-enough-to-get-by victory. The Hawkeyes ended the year beating five straight opponents who finished at 6-6 or worse, winning by an average of 11.4 points.
Despite not looking spectacular on paper or passing the so-called eye test in most of its games, Iowa is in position to earn a playoff spot if it wins the Big Ten title. That hasn't happened since 1985, though in three other seasons (1990, 2002 and 2004), it tied for first.
Iowa gained only 250 yards in its last game, dropping the season average to 404.3 yards per game. That ranks 63rd in FBS, behind nine schools with losing records.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
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Average rating: 5.4
Week 13 result: Won 42-13 at Michigan
Up next: TBD bowl game
Ohio State (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) probably won't be able to defend its national title, the loss two weeks ago to Michigan State knocking it out of contention for even a division championship. But Saturday's thorough beating of rival Michigan—on the road no less—ensured the Buckeyes held their place as the dominant half of that rivalry.
By handling the Wolverines for a fifth straight time and 12th in 13 meetings, OSU effectively stunted the momentum that school up north had built under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. That such a result came right after a disappointing loss made it even more significant.
The Michigan win saw a revival of an OSU offense that's not lacking in weapons and potential but which had failed to live up to expectations much of this season. In the regular-season finale it gained a season-high 369 rushing yards, with Ezekiel Elliott going for 214 yards and two touchdowns to become the first Buckeyes rusher since Archie Griffin to record two 1,500-yard seasons.
3. Oklahoma Sooners
51 of 53
Average rating: 3.0
Week 13 result: Won 58-23 at Oklahoma State
Up next: TBD bowl game
Oklahoma (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) might have unofficially locked up the first spot in this year's playoffs, running the table against its leagues best teams during November in impressive fashion. The Sooners were No. 3 in the most recent playoff rankings, and their latest win distanced themselves even further from the surprising October loss to rival Texas.
The hiring of Lincoln Riley to be offensive coordinator has paid off masterfully for Oklahoma, with Riley being named Monday as one of five finalists for the Broyles Award given to the nation's top assistant. His switch to a more wide-open offense, combined with weapons like quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Samaje Perine, enabled the Sooners to increase their scoring by 9.4 points per game.
Mayfield, who could be a Heisman Trophy finalist, has accounted for 42 touchdowns, including 35 passing TDs and only seven interceptions. Perine, though not as heavily used as in 2014, has 1,291 yards and 15 TDs and in less than two full seasons already ranks ninth on the school's rushing chart.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
52 of 53
Average rating: 1.8
Week 13 result: Won 29-13 at Auburn
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. Florida in SEC Championship Game (in Atlanta)
Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) lost its conference opener and then became an unstoppable force, winning its last nine games by an average of 27.5 points. Not surprisingly, this surge coincided with the full realization that any offensive game plan had to revolve around the player who's the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Derrick Henry holds the single-season school rushing record with 1,797 yards, capped by a 46-carry, 271-yard performance in the Iron Bowl. The carry tally was also a school record as Henry topped 200 yards for the fourth time this season, and his late TD extended a streak of games with a score to 17.
“Next week Henry can cement his Heisman case in the SEC title game against Florida,” Sports Illustrated's Zac Ellis wrote. “Barring a monumental setback, the junior feels like a near-lock for New York and is more than likely the favorite for the Heisman with one week remaining in the race.”
A big effort by Henry should also secure a second straight SEC title and another spot in the semifinals, with Alabama hoping to do better than last year's Sugar Bowl loss to eventual national champion Ohio State.
1. Clemson Tigers
53 of 53
Average rating: 1.6
Week 13 result: Won 37-32 at South Carolina
Up next: Dec. 5 vs. North Carolina in ACC Championship Game (in Charlotte)
Clemson (12-0, 8-0 ACC) made it through the conference without a loss for the first time since 1982 and now stands a game away from playing in the semifinals. Beating in-state rival South Carolina proved tougher than expected, as an opponent that had lost at home to an FCS school the week before made a game of it in the second half.
But that's when Deshaun Watson did what he's done almost every week during the second half of the season: take over.
Watson had his fifth straight game with more than 300 yards of total offense, topping 100 rushing yards for the third time in four weeks. He's risen to ninth in FBS in total offense with 36 touchdowns during an injury-free season.
A win in the ACC title game should ensure Clemson plays in the Orange Bowl, which is one of the two semifinal sites this season.
Statistics provided by cfbstats.com.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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