College Football Rankings 2015: Top Reaction to Week 14 AP Poll and Standings

The Associated Press Top 25 poll isn't a determinant in the weekly College Football Playoff rankings, but the rankings act as a nice road map for what to expect when the playoff committee announces its take on the 25 best teams in the country.

The top of the AP Week 14 poll largely remains unchanged after Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Iowa and Clemson all won.

Stanford and North Carolina were among those who climbed into the Top 10 after victories over the weekend. The Cardinal moved up six spots, while the Tar Heels rose three spots. Turner Walston noted how long it has been since the UNC football team could claim supremacy over the basketball program:

The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the more interesting teams to forecast in terms of their place in this week's various polls. The reigning national champions had their best game of the season against Michigan, and they benefited from losses by Baylor, Notre Dame and Oklahoma State.

The Buckeyes' jump from eighth to sixth comes as little surprise.

The problem for Ohio State, though, is the fact that the team has little chance of going much higher in the polls. Oklahoma's regular season is over, while one of Iowa or Michigan State is bound to qualify for the playoff. At least two of the four CFP spots are spoken for.

That leaves two spots open between the SEC, Pac-12 and ACC champions, which could offer the Buckeyes a bit of a lifeline. This future posited by Fox Sports 1's Ryan Field must remind fans of the bad old days of the Bowl Championship Series:

Dan Wolken of USA Today believes the Cardinal and Tar Heels would be on the outside looking in should that doomsday scenario come to fruition:

ESPN's David Hale offered his two cents regarding a possible battle between North Carolina and Ohio State for a Top Four place:

Proponents of a six- or eight-team playoff are likely hoping for anarchy in Week 14.

Notre Dame was one of the biggest losers from this past weekend in terms of overall stakes. A 45-yard field goal by Conrad Ukropina gave Stanford a 38-36 victory over the Fighting Irish, thus ending their slim hopes of cracking the Top Four. Following the defeat, Notre Dame dropped from fourth to ninth.

Still, Slate's Josh Levin wonders if the Fighting Irish are getting the full respect they deserve:

The Baylor Bears and Oklahoma State Cowboys each fell five spots, but the Bears were still able to find a silver lining:

The Florida Gators and Michigan Wolverines might have played themselves out of a berth in one of the New Year's Six bowls, especially in the case of the Gators, per David Brandt of the Associated Press:

"

Ole Miss at No. 16 ahead of Florida at No. 18 in @AP_Top25. Could bode well for Sugar Bowl.

— David Brandt (@davidbrandtAP) November 29, 2015"

The AP poll will undergo a few more changes before bowl season kicks off. Depending on the results of the four Power Five conference championships, the Top Four could look a little different once Week 15 rolls around.

For now, the AP Top 25 gives fans an idea of what to expect with the next batch of CFP rankings.