College Football Rankings 2016: Bleacher Report's Pre-Bowl Season Top 25
One last round of competition over the weekend provided the final data needed to select four playoff teams, creating a domino effect for the entire 40-game bowl lineup that will serve as the reward for making it through another exciting college football season.
But what about the final regular-season Bleacher Report Top 25? Who cares about the College Football Playoff, that's what we really want to know about, right?
The Bleacher Report poll is voted on by 20 members of our college football staff: writers Greg Couch, Tyler Donohue, Ed Feng, Matt Hayes, David Kenyon, Sanjay Kirpalani, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Brian Pedersen, David Regimbal, Barrett Sallee, Damon Sayles, Brad Shepard, Greg Wallace and Christopher Walsh; video staff Michael Felder, Hunter Mandel and Sean McManus; and editors Eric Bowman and Eric Yates.
First-place votes are worth 25 points, with each subsequent point worth one fewer point all the way down to one for 25th place. The 25 teams with the most poll points make our list, with the rest falling into the "others receiving votes" category.
Check out where everyone stands after the end of the regular season, then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Others Receiving Votes
1 of 26
Western Kentucky (10-3) won its second consecutive Conference USA title, beating Louisiana Tech 58-44 on Saturday. The Hilltoppers avenged their regular-season loss to the Bulldogs and earned a bid to the Boca Raton Bowl against Memphis, but it wasn't enough to get them into our final regular-season Top 25.
Check out the rest of the teams that earned votes but didn't get enough to be ranked.
- Tennessee (35)
- Houston (34)
- Pittsburgh (34)
- Boise State (23)
- Navy (22)
- Texas A&M (13)
- Washington State (11)
- Western Kentucky (9)
- BYU (7)
- North Carolina (4)
- Troy (4)
- Miami, Ohio (2)
- Georgia Tech (1)
- Kansas State (1)
- Sam Houston State (1)
- San Diego State (1)
No. 25 Temple Owls
2 of 26
Poll points: 54
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Week 14 result: Won 34-10 at Navy in AAC Championship Game
Next game: Dec. 27 vs. Wake Forest in Military Bowl
Temple (10-3) claimed its first conference title since 1967—when it was in the Division III Middle Atlantic Conference—by shutting down Navy's run game and getting consistent gains from its own rushing attack.
The Owls held Navy to 168 rushing yards on 44 attempts—174 yards below its season average—which forced the Midshipmen to throw. Temple caused three turnovers, including two interceptions, with those takeaways leading to 17 points.
Temple ran for 189 yards, with Ryquell Armstead and Jahad Thomas combining for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Phillip Walker threw for 199 yards and two TDs, including a 56-yarder to Keith Kirkwood to help give the Owls a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
No. 24 Iowa Hawkeyes
3 of 26
Poll points: 64
Last week's ranking: 25th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. Florida in Outback Bowl
Iowa (8-4) couldn't replicate the magic of its perfect 2015 regular season, but down the stretch, the Hawkeyes were playing as well as any team in the conference. They showed that with an upset of Michigan and a blowout victory over Nebraska.
The Hawkeyes allowed only 23 points in their final three games and held seven of 12 opponents to 17 or fewer points. Their offense controlled the ball via the running of senior LeShun Daniels Jr. and junior Akrum Wadley, who combined for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 23 Nebraska Cornhuskers
4 of 26
Poll points: 66
Last week's ranking: 22nd
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 30 vs. Tennessee in Music City Bowl
Nebraska (9-3) has improved its win total by 50 percent from coach Mike Riley's first season, though the Cornhuskers' shortcomings in big games kept them from winning the Big Ten's North Division title.
Losses at Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa by a combined 95 points caused Nebraska to be outscored in league play by 23.6 points, as its six victories were by an average of 12.0 points.
Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. battled injuries to throw for 2,180 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 512 yards and eight scores. He's the school's career leader in passing yards (8,871) and total offense (10,690).
No. 22 South Florida Bulls
5 of 26
Poll points: 77
Last week's ranking: 23rd
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 29 vs. South Carolina in Birmingham Bowl
South Florida (10-2) is in the midst of its most successful season, having never before won more than nine games. The Bulls tied with Temple for the AAC's East Division title but missed out on the conference championship game by virtue of a 46-30 loss to the Owls.
The offensive duo of quarterback Quinton Flowers and running back Marlon Mack made South Florida nearly unstoppable. Flowers has thrown for 2,551 yards and 22 touchdowns to go with 1,425 rushing yards and 15 scores. Mack added 1,137 yards and 15 TDs on the ground.
The Bulls have scored at least 30 points in 16 consecutive games dating back to November 2015.
No. 21 Utah Utes
6 of 26
Poll points: 85
Last week's ranking: 24th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 28 vs. Indiana in Foster Farms Bowl
Utah (8-4) enters the postseason on a slide, having lost its last two games and three of four after an impressive 7-1 start that saw the Utes tied for the Pac-12 South Division lead with eventual winner Colorado. All four of their losses were by seven or fewer points, including to ranked schools Colorado and Washington.
The Utes leaned on senior running back Joe Williams after he returned to the team in mid-October. He'd retired after the second game of the season, but after missing four contests, he came back and ran for 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns in those final six games.
Utah led the Pac-12 in sacks with 40, with 14.5 of those from senior Hunter Dimick.
No. 20 Virginia Tech Hokies
7 of 26
Poll points: 90
Last week's ranking: 19th
Week 14 result: Lost 42-35 vs. Clemson in ACC Championship Game
Next game: Dec. 29 vs. Arkansas in Belk Bowl
Virginia Tech (9-4) repeatedly fought back from multiscore deficits but could never pull even with or ahead of Clemson in its first ACC title game appearance since 2011.
The Hokies trailed 35-14 late in the third quarter but got within seven thanks to a 27-yard Travon McMillian touchdown run and a five-yard rushing score from quarterback Jerod Evans, who had 310 of their 386 yards. Evans threw for 264 yards and a TD on 21-of-35 passing but was intercepted twice, including with 1:11 left at the Clemson 14-yard line.
Evans and McMillian each had two rushing scores, while Cam Phillips caught 12 passes for 92 yards and a TD.
No. 19 Florida Gators
8 of 26
Poll points: 97
Last week's ranking: 18th
Week 14 result: Lost 54-16 vs. Alabama in SEC Championship Game
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. Iowa in Outback Bowl
Florida (8-4) scored first and kept Alabama's offense from doing much in the opening quarter, but turnovers and mistakes on special teams quickly erased the Gators' early advantage and set the stage for a blowout.
Florida turned it over three times, including interceptions from QB Austin Appleby on consecutive first-quarter drives. Alabama converted the first pick into a field goal and returned the second for a touchdown. After Florida had to punt on its next possession, the Tide blocked the kick and brought it back for another TD to go up 16-9 after David Reese returned the blocked extra-point attempt for two points.
Appleby was 26-of-39 for 261 yards with two TDs and three interceptions after getting picked off just twice in 145 previous attempts this season. He got no help from the run game, which managed zero yards.
The 54 points were the most Florida allowed since losing 62-24 to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.
No. 18 LSU Tigers
9 of 26
Poll points: 119
Last week's ranking: 21st
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 31 vs. Louisville in Citrus Bowl
LSU (7-4) didn't meet team expectations this fall, resulting in Les Miles' termination after a 2-2 start. But a strong finish under interim coach Ed Orgeron prompted the school to elevate him to the permanent role.
Orgeron helped the Tigers become effective on offense despite not having star running back Leonard Fournette at full strength. Ankle injuries limited the junior to seven games, during which he ran for 843 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Derrius Guice filled in with 1,249 yards and 14 TDs along with a stellar 7.96 yards-per-carry average.
Guice had a pair of 200-yard rushing games in November, including a school-record 285 yards in the Thanksgiving win at Texas A&M.
No. 17 Auburn Tigers
10 of 26
Poll points: 148
Last week's ranking: 20th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. Oklahoma in Sugar Bowl
Auburn (8-4) lost two of its last three contests after finding its footing on offense midway through the season, when it won six in a row as its run game produced big numbers.
The Tigers averaged 278.5 rushing yards per contest, which is the most since the 2013 team that played in the final BCS title game. Sophomores Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson combined for 1,985 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Auburn held nine of its 12 opponents to fewer than 400 yards, limiting four to under 300.
No. 16 Stanford Cardinal
11 of 26
Poll points: 180
Last week's ranking: 16th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 30 vs. North Carolina in Sun Bowl
Stanford (9-3) takes a five-game win streak into the postseason, riding a wave of offensive production led by junior running back Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey, who has rushed for 1,603 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, gained 991 yards with 10 scores during the Cardinal's win streak. He has 3,915 yards for his career, which is 385 short of Stepfan Taylor's school career record.
A bowl win will give Stanford its sixth season of 10 victories in the past seven years.
No. 15 Louisville Cardinals
12 of 26
Poll points: 200
Last week's ranking: 15th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 31 vs. LSU in Citrus Bowl
Louisville (9-3) has the presumptive Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has put together one of the greatest seasons in history. But he wasn't enough to prevent the Cardinals from losing their final two games and falling out of the CFP race.
Jackson has accounted for 51 total touchdowns, more than 87 other FBS teams have managed this season, along with 4,928 yards of total offense. But Jackson was also responsible for a good portion of Louisville's 31 turnovers, with at least three giveaways in eight of 12 games.
Louisville finished the regular season tied for the FBS scoring lead at 45.3 points per contest.
No. 14 Oklahoma State Cowboys
13 of 26
Poll points: 246
Last week's ranking: 11th
Week 14 result: Lost 38-20 at Oklahoma
Next game: Dec. 29 vs. Colorado in Alamo Bowl
Oklahoma State (9-3) had its seven-game win streak end at the hands of its archrivals, losing the Bedlam tilt and a shot at the conference title.
The Cowboys led 17-10 late in the first half after Mason Rudolph scored on a six-yard run, but that lead was brief, as they allowed a TD with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter. That was the start of a 21-0 run for Oklahoma.
Rudolph threw for 186 yards but was just 11-of-25. Justice Hill and Chris Carson combined for 190 rushing yards, with Carson adding a six-yard TD run.
No. 13 West Virginia Mountaineers
14 of 26
Poll points: 253
Last week's ranking: 14th
Week 14 result: Won 24-21 vs. Baylor
Next game: Dec. 28 vs. Miami (Florida) in Russell Athletic Bowl
West Virginia (10-2) finished its best season since joining the league in 2012, getting to 10 wins for the first time in five years in the process.
The Mountaineers' ground game came up big again, churning out 311 yards on 62 carries as quarterback Skyler Howard had just 111 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-26 passing. Justin Crawford, who ran for 209 yards on 28 carries, did most of the rushing damage.
West Virginia trailed 14-3 midway through the second quarter before scoring 21 unanswered points, building a 10-point lead on a one-yard Howard TD run and ensuing extra point. It forced four Baylor turnovers, including a fumble with 27 seconds left.
No. 12 Western Michigan Broncos
15 of 26
Poll points: 268
Last week's ranking: 13th
Week 14 result: Won 29-23 vs. Ohio in MAC Championship Game
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. Wisconsin in Cotton Bowl
Western Michigan (13-0) won its first Mid-American Conference title in 28 years despite scoring its fewest points since the season opener, and in doing so, it became the first MAC team to start 13-0 since Marshall in 1999.
The Broncos struggled in the red zone, settling for field goals on four of five trips as kicker Butch Hampton was 5-of-5 in the game, but their defense came up huge with three takeaways, including Robert Spillane's interception with 51 seconds left to seal the victory. Western Michigan forced a pair of fumbles in the first quarter.
Zach Terrell threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing, with Corey Davis hauling in eight catches for 144 yards with a 70-yard TD. Davis, the FBS career receiving yardage leader, now has 5,205 yards, and his 51 receiving TDs are second-most in FBS history.
No. 10 (Tie) Florida State Seminoles
16 of 26
Poll points: 294
Last week's ranking: 12th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 30 vs. Michigan in Orange Bowl
Florida State (9-3) was uncharacteristically out of the ACC's Atlantic Division race early after losing its first two league games, and it was eliminated for good when it fell to Clemson in late October. But the Seminoles still managed to finish strong with four straight wins, including a fourth consecutive victory over in-state rival Florida.
Junior Dalvin Cook has run for 1,620 yards and 18 touchdowns, becoming FSU's career rushing leader in the process. Redshirt freshman quarterback Deondre Francois has thrown for 3,128 yards and 18 TDs, notching five games of 300-plus yards.
FSU's defense leads the nation with 47 sacks, with senior DeMarcus Walker contributing 15 of those.
No. 10 (Tie) Colorado Buffaloes
17 of 26
Poll points: 294
Last week's ranking: 9th
Week 14 result: Lost 41-10 vs. Washington in Pac-12 Championship Game
Next game: Dec. 29 vs. Oklahoma State in Alamo Bowl
Colorado (10-3) picked the wrong time to have its worst performance of the season, managing just 163 yards of total offense to end its six-game win streak.
Quarterback Sefo Liufau was briefly knocked out of the game with a right leg injury but wasn't effective when he was in there. He was 3-of-13 for 21 yards and three interceptions, all in the third quarter, including one that Washington returned for a touchdown 16 seconds into the second half.
Steven Montez added 60 yards on 5-of-12 passing, while Phillip Lindsay was held to 53 rushing yards with a three-yard TD run that helped tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter. The Buffaloes' only other score came on a 24-yard field goal late in the third quarter when they were trailing 31-7.
No. 9 USC Trojans
18 of 26
Poll points: 341
Last week's ranking: 10th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. Penn State in Rose Bowl
USC (9-3) is one of the hottest teams of the country, winners of eight straight, including victories over Pac-12 titleholder Washington and South Division champion Colorado.
The Trojans averaged 38.4 points during that win streak, with quarterback Sam Darnold averaging 277.4 yards with 24 touchdowns in his nine starts. Running back Ronald Jones II has gained 1,027 yards with 11 TDs, topping the 100-yard mark in four of his last five, as USC is averaging 207.3 rushing yards per game.
The Trojans have one of the best all-around players in the country in junior Adoree' Jackson, who has TDs as a receiver, punt and kick returner and notched four interceptions and a fumble recovery.
No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers
19 of 26
Poll points: 344
Last week's ranking: 6th
Week 14 result: Lost 38-31 vs. Penn State in Big Ten Championship Game
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. Western Michigan in Cotton Bowl
Wisconsin (10-3) couldn't hold on to a 21-point first-half lead, then couldn't get one yard in the final minutes as it fell short of its first Big Ten title since 2012.
The Badgers built a 28-7 lead behind three rushing touchdowns and a defensive score when Ryan Connelly returned a fumble 12 yards for a TD in the second quarter. They only managed a field goal after that, while Penn State scored on five consecutive possessions to make the comeback.
Corey Clement ran for 164 yards and a touchdown, but his final carry, on 4th-and-1 at PSU's 24-yard line with 1:01 left, resulted in no gain. Bart Houston added 174 yards on 16-of-21 passing.
No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners
20 of 26
Poll points: 378
Last week's ranking: 7th
Week 14 result: Won 38-20 vs. Oklahoma State
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. Auburn in Sugar Bowl
Oklahoma (10-2) won its second straight conference title and 16th straight league game, becoming the first Big 12 school to run the table since 2009, per ESPN.com's Jake Trotter.
The Sooners gained 629 yards, with 341 of them coming on the ground. Samaje Perine ran for 239 yards and a touchdown on 37 carries, giving him 4,036 for his career. He's five yards behind Adrian Peterson for the school rushing record.
Joe Mixon added 99 yards, including a 79-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Baker Mayfield was 13-of-19 for 288 yards and three TDs, featuring a 69-yard scoring pass to Dede Westbrook.
No. 6 Michigan Wolverines
21 of 26
Poll points: 408
Last week's ranking: 5th
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 30 vs. Florida State in Orange Bowl
Michigan (10-2) has posted consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since 2002-03, a strong indicator the program is back to its old standard of excellence after some down years over the past decade. That regular-season finale loss to Ohio State kept the Wolverines from playing in the Big Ten Championship and, ultimately, being in the playoff.
The Wolverines ended the regular season ranked second nationally in total defense and scoring defense, holding five opponents to fewer than 10 points. Seven of their 12 opponents managed fewer than 300 yards of total offense.
Michigan had wins in three straight weeks earlier this season over teams that played for conference titles, beating Colorado, Penn State and Wisconsin during a 9-0 start.
No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions
22 of 26
Poll points: 410
Last week's ranking: 8th
Week 14 result: Won 38-31 vs. Wisconsin in Big Ten Championship Game
Next game: Jan. 2 vs. USC in Rose Bowl
Penn State (11-2) used its second-half magic to rally from a 21-point deficit and win its ninth straight game and first Big Ten title since 2008.
The Nittany Lions trailed 28-7 in the second quarter but scored just before halftime on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Trace McSorley to Saeed Blacknall. That was the start of a 21-0 run to tie the game at 28-28. The tying score came with 4:22 left in the third quarter on a short Saquon Barkley TD run, then McSorley's 18-yard TD pass to Barkley with 13:41 remaining gave them a 35-31 lead after the ensuing extra point.
McSorley threw for a career-high 384 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-31 passing, with Blacknall catching six balls for 155 yards and two scores, including a 70-yard TD. McSorley's 3,360 passing yards are a Penn State single-season record.
PSU sealed the win when it stopped Wisconsin on 4th-and-1 with 1:01 left.
No. 4 Washington Huskies
23 of 26
Poll points: 444
Last week's ranking: 4th
Week 14 result: Won 41-10 vs. Colorado in Pac-12 Championship Game
Next game: Dec. 31 vs. Alabama in Peach Bowl (national semifinal)
Washington (12-1) won its first conference title since 2000 despite not having its usual offensive balance, getting just 118 passing yards from sophomore quarterback Jake Browning. But that included a pair of touchdown passes, and with plenty of help from the run game and defense, the Huskies controlled throughout.
Chris Petersen's team led 14-7 at halftime before breaking it open in the third quarter thanks to two interceptions from Taylor Rapp. Rapp returned a pick 35 yards for a TD just 16 seconds into the second half, then picked off another pass 76 seconds later to set up a Washington field goal.
Washington held Colorado to 163 yards while it gained 383, with Myles Gaskin (29 carries, 159 yards) and Lavon Coleman (18 carries, 101 yards and a TD) doing plenty of damage on the ground.
Browning's two TDs gave him 42 for the season, one behind the Pac-12 record, which California's Jared Goff set last year.
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes
24 of 26
Poll points: 464
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Week 14 result: Off
Next game: Dec. 31 vs. Clemson in Fiesta Bowl (national semifinal)
Ohio State (11-1) couldn't win its division in the Big Ten but did have a slew of significant victories, beating Big 12 champion Oklahoma in September and taking down both Michigan and Wisconsin in league play. That was enough to warrant the selection committee giving the Buckeyes the No. 3 seed and making them the first non-conference champion to earn a playoff bid.
The Buckeyes won their last five games after falling at Big Ten champion Penn State, their overtime victory over rival Michigan creating a tie for the East Division title with PSU.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett has accounted for 33 touchdowns this season, giving him 100 total scores for his career. He was one of three OSU players with at least eight rushing TDs, along with redshirt freshman Mike Weber and junior Curtis Samuel.
No. 2 Clemson Tigers
25 of 26
Poll points: 468
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Week 14 result: Won 42-35 vs. Virginia Tech in ACC Championship Game
Next game: Dec. 31 vs. Ohio State in Fiesta Bowl (national semifinal)
Clemson (12-1) claimed its second consecutive ACC title but made it more stressful than it should have been after building at least a 14-point lead on several occasions. That includes one midway through the fourth quarter, though one final defensive stop sealed the championship.
The Tigers got 373 yards of total offense and five total touchdowns from Deshaun Watson, giving him 4,443 yards with 43 total scores for the year. His final TD, a 15-yard pass to Hunter Renfrow with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter, helped give Clemson a 42-28 lead before Virginia Tech pulled within seven.
Clemson sealed the victory when Cordrea Tankersley intercepted a pass in the red zone with 1:11 left.
Wayne Gallman ran for 59 yards and a TD, while Jordan Leggett had two TD catches for Clemson, which reached 12 wins for a second straight season.
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide
26 of 26
Poll points: 500 (20 first-place votes)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Week 14 result: Won 54-16 vs. Florida in SEC Championship Game
Next game: Dec. 31 vs. Washington in Peach Bowl (national semifinal)
Alabama (13-0) allowed a touchdown for the first time since Oct. 22 and had minus-seven yards in the first quarter, yet it ended up winning with ease after its defense and special teams stepped in early to prevent any thought of a Florida upset. The defending national champion will take a 25-game win streak into its third straight playoff.
Minkah Fitzpatrick's 44-yard interception return touchdown gave the Crimson Tide the lead for good at 10-7 with 5:06 left in the first quarter, then Joshua Jacobs returned a blocked punt 27 yards for another score with 1:42 left in the period. That was part of a 33-2 run for the Tide capped by a Jacobs six-yard run late in the second quarter; it also gave them 14 non-offensive TDs this season, the same number they've allowed to opposing offenses.
Jacobs had 35 of Alabama's 234 rushing yards, with Bo Scarbrough gaining 91 yards with two TDs, while Damien Harris had 86 yards. Quarterback Jalen Hurts had only one yard on eight carries but threw for 138 yards and a TD on 11-of-20 passing.
Alabama held Florida to 261 yards of total offense with zero on the ground. The Tide are allowing 63.4 rushing yards per game.
All slides written by Brian J. Pedersen. Follow the author on Twitter at @realBJP.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
