College Football Top 25 Rankings (After Week 14, 2016)
Jalen Hurts
Weekly rankings are a big part of every college football season, and Athlon Sports will update its top 25 following the games each weekend. The final weekend of the 2016 regular season produced a couple of interesting conference championship matchups. Clemson held off Virginia Tech in the fourth quarter to claim its second consecutive ACC title. Penn State rallied from a 28-7 deficit to beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, while Washington dominated Colorado 41-10 on Friday night to win the Pac-12 Championship. With only a handful of games in Week 14, there are only a few changes to the top 25. Temple joins the rankings after beating Navy, while the Midshipmen drop out of the top 25.
College Football Post-Week 14 Top 25 Rankings
1. Alabama (13-0)
Week 14 Result: Beat Florida 54-16
Last Week: 1
Crimson Tide extend winning streak to 25 with dominant 54-16 victory over Florida in SEC Championship.
2. Ohio State (11-1)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 2
Regular season completed in Week 13.
3. Clemson (12-1)
Week 14 Result: 3
Last Week: 3
Virginia Tech made it interesting late, but thanks to another big performance from quarterback Deshaun Watson, Clemson earned its second ACC title in a row and booked a trip to the CFB Playoff.
4. Washington (12-1)
Week 14 Result: Beat Colorado 41-10
Last Week: 4
Ground game and defense carries Huskies to 41-10 victory over Colorado in Pac-12 Championship Game.
5. Michigan (10-2)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 5
Regular season completed in Week 13.
6. Penn State (11-2)
Week 14 Result: Beat Wisconsin 38-31
Last Week: 9
Nittany Lions claim first Big Ten title since 2008 with 38-31 thriller over Wisconsin in Indianapolis.
7. Oklahoma (10-2)
Week 14 Result: Beat Oklahoma State 38-20
Last Week: 7
Sooners claim 10th Big 12 title under Bob Stoops.
8. Wisconsin (10-3)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Penn State 38-31
Last Week: 6
Badgers fall short of Big Ten title after being unable to contain Penn State’s offense in the second half.
9. USC (9-3)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 8
Regular season completed in Week 13.
10. Colorado (10-3)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Washington 41-10
Last Week: 10
Buffaloes handled by Washington in Pac-12 title game, but 2016 still a special season for coach Mike MacIntyre’s team.
11. Florida State (9-3)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 11
Regular season completed in Week 13.
12. Oklahoma State (9-3)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Oklahoma 38-20
Last Week: 12
With a bowl win, Oklahoma State would earn its third season of 10 victories over the last four years.
13. West Virginia (10-2)
Week 14 Result: Beat Baylor 24-21
Last Week: 13
Mountaineers win 10 games for the first time since 2011.
14. Louisville (9-3)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 14
Regular season completed in Week 13.
15. Western Michigan (13-0)
Week 14 Result: Beat Ohio 29-23
Last Week: 15
Ohio gave Western Michigan all it could handle, but Broncos hold on for 29-23 win and complete 13-0 regular season.
16. Auburn (8-4)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 16
Regular season completed in Week 13.
17. Florida (8-4)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Alabama 54-16
Last Week: 17
Gators simply overmatched and undermanned in SEC Championship loss to Alabama.
18. LSU (7-4)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 18
Regular season completed in Week 13.
19. Virginia Tech (9-4)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Clemson 42-35
Last Week: 19
Hokies fell short in ACC Championship, but future of program is bright under coach Justin Fuente’s watch.
20. Iowa (8-4)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 20
Regular season completed in Week 13.
21. Nebraska (9-3)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 21
Regular season completed in Week 13.
22. Stanford (9-3)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 22
Regular season completed in Week 13.
23. Temple (10-3)
Week 14 Result: Beat Navy
Last Week: NR
Matt Rhule has guided Temple to back-to-back 10-win seasons and claimed the school’s first conference title since 1967 with Saturday’s win over Navy.
24. USF (10-2)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 23
Regular season completed in Week 13.
25. Pitt (8-4)
Week 14 Result: Regular Season Over
Last Week: 25
Regular season completed in Week 13.
College Football Post-Week 13 Top 25 Rankings
1. Alabama (12-0)
Week 13 Result: Beat Auburn 30-12
Last Week: 1
Week 14 Opponent: SEC Championship vs. Florida
Crimson Tide defense did not allow a touchdown in November.
2. Ohio State (11-1)
Week 13 Result: Beat Michigan 30-27
Last Week: 2
Week 14 Opponent: Regular Season Over
The Game certainly lived up to the hype, as the Buckeyes steal a win over the Wolverines in overtime.
3. Clemson (11-1)
Week 13 Result: Beat South Carolina 56-7
Last Week: 3
Week 14 Opponent: ACC Championship vs. Virginia Tech
Deshaun Watson tosses six touchdown passes in dominant win over rival South Carolina.
4. Washington (11-1)
Week 13 Result: Beat Washington State 45-17
Last Week: 6
Week 14 Opponent: Pac-12 Championship vs. Colorado
Huskies claim Apple Cup thanks to strong performances by quarterback Jake Browning and the defense.
5. Michigan (10-2)
Week 13 Result: Lost to Ohio State 30-27
Last Week: 4
Week 14 Opponent: Regular Season Over
Missed opportunities will haunt Wolverines in double overtime loss at Ohio State.
6. Wisconsin (10-2)
Week 13 Result: Beat Minnesota 31-17
Last Week: 5
Week 14 Opponent: Big Ten Championship vs. Penn State
Badgers use big second half to continue domination of Minnesota.
7. Oklahoma (9-2)
Week 13 Result: Bye Week
Last Week: 7
Week 14 Opponent: Oklahoma State
Bye week allows Sooners to prep for showdown against Oklahoma State to decide Big 12 title.
8. USC (9-3)
Week 13 Result: Beat Notre Dame 45-27
Last Week: 9
Week 14 Opponent: Regular Season Over
Adoree’ Jackson delivers one of the best all-around performances of 2016 in USC’s 45-27 win over Notre Dame.
9. Penn State (10-2)
Week 13 Result: Beat Michigan State 45-12
Last Week: 9
Week 14 Opponent: Big Ten Championship vs. Wisconsin
Saquon Barkley’s health will be a storyline to watch after Penn State clinches East Division with win over Michigan State and books trip to Indianapolis for Big Ten title game.
10. Colorado (10-2)
Week 13 Result: Beat Utah 27-22
Last Week: 10
Week 14 Opponent: Pac-12 Championship vs. Washington
Buffaloes clinch Pac-12 South with win over Utah – and Mike MacIntyre should be the national coach of the year.
11. Florida State (9-3)
Week 13 Result: Beat Florida 31-13
Last Week: 12
Week 14 Opponent: Regular Season Over
Seminoles’ senior class finishes 8-0 against Florida and Miami.
12. Oklahoma State (9-2)
Week 13 Result: Bye Week
Last Week: 13
Week 14 Opponent: at Oklahoma
Cowboys have won only two out of the last 13 matchups against rival Oklahoma.
13. West Virginia (9-2)
Week 13 Result: Beat Iowa State 49-19
Last Week: 14
Week 14 Opponent: Baylor
Freshman running back Martell Pettaway gives injured backfield a boost, while quarterback Skyler Howard tosses five touchdowns in 49-19 win over Iowa State.
14. Louisville (9-3)
Week 13 Result: Lost to Kentucky 41-38
Last Week: 11
Week 14 Opponent: Regular Season
Late-season losses hurt Lamar Jackson’s Heisman candidacy, but the sophomore is still the favorite with one week of games left.
15. Western Michigan (12-0)
Week 13 Result: Beat Toledo 55-35
Last Week: 17
Week 14 Opponent: MAC Championship vs. Ohio
Broncos likely one win away from claiming the Group of 5 spot in a New Year’s Six Bowl.
16. Auburn (8-4)
Week 13 Result: Lost to Alabama 30-12
Last Week: 16