NCAA Top 25 - Week 14

Rivalry Week caused quite a stir in the Top 25!  Two unbeatens fell (Alabama and Fresno State), two Top Ten teams barely won (Baylor and Ohio State), and two others fell (Clemson and Wisconsin).  With conference championships this week, there will definitely be some disturbances next week.

Top 25 [Last week's position]
1.  Florida State Seminoles (12-0) [2] : Another dominant victory for the 'Noles put them firmly in the National Championship picture

2.  Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0) [3] : They needed a missed two-point conversion to salvage a win against fierce rival Michigan, but that was a better result than many teams faced in Rivalry Week.  The Buckeyes need a strong win in the Big Ten Championship to seal a spot in the National Championship Game.

3.  Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) [1] : For the first time all season, the Tide seemed confused.  Gus Malzahn figured out a way to beat "The Process", and without that, Alabama can't function.

4.  Missouri Tigers (11-1) [5] : The Tigers confounded Johnny Manziel to win a spot in the SEC Championship Game

5.  Louisville Cardinals (10-1) [4]
6.  Stanford Cardinal (10-2) [6] : Dominant win over rival Notre Dame sends them into the Pac-12 Championship with a win.

7.  Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1) [7]
8.  Baylor Bears (10-1) [8] : They squeaked out a win over struggling TCU, which does not bode well to face powerful Texas this week.

9.  Auburn Tigers (11-1) [12] : The Tigers have been getting steadily better as the season progresses, which gave them a win over Alabama.  Can they stretch that to an SEC title and possible National Championship Game berth?

10.  Michigan State Spartans (11-1) [11] : The Spartans finish the Big Ten season unbeaten in the conference, the first time they've done that since 1966.  Their defense gets to face the Buckeyes for a shot at the Rose Bowl and a chance to knock Ohio State off its National Championship pedestal.

11. Northern Illinois Huskies (12-0) [16] : The Huskies posted a strong win to close out the regular season unbeaten.  When they win the MAC Championship, they'll have sealed a bid to a BCS bowl.

12. Oregon Ducks (10-2) [13] : Man, did they struggle against rival Oregon State!
13. Arizona State Sun Devils (10-2) [15] : The Sun Devils, on the other hand, rolled over Arizona to give themselves momentum into the Pac-12 Championship

14. South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2) [19] : They missed the SEC Championship but they gave a beatdown to Clemson

15. LSU Tigers (9-3) [14] : They eked by conference winless Arkansas on Friday
16. UCF Golden Knights (10-1) [17] : The Knights continue their unbeaten conference streak, which they need to do one more time to win the inaugural American Athletic title

17. Clemson Tigers (10-2) [9] : The Tigers were demolished by South Carolina
18. Wisconsin Badgers (9-3) [10] : Although the Badgers fought bad enough in the fourth quarter to prevent embarrassment, the Nittany Lions spanked the Badgers and knocked them out of a BCS bowl

19. UCLA Bruins (9-3) [21] : Dominant performance over rival USC
20. Fresno State Bulldogs (10-1) [20] : They fell from the ranks of the unbeaten but remain in the Top 25, due to collapses by other teams

21. Oklahoma Sooners (9-2) [22]
22. Texas A&M Aggies (8-4) [18] : The Aggies looked pathetic for the second week in a row, although their defense was good, at least in the first half

23. Bowling Green Falcons (9-3) [26] : Powerful victory over Buffalo vaulted them into the MAC Championship

24. Duke Blue Devils (10-2) [25] : The Blue Devils get their FIRST EVER ten-win season.  Unfortunately their prize is a battle against overwhelming Florida State in the ACC Championship

25. Ball State Cardinals (10-2) [NR] : The Cardinals missed the MAC Championship but finished with ten wins, solidifying a solid season

Dropped off: East Carolina Pirates [#22], USC Trojans [#24]

On the Edge: Marshall Thundering Herd (9-3), Cincinnati Bearcats (9-2), Washington Huskies (8-4), Utah State Aggies (8-4), Texas Longhorns (8-3), Boise State Broncos (8-4), Houston Cougars (8-4)

All division titles were awarded, as the conference championships are this week.  However, there are three conferences still battling for a title:

American Athletic:  If UCF wins or Cincinnati loses, the Knights win the conference (they hold the tiebreaker over Louisville)

Big XII: If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, then they win the conference.  If the Sooners win, the winner of the Baylor - Texas bout wins the conference.

Sun Belt: LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE has won the title, regardless of the outcome of their battle against South Alabama, because they hold a game lead AND the tiebreaker over Arkansas State.