This is the final "full" Top 25, as only a handful of these teams will play next week.
Top 25 [Last week's rank]
1. OREGON DUCKS (12-0) [1] : The only team to finish the regular season unbeaten
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) [3]
3. Texas Longhorns (11-1) [4]
4. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-1) [5] : They advance to the Big Ten Championship
5. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) [2]
6. Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) [8] : Unbelievably dominant performance this week!
7. Tennessee Volunteers (10-2) [7]
8. Georgia Bulldogs (10-2) [6] : Eight overtimes? Seriously?
9. SMU Mustangs (11-1) [11]
10. Boise State Broncos (11-1) [10]
11. Ole Miss Rebels (9-3) [12]
12. Miami Hurricanes (10-2) [9]
13. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3) [14]
14. Army Black Knights (10-1) [15]
15. UNLV Running Rebels (10-2) [16]
16. Arizona State Sun Devils (10-2) [19]
17. South Carolina Gamecocks (9-3) [17]
18. Iowa State Cyclones (10-2) [18]
19. Clemson Tigers (9-3) [13]
20. BYU Cougars (10-2) [20]
21. Memphis Tigers (10-2) [24]
22. Tulane Green Wave (9-3) [21]
23. Colorado Buffaloes (9-3) [23]
24. Louisville Cardinals (8-4) [26]
25. Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) [25]
Dropped off: Texas A&M Aggies [#23]
On the Edge: Missouri Tigers (9-3), Illinois Fighting Illini (9-3), Navy Midshipmen (8-3)
Upset Results
Two of our upsets were suffered by the Big Ten, so I'll discuss them in the next section. In the Big XII, Baylor shocked the surging Kansas Jayhawks, who ended the season with a losing record. In the ACC, Miami lost their chance at the conference championship game when Syracuse shocked them.
Big Ten Report
The top of the conference had a shake-up as Michigan upset Ohio State, knocking them down to fourth place. That win also allowed Michigan to finish with a winning conference record, despite a horrendous start to the season. Penn State rose to second place, putting Indiana at third. Illinois landed in fifth, and Iowa in sixth. Michigan and Minnesota are the only other teams to finish with winning conference records. Purdue failed to win a single conference game, and they had the three largest margins of defeat in conference play. The biggest shock was Wisconsin, who broke a 22-year consecutive streak of winning records.
Playoff Predictions
Clearly the top two seeds will be the Big Ten champ and the SEC champ. If Boise State wins the Mountain West, they will capture the third seed. That leaves the fourth seed for the ACC Champion. If UNLV upsets Boise State for the Mountain West title and SMU wins the ACC title, then the ACC champ is the third seed,, If Clemson wins the ACC title, they are the fourth seed, unless the Big XII Championship Game is a one-sided blowout (not likely), which would likely advance their champ to the fourth seed.
Let's assume the top four seeds are the champions of the Big Ten, SEC, Mountain West, and ACC. Who will host the first games; in other words, who will be the next four teams? Certainly Notre Dame, Ohio State, and the Big Ten runner-up. Who joins them? If Georgia wins the SEC, it will be Texas. If Texas wins, it should be Indiana.
The final group of four will include Tennessee, the Big XII champ, and the second ACC team. That team will be Miami if SMU wins the conference, or SMU if Clemson wins. The third team will be either Georgia (if Texas wins the SEC) or Indiana (if Texas does).
I won't predict seedings, because so much depends on who wins the conference games and by how much.,
Conference Championships
Friday Dec 6
CONFERENCE USA : Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Jacksonville State Gamecocks : This is a rematch of last week's game, where the home field Hilltoppers beat the Gamecocks. Now they play at Jacksonville, and the Gamecocks get revenge. JACKSONVILLE STATE by six
AMERICAN ATHLETIC : #22 Tulane Green Wave at #14 Army Black Knights : It is rare that both teams in this conference title game are ranked, but it's been that type of year. Tulane was beaten by Memphis last week, and beaten up. I don't think they will be able to stand up to the physical assault that is the Army offense. Tulane may lead at the half, but Army will prevail. ARMY by eight
MOUNTAIN WEST : #15 UNLV Running Rebels at #10 Boise State Broncos : On a neutral field, I might think UNLV has a chance, but the Broncos are fierce at home. UNLV has been excellent, but Boise State has been dominant all season long. BOISE STATE by 13
Sat Dec 7
BIG XII : #18 Iowa State Cyclones v #16 Arizona State Sun Devils : Arizona State has been a phenomenal team this season, especially given their inexperience. Iowa State probably has the better team, but they have had a nasty habit this year of making crucial mistakes at the wrong time. Arizona State has proven highly effective at taking advantage of those situations. ARIZONA STATE by six
MAC : Ohio Bobcats v Miami Ohio Redhawks : Ohio has played the most consistent ball in the conference this season, and they rarely make mistakes. That will be important to seal this victory, as the Redhawks have the more dynamic offense. OHIO by four
SEC : #3 Texas Longhorns at #8 Georgia Bulldogs : Yes, Texas is considered the home team, as they have the better record, but this game is being played in Atlanta. Yes, it is the Falcons field and not Georgia's, but it still basically a home crowd environment for the Dawgs. And that will make this game closer, as Texas has certainly played much better than the Bulldogs this season. Texas will take the early lead, but we've seen how Georgia can engineer some great fourth quarter comebacks at home. Texas, though, can score quickly, and that last score will be theirs. TEXAS by three
SUN BELT : Marshall Thundering Herd at Louisiana Ragin Cajuns : Marshall has more experience in conference championship games, but they have had some on-field communication issues this season. Given the noise that the Cajun home crowd can generate, they will suffer from that in this game. LOUISIANA by 13
BIG TEN : #4 Penn State Nittany Lions v #1 Oregon Ducks : If Ohio State had beaten Michigan, setting up the rematch, I was prepared to pick Ohio State. With them out of the game, I don't think any other team in the conference can threaten Oregon for 60 minutes. OREGON by ten
ACC : #19 Clemson Tigers at #9 SMU Mustangs : The Mustangs have been a strong team this season, and certainly the stronger offense. However, Clemson has a history of pulling off some amazing plays in conference championships, so they will keep this game close. SMU should still win, but watch for the upset here. SMU by four
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