Michigan loss opens spot in top four of Power Rankings after Week 13
Rivalry Week brought the heat, and now we wait for conference championships to settle the 2016 College Football Playoff rankings. I, for one, am very glad I’m not on the selection committee.
Alabama and Ohio State surely have two spots locked up, but how will the rest of the playoff shake out? It very well could end up with Clemson and Washington securing the final two berths in an underwhelming but still enticing manner... or, one or both could lose, and we could have true chaos.
Week 13 was plenty chaotic in its own right with 11 teams from last week’s rankings losing and six dropping out of the top 25 altogether. That six-team dropout was also reflected in the AP Top 25 for the fourth time since 1989, matching the all-time high.
So buckle up—something tells me the conference championships (plus Bedlam) won’t bore us.
• Coaches who need to improve to save their jobs next year
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
PREVIOUS: 1
RECORD: 12-0
Last week: Beat Auburn 30-12Next week: Saturday vs. Florida in SEC Championship Game
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
PREVIOUS: 2
RECORD: 11-1
Last week: Beat Michigan 30-27 in double overtimeNext week: Off
3. Clemson Tigers
PREVIOUS: 3
RECORD: 11-1
Last week: Beat South Carolina 56-7Next week: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech in ACC championship game
4. WASHINGTON HUSKIES
PREVIOUS: 7
RECORD: 11-1
Last week: Beat Washington State 45-17Next week: Friday vs. Colorado in Pac-12 championship game
5. Michigan Wolverines
PREVIOUS: 4
RECORD: 10-2
Last week: Lost to Ohio State 30-27 in double overtimeNext week: Off
6. Wisconsin Badgers
PREVIOUS: 5
RECORD: 10-2
Last week: Beat Minnesota 31-17Next week: Saturday vs. Penn State in Big Ten championship game
7. Oklahoma Sooners
PREVIOUS: 6
RECORD: 9-2
Last week: OffNext week: Saturday vs. Oklahoma State
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
PREVIOUS: 8
RECORD: 10-2
Last week: Beat Michigan State 45-12Next week: Saturday vs. Wisconsin in Big Ten championship game
9. Colorado Buffaloes
PREVIOUS: 9
RECORD: 10-2
Last week: Beat Utah 27-22Next week: Friday vs. Washington in Pac-12 championship game
10. USC Trojans
PREVIOUS: 10
RECORD: 9-3
Last week: Beat Notre Dame 45-27Next week: Off
11. Oklahoma State Cowboys
PREVIOUS: 12
RECORD: 9-2
Last week: OffNext week: Saturday at Oklahoma
12. Florida State Seminoles
PREVIOUS: 15
RECORD: 9-3
Last week: Beat Florida 31-13Next week: Off
13. Western Michigan Broncos
PREVIOUS: 13
RECORD: 12-0
Last week: Beat Toledo 55-35Next week: Friday vs. Ohio in MAC championship game
14. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
PREVIOUS: 18
RECORD: 9-2
Last week: Beat Iowa State 49-19Next week: Saturday vs. Baylor
15. Stanford Cardinal
PREVIOUS: 25
RECORD: 9-3
Last week: Beat Rice 41-17Next week: Off
16. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
PREVIOUS: 11
RECORD: 9-3
Last week: Lost to Kentucky 41-38Next week: Off
17. Auburn Tigers
PREVIOUS: 14
RECORD: 8-4
Last week: Lost to Alabama 30-12Next week: Off
18. Florida Gators
PREVIOUS: 17
RECORD: 8-3
Last week: Lost to Florida State 31-13Next week: Saturday vs. Alabama in SEC Championship Game
19. NAVY MIDSHIPMEN
RECORD: 9-2
Last week: Beat SMU 75-31Next week: Saturday vs. Temple in AAC championship game
20. Virginia Tech Hokies
RECORD: 9-3
Last week: Beat Virginia 52-10Next week: Saturday vs. Clemson in ACC championship game
21. LSU TIGERS
RECORD: 7-4
Last week: Beat Texas A&M 54-39Next week: Off• Can Ed Orgeron return LSU to glory?
22. South florida bulls
RECORD: 10-2
Last week: Beat UCF 48-31Next week: Off
23. IOWA HAWKEYES
RECORD: 8-4
Last week: Beat Nebraska 40-10Next week: Off
24. Nebraska cornhuskers
PREVIOUS: 16
RECORD: 9-3
Last week: Lost to Iowa 40-10Next week: Off
25. Pittsburgh Panthers
RECORD: 8-4
Last week: Beat Syracuse 76-61Next week: Off
Dropped out: Boise State, Houston, Utah, Texas A&M, Washington State, Tennessee
Next five: Boise State, Houston, Utah, Washington State, Temple
