Colorado rises in Power Rankings after Week 12

Colorado rose in SI.com's college football Power Rankings after notching a big win over Washington State on Saturday.

Author:
Mike Fiammetta
Publish date:
Nov 21, 2016

We didn’t witness teams Nos. 2–4 all lose again, but don’t let anybody tell you Week 12 wasn’t any fun.

Louisville’s College Football Playoff and ACC hopes were dashed as Houston returned to the spotlight, Ohio State and Michigan were both challenged by fellow Big Ten opponents, Wisconsin’s continued excellence gave the conference three top-five teams in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1960 and six teams from last week’s rankings went down. Three dropped out altogether, allowing the Cougars, Tennessee and Stanford to return.

Here’s where the national pecking order stands entering the final week of the regular season (save for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, who have the week off before Bedlam on Dec. 3).

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1. Alabama Crimson Tide

PREVIOUS: 1

RECORD: 11-0

Last week: Beat Chattanooga 31–3Next week: Saturday vs. Auburn

2. Ohio St. Buckeyes

PREVIOUS: 2

RECORD: 10-1

Last week: Beat Michigan State 17–16Next week: Saturday vs. Michigan

3. Clemson Tigers

PREVIOUS: 4

RECORD: 10-1

Last week: Beat Wake Forest 35–13Next week: Saturday vs. South Carolina

4. Michigan Wolverines

PREVIOUS: 5

RECORD: 10-1

Last week: Beat Indiana 20–10Next week: Saturday at Ohio State

5. Wisconsin Badgers

PREVIOUS: 6

RECORD: 9-2

Last week: Beat Purdue 49–20Next week: Saturday vs. Minnesota

6. Oklahoma Sooners

PREVIOUS: 7

RECORD: 9-2

Last week: Beat West Virginia 56–28Next week: Off

7. Washington Huskies

PREVIOUS: 8

RECORD: 10-1

Last week: Beat Arizona State 44–18Next week: Saturday at Washington State

8. Penn St. Nittany Lions

PREVIOUS: 9

RECORD: 9-2

Last week: Beat Rutgers 39–0Next week: Saturday vs. Michigan State

9. Colorado Buffaloes

PREVIOUS: 13

RECORD: 9-2

Last week: Beat Washington State 38–24Next week: Saturday vs. Utah

10. USC Trojans

PREVIOUS: 12

RECORD: 8-3

Last week: Beat UCLA 34–14Next week: Saturday vs. Notre Dame

11. Louisville Cardinals

PREVIOUS: 3

RECORD: 9-2

Last week: Lost to Houston 36–20Next week: Saturday vs. Kentucky

12. Oklahoma St. Cowboys

PREVIOUS: 14

RECORD: 9-2

“We definitely got our bucks kicked. It was embarrassing,” TCU running back Kyle Hicks said after Oklahoma State handed the Horned Frogs their worst home loss since 1997 on Saturday. The Cowboys gained 334 rushing yards in their 31–6 victory, with Justice Hill and Chris Carson nearly splitting 300 of those yards between themselves. Mason Rudolph passed for one touchdown and rushed for two more, and Oklahoma State allowed only a first-quarter touchdown (and blocked the point-after attempt) to TCU before turning on cruise control. Next up is the Bedlam game Dec. 3 against Oklahoma. A win then, and we’ll be playing the “what if” game for Oklahoma State’s playoff chances in the context of that preposterous Sept. 10 Hail Mary loss to Central Michigan. Last week: Beat TCU 31–6Next week: Off