Where Did Mizzou Football End up in the Final AP Top 25?
The question wasn't whether Missouri football would move up in the final rankings, but how much? After beating Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, 14-3, the Tigers felt they had a good chance to improve their final standing in the longest established college football poll.
The answer turned out to be just one spot.
Tuesday morning, shortly after Michigan dispatched Washington 34-13 in the National Championship Game, the final AP Top 25 for the 2023-24 college football season was released and had Mizzou at No. 8.
For the Tigers, it was their best finish since landing at No. 5 in 2013. It also helped give the Southeastern Conference four teams in the top 10, as Ole Miss came in at No. 9.
Meanwhile, Ohio State dropped three spots, down to No. 10. It's the worst ranking by the Buckeyes since they came in at No. 12 in 2013.
Probably the biggest surprise of the poll was that Alabama dropped to No. 5, after taking eventual champion Michigan to overtime in the Rose Bowl. Moving up to No. 4 was Georgia, which lost to the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game.
Final AP Top 25 Poll
Rank, Team, Record, Points (First)
- Michigan 15-0, 1,525 (61)
- Washington 14-1, 1,459
- Texas 12-2, 1,356
- Georgia 13-1, 1,328
- Alabama 12-2, 1,321
- (tie) Oregon 12-2, 1,175
- (tie) Florida State 13-1, 1,175
- Missouri 11-2, 1,092
- Ole Miss 11-2, 1,030
- Ohio State 11-2, 1,006
- Arizona 10-3, 861
- LSU 10-3, 853
- Penn State 10-3, 796
- Notre Dame 10-3, 745
- Oklahoma 10-3, 691
- Oklahoma State 10-4, 528
- Tennessee 9-4, 442
- Kansas State 9-4, 402
- Louisville 10-4, 398
- Clemson 9-4, 327
- North Carolina State 9-4 244
- SMU 11-3, 183
- Kansas 9-4, 153
- Iowa 10-4, 150
- Liberty, 13-1, 139
Others receiving votes: Oregon St. 96, West Virginia 90, Tulane 76, James Madison 52, Southern Cal 35, Memphis 32, Utah 14, Troy 10, Air Force 8, Toledo 7, Duke 6, Kentucky 4, UCLA 4, Miami (Ohio) 4, UTSA 3, Wyoming 2, Northwestern 2, Ohio 1.
