AP Top 25 College Football Poll Week 14: Biggest Takeaways

Updated
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Dante Moore flexes for Oregon.

The AP Top 25 College Football Poll for Week 14 has been released. Here are the three biggest takeaways.

AP Top 25 College Football Poll: Week 14

Team Record Last Week CFP
1. Ohio State 11-0 1 1
2. Indiana 11-0 2 2
3. Texas A&M 11-0 3 3
4. Georgia 10-1 4 4
5. Oregon 10-1 6 7
6. Ole Miss 10-1 5 6
7. Texas Tech 10-1 6 5
8. Oklahoma 9-2 8 8
9. Notre Dame 9-2 9 9
10. Alabama 9-2 10 10
11. BYU 10-1 11 11
12. Vanderbilt 9-2 12 14
13. Miami 9-2 14 13
14. Utah 9-2 13 12
15. Michigan 9-2 18 18
16. Texas 8-3 17 17
17. Virginia 9-2 19 19
18. Tennessee 8-3 20 20
19. USC 8-3 16 15
20. James Madison 10-1 21 NR
21. North Texas 10-1 22 NR
22. Tulane 9-2 24 24
23. Georgia Tech 9-2 15 16
24. Pittsburgh 8-3 NR NR
25. SMU 8-3 NR NR

Via AP

Oregon Enters the Top 5

The Oregon Ducks are back in the top five after a 42-27 victory over USC.

The Ducks’ offense outgained the Trojans 436-382. Quarterback Dante Moore finished 22 of 30 for 257 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Noah Whittington rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown, while Jordon Davison added 50 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Up until this point, the Ducks’ best win on their resume was an overtime victory at Penn State. That win lost significant value after Penn State’s season went downhill, which included the firing of James Franklin.

The No. 5 Ducks are 10-1 with one game remaining: a trip to Washington on Nov. 29. If the Ducks win, they will be in the College Football Playoff.

What Will the Committee Do With Texas if They Beat Texas A&M?

A three-loss team has never made the College Football Playoff.

That theory could be put to the test if No. 16 Texas defeats No. 3 Texas A&M.

If A&M beats Texas, A&M moves on to the SEC Championship and then the College Football Playoff.

If Texas pulls off the upset, then things get interesting. The Longhorns have lost three road games to Ohio State, Florida, and Georgia. Ohio State and Georgia are two of the four best teams in the country.

What’s hurting Texas is that the loss to Georgia was not particularly close. Had they lost by a field goal to Georgia, the Longhorns would have a stronger argument for the playoff.

Texas hosts Texas A&M on Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Game Has Massive College Football Playoff Implications

After Michigan lost to USC, many wrote them off as a College Football Playoff team.

Five consecutive wins later, the Michigan Wolverines are 9-2 and ranked No. 15.

The CFP is now a major possibility for Michigan. First, they must defeat their final opponent: No. 1 Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have not defeated Michigan in “The Game” since 2019.

Michigan will host Ohio State from the Big House at 12 p.m. on Nov. 29. If Ohio State wins, the Buckeyes will play in the Big Ten Championship before advancing to the College Football Playoff.

If Michigan wins, how do you keep the Wolverines out of the playoff?