#8
1. Alabama (12-0, 8-0 SEC)
Defending national champion Alabama's dominance of its opponents continued with a 52-21 rout of Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday. The Crimson Tide head into next week's SEC championship game against Georgia having won each of their first 12 games by 20 points or more, a first in the AP poll era, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went a long way toward wrapping up the Heisman Trophy with another record-setting performance against the Tigers. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 324 yards with five touchdown passes and one scoring run. He is the first player in Alabama history to account for six touchdowns in a game. The Tide have scored 50 points or more in eight games this season, which is tied for second most in the AP poll era (the 2008 Oklahoma team had nine such games) and the most in SEC history.
2. Clemson (12-0, 8-0 ACC)
After dismantling rival South Carolina 56-35 on Saturday night in the highest-scoring game in Palmetto Series history, the Tigers are one victory away from reaching the CFP for the fourth season in a row. The Tigers will play Pittsburgh in next week's ACC championship game in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Gamecocks did expose a potential deficiency heading into the postseason. South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley threw for 510 yards -- the second-highest total ever allowed by the Tigers -- with five touchdowns. It was the most points the Tigers had surrendered in 28 games since a 42-35 win over Virginia Tech in the 2016 ACC title game.
3. Notre Dame (12-0)
The Fighting Irish all but punched their first CFP ticket with a 24-17 victory at USC on Saturday night. The result was a little closer than expected, and the Irish had to come back from a 10-point deficit in the first half, but they only needed to win. It's the fourth time in the past 50 years that they've finished a regular season unbeaten. The Irish have now done it twice under coach Brian Kelly; they went 12-0 in 2012 before losing to Alabama 42-14 in the BCS National Championship. Kelly is only the fourth coach in Notre Dame history to have multiple unbeaten regular seasons, joining Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy and Ara Parseghian. Quarterback Ian Book threw for a career-high 352 yards against the Trojans, becoming the first Notre Dame player to throw for at least 300 against USC in the past 20 years.
4. Georgia (11-1, 7-1 SEC)
After dismantling rival Georgia Tech 45-21 on Saturday, the Bulldogs will get another chance at Alabama in next week's SEC championship game. Georgia is still stinging from last season's 26-23 overtime loss to the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship, in which it squandered a pair of 13-point leads and surrendered Tagovailoa's 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith -- on second-and-26 -- on the final play of the game. Georgia seems to be peaking at the right time, winning each of its past five games by 17 points or more. Quarterback Jake Fromm threw four touchdowns against the Yellow Jackets, and the UGA defense surrendered only 128 yards to the No. 1 rushing offense in the FBS.
5. Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten)
Say what you will about Ohio State's Urban Meyer, but few coaches thrive more when their teams are underdogs. Ohio State improved to 7-0 as an underdog under Meyer with Saturday's stunning 62-39 rout of Michigan. It won six of those seven games by a touchdown or more. After losing at unranked Purdue by 29 and then struggling to beat Nebraska and Maryland (in overtime!), the Buckeyes are suddenly one victory away from perhaps crashing the CFP again. Ohio State plays Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis next week. Quarterback Dwayne Haskinswas sensational against what had been the No. 1 defense in the FBS. He became the first quarterback to throw for five touchdowns against Michigan (which had given up seven touchdown passes the entire season) and broke Big Ten single-season records for touchdowns and passing yards.
6. Oklahoma (11-1, 8-1 Big 12)
Perhaps it's the Big 12 Conference that owes Texas linebacker Breckyn Hager an apology. Hager was reprimanded a week ago for saying, among other things, that "OU has no defense." Well, the Sooners certainly didn't do anything in Friday night's 59-56 win at West Virginia to shut him up. OU gave up 33 first downs and 704 yards of offense, including 539 passing, in its wild victory. The Sooners have given up at least 40 points in each of their past four games, yet still won each of them. They're the only team since the AP poll debuted in 1936 to win four straight games while giving up at least 40 points in each victory. They'll get a chance to prove Hager wrong when they play the Longhorns in next week's Big 12 championship game.
7. UCF (11-0, 8-0 American)
The Knights won their 24th consecutive game with a 38-10 victory at USF on Friday, but their latest win was a costly one. Star quarterback McKenzie Milton suffered a "traumatic" injury to his right leg while scrambling in the second quarter. His father told ESPN that he had emergency surgery on Friday to repair his right knee and other internal issues. Milton had thrown for 2,663 yards with 25 touchdowns and run for 307 yards with nine scores in nine starts. The Knights will play Memphis in next week's American Athletic Conference championship game, with another trip to a New Year's Six bowl on the line. Freshman Darriel Mack Jr., who has attempted 43 passes this season, figures to be the starter.
8. Michigan (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten)
With everything riding on The Game on Saturday -- a trip to the Big Ten championship game, a potential spot in the CFP and a chance to finally beat rival Ohio State -- the Wolverines couldn't have looked any worse. Michigan surrendered 62 points -- the most it has ever given up in a non-overtime game dating to 1891 -- and 567 yards of offense. Coach Jim Harbaugh fell to 0-4 against the Buckeyes, who have won seven straight games in the series and 14 of the past 15 overall. If Ohio State sneaks into the CFP, the Wolverines might still end up in the Rose Bowl Presented by Northwestern Mutual. If the Buckeyes are left out, Michigan still seems to be a sure bet for a New Year's Six bowl, possibly the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
9. Texas (9-3, 7-2 Big 12)
The Longhorns might have been caught looking ahead to next week's Big 12 championship game. They nearly blew a 21-0 lead at Kansas, before holding on for a 24-17 victory Friday. After their third straight win, they'll get a rematch against Oklahoma at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Sooners 48-45 in Dallas on Oct. 6; they nearly squandered a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter before Cameron Dickermade a 40-yard field goal with nine seconds left. Regular-season winners are 25-15 in conference champion rematches, according to ESPN Stats & Information, including a 5-2 mark last year.
10. Washington (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12)
The Huskies spoiled Washington State's Pac-12 North title hopes for the third straight season, defeating the Cougars 28-15 in Friday night's Apple Cup. Though the Huskies fell short of their CFP aspirations, they'll have a chance to win their second Pac-12 title in three seasons when they play Utah in next week's Pac-12 championship game in Santa Clara, California. The Huskies defeated the Utes 21-7 in Salt Lake City on Sept. 15; they're 1-11 against them all time. The Utes' lone victory was a 34-23 win in Seattle in 2015. The winner will play in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual.
1. Alabama (12-0, 8-0 SEC)
Defending national champion Alabama's dominance of its opponents continued with a 52-21 rout of Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday. The Crimson Tide head into next week's SEC championship game against Georgia having won each of their first 12 games by 20 points or more, a first in the AP poll era, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went a long way toward wrapping up the Heisman Trophy with another record-setting performance against the Tigers. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 324 yards with five touchdown passes and one scoring run. He is the first player in Alabama history to account for six touchdowns in a game. The Tide have scored 50 points or more in eight games this season, which is tied for second most in the AP poll era (the 2008 Oklahoma team had nine such games) and the most in SEC history.
2. Clemson (12-0, 8-0 ACC)
After dismantling rival South Carolina 56-35 on Saturday night in the highest-scoring game in Palmetto Series history, the Tigers are one victory away from reaching the CFP for the fourth season in a row. The Tigers will play Pittsburgh in next week's ACC championship game in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Gamecocks did expose a potential deficiency heading into the postseason. South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley threw for 510 yards -- the second-highest total ever allowed by the Tigers -- with five touchdowns. It was the most points the Tigers had surrendered in 28 games since a 42-35 win over Virginia Tech in the 2016 ACC title game.
3. Notre Dame (12-0)
The Fighting Irish all but punched their first CFP ticket with a 24-17 victory at USC on Saturday night. The result was a little closer than expected, and the Irish had to come back from a 10-point deficit in the first half, but they only needed to win. It's the fourth time in the past 50 years that they've finished a regular season unbeaten. The Irish have now done it twice under coach Brian Kelly; they went 12-0 in 2012 before losing to Alabama 42-14 in the BCS National Championship. Kelly is only the fourth coach in Notre Dame history to have multiple unbeaten regular seasons, joining Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy and Ara Parseghian. Quarterback Ian Book threw for a career-high 352 yards against the Trojans, becoming the first Notre Dame player to throw for at least 300 against USC in the past 20 years.
4. Georgia (11-1, 7-1 SEC)
After dismantling rival Georgia Tech 45-21 on Saturday, the Bulldogs will get another chance at Alabama in next week's SEC championship game. Georgia is still stinging from last season's 26-23 overtime loss to the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship, in which it squandered a pair of 13-point leads and surrendered Tagovailoa's 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith -- on second-and-26 -- on the final play of the game. Georgia seems to be peaking at the right time, winning each of its past five games by 17 points or more. Quarterback Jake Fromm threw four touchdowns against the Yellow Jackets, and the UGA defense surrendered only 128 yards to the No. 1 rushing offense in the FBS.
5. Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten)
Say what you will about Ohio State's Urban Meyer, but few coaches thrive more when their teams are underdogs. Ohio State improved to 7-0 as an underdog under Meyer with Saturday's stunning 62-39 rout of Michigan. It won six of those seven games by a touchdown or more. After losing at unranked Purdue by 29 and then struggling to beat Nebraska and Maryland (in overtime!), the Buckeyes are suddenly one victory away from perhaps crashing the CFP again. Ohio State plays Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis next week. Quarterback Dwayne Haskinswas sensational against what had been the No. 1 defense in the FBS. He became the first quarterback to throw for five touchdowns against Michigan (which had given up seven touchdown passes the entire season) and broke Big Ten single-season records for touchdowns and passing yards.
6. Oklahoma (11-1, 8-1 Big 12)
Perhaps it's the Big 12 Conference that owes Texas linebacker Breckyn Hager an apology. Hager was reprimanded a week ago for saying, among other things, that "OU has no defense." Well, the Sooners certainly didn't do anything in Friday night's 59-56 win at West Virginia to shut him up. OU gave up 33 first downs and 704 yards of offense, including 539 passing, in its wild victory. The Sooners have given up at least 40 points in each of their past four games, yet still won each of them. They're the only team since the AP poll debuted in 1936 to win four straight games while giving up at least 40 points in each victory. They'll get a chance to prove Hager wrong when they play the Longhorns in next week's Big 12 championship game.
7. UCF (11-0, 8-0 American)
The Knights won their 24th consecutive game with a 38-10 victory at USF on Friday, but their latest win was a costly one. Star quarterback McKenzie Milton suffered a "traumatic" injury to his right leg while scrambling in the second quarter. His father told ESPN that he had emergency surgery on Friday to repair his right knee and other internal issues. Milton had thrown for 2,663 yards with 25 touchdowns and run for 307 yards with nine scores in nine starts. The Knights will play Memphis in next week's American Athletic Conference championship game, with another trip to a New Year's Six bowl on the line. Freshman Darriel Mack Jr., who has attempted 43 passes this season, figures to be the starter.
8. Michigan (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten)
With everything riding on The Game on Saturday -- a trip to the Big Ten championship game, a potential spot in the CFP and a chance to finally beat rival Ohio State -- the Wolverines couldn't have looked any worse. Michigan surrendered 62 points -- the most it has ever given up in a non-overtime game dating to 1891 -- and 567 yards of offense. Coach Jim Harbaugh fell to 0-4 against the Buckeyes, who have won seven straight games in the series and 14 of the past 15 overall. If Ohio State sneaks into the CFP, the Wolverines might still end up in the Rose Bowl Presented by Northwestern Mutual. If the Buckeyes are left out, Michigan still seems to be a sure bet for a New Year's Six bowl, possibly the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
9. Texas (9-3, 7-2 Big 12)
The Longhorns might have been caught looking ahead to next week's Big 12 championship game. They nearly blew a 21-0 lead at Kansas, before holding on for a 24-17 victory Friday. After their third straight win, they'll get a rematch against Oklahoma at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Sooners 48-45 in Dallas on Oct. 6; they nearly squandered a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter before Cameron Dickermade a 40-yard field goal with nine seconds left. Regular-season winners are 25-15 in conference champion rematches, according to ESPN Stats & Information, including a 5-2 mark last year.
10. Washington (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12)
The Huskies spoiled Washington State's Pac-12 North title hopes for the third straight season, defeating the Cougars 28-15 in Friday night's Apple Cup. Though the Huskies fell short of their CFP aspirations, they'll have a chance to win their second Pac-12 title in three seasons when they play Utah in next week's Pac-12 championship game in Santa Clara, California. The Huskies defeated the Utes 21-7 in Salt Lake City on Sept. 15; they're 1-11 against them all time. The Utes' lone victory was a 34-23 win in Seattle in 2015. The winner will play in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual.
