Weekly Overview of College Football Top 25 Rankings
In this final Clean-Slate Top 25 of the regular season, we evaluate the performance of each team based on their accomplishments during the last week of college football. Without further ado, let’s dive into the rankings.
1. NC State: Dominating the Field
NC State led the game against North Carolina with a strong 26-7 halftime lead, securing a 39-20 win. Their impeccable performance, scoring on the first eight possessions, and excellent time management (holding the ball for 40 minutes) was impressive. Payton Wilson’s noteworthy interception and 15 tackles added to their dominance on the field.
2. Oregon: Strong Offense and Defense
Oregon Ducks, traditionally known for their offense, showcased a strong defensive strategy against Oregon State, resulting in a 31-7 victory. They managed to limit the Beavers to one-for-six on third downs in the second half, and didn’t allow a run longer than six yards. Their strategic possession control further solidified their victory.
3. Michigan: First Down Success
In Michigan’s 30-24 win over Ohio State, their three fourth-down conversions and forced turnovers were the talk of the game. However, their success on the first down was also instrumental. They averaged 7.4 yards per first down snap and even surpassed that in the second half, gaining 148 yards on 15 first down plays.
4. Kentucky: Overcoming the Opposition
Despite Louisville’s superior yardage and better performance on third-down, Kentucky Wildcats’ strategic turnovers and a kickoff return TD resulted in their 38-31 win. Running back Ray Davis’ three touchdowns and 127 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches were notable contributions.
5. Alabama: Last Minute Wins
In an intense rivalry game, trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter, Alabama’s QB Jalen Milroe’s game-winning touchdown from the 31-yard line secured a 27-24 victory over Auburn.
6. Oklahoma State: The Comeback
Oklahoma State made an impressive comeback against BYU, overcoming an 18-point deficit at half-time. The Cowboys punched their ticket to the Big 12 title game following a BYU fumble in overtime, with Ollie Gordon scoring five rushing touchdowns during the game.
7. Texas: Clear Dominance
In the Longhorns’ 57-7 victory over Texas Tech, they not only outpaced Tech in terms of yardage but also successfully forced turnovers. Despite the yardage, Texas utilized short fields for scoring, with five scoring drives gaining less than 35 yards.
8. San Jose State: Close Call
San Jose State edged out UNLV with a 37-31 victory, nearly blowing a 20-point lead in the final 11 minutes. Their offense was on point, scoring on seven of their nine possessions, and making seven plays that gained at least 20 yards. However, their hopes for a Mountain West Championship were thwarted.
9. Appalachian State: Dominating Last Quarters
Appalachian State showcased a strong performance in the last three quarters against Georgia Southern, winning 55-27. They successfully ended all but two possessions after the first quarter with a score, averaging over 8.5 yards per play in the final three frames.
10. Cal: Strong Defense Prevails
Cal forced four turnovers and stopped UCLA on fourth down three times, turning five red-zone possessions into a 33-7 victory. Their effective defensive strategy consistently set the offense up with excellent field position.
11. Old Dominion: Second Half Turnaround
Trailing Georgia State 21-0 at halftime, Old Dominion made a dramatic comeback in the second half, limiting Georgia State to three points and scoring the go-ahead touchdown for a 25-24 win on the final play of the game. This included scoring 11 points with less than two minutes to go.
12. James Madison: Seizing the Title
James Madison claimed the unofficial title of Sun Belt East champions, overpowering Coastal Carolina 56-14. Dukes quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for five touchdowns and ran for another, while their offense benefitted from good field position.
13. Penn State: A Shutout Victory
Penn State dominated Michigan State with an impressive offensive performance, multiplying the Spartan’s output by more than ten times, 586 to 53, resulting in a shutout victory of 42-0.
14. Missouri: An Impressive Win
Missouri finished their season with a 48-14 win over Arkansas. The Tigers held a 41-0 lead, forced five three-and-outs, and didn’t allow the Razorbacks to cross midfield until the end of the third quarter.
15. New Mexico State: Narrow Escape
New Mexico State needed a 52-yard field goal on the last play to secure a 17-14 victory against Jacksonville State, thanks to their strong red-zone defense.
16. Iowa State: Unexpected Wins
Iowa State finished with 42 points and ran only five plays across the 50. Their defense held Kansas State QB Will Howard to four of 14-for-50 yards and a pick on the last three Kansas State possessions, resulting in a victory.
17. Clemson: Defensive Strategy Wins
Despite a shaky offensive performance, Clemson managed to secure a win over South Carolina, thanks to their strong defense forcing eight straight punts after the first quarter.
18. Iowa: Tipping Hats to Their Defense
Iowa secured a 13-10 win over Nebraska, largely due to its defense unit that held Nebraska to 10 first downs and forced three turnovers.
19. Tulane: Turnovers Lead to Victory
Tulane secured a 29-16 win over UTSA, forcing five turnovers and converting most of them into points.
20. Boise State: The Wildcards
Boise State managed to secure a 27-19 win over Air Force, sending them to the Mountain West Championship game just two weeks after the firing of their head coach.
21. Washington: Close Call
Washington secured a 24-21 win over Washington State in the Apple Cup, largely due to a gutsy call on fourth down deep in Washington territory in a tie game.
22. Northwestern: Fourth Quarter Fireworks
The fourth quarter of Northwestern’s 45-43 win over Illinois was packed with action, featuring touchdowns, a field goal, a muffed punt, two interceptions, and a punt from the 35-yard line.
23. Purdue: Fourth Quarter Comeback
Purdue reversed a ten-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Indiana 35-31. This resulted in Indiana paying Tom Allen more than $15 million to leave the team.
24. Rice: A Narrow Win, A Great Joke
Rice won against FAU by a narrow margin of 24-21, celebrating their victory with one of the greatest college football dad jokes of all time.
25. West Virginia: Bittersweet Victory
West Virginia managed to secure a win over Baylor, but not before a rough play for Baylor’s defense. Nevertheless, the end of the season brings its own relief for this struggling team.
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