College Football Rankings 2024: Week 14 Shakeup and Playoff Picture

The college football landscape saw significant upheaval in Week 14, leading to a reshuffling of the top 25 rankings. The Oregon Ducks solidified their position at the top, remaining undefeated with a 12-0 record after a convincing 49-21 victory over the Washington Huskies. Oregon coach Dan Lanning emphasized that the season is far from over, with the Ducks set to face Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game.

The Texas Longhorns secured the second spot with an impressive 17-7 win over Texas A&M, showcasing their defensive prowess and a strong running game. Texas allowed just 102 rushing yards and held the Aggies to their fewest points at home since 2002. The Longhorns will face Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

Notre Dame, despite an early-season loss to Northern Illinois, has rebounded strongly and is now ranked third. The Fighting Irish have been dominant since that loss, outscoring opponents 441-134 and boasting a top-10 rushing attack led by Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. They are playoff-bound after their 49-35 win over USC.

Ohio State and Miami suffered significant upsets, with Ohio State dropping to No. 7 after losing to Michigan and Miami falling to No. 14 following a loss to Syracuse. The Syracuse Orange, under first-year coach Fran Brown, had a standout season, with quarterback Kyle McCord setting school records for passing yards and touchdown passes. Syracuse’s win over Miami marked their first upset of a top-10 team since 2017.

Clemson, despite a loss to South Carolina, will still participate in the ACC Championship game against SMU, thanks to Miami’s loss to Syracuse. Other notable matchups include Iowa State vs. Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship and the aforementioned Oregon vs. Penn State in the Big Ten Championship.

The AP Top-25 Poll predictions see Oregon, Texas, Penn State, and Notre Dame as the top four teams, with Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio State, and SMU rounding out the top eight. The playoff picture is taking shape, with these conference championship games set to determine the final standings).