College football rankings: Predicting the AP top 25 for Championship Week (2024)

As the dust settles from an active slate of Rivalry Week games and as we move into Championship Week, let's look ahead to the next AP top 25 college football rankings

Who's moving up? Who's moving down?

Note: this isn't our ranking of the best teams, but our prediction for how top 25 voters will slot them in the official poll on Sunday

25.Tennessee. Big Orange took care of Vanderbilt again and scored 45 points for the 17th game in the last three seasons, the most in college football in that time.

24. Oregon State. The Beavers lost a 24-point decision to rival Oregon and then lost the coach that helped revive the program. Not a great week in Corvallis.

23. James Madison. The Dukes routed Coastal Carolina and, despite being declared ineligible, are going bowling after Clemson beat South Carolina.

22. Toledo. After beating CMU on Friday, the now 10-1 Rockets face the RedHawks for the MAC title.

21. NC State. The Wolfpack took care of North Carolina in the rivalry game and moved to a 9th win, which should be enough to crack the top 25 rankings now after they moved into the CFP poll a week ago.

20. Oklahoma State. The Cowboys recovered from a 24-6 deficit to hold off BYU in double overtime and booked a date with Texas in the Big 12 title game.

19. Liberty. A win over UTEP gave the Flames their first undefeated regular season and now they head to the Conference USA title game against NM State, but likely needs a loss by Tulane to make a New Year's bowl.

18. Iowa. The Hawkeyes squeaked past Nebraska heading into the Big Ten title game and even came in under the comically-low total.

17. Tulane. A win over UTSA books the Green Wave a date against SMU for the American title, and a win there would put it in a New Year's bowl.

16. Notre Dame. Audric Estime ran for over 200 yards and the Irish finished off Stanford in the finale.

15. Arizona. Noah Fifita went over 500 yards passing and Tetairoa McMillan had over 200 receiving as the Wildcats pasted Arizona State, but are disqualified from the Pac-12 title game after Oregon's win on Friday.

14. LSU. Human first down and Heisman fave Jayden Daniels threw for 235 yards and ran for 120 while accounting for four touchdowns in a comeback win over .

13. Oklahoma. The Sooners started strong and withstood a 22-point third quarter from TCU to finish with 10 wins on the year.

12. Louisville. Not that the Cardinals were in the playoff picture, but a second loss confirms it after a narrow defeat to rival Kentucky, but they're still in the ACC title game against the Seminoles.

11. Ole Miss. The Rebels started off slow, but put up two touchdowns in the second half to beat MSU in the Egg Bowl and finish 10-2.

10. Penn State. The Land Grant Trophy returns to Happy Valley after a 42-0 beatdown over MSU that should ensure the Lions earn a New Year's bowl bid.

9. Missouri. Cody Shrader ran for over 200 yards and earned some Heisman buzz as the Tigers housed Arkansas to finish 10-2.

8. Alabama. A fourth and goal for the ages from 31 yards out as Jalen Milroe hit Isaiah Bond in the corner of the end zone with under a minute left to beat Auburn, and the Tide's playoff hopes took a fortunate turn on The Plains. Georgia is next for the SEC title.

7. Texas. Jaydon Blue ran for over 100 yards and the Longhorns earned a date in the Big 12 title game after pounding Texas Tech by 50.

6. Ohio State. Kyle McCord's late touchdown pass for Marvin Harrison, Jr. pulled the Bucks within 3, but his second interception sealed a 3rd straight loss to Michigan and no Big Ten title shot.

5. Oregon. Bo Nix cemented himself as a Heisman contender with 3 all-purpose touchdowns against the Beavers and clinched a rematch with Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

4. Florida State. Down to their third quarterback briefly after Tate Rodemaker took a hard hit, the ACC title-bound Seminoles did enough at Florida thanks to Trey Benson's three touchdown rushes.

3. Washington. A close one against Wazzu but a daring fourth down call and a last-second field goal kept the Huskies perfect in the Apple Cup heading to the Pac-12 Championship Game against the Ducks.

2. Michigan. Blake Corum ran for 2 touchdowns and Roman Wilson caught another as the Wolverines took down OSU again and will play Iowa for the Big Ten title. And get a shot at the playoff after that.

1. Georgia. The champs took down Tech in Clean, Old Fashioned Hate after a slow start, winning an SEC record 29th straight game, and looking ahead to a date against Alabama next week for the conference championship.

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College football rankings: Predicting the AP top 25 for Championship Week (2024)
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