College football rankings: Predicting the AP top 25 for Rivalry Week

Our prediction for the AP top 25 college football rankings for Rivalry Week with Championship Saturday and Selection Sunday fast approaching

As the dust settles from the latest slate of games and as we move into Rivalry 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

College football rankings: Predicting the AP top 25 for Rivalry Week

25. Toledo. Just two points keep the Rockets from being undefeated, and after earning votes in last week's rankings, they could move inside the top 25 at 10-1 and with a date in the MAC Championship Game.

24. North Carolina. Drake Maye threw for over 200 yards again, but three turnovers helped doom the Tar Heels in a loss at Clemson, falling to 8-3.

23. Liberty. College football's No. 1 ranked rushing team took care of UMass, moving to 11-0 and heading to the Conference USA Championship Game.

22. Iowa. The Hawkeyes' offense — 130th in passing, 104th in rushing, and 122nd in scoring — came out of hibernation for a while to actually score two touchdowns, beating Illinois and earning a spot in the Big Ten championship game. Defense is Iowa's identity, ranking 3rd in college football allowing just 12.3 points per game.

21. James Madison. The Dukes' perfect season came to an end after Appalachian State got the clinching touchdown in overtime, snapping a 13-game win streak.

20. Oklahoma State. The Cowboys started slow in Houston, but turned some Cougar mistakes into 13 points and Ollie Gordon ran for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns and OSU sits in second place in the Big 12.

19. Kansas State. DJ Giddens ran for over 100 yards and Will Howard had 2 touchdown passes to beat Kansas for the 15th straight time in this rivalry.

18. Notre Dame. Sam Hartman put up 4 touchdown passes against his former school and Audric Estime ran for over 100 yards as the Irish put down Wake Forest.

17. Arizona. The Wildcats made a statement by pounding Utah at home, moving to 8-3 with their fifth straight victory, while tacking on four touchdowns in the air and building a 21-0 first quarter lead. Closing out against Arizona State could be a ninth win that would set up a nice bowl game.

16. Tulane. Michael Pratt threw 3 touchdown passes as the Green Wave put away FAU and have to beat UTSA in the finale to secure a berth in the AAC title game.

15. LSU. Jayden Daniels put up some more crazy stats, including 509 total yards and 8 all-purpose touchdowns with no turnovers, in a win over GSU.

14. Oklahoma. The Sooners scored 21 points off four takeaways in a 7-point decision at BYU but also allowed 217 yards on the ground and Dillon Gabriel sustained a head injury in the process. 

13. Oregon State. Just 8 combined points keep the Beavers from being an undefeated football team right now after a 2-point loss to Washington at home.

12. Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart threw for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Rebels took care of UL Monroe after a slow start and the Egg Bowl is next to close out.

11. Penn State. Drew Allar threw the ball 13 times for 79 yards but the Lions ran for 234 and 3 scores to hold off Rutgers and look forward to the Land Grant Trophy game.

10. Missouri. Florida scored 10 unanswered in the fourth quarter, but Brady Cook helped put the Tigers in scoring position, converting a 4th and 17 in the process, and Harrison Mevis kicked the game-winner in the last seconds to keep Mizzou's NY6 bowl hopes alive.

9. Louisville. A hard-fought win against Miami puts the Cardinals in the ACC title game against the Seminoles, quite a debut season for coach Jeff Brohm.

8. Alabama. As expected, the Crimson Tide pasted Chattanooga in the home finale and head to Auburn for the Iron Bowl before facing Georgia for the SEC championship.

7. Texas. The Longhorns earned another hard-fought, close victory on the road by taking down Iowa State and inched closer towards the Big 12 title game with one loss and the committee loving their early-season win at Alabama.

6. Oregon. Bo Nix helped engineer a 42-0 first half lead over Arizona State and finished with a personal-record six TD passes as the Ducks stay in position for the Pac-12 title and College Football Playoff consideration.

5. Washington. Despite being held off the scoreboard in the second half at Oregon State, the Huskies won their 18th straight game dating back to last year and clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

4. Florida State. Trailing early against North Alabama, the Seminoles rebounded for a big win, but at a huge cost as quarterback Jordan Travis exited the game with what appeared to be a gruesome leg injury. A trip to Florida is next, and then the ACC title game against Louisville with a College Football Playoff berth on the line.

3. Ohio State. Kyle McCord and TreVeyon Henderson both scored twice and the Buckeyes ran for over 200 yards to beat Minnesota, and are perfect heading into The Game, one bursting at the seams with Big Ten and national title implications.

2. Michigan. Closer than most expected, but the Wolverines scored on offense, defense, and special teams to take down Maryland and stay perfect for the program's record 1,000th all-time victory. The winner of next week's battle with OSU will play for the Big Ten championship against Iowa.

1. Georgia. The defending champs put Tennessee away to stay perfect, winning their 28th straight game and becoming the first team to ever finish 8-0 in SEC play for three straight seasons. Up next is Clean, Old Fashioned Hate and the SEC title game after that.

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