College football rankings: Ohio State tops Michigan in ESPN top 25 poll

Some curious decisions in the ESPN top 25 college football rankings coming out of Rivalry Week, sure to make just about everyone mad

James Parks | Nov 26, 2023

College football rankings: Ohio State tops Michigan in ESPN top 25 poll /

ESPN released its latest Football Power Index top 25 college football rankings after the events of Rivalry Week, and it's safe to say that just about everyone will hate them. There's no SEC team in the top four, the undefeated Pac-12 team is behind the one-loss that it beat head-to-head, and the top two are definitely a head-scratcher.

That has something to do with what the rankings are and the purpose they serve. Rather than a straight-forward power ranking of the best teams in college football, the FPI tries to slot teams based on a projected point margin against what it deems average opponents and uses that information to make predictions for games.

25. Utah

Utah Utes running back Sione Vaki carries the ball during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Down 1

After dropping three of the last four, including to the class of the Pac-12, the Utes rebounded with a close victory against Colorado in the regular season finale.

24. Miami

Miami Hurricanes running back Henry Parrish, Jr. on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the ACC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Up 1

A three-game slide ended in the finale with a 25-point win over Boston College, moving the Hurricanes to 3-5 in ACC play and a 7-5 record overall.

23. Arizona

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan celebrates catching a pass during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Up 3

The Wildcats capped off a superb season with a sixth-straight victory to close out, a dominant performance against rival Arizona State, but their shot at the Pac-12 title was taken by Oregon's win.

22. Louisville

Louisville Cardinals quarterback Jack Plummer attempts a pass during a college football game in the ACC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Down 2

The Cardinals dropped a surprise decision against rival Kentucky in the season finale, but they still have a date against Florida State in the ACC Championship Game.

21. USC

USC Trojans wide receiver Brenden Rice catches a pass during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

Idle for Rivalry Week, the Trojans have major structural questions to answer on a roster that was behind a second-half collapse, losing five of its last six games, with the win being a 1-point decision at Cal.

20. SMU

SMU Mustangs quarterback Preston Stone attempts a pass during a college football game in the AAC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Up 2

College football's 5th ranked scoring offense earned a berth in the AAC title game against Tulane after smashing Navy in the finale and completing an 8-game win streak to close out.

19. Clemson

Clemson Tigers running back Will Shipley on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the ACC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Down 1

Some close calls kept the Tigers from winning key midseason games, but they hung on against rival South Carolina, relying on defense to score a touchdown in addition to some field goals, moving to 8-4. Finishing strong is a nice feeling, but changes must be made to become a contender next fall.

18. Oregon State

Oregon State Beavers running back Damien Martinez on a carry during a college football game in the Pac-12. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Down 2

A rough end to an otherwise successful season as the Beavers, who were just 8 combined points away from being undefeated coming into Saturday, lost by 24 to rival Oregon, and then lost head coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. Now they're about to lose their conference.

17. Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright runs with the ball during a college football game in the SEC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

Big Orange put up over 45 points on Vanderbilt in the finale, surpassing that number for the 17th time in the last three seasons, a record, and showed off some of the skill players who will carry this team going forward in 2024.

16. Missouri

Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook attempts a pass during a college football game in the SEC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Up 3

Cody Schrader ran for 217 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers smashed Arkansas in the finale, and a far higher position in the official rankings should ensure that Mizzou makes a quality New Year's bowl game.

15. Ole Miss

Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart attempts a pass during a college football game in the SEC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

Another 10-win regular season for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels after they got past Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. That marks the second in three years; Ole Miss never had one before now. Looking forward, the Rebs hope for bowl selection into a New Year's game, too.

14. Texas A&M

Rankings change: None

What a weird day it was for the Aggies. They were leading LSU on the road, only to lose that game. And then the school became the subject of rumors that Kentucky coach Mark Stoops was going to replace Jimbo Fisher, only to have that speculation overturned by the man himself.

13. Washington

Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze on a pass during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

A daring fourth down call and a last-second field goal pushed the Huskies past Wazzu in the Apple Cup to stay undefeated heading to the Pac-12 title bout in Vegas. That'll be against Oregon in a rematch of their midseason meeting, and it appears FPI expects Washington to lose that game based on a 25.6 percent chance of winning out.

12. Kansas State

Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Will Howard attempts a pass during a college football game in the Big 12. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

The reigning Big 12 champs dropped the regular season finale to Iowa State at home in the snow, but they're still hovering around the top of the conference's hierarchy when it comes to bowl selection.

11. Notre Dame

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker JT Bertrand on a play during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

Audric Estime ran for a career-high 238 yards and four touchdowns, allowing the Irish to stomp out Stanford on the road, and move into contention for a good bowl game.

10. LSU

LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers after catching a pass during a college football game in the SEC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

Malik Nabers had two touchdown grabs off 122 yards, his fifth-straight game going over 100 yards receiving, and Jayden Daniels further cemented his place at the top of the Heisman Trophy pecking order as the Tigers held off Texas A&M.

9. Florida State

Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson on a carry during a college football game in the ACC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

The win total figure suggests the index favors the Seminoles to beat Louisville in the ACC Championship Game, and if they do, they're a sure thing for the College Football Playoff. Trey Benson's three touchdown runs helped FSU hold off an upset-minded Florida team playing at home.

8. Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Gavin Freeman catches a pass during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Down 1

Brent Venables gets to 10 wins in his second season after a rough debut last year and now heading into the SEC in 2024. OU very nearly earned a spot against Texas in the Big 12 title game, if not for Oklahoma State rebounding against BYU.

7. Texas

Texas Longhorns tight end Gunnar Helm celebrates a touchdown during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Up 1

Not getting a chance at a rematch against OU hurts since the Sooners gave the Longhorns their only loss of the season. Playing the Cowboys for the Big 12 title isn't much of a schedule-booster for the committee, especially with other teams more highly ranked who will earn greater consideration. That said, if Texas wins in Arlington, they're certainly in the conversation.

6. Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the SEC. — Alabama Athletics

Rankings change: Down 2

A fourth down play for the ages in the Iron Bowl pushed the Tide past Auburn after Jalen Milroe hit Isaiah Bond in the corner of the end zone on 4th and Goal from 31 yards out. Now comes a date against Georgia for the SEC title, but the FPI suggests it won't come out of Atlanta with a win.

5. Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards on a carry during a college football game in the SEC. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Down 2

The index gives the Bulldogs a 50.8 percent chance to win out, compared to Alabama at 49.2, meaning FPI predicts Georgia will win the SEC Championship Game. But a loss to the Crimson Tide would make playoff selection very interesting, given an SEC champ has never not made it.

4. Penn State

Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren catches a pass during a college football game in the Big Ten. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Up 2

Given these rankings slot teams on a point margin basis, Penn State jumped Georgia likely because of its wide margin of victory over Michigan State (42) compared to the Bulldogs' win over Georgia Tech (8). Still, the Lions' best bet is a New Year's bowl game and a chance to finish with 11 wins.

3. Oregon

Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix attempts a pass during a college football game. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: Up 2

FPI gives Oregon a 74.4 percent chance of winning out and a 53.4 percent chance to make the College Football Playoff, indicating the index favors the Ducks over Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game. That runs in line with our own projections.

2. Michigan

Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the Big Ten. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

Get mad, Wolverine fans. Despite taking down Ohio State head-to-head on the field for a third-straight year, Michigan is behind the Bucks in these rankings. FPI projects UM to be 27.1 points better than an "average opponent," compared to OSU at 27.6. So it's not a wide margin. But it doesn't matter: Michigan is undefeated going to the Big Ten title game against Iowa with a shot at the playoff.

1. Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes star TreVeyon Henderson in action against Penn State during a college football game in the Big Ten. — USA Today Images

Rankings change: None

Ohio State dropped another one to its arch-rival and now there are far louder voices of criticism hovering around head coach Ryan Day. But overall, most other schools would envy such a predicament, as the Buckeyes will go to a New Year's bowl with a chance to win a 12th game.

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Published Nov 26, 2023

JAMES PARKS

James Parks is the founder and publisher of College Football HQ. He previously covered football for 247Sports and CBS Interactive. College Football HQ joined the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network in 2022.