College football rankings: ESPN updates Top 25 poll for Week 12

Where things stand in the ESPN top 25 college football rankings entering Week 12 and coming out of another consequential weekend of football across the country.

What teams are moving up, and sliding down, the ESPN top 25 college football rankings as we move into Week 12. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Coming out of a Statement Saturday full of upsets and prove-it moments for would-be contenders, let’s get a check-up on the Top 25 college football rankings heading into Week 12, courtesy of the ESPN analytics department.

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance. 

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season and games, using a combination of key analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, team talent, recruiting, and a team’s schedule.

Teams are ranked not in order of talent like in other rankings, but by a projected point margin per game against an average team on a neutral field.

What teams are moving up, and moving down, in the ESPN top 25 college football rankings as we head into consequential November football?

College football rankings: ESPN updates Top 25 poll for Week 12

25. Missouri

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 1

Win total projection: 8.6 games

Mizzou picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown with 22 seconds left to sneak past Oklahoma and move to 3-2 in SEC play, and, in the words of head coach Eli Drinkwitz, still very much in the playoff hunt, but a date at South Carolina awaits.

24. Iowa State

Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 3

Win total projection: 8.9 games

Just two weeks ago, the Cyclones were 7-0 and a playoff contender, but after two straight losses those hopes are in considerable peril, even if this team is still within striking distance of the Big 12 championship in third place.

23. Iowa

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 3

Win total projection: 7.5 games

After scoring over 40 points in two straight games, both wins, the Hawkeyes fell flat in a loss against UCLA that drops the team to 4-3 in Big Ten play and a fifth-place position in the conference standings.

22. Colorado

Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 1

Win total projection: 9.4 games

Suddenly the Buffaloes are within striking distance of the Big 12 championship after moving into second place in the standings with an important win on the road against Texas Tech, in part thanks to a defense that had 3 takeaways in the game.

21. Boise State

Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 2

Win total projection: 11.4 games

Ashton Jeanty ran for over 200 yards and 3 more touchdowns to help put away Nevada and the Broncos are still at just one loss, a 3-point decision against now-No. 1 Oregon, and are undefeated in Mountain West play as a Group of Five playoff contender.

20. Tulane

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 4

Win total projection: 10.2 games

Riding a seven-game win streak and still undefeated in AAC play, the Green Wave are coming off a beatdown against Temple that keeps this team in the mix for the selection committee.

19. Kansas State

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 3

Win total projection: 9.1 games

While the Wildcats were off this past weekend, they’re still in a tie for third place in the Big 12 standings which makes the finale against Iowa State all the more important.

18. USC

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 1

Win total projection: 5.9 games

The outlier in the ESPN rankings given the Trojans are just 4-5 in a season Lincoln Riley would like to forget, but the computers still favor this team by a generous margin against "average opponents," hence this ranking, long after other pollsters forgot USC exists.

17. SMU

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 1

Win total projection: 10.8 games

Idle this weekend, the Mustangs are still within striking distance of winning the ACC championship as we move deeper into November football after that signature victory over Pittsburgh, but the selection committee kept this team just outside the top 12 of their rankings.

16. LSU

Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 4

Win total projection: 8 games

Some big questions on offense as Garrett Nussmeier was held out of the end zone until garbage time and threw 2 interceptions in an ugly loss to Alabama in an effective playoff elimination game, and what must be one of Brian Kelly’s worst coaching performances.

15. Texas A&M

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Rankings change: None

Win total projection: 8.9 games

Idle for Week 11, the Aggies need to regroup after a 22-point loss at South Carolina, but still sit in a tie for first place in the SEC standings after Georgia’s loss at Ole Miss and should be a big favorite against New Mexico State this coming weekend.

14. South Carolina

Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 4

Win total projection: 8.1 games

Raheim Sanders ran for 126 yards and scored 3 touchdowns as the Gamecocks got past Vanderbilt on the road in a 28-7 win, the team’s second-straight victory over an AP top 25 team heading into a home date against Missouri.

13. Louisville

Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Rankings change: Up 1

Win total projection: 8.4 games

Off this past weekend, the Cardinals improved to 6-3 with that big win at Clemson the weekend before and goes to Stanford next before a home date against Pittsburgh after that.

12. Clemson

Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 1

Win total projection: 9.3 games

Cade Klubnik threw 3 touchdown passes in an important road victory at Virginia Tech coming off last week’s loss to Louisville and putting Clemson back firmly in the ACC championship picture.

11. Miami

Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 2

Win total projection: 11.3 games

Undefeated no more, the Hurricanes’ offense didn’t have enough juice to pull off another comeback as the ACC title favorites took a loss on the road against Georgia Tech and fall out of first place in the conference.

10. Indiana

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Rankings change: None

Win total projection: 11.4 games

Kurtis Rourke threw 2 touchdowns in a 5-point win against Michigan at home to earn the Hoosiers’ first-ever 10-win start, but the ground game accounted for just 1.4 yards per carry, something to work on during the off week before going to Ohio State two weeks from now.

9. Tennessee

Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 1

Win total projection: 10.3 games

Nico Iamaleava threw 2 touchdown passes to build a lead against Mississippi State, but left the game with a newfound injury that is worth watching as the 8-1 Vols head to Georgia in a marquee matchup loaded with playoff implications for both teams.

8. Penn State

Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 3

Win total projection: 10.6 games

Drew Allar had over 200 yards passing as the Nittany Lions dominated Washington at home, recovering from the Ohio State loss and still easily within range of finishing 11-1 and certainly playoff material if so.

7. Oregon

Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Rankings change: None

Win total projection: 12 games

Dillon Gabriel threw 3 touchdown passes and had no turnovers as the Ducks handled Maryland to improve to 10-0 overall and further cement its hold on the top spot in the Big Ten, but the undefeated Hoosiers are right there, too.

6. Georgia

Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 2

Win total projection: 9.6 games

Another sluggish offensive outing and some generous secondary defense resulted in the Bulldogs’ second loss of the season, this time at Ole Miss, and while the defeat hurts their playoff chances a little, another big test comes next weekend at home against Tennessee.

5. Ole Miss

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 1

Win total projection: 9.8 games

That 1-2 start in SEC play seems like a distant memory now after the Rebels dominated Georgia in a 28-10 decision at home thanks to some inspired defense playing its best football at just the right time.

4. Notre Dame

Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 1

Win total projection: 10.5 games

As expected, the Irish pounded the sleepy Seminoles, running for over 200 yards and Riley Leonard accounted for 3 touchdowns, moving to 8-1 and giving the playoff committee another reason to keep this team in contention, but a date against perfect Army awaits in two weeks.

3. Ohio State

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 1

Win total projection: 11 games

Jeremiah Smith broke OSU’s freshman record with his 9th touchdown catch of the season as Will Howard threw 3 TD passes and the Buckeyes smashed Purdue in a 45-0 rout to stay in the mix around the top of the Big Ten conference standings.

2. Texas

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Down 1

Win total projection: 11 games

Quinn Ewers threw 5 touchdown passes as the Longhorns destroyed the Gators at home in a 49-17 decision that puts this team on firmer footing near the top of the rankings, especially after Miami’s loss.

1. Alabama

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Rankings change: Up 2

Win total projection: 10 games

Jalen Milroe ran all over LSU, stacking up 185 yards and 4 touchdowns in an effective playoff elimination game, keeping the Crimson Tide in the thick of the postseason chase and proving they can beat anyone when they have a mind to.

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