NCAA College Football Power Rankings - 2024 Week 12

Mike's NCAA college football power rankings for the top 25 NCAA college football teams before Week 12 of the 2024 season. Which teams are the best contenders for the expanded playoff?

It was the ACC that threw a wrench in everything this week but somehow gave their playoff berth some clarity. The SEC did not. Georgia fell in Oxford to muddy up the SEC waters a little more. It's getting interesting out there. Not 2007 interesting, but interesting nonetheless.

These rankings will vary from the AP ones because I don't go off speculation. I only go by what happened on the field. They have stabilized as the season goes on, but I don't get in the habit of ranking three-loss teams if I can help it. It's getting difficult to help it.

The SEC is hard to rank because of everyone beating up on each other during conference play. The Big Ten (18)? That remains to be seen. There is only one important regular-season game left in that conference with playoff implications. The bottom of the Big Ten (18) is still pretty bad. The middle isn't any better except for UCLA.

(25) Arizona State (7-2) (NR)

Last week: W 35-31 vs. Central Florida

I'm impressed that the Sun Devils won without Cam Skattebo. They didn't run the ball well and still found a way to win this game. With KSU and Iowa State stumbling, the Sun Devils are one Colorado implosion from playing their way back into the race. They also have a chance to make an impact themselves with K-State and BYU still on the schedule.

(24) Missouri (7-2) (NR)

Last week: W 31-24 vs. Oklahoma

I'm not putting that play on here again. I did it in my recap article and I'm still scarred. Let's just say it was a bad idea from Jackson Arnold and a great play by the Missouri defense and leave it at that. I'm fragile.

(23) LSU (6-3) ⇓6

Last week: L 13-42 vs. (9) Alabama

If LSU loses to Alabama, you can blame Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry who brought in a fake tiger from Florida named Omar. pic.twitter.com/17UhriHRLn

— Dan Crenshaw's Eyepatch (@DansEyepatch) November 10, 2024

LSU brought a fake Mike the Tiger into Death Valley and the college football gods’ revenge was swift. pic.twitter.com/bICKXDA66b

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) November 10, 2024

Fake tigers have consequences. Will LSU wind up cursed like Florida State?

(22) South Carolina (6-3) ⇑2

Last week: W 28-7 at (25) Vanderbilt

South Carolina beat Vanderbilt by more than Texas did in Nashville (and Alabama, for that matter). LaNorris Sellers is going to be special and Raheim Sanders is making everyone remember how good he was at Arkansas.

(21) Iowa State (7-2) ⇓8

Last week: L 36-45 vs. Kansas at Kansas City, MO

This game wasn't as close as the final score indicated. The Cyclones couldn't stop Kansas in the first half.

(20) Kansas State (7-2) ⇑2

Last week: Bye

I can't knock Kansas State for nearly losing to Kansas when the Jayhawks just took out Iowa State, can I? The win over Colorado is carrying K-State right now.

(19) Clemson (7-2) ⇔

Last week: W 24-14 at Virginia Tech

Clemson's two losses look better than either Iowa State's or Kansas State's. None of them has a signature win.

(18) Army (9-0) ⇑2

Last week: W 14-3 at North Texas

Army holding an offense like North Texas to just three points is not an easy feat. This is a tough and disciplined team. Should Boise stumble, Army could crash the party. Why? Because they joined a conference.

If Army beats Notre Dame and wins the American, they might get in over Boise anyway. Army still has the possibility of a statement win on its schedule. Boise does not.

Bryson Daily is the REAL deal. Should be in the Heisman race. Period. pic.twitter.com/zMz1WO63OA

— College Football Alerts  (@CFBAlerts_) October 20, 2024

(17) Colorado (6-2) ⇑6

Last week: W 41-27 at Texas Tech

If you have watched Texas Tech over the last month or so, you realize how big of a win this was for Colorado. Colorado seems more focused than they were at any point last season. They're blocking out the noise and beating good teams.

(16) Washington State (8-1) ⇑2

Last week: W 49-28 vs. Utah State

Not having a conference to be the champion of is going to be a problem for the Cougars. However, they are set up nicely to dominate the Pac-8 next year if they can hang on to John Mateer.

(15) Texas A&M (7-2) ⇔

Last week: Bye

Don't feel bad for the Aggies. They are still in the conglomerate atop the SEC and are in a better position than Alabama or Georgia to reach the SEC Championship Game. All they have to do is beat Texas at the end of the month.

Wild Scenario:

If every SEC Favorite wins the next 3 weeks + Arkansas beats Missouri

Then LSU is in the SEC Championship Game vs the winner of Texas and A&M. pic.twitter.com/s0qByUYlRN

— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) November 13, 2024

(14) Boise State (8-1) ⇔

Last week: W 28-21 vs. Nevada

The only loss being to Oregon will carry the Broncos, but they have no more pending big wins on the schedule.

(13) SMU (8-1) ⇓1

Last week: Bye

It was a bad week for the Ponies in my rankings, but they don't care about that. SMU cares about taking over first place in the ACC during their bye week.

(12) Miami (FL) (9-1) ⇓7

Last week: L 23-28 at Georgia Tech

Losing to an unranked team is rough. I know that this game was on the road, but Georgia Tech's margin on the scoreboard belies how well they played in this game. If Cam Ward doesn't win the Heisman, this will be why.

GEORGIA TECH STRIP SACKED CAM WARD FOR THE WIN. ?

MIAMI LOSES THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE YEAR ?

(via @GeorgiaTechFB)
pic.twitter.com/OJbfKqayL8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 9, 2024

We have seen these plays from Ward all season. He somehow manages to make them work. This is the time when he didn't, and everyone saw it.

(11) Notre Dame (8-1) ⇔

Last week: W 52-3 vs. Florida State

Notre Dame is doing what they need to do: winning and winning big.

(10) Indiana (10-0) ⇔

Last week: W 20-15 vs. Michigan

The Indiana football program began in 1887.

In its first 136 years, the Hoosiers NEVER started a season 9-0.

Now in its 137th year, and Curt Cignetti’s 1st, Indiana is a perfect 9-0.

And all 9 wins have come by at least 14 points.

Historic isn’t even enough to describe it. pic.twitter.com/neqXCdmiZP

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 2, 2024

Indiana runs this to their first-ever 10-0 start. Sorry guys, Beating Michigan just isn't that impressive this year. Beat Ohio State, and then we'll talk.

(9) Texas (7-1) ⇓3

Last week: W 49-17 vs. Florida

A win over a watered-down Florida team isn't impressive compared to what went on in front of the Longhorns.

(8) Mississippi (8-2) ⇑8

Last week: W 28-10 vs. (2) Georgia

#16 Ole Miss upsets #3 Georgia! That’s the Rebels’ first win over the Bulldogs since September 24, 2016!

Also, prior to tonight, the last time Ole Miss won back to back home games vs UGA in Oxford, Mississippi? 1993/1995!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Tr3GfdaaDk

— Brad (@StatsBrad) November 10, 2024

If the Mississippi defense can play like they did in this game, they could win the whole thing. That was a dominant performance against a solid offense.

(7) Alabama (7-2) ⇑2

Last week: W 42-13 at (17) LSU

Three of the current Top 5 in the AP Poll - Texas, Penn State and Indiana - do not have a win over team currently ranked. No. 9 Alabama has more (4) than the current Top 5 has combined (3).

— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) November 11, 2024

The Tide waltzed into Red Stick and destroyed LSU in Death Valley at night in a downpour. I should probably have Bama higher.

In the last 67 years, Alabama has had 9 head coaches. Only one of them failed to win their first trip to Baton Rouge.

— Rece Davis (@ReceDavis) November 10, 2024

(6) Georgia (7-2) ⇓4

Last week: L 10-28 at (16) Mississippi

Mississippi dominated this game. The Land Shark defense was on display and Jaxson Dart guided the offense well enough to keep Mississippi ahead. This leaves Georgia in a predicament. Lose to Tennessee, and their playoff hopes are dashed for the second straight year.

(5) Penn State (8-1) ⇑2

Last week: W 35-6 vs. Washington

Welcome to the Penn State whiteout pic.twitter.com/Oz0z7sjh9A

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) November 10, 2024

Penn State needed a get-right game and got it. They showed up in the Whiteout and shut out Washington in the first half.

(4) Tennessee (8-1) ⇑4

Last week: W 33-14 vs. Mississippi State

The loss is a bit ugly, but Tennessee beat Alabama and doesn't have two losses.

(3) BYU (9-0) ⇑1

Last week: W 22-21 at Utah

An ugly win is still worth more than a loss.

(2) Ohio State (8-1) ⇑1

Last week: W 45-0 vs. Purdue

Ohio State wasn't messing around here. It was one of Will Howard's best games in Columbus and the defense was dominant. Ohio State and Oregon are on a collision course for another meeting in Indianapolis in a few weeks.

(1) Oregon (10-0) ⇔

Last week: W 39-18 vs. Maryland

“Oregon isn’t ready for real Big 10 football” pic.twitter.com/T44rHWlSHa

— Geaux Ducks (@GeauxDuck) October 26, 2024

There's no reason to move Oregon down. Being undefeated means something this year. I never thought we would be here after 10 weeks with the way Oregon played in September.

Others Receiving Votes

• Louisville
• Pittsburgh
• Tulane
• Navy

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