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Jackson's Week 14 college football predictions for all ranked games and top-25 matchups. His picks for Texas vs. Texas A&M, Ohio State vs. Michigan, and more.
Week 14 College Football Predictions
It’s been an eventful (and fast) season, and it’s time for everyone’s favorite college football slate — Rivarly Week! When two schools with bad blood face off, expect the unexpected. We think we know what the 12-team College Football Playoff field will look like, but just as we learned last season, Week 14 is sure to shake things up.
Some top Week 14 games with CFP implications include Ohio State vs. Michigan, Alabama vs. Auburn, Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt, Texas vs. Texas A&M, Oregon vs. Washington, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, and more. Let’s get to the predictions!
No. 24 Tulane vs. Charlotte
Tulane is in the driver’s seat to make the College Football Playoff and represent the Group of 5, and one slip-up will cost it that opportunity. This might be head coach Jon Sumrall’s last regular-season game with the Green Wave, and even if they come out flat, Tulane should dominate an undermanned Charlotte team.
Jake Retzlaff and company move one step closer to the CFP here.
Prediction: Tulane 40, Charlotte 17
No. 21 SMU at California
Believe it or not, the Mustangs clinch an ACC title game berth with a win over Cal this week. SMU snuck into the CFP last year, and it has at least an outside chance to do it again in 2025. Kevin Jennings is playing his best football of the season down the stretch, and Cal just fired its coach, Justin Wilcox.
Travel is the only factor that could slow the Mustangs here, but they’ll take care of business.
Prediction: SMU 34, California 20
No. 20 Arizona State vs. No. 25 Arizona
This is why college football rocks! Neither Arizona State nor Arizona is playing for a CFP spot here, but it’s a good old-fashioned rivalry matchup between two top 25 teams. Both squads are playing for their ninth win with a chance to get to 10 wins in a bowl game, so it matters!
If Sam Leavitt were healthy and playing, we’d lean toward Arizona State here, but we’re rolling with Noah Fifita to win the QB duel against Jeff Sims in a tight game.
Prediction: Arizona 30, Arizona State 28
No. 18 Virginia vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia needs a win at home against arch-rival Virginia Tech to qualify for the ACC title game. Despite many picking against the Cavaliers all season, they’ve continued to find a way to pick up victories. Tech has “nothing” to play for, but don’t underestimate how motivated a team could be to play spoiler.
This is one of the biggest games in Virginia history, and winning close games is a skill. Tony Elliott gets it done, again! But the Hokies won’t make it easy.
Prediction: Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 24
No. 17 USC vs. UCLA
USC saw its College Football Playoff hopes vanish after the loss to Oregon last weekend, but the Trojans can still earn a 10-win season, which is a nice improvement from last year. Lincoln Riley can’t afford to drop this one against Nico Iamaleava and company.
The Bruins have fought hard since firing head coach Deshaun Foster, but this feels like a spot where USC makes a statement.
Prediction: USC 47, UCLA 23
No. 14 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Tennessee
Saturday’s showdown in Neyland Stadium is arguably the biggest game in Vanderbilt history. The Commodores appear to be on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff, but they really should get in with a win over Tennessee.
The 24-year-old Joey Aguilar vs. the 23-year-old Diego Pavia. High-powered offenses. Struggling defenses. This should be an all-time classic in the series, and it would be a shocker if it’s not a shootout. It’s difficult to imagine Tennessee losing three games at home this year. Vols win.
Prediction: Tennessee 42, Vanderbilt 38
No. 13 Utah at Kansas
Utah is not currently in the 12-team CFP field, but wild things happen during rivalry week, and the Utes can only focus on the task at hand. Giving up over 400 rushing yards last week against Kansas State wasn’t a good look, but finding a way to win was.
Not so fast, though. Kansas wins in an upset and qualifies for a bowl!
Prediction: Kansas 31, Utah 30
No. 12 Miami at No. 22 Pittsburgh
To make the ACC title game, Pitt needs a win over Miami and a Virginia or SMU loss. Thankfully, the Panthers play before those games kick off, so they won’t be lacking in motivation. Mario Cristobal has found a way to lose this kind of game a few times in his career, but it’s tough to trust Pitt after we saw it get demolished at home at the hands of Notre Dame two weeks ago.
Miami wins big, and the Canes head into Selection Sunday with a solid shot to make the 12-team field. Remarkably, this would be Carson Beck’s first time playing in the College Football Playoff.
Prediction: Miami 34, Pittsburgh 17
No. 11 BYU vs. UCF
BYU is a heavy favorite against the Knights this weekend, and for good reason. The Cougars continue to be doubted and put on upset alert, only to dominate inferior opponents. A rematch with Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game could be ahead, and it’s unclear whether the CFP committee will put the Cougars in with a loss in that game.
Just take care of business, and worry about that later.
Prediction: BYU 39, UCF 14
No. 10 Alabama at Auburn
Alabama is headed for the SEC title game with a win over Auburn, and although teams have had far different results in 2025, the spread is around Alabama -6.5. You can’t count on an easy win in Jordan-Hare Stadium, especially since Auburn’s offense has looked much improved since Hugh Freeze was relieved of his duties.
Alabama can’t run the football, but Auburn’s defense isn’t as strong against the pass as it is against the run. We all want this to be at least a competitive nail-biter, right? I think it will be, but Bama will make enough plays in the end to take home the win in a low-scoring, hate-filled matchup.
Prediction: Alabama 20, Auburn 14
No. 9 Notre Dame at Stanford
Stanford has been riding the struggle bus in recent years, but can a rivalry matchup fuel an inspired effort? These two schools first met in 1925, and the Irish have won 23 of the 38 meetings. The rosters are just too far apart right now to think Stanford can pull off the upset.
But I could see the Cardinal keeping it closer than the experts think and covering the 32.5 point spread.
Prediction: Notre Dame 43, Stanford 20
No. 8 Oklahoma vs. LSU
A month ago, it looked improbable that the Sooners would be headed for the CFP following losses to Texas and Ole Miss. But Oklahoma pulled off two straight upset road wins over Tennessee and Alabama and now controls its own destiny.
The last roadblock is a home game against LSU, which can’t score on offense. Oklahoma has its own offensive shortcomings, but it keeps finding a way to grind out wins. Expect this to be a game full of punts, but the Sooners will prevail
Prediction: Oklahoma 23, LSU 13
No. 7 Ole Miss at Mississippi State
Will the Lane Kiffin drama be a distraction for the Rebels heading into Starkville? It’s possible, but the players should be motivated with a chance to clinch a home playoff game in Round 1. There are very few easy SEC road games, and we’ve seen Ole Miss win tight games against Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, and LSU.
I expect the Rebels to put on a show on Black Friday and take home a big win.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Mississippi State 23
No. 6 Oregon at Washington
Washington won 22 straight home games before Ohio State snapped the streak back in Week 5. Against all other opponents at home this year, the Huskies are 5-0 with a scoring margin of 237-88. This isn’t an easy place to play, and it’s the toughest road test for Oregon in 2025.
The Ducks’ defense showed some vulnerability in the win over USC last weekend, which points to its defensive statistical numbers being inflated by facing a slew of bad offenses. The Ducks are in the CFP with a win or loss, and Washington head coach Jedd Fisch might be playing for a step up to the Florida job. Upset alert!
Prediction: Washington 28, Oregon 27
No. 5 Texas Tech at West Virginia
Texas Tech is hoping it can capture a top-four seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, but it likely needs impressive wins this week and in the Big 12 title game. Don’t be surprised to see the Red Raiders try to run up the score in West Virginia this weekend.
Rich Rodriguez will try his best to play spoiler, but the talent gap is too wide here.
Prediction: Texas Tech 50, West Virginia 17
No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 23 Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech looked like it had the opportunity to capture an undefeated regular season, at least heading into the Georgia matchup. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets have been disastrous on defense, and the team overall is regressing at the wrong time. They’ve lost two of the last three games.
On the flip side, Georgia keeps getting better and is playing a tier above what it showed early in the 2025 campaign. Last year’s rivalry game featured a whopping eight overtimes. I don’t think it’s even competitive this year.
Prediction: Georgia 45, Georgia Tech 20
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas
Texas A&M is one win away from an undefeated regular season, but it’s fair to question whether they have been tested, given its SEC schedule has been against all the bottom-feeders in the conference. Arch Manning is playing the best football of his young career, and the Longhorns are at home.
The books favor the Aggies by a few points, but I’m calling for the upset. These teams are closely matched, and Texas hasn’t lost at home this season.
Prediction: Texas 31, Texas A&M 26
No. 2 Indiana at Purdue
Not much analysis is needed here. Indiana is, at worst, a top-five team in the country. Purdue is closer to the bottom five. Fernando Mendoza likely wins the Heisman Trophy with a win here, and Curt Cignetti might let him put up style points.
Prediction: Indiana 54, Purdue 10
No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan
The Game is here, and it’s not been kind to Ohio State over the last four years. The loss to Michigan as heavy favorites ended up inspiring a title run for the Buckeyes last season, but they don’t want to have to go through that pain again.
The Buckeyes have played as close to perfect football as you can in 2025, but will the lack of adversity end up being an issue? Not here against a freshman quarterback.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, Michigan 13
