The stakes are always high during rivalry week with unranked teams looking to play spoiler against their hated rival who is in the playoff hunt. Week 14 didn’t just meet the hype, it exceeded it, with Georgia needing 8 overtime periods to beat Georgia Tech and then hours later unranked Michigan taking down No. 2 Ohio State. Following a chaotic weekend of action, let’s dive into our Week 15 college football rankings.
25. Missouri Tigers (Previously: 22)
The Missouri Tigers did just enough on Saturday night to beat Arkansas (6-6) in frigid temperatures. That’s a good representation of Mizzou’s seasons. The Tigers did just enough each week to beat bad teams, even escaping with victories over Oklahoma, Auburn and Arkansas. Against ranked opponents, it was evident this wasn’t ever a really good football team. On the bright side, at least the Tigers weren’t the worst team this year that entered the preseason ranked as a top-10 program.
24. Syracuse Orange (Previously: Unranked)
First-year coach Fran Brown earned this one. The former Georgia Bulldogs defensive backs coach blew past expectations in his first season with the Syracuse Orange, especially down the stretch. Led by quarterback Kyle McCord, Syracuse’s statement win over the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes (42-38) is just the latest evidence that the Orange probably hit a home run at head coach. Syracuse posted a 4-1 record in November, adding to a season-long resume that includes wins over Georgia Tech and UNLV. Just an incredible season and an even better month for the Orange.
Related: Heisman Watch 2024
23. Army Black Knights (Previously: Unranked)
The Army Black Nights needed everything from Bryson Daily on Saturday afternoon and he delivered. One of the nation’s leading dual-threat quarterbacks, Daily tore through UTSA”s defense for 3 total touchdowns with 190 passing yards and 147 rushing yards. The win over a six-loss team certainly lacked style points for Army, but a 10-1 team has earned the right to be in the top 25 college football rankings at the end of the regular season.
22. Clemson Tigers (Previously: 15)
The loss at home to South Carolina and another underwhelming season all fall on Dabo Swinney. Coaching mistakes are what cost the Clemson Tigers in Saturday’s 17-14 loss, which saw the Gamecocks score 10 points in the fourth quarter. The three-loss season and another year without a playoff appearance are squarely on Swinney because he still refuses to act like a modern head coach who takes advantage of the transfer portal and makes much-needed changes to the coaching staff.
21. Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously: 24)
The Illinois Fighting Illini and quarterback Luke ALtmyer can thank Aidan Laughery or saving the day against Northwestern. Illinois’ defense allowed 329 total yards to the Wildcats, but they generated 4 turnovers to win the turnover battle (+2). Leading Northwestern just 14-10 at the half, Laughery’s big runs and his two second-half touchdowns secured the win and a 9-3 record for Illinois.
20. Memphis Tigers (Previously: 25)
With so many great matchups in Week 14, many college football fans probably slept on Memphis vs Tulane. It was a treat to watch, especially seeing running back Mario Anderson Jr. put this Tigers’ offense on his back at times (24 carries for 177 yards). The Tigers trailed 14-7 after the first quarter, getting Tulane’s crowd even more excited. Then, Memphis responded with 20 unanswered points and Anderson Jr’s 47-yard touchdown run with 2:41 left in the fourth put the game on ice. Memphis (10-2) deserves a marquee bowl game.
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19. UNLV Rebels (Previously: 23)
It’s time for Barry Odom and quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams to get their flowers. Williams stepped in early in the season after the starting quarterback bailed on the team and this Rebels’ offense didn’t lose an ounce of its momentum or efficiency. Saturday’s win over Nevada didn’t just punch UNLV’s ticket to the Mountain West Championship Game, it secured 10 wins for the Rebels before the end of November. That’s particularly notable for a football program that had just one season with double-digit wins in its history (1984) and that record has since been vacated by the NCAA.
18. BYU Cougars (Previously: 16)
The back-to-back losses to Kansas and Arizona State proved costly, but kudos to the BYU Cougars for achieving a 10-win season by the end of November. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a program that seemingly had head coach Kalani Sitake a bit on the hot seat entering the season. It’s the first 10-win campaign since 2021.
17. Iowa State Cyclones (Previously: 20)
Saturday night might only be a taste of what’s to come for the Iowa State Cyclones. Matt Campbell delivered a 10-win season even with a significant amount of young talent on the roster. Sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht accounted for 3 touchdowns against No. 24 Kansas State and sophomore running back Abu Sama III delivered one of his best performances of the season. With the victory, Iowa State secures its first 10-win season in program history. Also noteworthy, Campbell is now responsible for delivering the Cyclones’ four of their best seasons ever.
16. Ole Miss Rebels (Previously; 18)
The Ole Miss Rebels might not make the College Football Playoff, but at least they didn’t lose to their unranked rival in Week 14. Mississippi State actually made it look competitive early, leading 14-10 after the first quarter. Then Ulysses Bentley IV swung momentum in the Rebels’ direction with an 89-yard touchdown run and Ole Miss rode that wave to 16 unanswered points and a 26-14 win in the Egg Bowl, finishing the regular season with a 9-3 record.
15. Colorado Buffaloes (Previously: 17)
Deion Sanders proved himself this year. Expectations weren’t all that high for the Colorado Buffaloes coming into the season, but this program delivered. Led by an unprecedented season from Travis Hunter and outstanding quarterback play from Shedeur Sanders, Colorado recorded its best season in nearly a decade. The Buffaloes won’t make the playoff, but Deion and Co. deserve their flowers for the work they’ve done this year and the results it generated.
Related: 2025 NFL mock draft, see where Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders land
14. Alabama Crimson Tide (Previously: 14)
For top-25 teams, Week 15 was about avoiding the self-inflicted wounds that would ruin your season against a rival that was motivated to play spoiler. That’s precisely what the Alabama Crimson Tide did on Saturday. Auburn got to hang around in the first half, but the Crimson Tide took control of this one in the second half. At 10-3, we don’t believe an Alabama team with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma deserves a College Football Playoff spot. The committee will probably feel differently.
13. Miami Hurricanes (Previously: 6)
The Miami Hurricanes’ defense was their ultimate undoing. Quite frankly, this season could’ve been even worse if not for Cam Ward’s play. Comparisons between the 2024 Hurricanes and the 2022 USC Trojans feel rather appropriate. Miami wasted a Heisman-caliber season from its quarterback and with Ward headed to the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s hard to see even this season’s success being replicated by the Hurricanes in the next few years.
12. Indiana Hoosiers (Previously: 12)
Just too easy for the Indiana Hoosiers. After a rough performance for quarterback Kurtis Rourke against Ohio State, coach Curt Cignetti got his signal-caller going early and Rourke rewarded him with a big first half. Unsurprisingly, that’s all Indiana needed versus a one-win Purdue team. Indiana is completely deserving of a playoff spot after this 11-1 season and the decision to sign Cignetti to a contract extension earlier this month looks even smarter now.
11. South Carolina Gamecocks (Previously: 13)
We’d like to start buying stock in LaNorris Sellers as a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2025. The South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback went on the road to Clemson in Week 14 and delivered another statement win. Sellers erupted for season-highs in rushing yards (166) yards per carry (10.4), while tying his season-high in rushing touchdowns (two). The freshman and the Gamecocks’ defense won this rivalry game and with wins over Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Mizzou and Clemson, we see a strong argument for South Carolina to make the College Football Playoff.
10. Arizona State Sun Devils (Previously: 11)
Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo evidently heard what Nick Saban said before Week 14. Just hours after Saban called the Sun Devils’ star his favorite player in college football, Skattebo beat up ASU’s rival for three first-half touchdowns and over 120 scrimmage yards on 17 touches. That was just part of the Sun Devils’ domination over the Wildcats. Improving to 10-2 on the season, the first 10-win season since 2014, Kenny Dillingham is deserving of Coach of the Year honors for the work he’s done turning around a program that Herm Edwards destroyed.
9. Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously: 2)
It’s time for the Ohio State Buckeyes to make changes. Boosters put tens of millions of dollars into this year’s team, assembling one of the best rosters in college football. None of that matters if you don’t have the culture or head coach to win games like this. You can throw out the Buckeyes’ record, this isn’t a championship contender. All that matters for Ohio State now is replacing Ryan Day and he is very much replaceable.
Related: Ohio State Buckeyes coaching candidates to replace Ryan Day
8. Tennessee Volunteers (Previously: 10)
It looked in the first quarter like the Tennessee Volunteers would be another victim of rivalry week, trailing Vanderbilt 14-0 early and 17-7 after the first quarter. That was all she wrote for the Commodores. Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava had his best game of the season – 257 passing yards, 9.9 ypa and 4 touchdowns – even with his top receivers hurt. Meanwhile, Dyaln Sampson (178 rushing yards) added to his historic season. The way Tennessee battled back to beat Vanderbilt paired with the overall record (10-2) absolutely warrants a playoff spot.
7. Boise State Broncos (Previously: 8)
Ashton Jeanty probably lost the Heisman Trophy battle to Travis Hunter, but only one of the two college football stars is heading to the playoffs. Still playing through an injury Jeanty ran all over Oregon State on Friday with his fifth 200-yard rushing performance of the season. While this year has delivered upsets nearly every Saturday, we do feel pretty confident in picking Boise State to win the Mountain West Championship Game.
6. Georgia Bulldogs (Previously: 7)
Rivalry weekend isn’t easy, just ask the Ohio State Buckeyes. Trailing 27-13 at home to a hungry Georgia Tech program, the Bulldogs could’ve accepted their losses and gone all-in on the SEC Championship Game. Instead, Carson Beck stepped up and Dominic Lovett (two touchdowns in the final 4 minutes) came through in the clutch to send it to OT. Beck’s receivers then kept coming through for him in OT, something we’ve rarely seen from Georgia’s receiving corps this year. The Bulldogs aren’t an elite team, but this year has taught us anyone can win any given week.
5. SMU Mustangs (Previously: 9)
While other ranked college football teams struggled against unranked opponents in Week 14, the SMU Mustangs easily handled their business against Cal. The Mustangs jumped out to an early 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, in large part thanks to quarterback Kevin Jennings. With the victory, SMU draws a must-see ACC Championship Game matchup against Clemson. Give us the Mustangs in that matchup.
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4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Previously: 5)
Running the football and making big plays defensively. That’s all the Notre Dame Fighting Irish needed to do on Saturday. While quarterback Riley Leonard chipped in both on the ground and through the air, it was the running tandem of Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love that led the way with well over 200 scrimmage yards. Notre Dame survived rivalry week, securing an 11-1 record and a College Football Playoff spot.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously: 4)
Saturday worked out perfectly for the Penn State Nittany Lions. With Ohio State facing unranked Michigan, Penn State’s odds of making it into the Big Ten Championship Game were slim. Then, the Buckeyes imploded. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions handled their business at home against Maryland. We still have some concerns about a James Franklin-coached team against a top-five team, but even a loss won’t knock the Nittany Lions out of the College Football Playoff.
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2. Texas Longhorns (Previously: 3)
The Texas Longhorns’ special-teams unit and quarterback Quinn Ewers almost gave the game away on Saturday night, turning a 17-0 lead at halftime into a raucous crowd at Kyle Field in the fourth quarter. Time after time, though, the Longhorns’ defense stepped up in the biggest moments and it delivered one of the best performances of Week 14. Texas is locked into the College Football Playoff and while this team will probably be underdogs in the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs have demonstrated they will give their opponent plenty of chances to win. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
1. Oregon Ducks (Previously: 1)
There’s definitely no question now regarding who is the best college football team in 2024. While many top-10 teams struggled or lost in Week 14, the Oregon Ducks took care of business. Now just a Big Ten Championship Game victory away from clinching the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, Oregon certainly looks like the strong favorite to win it all.
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