:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44183534/usa-today-8205516.0.jpg)
Alabama moved up to #1 after knocking off Mississippi State last weekend. Florida State narrowly survived Miami FL but retained their position in the poll along with idle Oregon.
TCU fell one spot to #5 (you're welcome, Frogs). Baylor fans are surely upset with this edition, sitting two spots behind TCU at #7 despite their head-to-head win over the Frogs and the fact that they obliterated the same Kansas team that TCU struggled with. Other Big 12 teams include #12 Kansas State and #21 Oklahoma.
Once again, unbeaten Marshall failed to to crack the Top 25. #7 Baylor is the lowest rated one-loss team and #8 Ole Miss is the highest rated two-loss team. The highest rated three-loss team is #14 Auburn.
| Rank | Team | Last week | Week 12 result | Toughest opponent left (per F/+) | If the season ended today ... |
| 1 | Alabama (9-1) | 5 | Won 25-20 vs. No. 1 Mississippi State | Auburn | Sugar Bowl vs. Mississippi State |
| 2 | Oregon (9-1) | 2 | Idle | Oregon State | Rose Bowl vs. Florida State |
| 3 | Florida State (10-0) | 3 | Won 30-26 at Miami | Boston College | Rose Bowl vs. Oregon |
| 4 | Mississippi State (9-1) | 1 | Lost 25-20 at No. 5 Alabama | Ole Miss | Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama |
| 5 | TCU (9-1) | 4 | Won 34-30 at Kansas | Texas | New Year's bowl |
| 6 | Ohio State (9-1) | 8 | Won 31-24 at No. 25 Minnesota | Michigan | New Year's bowl |
| 7 | Baylor (8-1) | 7 | Idle | Kansas State | New Year's bowl |
| 8 | Ole Miss (8-2) | 10 | Idle | Mississippi State | Orange Bowl vs. Georgia Tech |
| 9 | UCLA (8-2) | 11 | Idle | USC | New Year's bowl |
| 10 | Georgia (8-2) | 15 | Won 34-7 vs. No. 9 Auburn | Georgia Tech | New Year's bowl |
| 11 | Michigan State (8-2) | 12 | Won 37-15 at Maryland | Penn State | New Year's bowl |
| 12 | Kansas State (7-2) | 13 | Idle | Baylor | |
| 13 | Arizona State (8-2) | 6 | Lost 35-27 at Oregon State | Arizona | |
| 14 | Auburn (7-3) | 9 | Lost 34-7 at No. 15 Georgia | Alabama | |
| 15 | Arizona (8-2) | 14 | Won 27-26 vs. Washington | Arizona State | |
| 16 | Wisconsin (8-2) | 20 | Won 59-24 vs. No. 16 Nebraska | Minnesota | |
| 17 | Utah (7-3) | 23 | Won 20-17 (2OT) at Stanford | Arizona | |
| 18 | Georgia Tech (9-2) | 22 | Won 28-6 vs. No. 19 Clemson | Georgia | Orange Bowl vs. Ole Miss |
| 19 | USC (7-3) | NR | Won 38-30 vs. Cal | UCLA | |
| 20 | Missouri (8-2) | NR | Won 34-27 at No. 24 Texas A&M | Arkansas | |
| 21 | Oklahoma (7-3) | NR | Won 42-30 at Texas Tech | Oklahoma State | |
| 22 | Clemson (7-3) | 19 | Lost 28-6 at No. 22 Georgia Tech | South Carolina | |
| 23 | Nebraska (8-2) | 16 | Lost 59-24 at No. 20 Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
| 24 | Louisville (7-3) | NR | Idle | Notre Dame | |
| 25 | Minnesota (7-3) | 25 | Lost 31-24 vs. No. 8 Ohio State | Wisconsin |