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College Football AP Top 25 Poll Predictions After Week 12: Georgia Keeps its Playoff Hopes Alive
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Top-ranked Oregon escaped Madison, Wisconsin, with a win over the Badgers on Saturday to stay undefeated, avoiding an upset that would have set ripples throughout the AP Top 25.

While the Ducks hung on to beat Wisconsin, No. 6 BYU lost for the first time this season at home to Kansas. Oregon, No. 5 Indiana and No. 16 Army are the last remaining undefeated FBS teams.

Beyond the Cougars, No. 6 Tennessee was the only one other team in the top half of the polls that lost. The Volunteers' 31-17 loss at No. 11 Georgia — their eighth straight to the Bulldogs — creates quite the chaotic scenario in the SEC hierarchy.

No. 3 Texas is tied with No. 15 Texas A&M atop the league with only one loss in conference play, but the Longhorns lost at home to UGA by double digits in October. Alabama lost to Tennessee a few weeks ago, but the Crimson Tide took down Georgia in September while No. 10 Ole Miss blew out the Bulldogs last week.

Several teams ranked in the 20s lost on Saturday, creating a few openings in the top 25 for teams that were previously on the bubble. No. 23 South Carolina stayed hot with a tight home win over No. 24 Missouri and No. 21 LSU dropped its third straight game to Florida on the road. No. 20 Kansas State was upset by Arizona State and No. 22 Louisville suffered a bad loss to Stanford.

Ahead of the new AP Top 25 release on Sunday, here is Athlon’s projection for the rankings after Week 12.

Proj. Rank Team Record Week 12 Rank Week 12 Result Difference

1

Oregon

11-0

1

W at Wisconsin (16-13)

0

2

Ohio State

9-1

2

W vs. Northwestern (31-7) *

0

3

Texas

9-1

3

W at Arkansas (20-10)

0

4

Penn State

9-1

4

W at Purdue (49-10)

0

5

Indiana

10-0

5

Bye

0

6

Notre Dame

9-1

8

W vs. Virginia (35-14)

+2

7

Alabama

8-2

9

W vs. Mercer (52-7)

+2

8

Ole Miss

8-2

10

Bye

+2

9

Georgia

8-2

11

W vs. Tennessee (31-17)

+2

10

Tennessee

8-2

6

L at Alabama (31-17)

-4

11

Miami

9-1

12

Bye

+1

12

Boise State

9-1

13

W at San Jose State (42-21)

+1

13

BYU

9-1

7

L vs. Kansas (17-13)

-6

14

SMU

9-1

14

W vs. Boston College (38-28)

0

15

Texas A&M

8-2

15

W vs. New Mexico State (38-3)

0

16

Army

9-0

16

Bye

0

17

Colorado

8-2

18

W vs. Utah (29-24)

+1

18

Clemson

8-2

17

W at Pittsburgh (24-20)

-1

19

South Carolina

7-3

21

W vs. Missouri (34-30)

+2

20

Tulane

9-2

25

W at Navy (35-0)

+5

21

Arizona State

8-2

NR (27)

W at Kansas State (24-14)

+6

22

Iowa State

8-2

NR (26)

W vs. Cincinnati (34-17)

+4

23

Kansas State

7-3

20

L vs. Arizona State (24-14)

-3

24

Washington State

8-2

19

L at New Mexico (38-35)

-5

25

UNLV

9-2

NR (30)

W vs. San Diego State (41-20)

+5

*Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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