AP Top 25 poll reaction: What's next for each ranked team?

The AP Top 25 assemblage shot canvass is retired aft different chaotic play of games.

So what happens from here? We interruption down what's adjacent for each ranked team.

1. Georgia Bulldogs (11-0)

Previous ranking: 1

Week 12 result: 16-6 triumph vs. Kentucky

What's next: vs. Georgia Tech (Saturday, noon ET)

The SEC portion of the regular play is implicit for Georgia, arsenic the Dawgs instrumentality location to look in-state rival Georgia Tech connected Saturday. Georgia volition beryllium a immense favourite successful the crippled and volition look to beryllium overmuch much polished connected offense, peculiarly erstwhile it comes to finishing drives, than it was successful the 16-6 triumph implicit Kentucky. A triumph implicit Georgia Tech would apt fastener up a spot successful the College Football Playoff for Georgia adjacent if it were to suffer to LSU connected Dec. 3 successful the SEC title game. -- Chris Low

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0)

Previous ranking: 2

Week 12 result: 43-30 triumph vs. Maryland

What's next: vs. No. 3 Michigan (Saturday, noon ET)

Since falling to Michigan past twelvemonth successful the snowfall astatine the Big House, manager Ryan Day and the Buckeyes person pointed to this game, The Game, and a accidental for redemption. Ohio State comes successful 11-0 but has endured its stock of injuries and struggles. The wellness of moving backmost Miyan Williams and different cardinal players volition beryllium worthy monitoring starring up to kickoff. Ohio State got bullied astatine the enactment of scrimmage past twelvemonth and faces 2 Michigan fronts that stay formidable. Although the Buckeyes mightiness person a spot much CFP leeway than Michigan, they volition attack the contention arsenic a must-win. Ohio State hasn't mislaid consecutive games to Michigan since 1999 and 2000. -- Adam Rittenberg

3. Michigan Wolverines (11-0)

Previous ranking: 3

Week 12 result: 19-17 triumph vs. Illinois

What's next: astatine No. 2 Ohio State (Saturday, noon ET)

The Wolverines are 11-0 for the archetypal clip since 2006 aft a adjacent triumph against Illinois. The squad has dealt with immoderate injuries, including with moving backmost Blake Corum going down successful the 2nd 4th Saturday, and playing without moving backmost Donovan Edwards, choky extremity Luke Schoonmaker and antiaircraft extremity Mike Morris. Coach Jim Harbaugh said helium isn't acrophobic with the injuries, though, arsenic the squad readies for the last crippled of the play against Ohio State. It volition beryllium a matchup that determines who goes connected to the Big Ten title crippled and apt connected to the CFP. -- Tom VanHaaren

4. TCU Horned Frogs (11-0)

Previous ranking: 4

Week 12 result: 29-28 triumph vs. Baylor

What's next: vs. Iowa State (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET)

The Horned Frogs are down to 2 last hurdles to apt clinch a CFP berth, opening with this weekend's location crippled against Iowa State, earlier the Big 12 title game. The Cyclones person had a disappointing season, but they inactive airs a superior menace to TCU's play of destiny, with six of the Cyclones' 7 losses coming by a touchdown oregon less. Iowa State's defence has been stifling this season, allowing conscionable 16.5 points per game, with lone Baylor (31 points) surpassing the 30-point people against it. TCU won't instrumentality this 1 lightly, with the Cyclones winning the past 3 matchups and 4 of the past five. -- Dave Wilson

5. USC Trojans (10-1)

Previous ranking: 7

Week 12 result: 48-45 triumph vs. No. 16 UCLA

What's next: vs. Notre Dame (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

USC doesn't get a accidental to travel down aft its thriller against UCLA. The Trojans volition person to refocus rapidly arsenic they invited a surging Notre Dame squad to the Coliseum. A triumph would propulsion the Trojans person to a playoff spot. A loss, and erstwhile again, the Pac-12 mightiness find itself with nary playoff squad to amusement for itself. -- Paolo Uggetti

6. LSU Tigers (9-2)

Previous ranking: 6

Week 12 result: 41-10 triumph vs. UAB

What's next: astatine Texas A&M (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)

All signs constituent to the SEC title against Georgia connected Dec. 3. Win, and LSU is simply a shoo-in to marque the College Football Playoff. But archetypal comes the regular-season finale connected the roadworthy astatine Texas A&M connected Saturday. The Aggies are reeling with a 1-6 grounds successful SEC play, but don't instrumentality thing for granted. Remember, LSU needed each 4 quarters to bushed Arkansas a fewer weeks ago. -- Alex Scarborough

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2)

Previous ranking: 8

Week 12 result: 34-0 triumph vs. Austin Peay

What's next: vs. Auburn (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

When the Crimson Tide mislaid to LSU and were eliminated from the playoff hunt earlier this month, it felt similar the play could spell sideways successful a hurry. It was the archetypal clip since 2010 that Alabama had 2 losses earlier the Iron Bowl. With nary accidental to play for the SEC championship, what was determination near to play for? Rather than battalion it in, Nick Saban's squad chose to instrumentality it out, winning a hard-fought crippled astatine Ole Miss and past beating Austin Peay connected Saturday. Now the Tide person a accidental to triumph 10 regular-season games if they tin find a mode to bushed archrival Auburn astatine location connected Saturday. -- Alex Scarborough

8. Clemson Tigers (10-1)

Previous ranking: 9

Week 12 result: 40-10 triumph vs. Miami

What's next: vs. South Carolina (Saturday, noon ET)

The Tigers are inactive successful the CFP speech aft getting done ACC play unscathed for the archetypal clip since 2019. They volition decorativeness the regular play with their 3rd consecutive location crippled and effort to bushed in-state rival South Carolina for the eighth consecutive time, which would people a grounds successful the series. Clemson has held the Gamecocks to 10 points oregon less successful 4 of the past 5 meetings, and has played precise good defensively since the nonaccomplishment to Notre Dame. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee's presumption volition beryllium worthy monitoring aft helium missed the Miami game. -- Adam Rittenberg

9. Tennessee Volunteers (9-2)

Previous ranking: 5

Week 12 result: 63-38 nonaccomplishment vs. South Carolina

What's next: astatine Vanderbilt (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Talk astir deflating losses. The Vols were ranked No. 5 past week and seemingly successful bully signifier to determination into the College Football Playoff committee's apical 4 if they could triumph out. Then came their 63-38 illness astatine South Carolina. They were outplayed and outcoached by the Gamecocks, and adjacent worse, elder backmost Hendon Hooker near the crippled successful the 4th fourth with what appeared to beryllium a genu injury. He was replaced by Joe Milton. Tennessee present wraps up the regular play Saturday with a roadworthy crippled astatine Vanderbilt, which has won its past 2 SEC games against Kentucky and Florida and is playing for a accidental to go bowl-eligible. -- Chris Low

10. Oregon Ducks (9-2)

Previous ranking: 12

Week 12 result: 20-17 triumph vs. No. 10 Utah

What's next: astatine Oregon State (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

The way to the Pac-12 rubric volition spell done Corvallis adjacent week arsenic the Ducks caput to Oregon State successful what volition beryllium a ranked rivalry crippled for the archetypal clip since the aboriginal aughts. Oregon needs to bushed the Beavers to marque it to the title game. If it loses to 1 of Oregon State's champion teams successful caller memory, it needs Washington to suffer oregon UCLA to bushed Cal successful bid to inactive marque it. -- Paolo Uggetti

11. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2)

Previous ranking: 11

Week 12 result: 55-10 triumph vs. Rutgers

What's next: vs. Michigan State (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET)

A brace of ESPN 300 moving backs, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, are 2 of the biggest reasons for Penn State getting backmost connected way successful 2022. After rushing for lone 62 yards successful the archetypal fractional Saturday against Rutgers, the Nittany Lions had churned retired 237 yards by game's end. Allen ran for 117 yards and a people portion Singleton chipped successful with a 100-yard kickoff return. The Nittany Lions big Michigan State to extremity the regular play adjacent week and tin scope the 10-win plateau for the archetypal clip since 2019. -- Blake Baumgartner

12. Washington Huskies (9-2)

Previous ranking: 15

Week 12 result: 54-7 triumph vs. Colorado

What's next: astatine Washington State (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET)

The Huskies person turned astir truthful galore things astir their programme successful Year 1 nether Kalen DeBoer. They person restored their quality to triumph and massively upgraded astatine backmost and successful the passing game. Washington recovered much equilibrium successful its discourtesy (295 walk yards, 280 rushing yards) successful Saturday's 54-7 triumph implicit Colorado. The last measurement is to triumph the Apple Cup aft falling to Washington State past twelvemonth for the archetypal clip since 2012. Success connected the Palouse would springiness Washington its archetypal 10-win play since 2018. -- Adam Rittenberg

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-3)

Previous ranking: 18

Week 12 result: 44-0 triumph vs. Boston College

What's next: astatine USC (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Three-loss seasons are ne'er celebrated astatine Notre Dame, but if the Irish tin implicit their second-half surge with a triumph astatine USC, manager Marcus Freeman's archetypal play volition beryllium viewed successful a much affirmative light. Notre Dame's lone roadworthy nonaccomplishment came successful the opener astatine Ohio State, and the squad has won 4 consecutive against the Trojans. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison (five interceptions this month) and a amazingly coagulated Notre Dame secondary volition beryllium tested against Jordan Addison and USC's receiving corps. If the Irish are palmy successful Los Angeles, they volition person a accidental for their sixth consecutive 10-win season. -- Adam Rittenberg

14. Utah Utes (9-2)

Previous ranking: 10

Week 12 result: 20-17 nonaccomplishment vs. No. 12 Oregon

What's next: astatine Colorado (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET)

With a Pac-12 title defence present astir retired of reach, the Utes volition extremity their regular play by getting to play the worst squad successful the Pac-12 connected the roadworthy successful Colorado. What could beryllium considered a disappointing play for Kyle Whittingham's squad is inactive apt going to beryllium a nine-win run with a accidental to triumph 10 astatine their vessel game. And if Utah, Oregon State, UCLA and Washington each triumph adjacent week, the Utes volition someway inactive person a changeable astatine defending their title. -- Paolo Uggetti

15. Kansas State Wildcats (8-3)

Previous ranking: 19

Week 12 result: 48-31 triumph vs. West Virginia

What's next: vs. Kansas (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)

The Wildcats power their ain destiny successful a changeable astatine a rematch with TCU successful the Big 12 title game, clinching a berth with a triumph implicit Kansas successful the Sunflower Showdown. The Wildcats' 3 losses this twelvemonth came by a full of 24 points, including gathering an 18-point pb against TCU, truthful a 2nd changeable astatine the Horned Frogs would beryllium a accidental for redemption. First, they person to get past a bowl-eligible Kansas team, but person won 13 consecutive successful the rivalry matchup against the Jayhawks. -- Dave Wilson

16. Florida State Seminoles (8-3)

Previous ranking: 20

Week 12 result: 49-17 triumph vs. Louisiana

What's next: vs. Florida (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

The programme has yet achieved stableness nether Mike Norvell and enters this week's rivalry crippled with Florida connected a four-game triumph streak. Since consecutive single-digit losses to NC State and Clemson, FSU has been ascendant connected some sides of the ball, outscoring opponents 173-39 during the surge. Dual-threat backmost Jordan Travis and a heavy radical of moving backs person overwhelmed opponents, and the defence has markedly improved nether coordinator Adam Fuller. FSU should expect to grounds its archetypal triumph against Florida since 2017, and archetypal successful Tallahassee since 2016. -- Adam Rittenberg

17. UCLA Bruins (8-3)

Previous ranking: 16

Week 12 result: 48-45 nonaccomplishment vs. No. 7 USC

What's next: astatine Cal (Friday, 4:30 p.m. ET)

Cal awaits UCLA adjacent week arsenic the Bruins effort to debar their 3rd consecutive loss. Dorian Thompson-Robinson appeared to beryllium banged-up during the nonaccomplishment to USC but should beryllium disposable to play. The crippled mightiness not substance overmuch to either squad but could springiness the Bruins their archetypal nine-win play since 2014. -- Paolo Uggetti

18. North Carolina Tar Heels (9-2)

Previous ranking: 13

Week 12 result: 21-17 nonaccomplishment vs. Georgia Tech

What's next: vs. NC State (Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

With a spot already locked up successful the ACC title crippled against Clemson, the Tar Heels played similar it and slumbered done a 21-17 nonaccomplishment astatine location to large underdog Georgia Tech. It was North Carolina's worst violative showing of the season, and the Tar Heels volition get a accidental to enactment retired the kinks offensively Friday astatine location erstwhile they look NC State successful the regular-season finale. Before the nonaccomplishment to Georgia Tech, North Carolina had scored much than 30 points successful each but 1 game. -- Chris Low

19. Tulane Green Wave (9-2)

Previous ranking: 21

Week 12 result: 59-24 triumph vs. SMU

What's next: astatine Cincinnati (Friday, noon ET)

Tulane's defence has fixed up a combined 938 full yards against UCF and SMU the past 2 weeks. The Green Wave's defence entered Thursday arsenic the AAC's champion successful full defence (323.4 ypg), and it'll person to tighten things up considerably astatine Cincinnati adjacent week with a portion of the program's archetypal league rubric since 1998 (Conference USA) hanging successful the balance. The Green Wave tin scope double-digit victories for the archetypal clip successful 24 years if it tin extremity the Bearcats' 32-game location winning streak. -- Blake Baumgartner

20. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)

Previous ranking: 14

Week 12 result: 42-27 nonaccomplishment vs. Arkansas

What's next: vs. Mississippi State (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET)

All of a sudden, Ole Miss has deed the skids. The Rebels' 42-27 nonaccomplishment astatine Arkansas connected Saturday was their 3rd successful the past 4 games, and they don't person overmuch clip to get acceptable for their regular-season finale. They instrumentality connected Mississippi State connected Thanksgiving nighttime successful their yearly Egg Bowl rivalry. There volition proceed to beryllium speculation surrounding Ole Miss manager Lane Kiffin and whether helium volition permission for the Auburn head-coaching job, and it's the benignant of distraction that's ne'er perfect for a team, particularly with a rivalry crippled looming. Ole Miss has continued to tally the shot good but has fixed up 117 points successful its 3 losses. -- Chris Low

21. Cincinnati Bearcats (9-2)

Previous ranking: 22

Week 12 result: 23-3 triumph vs. Temple

What's next: vs. Tulane (Friday, noon ET)

Senior backmost Ben Bryant (9-of-18 passing for 130 yards, 1 TD) near for bully precocious successful the archetypal fractional with a ft injury. Sophomore Evan Prater replaced him and was solid, going 12-of-17 for 127 yards. Bryant's presumption volition beryllium worthy watching with Tulane coming to Nippert Stadium connected Friday and the AAC regular-season rubric astatine stake. An accidental for a 3rd consecutive AAC rubric earlier they permission for the Big 12 adjacent twelvemonth awaits the Bearcats if they prime up their 33rd consecutive location victory. -- Blake Baumgartner

22. Oregon State Beavers (8-3)

Previous ranking: 25

Week 12 result: 31-7 triumph vs. Arizona State

What's next: vs. Oregon (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

It's already been the champion play successful a decennary successful Corvallis; present it's clip to instrumentality things up a notch. Jonathan Smith's Beavers moved to 8-3 -- their astir wins since 2012 -- with a 31-7 triumph implicit Arizona State, and present they get a changeable astatine Oregon astatine location connected Friday successful a peculiarly absorbing Civil War battle. The Beavers person won lone doubly successful the bid since 2007, but a 10-win play remains connected the array if they tin propulsion disconnected a insignificant upset adjacent weekend. -- Bill Connelly

23. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-1)

Previous ranking: 23

Week 12 result: No crippled (canceled)

What's next: astatine James Madison (Saturday, noon ET)

In Coastal's archetypal crippled without injured prima backmost Grayson McCall, the Chanticleers started Jarrett Guest and narrowly escaped a 26-23 situation from Southern Miss to clinch the Sun Belt East. After Saturday's crippled against Virginia was canceled, Jamey Chadwell's squad volition caput to James Madison for a tune-up earlier playing either Troy oregon South Alabama for what would beryllium their 2nd league rubric successful 3 years. What a tally it's been for the Chants, who are 31-4 since the commencement of 2020. -- Bill Connelly

24. Texas Longhorns (7-4)

Previous ranking: unranked

Week 12 result: 55-14 triumph vs. Kansas

What's next: vs. Baylor (Friday, noon ET)

This play has produced flashes of what Texas could become, particularly successful roadworthy wins implicit Kansas State and Kansas arsenic good arsenic the historical shutout of Oklahoma successful Dallas. But the Longhorns person strung unneurotic wins lone once, during a three-game burst successful the mediate of the season. They tin decorativeness with back-to-back wins by beating defending Big 12 champion Baylor successful what surely volition beryllium Bijan Robinson's last location crippled arsenic a Longhorn. Robinson comes disconnected his 3rd vocation 200-yard rushing performance. A triumph implicit Baylor would springiness Texas sole possession of 3rd spot successful the conference. -- Adam Rittenberg

25. UCF Knights (8-3)

Previous ranking: 17

Week 12 result: 17-14 nonaccomplishment vs. Navy

What's next: astatine USF (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)

Next week's travel to Tampa to look South Florida got a small much interesting, arsenic Gus Malzahn whitethorn person a backmost determination to make. After helium benched elder John Rhys Plumlee (11-of-18 for 107 yards, 1 interception) astatine halftime, sophomore Mikey Keene (8-of-15 passing, 123 yards, 1 TD) sparked the Knights' discourtesy aboriginal successful the 3rd quarter. But giving up 5 sacks and not moving the shot efficaciously (84 yards) enactment a dent successful their New Year's Six hopes. -- Blake Baumgartner

Dropped out: Oklahoma State (24)