by Wayne Root
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025Now that the College Football Playoff committee will be revealing their rankings each week, the stakes seem much higher. And that's because they are. Speaking of high stakes, how about Indiana surviving a huge scare and coming out unscathed at Penn State?
There aren't many big changes to the power rankings this week. Last Saturday was one of those "calm before the storm" weeks where not much of significance happened to alter the power rankings.
That won't be the same story this Saturday with marquee matchups like Georgia vs. Texas and Oklahoma vs. Alabama on the slate. The College Football Playoff picture should look clearer after the Week 12 results. I'm looking forward to some more exciting matchups this week as the playoff picture continues to take shape. But first, let's take a look at my college football top 10 rankings ahead of Week 12.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. UCLA Bruins
There's not much to say about the Buckeyes, other than that this is status quo from the best team in the country. Ryan Day's squad has two more dress rehearsals before taking on Michigan at the Big House. Ohio State took care of business with a 34-10 victory over Purdue. Heisman Trophy favorite Julian Sayin had another stellar performance with an 89.2 PFF grade and an 87.5% adjusted completion rate.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (10-0)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Indiana survived an upset scare from Penn State, winning 27-24. Fernando Mendoza led an incredible 80-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes to win the game and posted an 87.0 PFF passing grade in the matchup overall. Conference road games are hard. All that matters for IU is that the Hoosiers — who looked in control until they suddenly weren’t — had a drive and catch for the ages to keep their undefeated mark intact. Indiana should find things much easier this week in Bloomington vs Wisconsin. The Hoosiers are now 10-0 in back-to-back seasons in their first double-digit win years in program history.
3. Texas A&M Aggies (9-0)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Texas A&M continued its undefeated season with a 38-17 win over No. 22 Missouri. The Aggies left no doubt in Missouri on Saturday in what was a complete domination. It looks like the A&M will take an 11-0 record to Austin on Thanksgiving weekend. The Aggies’ secondary dominated in the victory, allowing just -0.864 EPA per pass.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners
Alabama won its rivalry game with LSU by a 20-9 final score. The Crimson Tide’s secondary was lockdown in the victory with a 90.6 PFF coverage grade. The Tied's defense led the way against a punchless LSU offense, but I keep getting this strange feeling that Kalen DeBoer's bunch could be in trouble against either Oklahoma or Auburn. Seemingly, everything has gone their way since the opening week loss in Tallahassee, and eventually every key play will stop going their way, right? Alabama plays in one of the biggest games of Week 12 as it hosts a top-15 team in Oklahoma.
5. Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. No. 10 Texas Longhorns
Georgia convincingly beat Mississippi State this past weekend by a 41-21 margin. Mississippi State was no match for the Dawgs, who posted season highs in rush yards, total yards and yards per play— along with their fourth, 40-point game of the year. Now, two top-15 opponents face off this week in Athens, when Texas looks to keep its late-season resurgence going and reverse the result from two meetings a year ago. Gunner Stockton was strong in the victory with an 80.5 PFF passing grade and three big-time throws. The Bulldogs will need him to play like that in Week 12 as Georgia is at home against Texas in one of the biggest showdowns of Week 12.
6. Ole Miss Rebels (9-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Florida Gators
Ole Miss shut out The Citadel 49-0 on Saturday. The Rebels excelled on both sides of the ball, averaging 7.6 yards per play while only giving up 2.1 yards per play. The CFP-bound Rebs game against the Gators is looking far more manageable now, since it looks like the dam may have finally burst for Florida. How many stories will be written this week about whether Lane Kiffin is coaching against his future team Saturday? How bout that Penn St job? Meanwhile, Ole Miss seeks revenge on Florida in Week 12 after the Gators beat them last year. Let’s hope they didn’t get too bruised in the Citadel game!!
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. UCF Knights
Texas Tech’s defense dominated in the biggest game of Week 11, beating seventh-ranked BYU 29-7. The Cougars only had nine offensive plays total in Red Raider territory, and six came in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of hand. Against Tech's defense give the Cougars some credit as well for hanging in as long as they did. The Red Raiders are the best team in the Big 12 and it's not particularly close.
8. Oregon Ducks ( 8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
That game in Iowa City went pretty much how everyone expected— low-scoring, ugly, bad weather, along with a dramatic finish and strange final score. Give the short-handed Ducks a ton of credit for getting out of Kinnick with a win. That was an unreal throw and catch by Dante Moore and Malik Benson on the final drive to set up the winning field goal. Oregon made a last-second field goal to escape an upset from No. 20 Iowa, winning by an 18-16 final score. The rushing difference told the story of the game, as the Ducks averaged 7.3 yards per carry — while the Hawkeyes only averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Oregon has a short week, but then gets a couple days of extra rest before SC comes to town.
9. BYU Cougars (8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. TCU Horned Frogs
BYU stays in the top 10 even after its loss to Texas Tech. It wasn’t just a loss; it was and still is an indescribable 29-7 stomping. The Cougars’ normally great offensive line struggled to hold up against the Red Raiders’ elite pass rush, posting a 31.8 PFF pass-blocking grade as a team. That was BYU’s worst pass-blocking grade since its 2014 win over Texas. They have a difficult task awaiting them just to cover this week playing like they did.
10. Texas Longhorns (7-2)
Week 12 Matchup: at No. 5 Georgia
Texas has a massive test in Athens this week. A win opens up CFP paths and a close loss likely doesn't crush hopes either, since the Longhorns will get a shot at undefeated A&M the final week of the regular season. Texas stays in the top 10 following its bye week. The Longhorns likely need to win their final three games in order to make it to their third-straight playoff, which includes contests against two top-five teams in Georgia and Texas A&M. The NFL scouts will determine what level Archie Manning is in his quest to dominate the quarterback position.
That won't be the same story this Saturday with marquee matchups like Georgia vs. Texas and Oklahoma vs. Alabama on the slate. The College Football Playoff picture should look clearer after the Week 12 results. I'm looking forward to some more exciting matchups this week as the playoff picture continues to take shape. But first, let's take a look at my college football top 10 rankings ahead of Week 12.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. UCLA Bruins
There's not much to say about the Buckeyes, other than that this is status quo from the best team in the country. Ryan Day's squad has two more dress rehearsals before taking on Michigan at the Big House. Ohio State took care of business with a 34-10 victory over Purdue. Heisman Trophy favorite Julian Sayin had another stellar performance with an 89.2 PFF grade and an 87.5% adjusted completion rate.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (10-0)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Indiana survived an upset scare from Penn State, winning 27-24. Fernando Mendoza led an incredible 80-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes to win the game and posted an 87.0 PFF passing grade in the matchup overall. Conference road games are hard. All that matters for IU is that the Hoosiers — who looked in control until they suddenly weren’t — had a drive and catch for the ages to keep their undefeated mark intact. Indiana should find things much easier this week in Bloomington vs Wisconsin. The Hoosiers are now 10-0 in back-to-back seasons in their first double-digit win years in program history.
3. Texas A&M Aggies (9-0)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Texas A&M continued its undefeated season with a 38-17 win over No. 22 Missouri. The Aggies left no doubt in Missouri on Saturday in what was a complete domination. It looks like the A&M will take an 11-0 record to Austin on Thanksgiving weekend. The Aggies’ secondary dominated in the victory, allowing just -0.864 EPA per pass.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners
Alabama won its rivalry game with LSU by a 20-9 final score. The Crimson Tide’s secondary was lockdown in the victory with a 90.6 PFF coverage grade. The Tied's defense led the way against a punchless LSU offense, but I keep getting this strange feeling that Kalen DeBoer's bunch could be in trouble against either Oklahoma or Auburn. Seemingly, everything has gone their way since the opening week loss in Tallahassee, and eventually every key play will stop going their way, right? Alabama plays in one of the biggest games of Week 12 as it hosts a top-15 team in Oklahoma.
5. Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. No. 10 Texas Longhorns
Georgia convincingly beat Mississippi State this past weekend by a 41-21 margin. Mississippi State was no match for the Dawgs, who posted season highs in rush yards, total yards and yards per play— along with their fourth, 40-point game of the year. Now, two top-15 opponents face off this week in Athens, when Texas looks to keep its late-season resurgence going and reverse the result from two meetings a year ago. Gunner Stockton was strong in the victory with an 80.5 PFF passing grade and three big-time throws. The Bulldogs will need him to play like that in Week 12 as Georgia is at home against Texas in one of the biggest showdowns of Week 12.
6. Ole Miss Rebels (9-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Florida Gators
Ole Miss shut out The Citadel 49-0 on Saturday. The Rebels excelled on both sides of the ball, averaging 7.6 yards per play while only giving up 2.1 yards per play. The CFP-bound Rebs game against the Gators is looking far more manageable now, since it looks like the dam may have finally burst for Florida. How many stories will be written this week about whether Lane Kiffin is coaching against his future team Saturday? How bout that Penn St job? Meanwhile, Ole Miss seeks revenge on Florida in Week 12 after the Gators beat them last year. Let’s hope they didn’t get too bruised in the Citadel game!!
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. UCF Knights
Texas Tech’s defense dominated in the biggest game of Week 11, beating seventh-ranked BYU 29-7. The Cougars only had nine offensive plays total in Red Raider territory, and six came in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of hand. Against Tech's defense give the Cougars some credit as well for hanging in as long as they did. The Red Raiders are the best team in the Big 12 and it's not particularly close.
8. Oregon Ducks ( 8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
That game in Iowa City went pretty much how everyone expected— low-scoring, ugly, bad weather, along with a dramatic finish and strange final score. Give the short-handed Ducks a ton of credit for getting out of Kinnick with a win. That was an unreal throw and catch by Dante Moore and Malik Benson on the final drive to set up the winning field goal. Oregon made a last-second field goal to escape an upset from No. 20 Iowa, winning by an 18-16 final score. The rushing difference told the story of the game, as the Ducks averaged 7.3 yards per carry — while the Hawkeyes only averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Oregon has a short week, but then gets a couple days of extra rest before SC comes to town.
9. BYU Cougars (8-1)
Week 12 Matchup: vs. TCU Horned Frogs
BYU stays in the top 10 even after its loss to Texas Tech. It wasn’t just a loss; it was and still is an indescribable 29-7 stomping. The Cougars’ normally great offensive line struggled to hold up against the Red Raiders’ elite pass rush, posting a 31.8 PFF pass-blocking grade as a team. That was BYU’s worst pass-blocking grade since its 2014 win over Texas. They have a difficult task awaiting them just to cover this week playing like they did.
10. Texas Longhorns (7-2)
Week 12 Matchup: at No. 5 Georgia
Texas has a massive test in Athens this week. A win opens up CFP paths and a close loss likely doesn't crush hopes either, since the Longhorns will get a shot at undefeated A&M the final week of the regular season. Texas stays in the top 10 following its bye week. The Longhorns likely need to win their final three games in order to make it to their third-straight playoff, which includes contests against two top-five teams in Georgia and Texas A&M. The NFL scouts will determine what level Archie Manning is in his quest to dominate the quarterback position.
