Everything you thought you knew about the last three-plus months of college football? You might as well forget it.
Well, don’t forget it, that’s a bit harsh. But it’s about time we take inventory on where we stand given the shake-ups we saw during conference championship weekend.
Georgia? No longer invincible.
Alabama? Still kind of Alabama.
Oklahoma State? One inch (and many interceptions) shy of greatness.
While many seasons have ended, others are just beginning. And as we transition to bowl season, it’s time to take one last stab at college football power rankings before the bowl season takes over.
Here is that stab. Long live college football.
Please note that all CFB odds and lines are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Monday, November 29.
50. Boise State (7-5) ⬇️ 1
The Broncos barely crack the top 50, although they squeak in after an up-and-down year. The next assignment will be Central Michigan in the Arizona Bowl.
49. Western Kentucky (8-5) ⬇️ 7
48. UAB (8-4) ↔️
47. Kansas State (7-5) ↔️
46. East Carolina (7-5) ↔️
45. Oregon State (7-5) ↔️
The Beavers were off last week, although they did watch rival Oregon get blasted in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Oregon State will take on conference champ Utah State in the LA Bowl. Fun game.
44. Army (8-3) ↔️
43. Nevada (8-4) ↔️
42. Arizona State (8-4) ⬇️ 1
41. SMU (8-4) ⬇️ 1
40. Northern Illinois (9-4) ⬆️ 10
The Huskies’ superb comeback season culminated with a MAC Championship Game win over Kent State. While many of the games were tight, Northern IL found a way more times than not.
NIU can validate the season with a win over Coastal Carolina in the Camping World Stadium Bowl.
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39. Air Force (9-3) ⬇️ 1
38. Tennessee (7-5) ⬇️ 1
37. Penn State (7-5) ⬇️ 1
36. Mississippi State (7-5) ⬇️ 1
35. Minnesota (8-4) ⬇️ 1
The Gophers closed strong with a regular-season win over Wisconsin, although they still fell just short of making the Big 10 title game. Minnesota will play West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Who doesn’t love a good Guaranteed Rate Bowl?
34. Coastal Carolina (10-2) ⬇️ 1
33. Appalachian State (10-3) ⬇️ 6
32. UCLA (8-4) ↔️
31. Fresno State (9-3) ↔️
30. Washington State (7-5) ↔️
Wazzu finishes in the top 30, which is enormous when considering how eventful the season was. Next up? A delightful matchup against Miami in the Sun Bowl.
29. Purdue (8-4) ↔️
28. San Diego State (11-2) ⬇️ 9
27. Utah State (10-3) ⬆️ 12
26. Wisconsin (8-4) ⬆️ 2
After winning the MAC Championship, the Northern Illinois Huskies look to continue their winning ways in tyhe Camping World Stadium Bowl against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
25. Texas A&M (8-4) ⬆️ 1
The Aggies creep back into the top 25 from the couch. Even with four losses, Texas A&M has the firepower to compete with anyone. Also, the win over Alabama means even more now. Aggies vs. Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl.
More on that below.
24. North Carolina State (9-3) ↔️
NC State missed out on a chance to play for the ACC Championship, although it still was a solid year for Dave Doeren’s group. The Wolfpack will be matched up with UCLA in the Holiday Bowl.
23. Wake Forest (10-3) ⬇️ 6
The Demon Deacons’ superb start came undone at the end. Wake Forest lost to Pitt in the ACC Championship Game, and the defense just never found any sort of rhythm. In terms of contrasting styles, Wake will play Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl.
22. Kentucky (9-3) ⬆️ 1
The Wildcats move up one spot by being idle, and they’ll play Iowa, which didn’t exactly showcase itself particularly well. More on that in a moment.
Mark Stoops just signed a new contract, which is welcomed given this program’s direction. The man can coach.
21. UTSA (12-1) ⬆️ 4
The Roadrunners responded after their first loss by beating Western Kentucky convincingly in the Conference USA Championship Game. UTSA will now play San Diego State in the Frisco Bowl, which is a fascinating matchup.
20. Iowa (10-3) ⬇️ 4
Yikes. Woof. Gross. I can keep going.
Iowa’s showing against Michigan in the Big 10 title game was, well, not ideal. The Hawkeyes were blown out in the second half, and there really aren’t many nice things to say beyond that. Maybe things will be better against Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.
19. Houston (11-2) ⬇️ 4
The Cougars put up a fight against Cincinnati early in the ACC title game, but they were unable to play spoiler. Still, going nearly three months without a loss is quite an accomplishment. Houston draws Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl.
18. Arkansas (8-4) ⬆️ 4
The Hogs finished 8-4 despite playing one of the most difficult schedules in the country. And if we’re going to be handing out massive contracts to coaches, Sam Pittman should be in line soon. Arkansas plays Penn State in a juicy Outback Bowl.
17. Clemson (9-3) ⬆️ 4
It was a strange season, and Clemson not playing on a conference championship Saturday felt even stranger. Still, the Tigers closed out strong and have a wildly intriguing matchup against Iowa State, another team that failed to meet preseason hype, in the Cheez-It Bowl.
16. Louisiana (12-1) ⬆️ 2
The Ragin’ Cajuns won the Sun Belt with a win over App State, and they’ll play Marshall in the New Orleans Bowl. They will do so, of course, without head coach Billy Napier, who began his new job at Florida on Sunday. Michael Desormeaux will step right in and lead.
15. Oregon (10-3) ⬇️ 5
The Ducks got destroyed again by Utah, although this result felt worse. What was most alarming was how physically overwhelmed they looked. Oregon gets Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.
14. Pittsburgh (11-2) ⬆️ 6
Your 2021 ACC Champions delivered a superb year, and it was capped off with a blowout win over Wake Forest. Kenny Pickett won’t win the Heisman, but he should finish in the top five. Pitt draws Michigan State in the Peach Bowl.
13. BYU (10-2) ⬆️ 2
What a season. BYU didn’t play last weekend, although the Cougars move up slightly with losses around them. Next up is a matchup against UAB in the Independence Bowl.
12. Oklahoma (10-2) ↔️
It’s been a weird few weeks for Oklahoma, with the loss to rival OK State and the instant departure of head coach Lincoln Riley. Still, the Sooners will play Oregon in the Alamo Bowl.
Check back with us on the whole coaching thing for both teams.
11. Michigan State (10-2) ↔️
Mel Tucker is a very rich man, and Michigan State will take on former defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi in the Peach Bowl. Sparty could not maintain playoff momentum, although an 11-win season is still in reach.
10. Utah (10-3) ⬆️ 3
- National Championship Odds: NA
The Utes destroyed Oregon again to win the Pac-12 Championship, and it feels like very few programs have more momentum than Utah at the moment. Well, we’ll see if that’s true when they match up against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
9. Oklahoma State (11-2) ⬇️ 4
- National Championship Odds: NA
The Pokes were a few inches away from making the playoff in the Big 12 Championship Game. Literally, a few inches. Instead of playing Georgia or Alabama, Mike Gundy’s team will take on Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
8. Ohio State (10-2) ↔️
- National Championship Odds: NA
This week, there was no game for OSU, which is probably still a sore spot for the fan base. But, because Michigan is headed to the playoff, the Buckeyes consolation prize is the Rose Bowl. That’s not a bad backup plan, and a game against Utah should be fascinating.
7. Ole Miss (10-2) ↔️
- National Championship Odds: NA
The Rebels were idle, although they did sign Lane Kiffin to a new contract. That’s big news for a team coming off a big year. As for the next opponent, well, you’ll find it directly below this sentence.
6. Baylor (11-2) ⬆️ 3
- National Championship Odds: NA
The Bears won a football game in about as thrilling of a way imaginable in the Big 12 Championship Game, and head coach Dave Aranda had zero reaction. None.
It’s been a superb year for Baylor, and it’ll get Ole Miss in a really fun Sugar Bowl.
5. Notre Dame (11-1) ⬆️ 2
- National Championship Odds: NA
Although the Irish didn’t play, it has been an eventful week. Brian Kelly is off to LSU, and Marcus Freeman is now the head coach. It did look like Notre Dame might sneak into the playoff when Oklahoma State lost, but it was not to be.
Those two teams will now meet in the Fiesta Bowl.
4. Cincinnati (13-0) ⬇️ 1
- National Championship Odds: +1600 at Caesars
Finally, a Group of Five team is in. The Bearcats beat Houston to move to a perfect 13-0. They slide down a spot to make room for Alabama, the team it will play next, although it doesn’t matter now. Cincinnati is two wins away from a title.
3. Georgia (12-1) ⬇️ 2
- National Championship Odds: +135 at Caesars
The No. 1 team in college football fell, and it did so convincingly. Kirby Smart’s offense was out of sync, and the legendary defense came undone. The good news? The Bulldogs still get a crack at Michigan in the playoff, although there is work to be done.
2. Michigan (12-1) ↔️
- National Championship Odds: +800 at Caesars
Iowa was feisty early, but the Wolverines blew the doors off the Hawkeyes in the second half in the Big Ten Championship Game. Jim Harbaugh took a pay cut in the offseason and is now one game away from playing for a title. CFB is funny like that.
Next up, Georgia.
1. Alabama (12-1) ⬆️ 3
- National Championship Odds: +120 at Caesars
The king of college football is back on the throne. Alabama conquered Georgia yet again, and Nick Saban is a magician. The loss of wideout John Metchie to injury is a major blow for the Tide as it gets ready for Cincinnati.
Still, what a win.
Thanks for reading our CFB Week 15 Power Rankings! For more CFB betting tips, check out our CFB Pick of the Day.
