NCAA Football

College Football Top 25 Rankings: RantSports’ Week 14 Poll

College Football Top 25 Rankings: Week 14

Florida State Football
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida State Seminoles sure love living life dangerously. FSU, once again, almost lost, but it managed to come away with a very close victory. The rankings won't look much different this week, but they will still look different. That won't necessarily be the case for the Week 15 rankings, as many marquee matchups are set to take place next weekend.

25. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-3)

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

25. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-3)

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska has now lost two games in a row. With that in mind, it did play Wisconsin and Minnesota in its last two contests.

24. Clemson Tigers (8-3)

Clemson Tigers
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

24. Clemson Tigers (8-3)

Clemson Tigers
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

After getting knocked off by Georgia Tech last week, the Clemson Tigers bounced back against Georgia State. In fact, the Tigers didn't allow a single point in the game.

23. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-3)

Minnesota Golden Gophers
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

23. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-3)

Minnesota Golden Gophers
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota absolutely needed a win over Nebraska this week, which it got. It could really use a victory over Wisconsin next weekend as well. If it plans on playing in the Big 10 title game, that is.

22. Louisville Cardinals (8-3)

Louisville Cardinals
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

22. Louisville Cardinals (8-3)

Louisville Cardinals
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Louisville Cardinals have quietly had a very successful year -- well, given the circumstances. Notre Dame is clearly on a cold streak, but I am sure the Cardinals will gladly take the W.

21. Missouri Tigers (9-2)

Missouri Tigers
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

21. Missouri Tigers (9-2)

Missouri Tigers
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

The Missouri Tigers just need to get by Arkansas and they will be playing for a shot at the SEC title. The only problem is the fact that the Razorbacks have now beaten LSU and Ole Miss in back-to-back games.

20. Colorado State Rams (10-1)

Colorado State Rams
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

20. Colorado State Rams (10-1)

Colorado State Rams
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado State Rams are red-hot. After all, they have won nine games in a row. Closing the regular season out on a 10-game winning streak would be quite the feat, and is a real possibility.

19. Oklahoma Sooners (8-3)

Oklahoma Sooners
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

19. Oklahoma Sooners (8-3)

Oklahoma Sooners
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Although I am sure fans would have liked to see the Oklahoma Sooners make the playoff, winning the last three games of the regular season should help dull some of the pain. Kind of.

18. Marshall Thundering Herd (11-0)

Marshall Thundering Herd
Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

18. Marshall Thundering Herd (11-0)

Marshall Thundering Herd
Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

When it is all said and done, the Marshall Thundering Herd could be the only undefeated team standing in college football. That is especially true with the way Florida State has been playing.

17. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)

Ole Miss Rebels
Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

17. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)

Ole Miss Rebels
Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss started off the season by winning its first seven games. At that point, it was a serious threat for the national championship. Unfortunately, the team has taken a nosedive, and has now lost three of four. Oh yeah, it also couldn't manage a single point against Arkansas in its last game.

16. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-2)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

16. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-2)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets can make a big statement by winning their last two games before bowl season. After all, they are already on a four-game winning streak. Plus, they play Georgia and Florida State next.

15. Wisconsin Badgers (9-2)

Wisconsin Badgers
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

15. Wisconsin Badgers (9-2)

Wisconsin Badgers
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

The Wisconsin Badgers have not lost a game since Oct. 4. However, they need to win one more just to get into the Big 10 title game.

14. Auburn Tigers (8-3)

Auburn Tigers
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

14. Auburn Tigers (8-3)

Auburn Tigers
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

No playoff for the Auburn Tigers, but they can still make fans pretty happy by upsetting the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl.

13. Arizona Wildcats (9-2)

Arizona Wildcats
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

13. Arizona Wildcats (9-2)

Arizona Wildcats
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona got the huge win over the Utah Utes — won on the road by the score of 42-10 — but it will get Arizona State next. A win would certainly land the Wildcats in a solid bowl.

12. Michigan State Spartans (9-2)

Michigan State Spartans
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

12. Michigan State Spartans (9-2)

Michigan State Spartans
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Well, the Michigan State Spartans won't be playing in the Big Ten title game, but at least they beat Rutgers by the score of 45-3, right?

11. Arizona State Sun Devils (9-2)

Arizona State Sun Devils
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

11. Arizona State Sun Devils (9-2)

Arizona State Sun Devils
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona State has had a great season, but that loss to Oregon State is going to prove to be very costly when it comes to making the Pac-12 title game, or better yet, not making the Pac-12 title game.

10. UCLA Bruins (9-2)

UCLA Bruins
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

10. UCLA Bruins (9-2)

UCLA Bruins
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The UCLA Bruins just need to beat Stanford to advance to the Pac-12 title game. Then, they will get yet another shot at the Oregon Ducks, and will try to play spoiler to their playoff hopes.

9. Kansas State Wildcats (8-2)

Kansas State Wildcats
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

9. Kansas State Wildcats (8-2)

Kansas State Wildcats
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Although K-State has had a great season, there is no way it is going to be making the playoff. Still, beating Kansas and Baylor to close out the season would be a great ending.

8. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2)

Georgia Bulldogs
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

8. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2)

Georgia Bulldogs
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia desperately needs Missouri to lose. Whether if that will happen or not, the Bulldogs need to take care of business against Georgia Tech next, which is shaping up to be one heck of a matchup.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1)

Ohio State Buckeyes
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1)

Ohio State Buckeyes
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State has not lost since the second week of the season. If it can finish off its last two games untouched, the playoff committee is certainly going to have some tough decisions to make.

6. Baylor Bears (9-1)

Baylor Bears
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

6. Baylor Bears (9-1)

Baylor Bears
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor will make the College Football Playoff if it finishes the season with just one loss. Okay, who knows if that will actually be the case, but the Bears certainly make a great case.

5. TCU Horned Frogs (9-1)

TCU Horned Frogs
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

5. TCU Horned Frogs (9-1)

TCU Horned Frogs
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

TCU also makes a great case, and certainly passes the eye test (to me), but it lost to Baylor. Who knows how the committee will look at that one if the Horned Frogs and Bears both only have one loss.

4. Oregon Ducks (10-1)

Oregon Ducks
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

4. Oregon Ducks (10-1)

Oregon Ducks
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

No matter who the Ducks go up against in the Pac-12 title game, they are certainly going to have their hands full. For what it's worth, Oregon has won six games in a row and has been a top team in college football since Day 1.

3. Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-1)

Mississippi State Bulldogs
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

3. Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-1)

Mississippi State Bulldogs
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

The Egg Bowl is a must-win game for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. With that said, the SEC West has been so good this year that the Bulldogs could still make the playoff even if they don't make the SEC title game. Sure, winning the SEC would easily lead to a playoff spot, but what if Alabama lost that game? The Crimson Tide would be out and Mississippi State would be in despite the fact that it didn't play in the SEC championship.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1)

Alabama Crimson Tide
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1)

Alabama Crimson Tide
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

If Alabama beats Auburn in the Iron Bowl, it will make the SEC title game, which is a must-win if it plans on making the playoff. With that said, the Crimson Tide are elite and no one should want to play them right now.

1. Florida State Seminoles (11-0)

Florida State Seminoles
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

1. Florida State Seminoles (11-0)

Florida State Seminoles
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

People can talk all the trash they want about Florida State, but if it goes undefeated, the playoff committee is not going to deny it a spot. Once it actually gets to the playoff, though, it better show up for every single quarter.

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