Top 25 in week 12

Week 11 in college football shortened the playoff race. Two SEC schools, Ole Miss And Alabamastayed alive in the College Football Playoff race with massive wins over top-15 opponents. Others, like LSUThey suffered fatal setbacks in their candidacy.

Here’s what PFF’s top 25 looks like heading into Week 12. Please note that these are not the same as those PFF’s Power Rankings.

1. Oregon Ducks (Record: 10-0, Previous: 1st)

Week 12 Matchup: at Wisconsin Badgers

Oregon stays on top and moves to 10-0 for the third time in school history with a 39-18 win Maryland. The Ducks dominated on defense, posting a defensive rating of 84.2 while limiting the Terrapins to just 3.3 yards per play.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (Record: 8-1, Previous: 3rd)

Week 12 Matchup: at Northwest Wildcats

Ohio State exclude Purdue last weekend and won with a final score of 45-0. Will Howard shined in the win with a passing grade of 90.2, two great throws and no turnover-worthy plays.

3. BYU Cougars (Record: 9-0, Previous: 6th)

Week 12 Matchup: vs. Kansas Jayhawks

BYU narrowly escaped Utah in the Holy War and won 22-21 on a game-winning field goal. Why are the Cougars so high when they’re ranked seventh in the AP poll?

It’s hard to find too many resumes that are better than BYUIt’s been 11 weeks. The Cougars are one of four undefeated teams in the country and have victories over two current top-20 teams SMU And Kansas State.

4. Texas Longhorns (Record: 8-1, Previous: 5.)

Week 12 Matchup: at Arkansas Razorbacks

Texas took care of business with a 49-17 win Florida on Saturday. The Longhorns’ pass protection continued to show why he is the best in college football, as he surrendered just three pressures in 35 pass-blocking snaps en route to a 91.4 pass-blocking grade.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (Record: 8-1, Previous: 7th)

Week 12 Matchup: at Purdue Boilermaker

Penn State recovered from his defeat Ohio State last week with a 35-6 win Washington. Abdul Carter continued to cement his position as the top defender in the 2025 NFL Draft with a PFF grade of 92.1 in the win. As of Week 2, Carter leads the nation with a grade of 91.7.

6. Indiana Hoosiers (Record: 10-0, Previous: 8th)

Week 12 Matchup: Bye

For the first time in the program’s history Indiana won 10 games in one season. The Hoosiers continued their magical run with a 20-15 win Michigan on Saturday. Indiana allowed the Wolverines just two yards per carry in the win, their fewest for Michigan in a game in the PFF college era (2014-present).

7. Tennessee Volunteers (Record: 8-1, Previous: 9th)

Week 12 matchup: ranked 12th Georgia Bulldogs

Tennessee‘s pass defense was suffocating Mississippi State with a 33:14 win. The Bulldogs averaged just -0.778 EPA per pass and 3.5 yards per attempt. If the volunteers are so stingy next week Georgiathey’ll likely win and end the Bulldogs’ playoff hopes.

8. Miami (FL) Hurricanes (Record: 9-1, Previous: 4th)

Week 12 Matchup: Bye

Miami suffered its first loss of the season last weekend against Georgia Tech with a final score of 28:23. The Yellow Jackets dominated on the ground, rushing for 271 yards, including 193 after contact.

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (Record: 7-2, Previous: 11.)

Week 12 Matchup: vs. Mercer Bears

Alabama kept its playoff hopes alive with a dominant 42-13 win over No. 15 LSU. Jalen Milroe ran wild against the Tigers with a career-high 185 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

10. Ole Miss Rebels (Record: 8-2, Previous: 15.)

Week 12 Matchup: Bye

Ole Miss also kept its playoff ambitions alive with a 28-10 win over then-No. 3 Georgia. The Rebels’ defense dominated, allowing just -0.403 EPA per pass. This is the Bulldogs’ worst record since the 2020 COVID season.

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Record: 8-1, Previous: 10th)

12. Georgia Bulldogs (Record: 7-2, Previous: 2nd)

13. Texas A&M Aggies (Record: 7-2, Previous: 12th)

14. SMU Mustangs (Record: 8-1, Previous: 14th)

15. Boise State Broncos (Record: 8-1, Previous: 16th)

16. Kansas State Wildcats (Record: 7-2, Previous: 19th)

17. LSU Tigers (Record: 6-3, Previous: 13th)

18. South Carolina Gamecocks (Record: 6-3, Previous: 22nd)

19. Missouri Tigers (Record: 7-2, Previous: 24th)

20. army Black Knights (Record: 9-0, Previous: 21st)

21. Colorado buffaloit (Record: 7-2, Previous: 25.)

22. Washington State Cougars (Record: 8-1, Previous: 20th)

23. Louisville Cardinals (Record: 6-3, Previous: 23rd)

24. Clemson Tigers (Record: 7-2, Previous: NR)

25. Iowa State Cyclones (Record: 7-2, Previous: 18th)