AP Top 25 Shake-Up: Week 13 Delivers Drama and Surprises
College football fans, buckle up! The latest AP Top 25 poll is out, and Week 13 brought chaos to the rankings. With three top-10 teams falling and seven ranked teams overall taking losses, the playoff picture is shifting faster than a running back breaking tackles. Let’s dive into the madness and see what it all means for the rankings and the road ahead.
Top-10 Turmoil
The biggest headlines from Week 13? The No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide, and No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels all suffered defeats. Indiana’s undefeated season came to a screeching halt against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, while Alabama was stunned by the Oklahoma Sooners in a 24-3 rout. Meanwhile, Ole Miss became the latest SEC team to fall victim to the Florida Gators, losing 24-17.
Here’s a quick recap of the top-10 shake-up:
- Indiana Hoosiers: Lost to Ohio State 38-15, dropping them to 10-1.
- Alabama Crimson Tide: Scored just three points in their loss to Oklahoma, their lowest output since 2004.
- Ole Miss Rebels: Quarterback Jaxson Dart threw multiple interceptions for the first time since 2021 in their loss to Florida.
With these losses, the rankings saw some major movement. Let’s break down the updated AP Top 25 and what’s next for each team.
1. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 1
2024 record: 11-0
Week 13 result: Idle
What’s next: Saturday vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m., NBC
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 2
2024 record: 10-1
Week 13 result: Defeated Indiana 38-15
Stat to know: Ohio State held Indiana to just 151 yards of offense, the fourth-fewest allowed to an AP top-5 opponent in the past 20 seasons.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Michigan, noon, Fox
3. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 3
2024 record: 10-1
Week 13 result: Defeated Kentucky 31-14
Stat to know: Texas has won 10 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since their nine-season streak from 2001-09.
What’s next: Saturday at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., ABC
4. Penn State Nittany Lions
Previous ranking: 4
2024 record: 10-1
Week 13 result: Defeated Minnesota 26-25
Stat to know: Tight end Tyler Warren now holds the program record for most receiving yards by a tight end, surpassing 1,500 yards.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Maryland, 3:30 p.m., BTN
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 6
2024 record: 10-1
Week 13 result: Defeated Army 49-14
Stat to know: Notre Dame has won five games by 35 or more points this season, tied for the second most in program history.
What’s next: Saturday at USC, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Alabama’s Historic Low
Let’s talk about Alabama. The Crimson Tide’s 24-3 loss to Oklahoma wasn’t just a bad day at the office—it was historic. The three points scored were the fewest for Alabama since 2004, and it snapped their streak of 182 consecutive games scoring 10 or more points. The last time they were held under 10 points? All the way back in 2011. With an 8-3 record, Alabama now faces Auburn next Saturday in a must-win game to salvage their season.
Other Notable Performances
Here are a few more highlights from Week 13:
- Georgia Bulldogs: Quarterback Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes in a half, joining elite company in program history.
- Miami Hurricanes: Cam Ward broke the school’s single-season passing yards record and added another game with both a passing and rushing touchdown.
- Boise State Broncos: Ashton Jeanty joined an exclusive club of FBS players with 2,000 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns in a season.
What’s Next?
With rivalry week on the horizon, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Ohio State and Michigan will clash in a game with massive playoff implications, while Oregon looks to stay perfect against Washington. Meanwhile, Alabama and Texas A&M will try to bounce back from tough losses. Buckle up, college football fans—this season is far from over!
Originally Written by: ESPN Staff
