Top 25 Predictions: What the AP Poll Will Look Like After Week 13
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The college football slate largely unfolded as expected on Saturday. The one notable exception was Pittsburgh punching No. 15 Georgia Tech in the mouth. The Panthers further mucked up a crowded ACC championship race by picking up an 42-28 upset in Atlanta.
Outside of that, none of the top 14 teams in the country lost. A good portion of the top 25 was idle for Week 13 while a few played lesser competition and handled their business accordingly.
No. 6 Oregon notched a signature win against No. 16 USC. That 42-27 result likely secured the Ducks a spot in the College Football Playoff and ended the Trojans’ chances of a postseason berth. No. 8 Oklahoma also defeated No. 23 Missouri, 17-6, to inch closer to a CFP bid. And while No. 9 Notre Dame’s game was never in doubt, it’s worth noting the Fighting Irish beat Syracuse 70-7.
It was a good week for teams on the bubble. No. 13 Utah trailed Kansas State 12 points halfway through the fourth quarter when a defensive two-point conversion sparked a comeback. The Utes scored two quick touchdowns to take back the lead and steal a game in which they surrendered 472 rushing yards.
No. 14 Miami upended Virginia Tech on the road, 34-17, for its first win outside of Florida this season. No. 12 Vanderbilt blew out Kentucky, 45-17, as Diego Pavia set a new school record with 484 passing yards. Arch Manning tallied six total touchdowns in a 52-37 win for No. 17 Texas against Arkansas. And in the late window, No. 11 BYU hung on to beat Cincinnati, 26-14, which likely sets up a rematch with No. 7 Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game.
Unlike last week, there won’t be much movement near the top of the AP poll. The big changes will come in the 20s, where a few new teams figure to crack the rankings. Here’s Athlon Sports’ AP Top 25 projection after Week 13.
| Proj. Rank | Team | Record | Result | Prev. Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ohio State | 11-0 | W vs. Rutgers (42-9) | 1 | 0 |
2 | Indiana | 11-0 | Idle | 2 | 0 |
3 | Texas A&M | 11-0 | W vs. Samford (48-0) | 3 | 0 |
4 | Georgia | 10-1 | W vs. Charlotte (35-3) | 4 | 0 |
5 | Oregon | 10-1 | W vs. USC (42-27) | 6 | +1 |
6 | Ole Miss | 10-1 | Idle | 5 | -1 |
7 | Texas Tech | 10-1 | Idle | 7 | 0 |
8 | Oklahoma | 9-2 | W vs. Missouri (17-6) | 8 | 0 |
9 | Notre Dame | 9-2 | W vs. Syracuse (70-7) | 9 | 0 |
10 | Alabama | 9-2 | W vs. Eastern Illinois (56-0) | 10 | 0 |
11 | BYU | 10-1 | W at Cincinnati (26-14) | 11 | 0 |
12 | Vanderbilt | 9-2 | W vs. Kentucky (45-17) | 12 | 0 |
13 | Utah | 9-2 | W vs. Kansas State (51-47) | 13 | 0 |
14 | Miami | 9-2 | W at Virginia Tech (34-17) | 14 | 0 |
15 | Texas | 8-3 | W vs. Arkansas (52-37) | 17 | +2 |
16 | Michigan | 9-2 | W at Maryland (45-20) | 18 | +2 |
17 | Tennessee | 8-3 | W at Florida (31-11) | 20 | +3 |
18 | Virginia | 9-2 | Idle | 19 | +1 |
19 | North Texas | 10-1 | W at Rice (56-24) | 22 | +2 |
20 | Georgia Tech | 9-2 | L vs. Pittsburgh (42-28) | 15 | -5 |
21 | James Madison | 10-1 | W vs. Washington State (24-20) | 21 | 0 |
22 | USC | 8-3 | L at Oregon (42-27) | 16 | -6 |
23 | Tulane | 9-2 | W at Temple (37-13) | 24 | +1 |
24 | SMU | 8-3 | W vs. Louisville (38-6) | NR (28) | +4 |
25 | Pittsburgh | 8-3 | W at Georgia Tech (42-28) | NR (32) | +7 |
Dropped out: No. 23 Missouri, No. 25 Houston
Related: College Football Coaching Carousel Predictions for the 2025 Cycle
Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Big QB Questions Highlight New 2-Round Forecast
Related: 12 Coaches Who Will Define College Football’s Coaching Carousel
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos