There is a good chance that Washington will leap-frog Florida State in the next set of College Football Playoff rankings.
Is that because of the gruesome leg injury that Jordan Travis suffered in the first half in a 58-13 against North Alabama? Or a nod to the Huskies' 22-20 victory at Oregon State? The College Football Playoff committee will talk themselves into it no matter what the answer is to both those questions.
Both teams are 11-0 with just two weeks left until those final four-team pairings are announced on Dec. 3.
Is that justified? Florida State fans could argue that is projecting future results based on the Travis injury. The Seminoles turned to backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker – who finished 13 of 23 passing for 217 yards and two TDs against the Lions – a FCS opponent who had an early 13-0 lead. If Florida State wins its last two against Florida and the ACC championship game against Louisville, then they will have a case.
Is that case better than Washington if the Huskies beat Washington State and Oregon or Arizona in the Pac-12 championship game? Washington has beaten three straight ranked opponents and has a leading Heisman Trophy candidate in Michael Penix Jr.
Yet if the roles were reversed and Penix Jr. had an injury, then these same uncomfortable conversations would persist. After all, it is the quarterback we are talking about.
There is precedent, too. In 2014, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett suffered a right ankle fracture in the regular-season finale against Michigan. The Buckeyes were at No. 5 in the rankings, but Cardale Jones led a 59-0 blowout victory against Wisconsin the Big Ten championship game.
Ohio State leap-frogged TCU and held off Baylor for the final playoff spot and went on to the program's last national championship. Can the Seminoles do the same?
Here is a full look at the Sporting News top 25 rankings – and how the penultimate set of College Football Playoff rankings – might look this week.
Top 25 for Week 13
Top four CFP teams
1. Georgia (11-0, 8-0 SEC)
The Bulldogs completed their third straight 8-0 season in SEC play, an impressive streak that continued with a 38-10 blowout against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium. The continued evolution of Carson Beck (24 of 30, 298 yards, 3 TDs) is impressive. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (7-91, 2 TDs), Dillon Bell (5-90, TD) and Brock Bowers (7-60, TD) all reached the end zone. Beck averaged 286 passing yards per game through three victories against ranked opponents. The Bulldogs close the regular season against Georgia Tech.
2. Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten)
The Buckeyes are getting healthy at the right time. Ohio State throttled Minnesota 37-3. Kyle McCord (20 of 30, 212 yards, 2 TDs) was solid and Marvin Harrison Jr. (3-30, TD) caught another TD, but TreVeyon Henderson (15-146, 2 TDs) and Emeka Ebuka (5-83) are healthy. The defense hasn’t allowed a TD in the last two games. It’s on to Michigan in a game that will decide the Big Ten East.
MORE: Stakes could not be higher for 2023 edition of The Game
3. Michigan (11-0, 8-0) Big Ten)
The Wolverines survived a scare at Maryland in a 31-24 victory in a look-ahead spot before The Game against Ohio State. Sherrone Moore picked up his second victory in place of Jim Harbaugh – who will serve the rest of a three-game suspension imposed by the Big Ten. Blake Corum (28-94, 2 TDs) and safety Mike Sainristil (2 INTs) stepped up, but J.J. McCarthy (12 of 23, 141 yards, INT) struggled without leading receiver Roman Wilson, who left in the first quarter with an injury.
4. Washington (11-0, 8-0 Pac-12)
The Huskies battled the elements in pulling out a 22-20 victory against Oregon State. Penix (13 of 28, 162 yards, 2 TDs) did not have many chances in the second half, but he connected with Rome Odunze (7-106, 2 TDs) for a clutch 19-yard pass that sealed the victory in the final minutes. The Huskies are on a collision course with Oregon for a Pac-12 championship matchup that would be a rematch of their 36-33 classic on Oct. 14. Who says no?
First two out of CFP
5. Florida State (11-0, 8-0 ACC)
The Travis injury overshadowed a victory that continues Mike Norvell's break-through season. Florida State is one step closer to its first 12-0 season since 2014, and FSU rushed for 248 yards on 6.7 yards per carry. That ground game will be more important without Travis, and the defense will be on the spot against Florida. The Seminoles have not won at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium since 2017.
MORE: FSU's Jordan Travis goes down with ankle injury
6. Oregon (10-1, 7-1, Pac-12)
The Ducks continue to bolster their case as the top one-loss team – and Bo Nix (24 of 29, 404 yards, 6 TDs) is making his move in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Oregon routed Arizona State 49-13, and Nix had all six TDs by halftime. Second-year coach Dan Lanning affirmed he will not entertain the Texas A&M job, and Oregon continues to look like a complete team heading into a possible Pac-12 championship game. But first, the matchup with Oregon State will have more than enough heat.
CFP rankings: Rest of top 10
7. Texas (10-1, 7-1 Big 12)
The Longhorns had a slow start in Ames, but they pulled away in the second half of a 26-16 victory that keeps them near the top of the one-loss pileup. Quinn Ewers (23 of 33, 281 yards, 2 TDs) is settled back in, and CJ Baxter (20-117) replaced Jonathan Brooks (torn ACL). Texas limited the Cyclones to nine rushing yards. Texas closes the regular season against Texas Tech on Friday.
8. Alabama (10-1, 7-0 SEC)
The Crimson Tide totaled 574 yards in a 66-10 victory against Chattanooga. Alabama scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions, and Jalen Milroe (13 of 16, 197 yards, 3 TDs) continues to blossom in the starting role for the Crimson Tide. Alabama totaled 315 rushing yards and five TDs on the ground. That sets up the Iron Bowl with Auburn before the SEC championship game against Georgia.
9. Louisville (10-1, 7-1 ACC)
The Cardinals held off a last-ditch Hail Mary by Miami in a wild 38-31 ACC thriller. That means first-year coach Jeff Brohm has led his alma mater to the ACC championship game; a remarkable accomplishment given Louisville finished 6-7 last season. Brohm also led Purdue to its first ever Big Ten championship game last season. Jack Plummer (24 of 37, 308 yards, 3 TDs, INT) hit the go-ahead 58-yard TD to Kevin Coleman in the fourth quarter for the Cardinals’ fifth one-score victory.
10. Missouri (9-2, 5-2 SEC)
The Tigers' charmed season continued in a 33-31 victory against Florida. Brady Cook (20 of 34, 331 yards, TD) connected with Luther Burden (9-158) on a fourth-and-17 conversion that set up the game-winning 30-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis. Cody Schrader (23-148, TD) provided the ground support, and now Missouri can make its case for a New Year's Day Six bowl with a victory against Arkansas. The Tigers have four one-score victories this season.
CFP rankings: 11-25
11. Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 SEC)
The Rebels led 7-3 at halftime against UL Monroe before Jaxson Dart (24 of 31, 310 yards, 3 TDs) threw three TDs in the third quarter, including a 58-yard TD strike to Dayton Wade. Ole Miss closes the season Thursday in the Egg Bowl, and a New Year’s Day Six bowl remains a possibility.
12. Penn State (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
The Nittany Lions beat Rutgers 27-6, but it was not easy or without consequence. Quarterback Drew Allar (6 of 13, 79 yards) left with an injury in the third quarter and did not return. Beau Pribula threw just one pass but had eight carries for 71 yards, and Kaytron Allen (16-69, 2 TDs) helped seal the game in the fourth quarter. Penn State closes the regular season on Black Friday against Michigan State at Ford Field.
13. Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2, Big 12)
Oklahoma kept its Big 12 championship hopes alive in a 31-24 victory against BYU. Dillon Gabriel (13 of 21, 191 yards, 2 TDs) left with a head injury, however, and it took a fourth-quarter TD run from Gavin Sawchuk (14-107, TD) to shake off the Cougars. Freshman Jackson Arnold (5 of 9, 33 yards) filled in for Gabriel. The Sooners close the season Friday against TCU.
14. LSU (8-3, 6-2 SEC)
The Tigers routed Georgia State 56-14, and Jayden Daniels followed last week's 606-yard performance with an eight-touchdown masterpiece against the Panthers. Daniels (25 of 30, 413 yards, 6 TDs) added 96 rushing yards and two TDs. Malik Nabers (8-140, 2 TDs) also had a huge game. Daniels is making a compelling Heisman Trophy case, and Brian Kelly can push LSU to nine wins if it beats Texas A&M.
15. Notre Dame (8-3, Independent)
Notre Dame routed Wake Forest 45-7 in another routine victory against an ACC opponent. Sam Hartman (21 of 29, 277 yards, 4 TDs) had a fantastic game against his former team, and the Irish limited the Demon Deacons to 232 yards. Audric Estime (22-115, TD) crossed the 1,000-yard mark, and second-year coach Marcus Freeman can still get to 10 wins in Year 2. Notre Dame visits Stanford to close the season.
16. Iowa (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
The Hawkeyes gutted out another 15-13 victory against Illinois and have outscored opponents 47-20 through a three-game winning streak. That means Kirk Ferentz is back in the Big Ten championship game for the third time since 2015 – a feat made even more impressive considering the offensive woes and the loss of cornerback Cooper DeJean. In a sense, this might be some of Ferentz's finest coaching. The Hawkeyes close the regular season against Nebraska first.
17. Arizona (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12)
The Wildcats stretched their winning streak to five – and that includes victories against four ranked opponents – with a 42-18 blowout against Utah. Noah Fifita (22 of 30, 253 yards, 2 TDs) was efficient, and the offense converted 7 of 11 on third down. The defense forced two turnovers. Arizona last won 10 games in 2014. That goal is within reach heading into the Territorial Cup matchup against Arizona State.
18. Oregon State (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12)
The Beavers will slip to this range after the 22-20 loss to the Huskies by virtue of the head-to-head loss to Arizona. DJ Uiagalelei (15 of 31, 156 yards, 2 INTs) had a few costly turnovers, and Oregon State could not get off the field in the final minutes to get one more shot at a game-winning drive. The Beavers can still play spoiler against rival Oregon, but their Pac-12 championship bid is over.
19. Tulane (10-1, 7-0 American)
The Green Wave continued their win streak in the American Athletic Conference and inched closer to the conference championship game. Michael Pratt (21 of 28, 252 yards, 3 TDs) had his best game since the season opener, and Tulane closes the regular season against UTSA, who also is unbeaten in ACC play.
20. Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2 Big 12)
The Cowboys trailed Houston 14-3 after one quarter, but they snapped out of it to pull out a 43-30 victory on the road. Ollie Gordon (25-164, 3 TDs) got back on track in the running game. If Texas wins the league with a win over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State simply needs to beat BYU next week to land in the Big 12 championship game.
21. Kansas State (7-3, 5-2, Big 12)
The Wildcats increased their winning streak against Kansas to 15 games in a 31-27 victory against the Jayhawks. Kansas State remains in a wild Big 12 championship race as a result. Will Howard (13 of 24, 165 yards, 2 TDs, INT) had the go-ahead TD run in the fourth quarter, and Kansas State closes the regular season against Iowa State in Week 13. Chris Klieman now has at least eight wins in four of the last five seasons.
22. Liberty (11-0, 7-0 C-USA)
The Kaidon Salter show continues for the Flames. Salter (11 of 16, 225 yards, 2 TDs, INT) added 118 rushing yards and two rushing TDs. Liberty built a commanding lead by halftime in a 49-25 victory against UMass. First-year coach Jamey Chadwell has Liberty on the cusp of an unbeaten regular season heading into the regular-season finale against New Mexico State. They should be in the CFP rankings at this point.
23. NC State (8-3, 5-2 ACC)
Clemson or North Carolina could take this spot, but we’ll go with the team that beat the Tigers head to head. NC State might slip back into the Top 25 after knocking off Virginia Tech 35-28. Brennan Armstrong (18 of 26, 203 yards, 2 TDs) added 89 rushing yards and two more scores. Dave Doeren has won eight or more games each of the last four seasons. The Wolfpack have won the last two meetings with the Tar Heels, too.
24. SMU (9-2, 7-0 AAC)
Will the committee recognize a second AAC team? The Mustangs beat Memphis 38-34 in a shootout on Saturday that puts them one step closer to the AAC championship game. SMU lost in non-conference play to Oklahoma and TCU, but they are building momentum that should carry over into their transition to the ACC next season. Rhett Lashlee has done impressive work. SMU faces Navy on Saturday.
25. Toledo (10-1, 7-0 MAC)
A little #MACtion never hurts. If not for a heart-breaking 30-28 loss to Illinois in the opener, the Rockets would be unbeaten. Jason Candle has Toledo in position for back-to-back MAC championships after a thrilling 32-31 victory against Bowling Green. Toledo closes the regular season against Central Michigan on Friday.
How the Top 25 fared
Here is a look at how the teams in our top 25 fared in Week 12:
| RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | WEEK 11 RESULT |
| 1 | Georgia | 11-0 | Beat Tennessee 38-10 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 11-0 | Beat Minnesota 37-3 |
| 3 | Michigan | 11-0 | Beat Maryland 31-24 |
| 4 | Florida State | 11-0 | Beat North Alabama 58-13 |
| 5 | Washington | 11-0 | Beat Oregon State 22-20 |
| 6 | Oregon | 10-1 | Beat Arizona State 49-13 |
| 7 | Texas | 10-1 | Beat Iowa State 26-16 |
| 8 | Alabama | 10-1 | Beat Chattanooga 66-10 |
| 9 | Louisville | 10-1 | Beat Miami 38-31 |
| 10 | Missouri | 9-2 | Beat Florida 33-31 |
| 11 | Ole Miss | 9-2 | Beat UL-Monroe 35-3 |
| 12 | Penn State | 9-2 | Beat Rutgers 27-6 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | 9-2 | Beat BYU 31-24 |
| 14 | LSU | 8-3 | Beat Georgia State 56-14 |
| 15 | Notre Dame | 8-3 | Beat Wake Forest 45-7 |
| 16 | Iowa | 9-2 | Beat Illinois 15-13 |
| 17 | Arizona | 8-3 | Beat Utah 42-18 |
| 18 | Oregon State | 8-3 | Lost to Washington 22-20 |
| 19 | Tulane | 10-1 | Beat FAU 24-8 |
| 20 | Oklahoma State | 8-3 | Beat Houston 43-30 |
| 21 | Kansas State | 8-3 | Beat Kansas 31-27 |
| 22 | Liberty | 11-0 | Beat UMass 49-25 |
| 23 | NC State | 8-3 | Beat Virginia Tech 35-28 |
| 24 | SMU | 9-2 | Beat Memphis 38-34 |
| 25 | Toledo | 10-1 | Beat Bowling Green 32-31 |
