The biggest knock on Michigan all season has been its lack of a standout win this season. Without Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines checked that box.
Harbaugh was serving the first of his three-game suspension as Michigan went on the road to play No. 10 Penn State. The defense stifled the Nittany Lions, and for a second straight year, it was Michigan's running game that slowly took the game away from Penn State.
Week 12 also featured a number of wild results, including a stunning blowout win by UCF over No. 15 Oklahoma State; Texas Tech knocking off No. 16 Kansas; No. 5 Washington, No. 6 Oregon and No. 7 Texas picking up key wins; and Georgia turning in its strongest showing yet with a blowout of a top-10 Ole Miss team.
MORE: Projecting the Playoff teams, NCAA top 25 for Week 12
How are the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll rankings looking after Week 11? Here's what you need to know.
College football rankings for Week 12
Coaches poll
| Ranking | Team | Record | Points (No. 1 votes) |
| 1 | Georgia | 10-0 | 1,591 (58) |
| 2 | Michigan | 10-0 | 1,479 (3) |
| 3 | Ohio State | 10-0 | 1,467 (3) |
| 4 | Florida State | 10-0 | 1,428 |
| 5 | Washington | 10-0 | 1,358 |
| 6 | Oregon | 9-1 | 1,256 |
| 7 | Texas | 9-1 | 1,207 |
| 8 | Alabama | 9-1 | 1,197 |
| 9 | Louisville | 9-1 | 1,042 |
| 10 | Oregon State | 8-2 | 945 |
| 11 | Missouri | 8-2 | 937 |
| 12 | Penn State | 8-2 | 890 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | 8-2 | 817 |
| 14 | Ole Miss | 8-2 | 815 |
| 15 | LSU | 7-3 | 667 |
| 16 | Utah | 7-3 | 531 |
| 17 | Tulane | 9-1 | 434 |
| 18 | Notre Dame | 7-3 | 424 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 7-3 | 401 |
| 20 | North Carolina | 8-2 | 387 |
| 21 | James Madison | 10-0 | 343 |
| 22 | Arizona | 7-3 | 295 |
| 23 | Iowa | 8-2 | 252 |
| 24 | Kansas State | 7-3 | 216 |
| 25 | Oklahoma State | 7-3 | 145 |
Others receiving votes: Kansas 90; Liberty 79; SMU 27; UNLV 24; Toledo 16; NC State 16; USC 7; Fresno State 6; Troy 5; Air Force 5; Memphis 1.
AP poll
| Ranking | Team | Record | Points (No. 1 votes) |
| 1 | Georgia | 10-0 | 1,540 (54) |
| 2 | Michigan | 10-0 | 1,464 (7) |
| 3 | Ohio State | 10-0 | 1,433 (1) |
| 4 | Florida State | 10-0 | 1,366 |
| 5 | Washington | 10-0 | 1,322 |
| 6 | Oregon | 9-1 | 1,218 |
| 7 | Texas | 9-1 | 1,180 |
| 8 | Alabama | 9-1 | 1,141 |
| 9 | Louisville | 9-1 | 1,002 |
| 10 | Oregon State | 8-2 | 934 |
| 11 | Missouri | 8-2 | 917 |
| 12 | Penn State | 8-2 | 857 |
| 13 | Ole Miss | 8-2 | 810 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | 8-2 | 733 |
| 15 | LSU | 7-3 | 703 |
| 16 | Utah | 7-3 | 543 |
| 17 | Tulane | 9-1 | 412 |
| 18 | James Madison | 10-0 | 405 |
| 19 | Arizona | 7-3 | 387 |
| 20 | Notre Dame | 7-3 | 359 |
| 21 | Tennessee | 7-3 | 333 |
| 22 | North Carolina | 8-2 | 265 |
| 23 | Kansas State | 7-3 | 240 |
| 24 | Oklahoma State | 7-3 | 178 |
| 25 | Liberty | 10-0 | 133 |
Others receiving votes: Iowa 111; Kansas 83; Toledo 51; Fresno St. 13; Southern Cal 5; UNLV 4; SMU 4; NC State 2; Miami (Ohio) 1; Texas A&M 1.
