AP top 25 Poll released following Week 13
The 2021 edition of rivalry week did more than just live up to high expectations, as it also resulted in a significant shakeup in the AP Top 25 Poll.
2020 rivalry week just didn’t seem to do the tradition justice; a number of historic rivalries, like Minnesota-Wisconsin and Ohio State-Michigan, were cancelled due to COVID-19. And it seemed like the ones that actually took place just weren’t the same, given that the stadiums — typically packed to the brim — were nearly empty. This season, however, Week 13 avenged last year’s rivalry week to the umpteenth degree, with a number of upsets and wild games changing the AP Top 25, much to the thrill of Michigan Wolverines fans and Oklahoma State Cowboys fans.
Michigan and Ohio State faced off in The Game for the first time in two years, after last season’s COVID-related cancellation, and the heavily-favored Ohio State Buckeyes were simply outmatched by Michigan in a physical matchup. The Wolverines’ defense held Ohio State to a season low in points, with 27, and total yardage, with 458, while John Harbaugh’s rushing attack put up 297 yards and five scores. That performance was enough to vault Michigan up to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 Poll, up from No. 6 last week, while Ohio State fell to No. 7 after its College Football Playoff hopes dissipated.
Meanwhile, in the Iron Bowl, Auburn — coming off three-straight losses, including an abysmal one to South Carolina — took Alabama to the ropes, sending the rivalry game into overtime for the first time in its history. Ultimately, Alabama maintained its composure, and Bryce Young led the Crimson Tide to a win in the fourth overtime, during the strange penalty shot-styled, two-point conversion phase of play.
The wild rivalries didn’t stop with the Iron Bowl, though. Bedlam was one of the most intense games of the week, and Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State Cowboys managed to upend the Oklahoma Sooners, the program’s first rivalry-week win since 2014. In the process, Gundy’s Cowboys moved up to No. 5 in the AP Poll, and they will make a compelling case come College Football Playoff time.
Other upsets were simply overshadowed by those three fantastic games. Minnesota beat the previous No. 18 in Wisconsin, Washington State finally claimed the Apple Cup over Washington and Virginia Tech — which just fired its head coach — still managed to defeat Virginia for the 17th time in 18 years. All that and more is reflected in the latest edition of the AP Top 25 Poll, released Sunday afternoon.
AP Top 25 Poll following Week 13
- Georgia (12-0)
- Michigan (11-1)
- Cincinnati (12-0)
- Alabama (11-1)
- Oklahoma State (11-1)
- Notre Dame (11-1)
- Ohio State (10-2)
- Ole Miss (10-2)
- Baylor (10-2)
- Oregon (10-2)
- Michigan State (10-2)
- BYU (10-2)
- Oklahoma (10-2)
- Utah (9-3)
- Iowa (10-2)
- Houston (11-1)
- Pitt (9-3)
- Wake Forest (10-2)
- San Diego State (11-1)
- Louisiana-Lafayette (11-1)
- NC State (9-3)
- Clemson (9-3)
- Arkansas (8-4)
- Texas A&M (8-4)
- Kentucky (9-3)
Others receiving votes: Wisconsin (68), UTSA (58), Appalachian State (50), Minnesota (37), Purdue (21), Mississippi State (7), Penn State (5), Army (5), Fresno State (1)