ESPN shakes up Top 25 Power Rankings after Week 11 of College Football

The college football season is in its last few weeks. By now, it’s generally safe to say what individual teams are across the country. However, there is still more to learn every week. So, following Week 11, ESPN once again shook up its Top 25 Power Rankings.

Within the Power Rankings that ESPN put out, 23 different teams are all in different spots than they were a week ago. That includes three teams that weren’t ranked at all a week ago. So, even with no new teams in the Top 10, ESPN made plenty of moves.

Ultimately, these Power Rankings remain a glance at where each team around the country stands in the moment, and don’t act as a predictive tool. With the College Football Playoff around the corner, though, it’s getting more important than ever how teams are perceived. With that in mind, here’s how ESPN ranked its Top 25.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

ESPN left the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 1 in its Power Rankings post Week 11. This comes after going on the road and taking care of business against Purdue over the weekend. They’d move to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play with the win.

There are still three games left to go, starting with UCLA next weekend. However, they’re in position to make it to the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff given that start to the season. So, at this point, the goal is to avoid chaos and regular season upsets.

2. Texas A&M Aggies (+1)

The Texas A&M Aggies jumped up a spot in the ESPN Power Rankings this week. This comes on the heels of a convincing road win against Missouri. However, jumping up may have more to do with Indiana’s struggles than the Aggies’ success on the field.

At this point, Texas A&M controls its own destiny. With two SEC games left, the Aggies are unbeaten in conference play and look to be headed for the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. Of course, they still need to find a way to beat South Carolina and later Texas.

3. Indiana Hoosiers (-1)

Indiana played in a thriller in Week 11. Of course, that wasn’t necessarily something they were used to needing to do, but in the end, a last minute touchdown on the catch of the season was enough to overcome an upset bid from Penn State. It showed plenty of resilience but still cost them a spot in the ESPN Power Rankings.

Going forward, Indiana is still in a good spot for both the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. After all, they do currently hold the tiebreaker over Oregon. So, avoiding upsets to Wisconsin and Purdue should get them to the postseason in a comfortable spot.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide were steady in the ESPN Power Rankings. This is off the heels of a win over LSU. While not a dominant effort, the Crimson Tide were excellent on defense. With that, they’d stay unbeaten in SEC play.

Now, Alabama is in good shape moving forward. The conference championship and the College Football Playoff are within reach. However, the Crimson Tide need to avoid getting upset in the coming weeks, which is a task that starts with a tough game against Oklahoma.

5. Georgia Bulldogs (+3)

The Georgia Bulldogs had a big win over Mississippi State, where they dominated from start to finish in Week 11. ESPN took notice after several weeks of struggling with consistency and starting games slowly. As a result, they’re up three spots in the Power Rankings.

Georgia, thanks to its loss to Alabama, is on the outside looking in at the SEC Championship Game. However, there is still time. So, if the Bulldogs keep on winning, they could get there. They’ll just need some help.

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (+3)

Texas Tech earned a massive win over the weekend against BYU. That was a dominant effort in which the Red Raiders took care of business. So, ESPN, with College GameDay in town, took note, and bumped them up three spots in the Power Rankings.

The Big 12 is a tight race. However, the win over BYU puts Texas Tech in a very good position to make the conference championship game. Now, with a manageable final few weeks, Texas Tech is riding high.

7. Ole Miss Rebels (-1)

Ole Miss slipped a spot in the ESPN Power Rankings. That’s not because of anything they did on the field though. The Rebels dominated The Citadel in Week 11. However, given that it was an FCS opponent and there were other impressive performances around the country, they did seem themselves slip.

Of course, for Ole Miss, the focus is on avoiding distractions and upsets, which isn’t easy at the moment. Still, it’s important. Win out, and there is just about no reason why Ole Miss shouldn’t make its first College Football Playoff appearance.

8. Oregon Ducks (-3)

The Oregon Ducks added a win in Iowa to their resume in Week 11. It was a tough win, though, coming on a last-minute field goal. Given how close that game was, and the quality wins a few other teams added, ESPN slid the Ducks down three spots in its Power Rankings.

Sliding in the Power Rankings or not, Oregon is in an interesting spot. The Ducks would need help to make it to the Big Ten Championship Game. However, they’re well regarded, and the College Football Playoff is in play. They’ll need to impress in the final weeks, though.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+1)

Notre Dame dominated Navy over the weekend. Now, they’re moving up to No. 9 in the ESPN Power Rankings. It’s a spot that comes from their continued improvement as the season has gone on, bouncing back from losses in the opening weeks.

Now, all eyes will be on Notre Dame in Week 12. ESPN College GameDay is going to be at their game against Pitt. It’s the last major test the Irish need to overcome on what they hope to be a return to the College Football Playoff.

10. BYU Cougars (-3)

The BYU Cougars dropped three spots in the ESPN Power Rankings after losing to Texas Tech. That came in a game that the Red Raiders dominated from start to finish, but the Cougars have a larger body of work to lean on from the course of the season.

Now, the Cougars are in a position where they could still find themselves in the Big 12 Championship Game. That means, there is still a path to the College Football Playoff, and depending on the selection committee, there is also a chance they could make the CFP as an at-large.

11. Texas Longhorns (+2)
12. Oklahoma Sooners (-1)
13. Utah Utes (+4)
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (+2)
15. Miami Hurricanes (+4)
16. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (-1)
17. USC Trojans (+3)
18. Michigan Wolverines (+3)
19. Pitt Panthers (NR)
20. Louisville Cardinals (-6)
21. Virginia Cavaliers (-9)
22. Tennessee Volunteers (+1)
23. Iowa Hawkeyes (+2)
24. North Texas Mean Green (NR)
25. Cincinnati Bearcats (NR)