ESPN shakes up Top 25 Power Rankings after Week 14 of College Football

The 2025 regular season has come to an end. Now, as teams get ready for conference championship week and the postseason, ESPN has shaken up its Top 25 Power Rankings.

Rivalry Week wraps up the season every year. That is naturally a chaotic week around the sport, and this year was no different. Naturally, ESPN had to make a few changes thanks to that. That includes five teams on the move in the Top 10 and a pair of newly ranked teams.

The College Football Playoff is around the corner. So, it’s important to make a distinction between these and a prediction for the CFP rankings. These aren’t projections for those rankings, but what the folks at ESPN think following the regular season. With that in mind, here’s a look at the Top 25 Power Rankings.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

The streak is finally over. Ohio State beat Michigan for the first time since 2019 over the weekend. More than that, the Buckeyes were convincing in the win and capped off their unbeaten regular season in style. So, it’s not a surprise they’re at the top of the ESPN Power Rankings.

Ohio State’s national championship defense is going to continue into the Big Ten Championship Game next week against Indiana. Both teams should be in the College Football Playoff. However, seeding is still up for grabs.

2. Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana had its best season in program history in 2024. Then, in 2025, they improved on it and finished the regular season unbeaten. That included a blowout win over rival Purdue. With that, they retained their spot at second in the ESPN Power Rankings.

Next up is the Big Ten Championship Game and the CFP. The Hoosiers have a chance to win their first conference championship since 1967. In that respect, the season has been a success, but Indiana has more on its mind than that.

3. Georgia Bulldogs (+1)

The Georgia Bulldogs moved up one spot in the ESPN Power Rankings. This comes after the Bulldogs took care of business in Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate on Friday. Then, on Saturday, the Bulldogs were able to watch the football around the country to see where things fell.

By the time the Iron Bowl was over, Georgia knew it was going to get a rematch with Alabama. The only team to beat Georgia this season, the Crimson Tide have been a problem for the Bulldogs in recent years. So, the SEC Championship could prove an opportunity to exorcise some demons.

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (+3)

Another team that ESPN bumped up coming out of Rivalry Week was Texas Tech. The Red Raiders had West Virginia, who may not be a traditional rival but certainly did want to upset Texas Tech. That didn’t happen, though, and Texas Tech won 49-0.

Now, Texas Tech is going to turn its attention to the Big 12 Championship. There, the Red Raiders can lock up its spot in the CFP. However, with their resume, the Red Raiders could be in even with a loss there to BYU.

5. Oregon Ducks

No movement from the Oregon Ducks in the ESPN Power Rankings this week. That comes after they went on the road and took care of Washington last week.

Oregon is going to miss out on the Big Ten Championship Game this season. That’s despite the Ducks going 11-1 on the season. Still, the CFP is around the corner and Oregon is expected to be there. It’s just a matter of getting better results than a season ago.

6. Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss won the Egg Bowl, but that became an afterthought. All the focus was on head coach Lane Kiffin, and his decision to leave the program for LSU. That quickly became the most talked about story of the season, and ended with emotions boiling over.

ESPN decided not to move Ole Miss in its Power Rankings. In that respect, it would seem the Kiffin decision had no impact here. The question is whether or not the CFP moves the Rebels.

7. Texas A&M Aggies (-4)

Texas A&M suffered a loss to rival Texas to wrap up the season. That was just their first loss, but it did cost them a shot at the SEC Championship. It also cost them four spots in the ESPN Power Rankings.

Now, Texas A&M has left its fate up to the CFP selection committee. The expectation is, of course, that the Aggies are in. It’s just a matter of what their seed is going to be.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners are sitting at 10-2 to wrap up the season. This comes after they won their final four games of the season against a very difficult stretch. That came to a close with a tight win over LSU, which was good enough to stay at No. 8 in the ESPN Power Rankings.

Now, Oklahoma is looking to see where it ends up in the final CFP rankings this season. Given their record and resume, most expect the Sooners to be in. The question, however, should come down to seeding. Still, it’s up in the air without a conference championship appearance.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+1)

Notre Dame finished its season with a blowout win over rival Stanford. That game was never in doubt as the Irish continue to impress with the eye test, finishing with 10 wins in a row, all of which were by double-digit points. That’s reflected in their spot in the ESPN Power Rankings.

An Independent, there’s no conference championship game for Notre Dame. So, their resume is set in stone and the Irish look like a bubble team. That means the Irish are going to have a close eye on results around the sport.

10. Alabama Crimson Tide (-1)

Alabama got a scare in the Iron Bowl. That often happens when they play that game in Jordan-Hare Stadium, but the Crimson Tide still managed to win that game. Still, it cost them a spot in the ESPN Power Rankings.

Now, Alabama turns its attention to the SEC Championship Game. Winning that game, and avoiding going to the selection committee with three losses, is going to be vital there. However, most expect the SEC runner-up to make the field.

11. BYU Cougars
12. Miami Hurricanes
13. Vanderbilt Commodores (+1)
14. Texas Longhorns (+2)
15. Utah Utes (-2)
16. Virginia Cavaliers (+1)
17. USC Trojans (+2)
18. Michigan Wolverines (-3)
19. Arizona Wildcats (NR)
20. North Texas Mean Green
21. Tulane Green Wave
22. James Madison Dukes (+2)
23. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+2)
24. Tennessee Volunteers (-6)
25. Iowa Hawkeyes (NR)