USA Today Coaches Poll top 25 released following Week 13

Jonathan Wagner

The regular season is over for college football. Week 13 was a wild and exciting finish to what was an unforgettable regular season. The final weekend saw many highly contested and important matchups that will have serious impacts on the postseason. Following the Week 13 action, the latest USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll top 25 has been released.

Coaches Poll top 25 after Week 13

Georgia (12-0)
Alabama (11-1)
Michigan (11-1)
Cincinnati (12-0)
Oklahoma State (11-1)
Notre Dame (11-1)
Ohio State (10-2)
Ole Miss (10-2)
Baylor (10-2)
Oregon (10-2)
Oklahoma (10-2)
Iowa (10-2)
Michigan State (10-2)
BYU (10-2)
Pittsburgh (10-2)
Houston (11-1)
Utah (9-3)
Wake Forest (10-2)
San Diego State (11-1)
NC State (9-3)
Louisiana (11-1)
Kentucky (9-3)
Texas A&M (8-4)
Clemson (9-3)
Arkansas (8-4)

Week 13 drastically impacted the College Football Playoff picture

Coming into the final week of the regular season, Georgia was the only certainty in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings. The Bulldogs are locked into a spot in the CFP no matter what happens in the SEC Championship. But behind the Bulldogs? There are a ton of possibilities.

Ohio State entered the week as the No. 2 team in the nation and with an inside track to finishing in that spot once the playoff rolls around. But Michigan took down Ohio State in Week 13, which has resulted in the Wolverines taking the Buckeyes’ spot in the top four. Michigan must now defeat Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, and if they do, the Wolverines will be in the playoff and likely in the No. 2 spot.

Alabama survived an upset scare from Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday. If Alabama had lost that game, all of the polls following Week 13 would have been turned on their heads. The Crimson Tide now have a tough matchup against Georgia in the SEC title game. Alabama could still make it into the playoff with a close loss, but a blowout Georgia victory could change Alabama’s outlook.

Cincinnati took care of business against East Carolina to wrap up the regular season. The Bearcats have completed an impressive undefeated regular season. Next up for Cincinnati is a tough game against a good Houston team in the AAC Championship game. A win puts the Bearcats in a great position for the playoff.

The matchup between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in Bedlam was a memorable one. Oklahoma State squeaked out a 37-33 victory, ending the Big 12 and playoff hopes of the Sooners. Now, Oklahoma State needs some help to get into the playoff. Beating Baylor in the Big 12 Championship would be a good start. Doing so would give Oklahoma two top ten wins over the final two weeks of a season, a resume boost that no other team in contention can claim. But it simply might not be enough.