College Football Rankings: NCAAF Top 25 (After Week 14)

Weekly college football top 25 rankings are a big part of every season, and Athlon Sports will update its top 25 following the games each weekend. The 14th weekend of the 2022 season was headlined by victories in championship games by Georgia, Michigan, Utah, Clemson, and Kansas State. Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State take the top four spots, with Alabama at No. 5, Tennessee at No. 6 and Utah at No. 7 in the post-Week 14 top 25 rankings. With the 14th week of the 2022 season officially in the books, here are the top 25 teams in college football:

College Football Top 25 Rankings (After Week 14)

1. Georgia (13-0)
Week 14 Result: Defeated LSU

The Bulldogs defeated LSU 50-30 to win their first SEC Championship since 2017. The convincing victory should be more than enough for Georgia to take the No. 1 seed in the CFB Playoff.

2. Michigan (13-0)
Week 14 Result: Defeated Purdue

A week after beating Ohio State, Michigan didn't suffer from a letdown in a 43-22 victory over Purdue in Big Ten Championship. The Boilermakers had success moving the ball through the air, but the Wolverines forced five field goals and generated two key takeaways. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw for 161 yards, and the ground game generated 225 yards behind Donovan Edwards' (185 yards) big night.

3. TCU (12-1)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Kansas State

The perfect season ended with 31-28 loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship, but TCU has done more than enough to get a trip to the CFB Playoff. Max Duggan's heroics (361 total yards and two scores) rallied the Horned Frogs to overtime. However, K-State's defense made a clutch goal-line stand that was the difference in overtime (and the final outcome).

4. Ohio State (11-1)
Week 14 Result: No Game

USC's loss to Utah should give the Buckeyes a second chance at the CFB Playoff. 

5. Alabama (10-2)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Crimson Tide finished their regular season on Nov. 26 with a 49-27 win over Auburn.

6. Tennessee (10-2)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Volunteers finished their regular season on Nov. 26 with a 56-0 blowout of Vanderbilt.

7. Utah (10-3)
Week 14 Result: Defeated USC

Quarterback Cameron Rising threw for 310 yards and three scores, while Utah's defense limited USC to just 10 points in the final three quarters to secure a 47-24 victory in the Pac-12 Championship. The Utes are headed back to the Rose Bowl for the second year in a row.

8. USC (11-2)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Utah

An injury to quarterback Caleb Williams clearly impacted USC's offense after a hot start against Utah, but USC's defense was too porous (7.7 yards per play) and struggled with tackling in a 47-24 loss in the Pac-12 Championship. The defeat cost the Trojans a trip to the CFB Playoff. 

9. Clemson (11-2)
Week 14 Result: Defeated North Carolina

Another ACC Championship Game, another blowout win by Clemson. Quarterback Cade Klubnik came off the bench to replace an ineffective DJ Uiagalelei and threw for 279 yards and a score in a 39-10 rout of North Carolina.

10. Penn State (10-2)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Nittany Lions completed their regular season on Nov. 26 with a win over Michigan State. Penn State's only losses in 2022 came against top-four teams - Michigan and Ohio State.

11. Kansas State (10-3)
Week 14 Result: Defeated TCU

After K-State's 28-17 lead evaporated in the fourth quarter, the defense responded with a clutch goal-line stop in overtime that gave the offense a chance to move into position for the game-winning field goal. The Wildcats' 31-28 victory over TCU is the program's first Big 12 title since 2003.

12. Washington (10-2)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Huskies finished their regular season with a win over Washington State on Nov. 26.

13. Florida State (9-3)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Seminoles finished their regular season with a win over Florida on Friday, Nov. 25. Florida State beat both Florida and Miami this year, which was the first time the program accomplished that feat in a single season since 2016.

14. LSU (9-4)
Week 14 Result: Lost to Georgia

Although the Tigers couldn't hang with Georgia (50-30), getting to the SEC Championship exceeded all preseason expectations for first-year coach Brian Kelly.

15. Tulane (11-2)
Week 14 Result: Defeated UCF

The one-two punch of quarterback Michael Pratt (394 passing yards) and running back Tyjae Spears (199 rushing yards) helped Tulane get revenge over UCF (45-28) and win the program's first conference title since 1998. 

16. Oregon State (9-3)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Beavers finished their regular season with a win over Oregon on Nov. 26.

17. Oregon (9-3)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Ducks closed out their regular season with a loss at Oregon State. Offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham left to take over as Arizona State's head coach.

18. UCLA (9-3)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Bruins closed out the regular season with a win over California on Black Friday.

19. Notre Dame (8-4)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Fighting Irish finished their regular season with a loss at USC in Week 13.

20. South Carolina (8-4)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Gamecocks did not play in Week 14, but coach Shane Beamer's team closed 2022 on a high note with back-to-back wins over Tennessee and Clemson. 

21. Texas (8-4)
Week 14 Result: No Game

The Longhorns closed out coach Steve Sarkisian's second year in Austin with a win over Baylor on Nov. 25.

22. Mississippi State (8-4)
Week 14 Result: No Game

Mississippi State finished 2022 on a high note with a win over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.

23. Troy (11-2)
Week 14 Result: Defeated Coastal Carolina

First-year coach Jon Sumrall capped an impressive debut season at Troy with a dominant 45-26 win over Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship. 

24. UTSA (11-2)
Week 14 Result: Defeated North Texas

Quarterback Frank Harris threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns to lead UTSA to a 48-27 win over North Texas and its second Conference USA title in a row. 

25. Fresno State (9-4)
Week 14 Result: Defeated Boise State

Winning at Boise State is never easy, but the Bulldogs' 28-16 victory in the Mountain West title game was aided by a standout performance from defensive back Cam Lockridge (two picks) and a steady effort from quarterback Jake Haener (184 passing yards). Fresno State has won eight games in a row.

The Next Tier: North Carolina, UCF, South Alabama, Cincinnati, NC State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Fresno State, Purdue