Dan Mullen releases top 25 college football rankings after Week 14

The regular season didn’t end with a whimper, but a bang. After an action-packed rivalry week, ESPN analyst and former Florida head coach Dan Mullen revealed his updated Top 25 college football rankings.

He had plenty to consider. Along with flag plantings and fists flying, there was excellent competition across the country in Week 14. Michigan invaded The Horseshoe and downed No. 2 Ohio State 13-10. Meanwhile, Syracuse shocked No. 6 Miami up north.

Those were far from the only shocking outcomes this weekend. Nonetheless, Mullen accounted for each result. To see his complete rankings, look below.

1. Oregon Ducks

Previous Ranking: 1
On Saturday, Oregon routed Washington 49-21 to complete its perfect 12-0 regular season. In the win, Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 16-of-his-29 pass attempts for 209 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.

He wasn’t the only Duck who soared past the competition. Running back Jordan James collected 99 rushing yards and two TDs in the win, as well. Oregon will look to keep the good times rolling as it squares off against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday.

2. Texas Longhorns

Previous Ranking: 3
It’d been 13 years since Texas and Texas A&M had met. On Saturday, the Longhorns reintroduced themselves to the Aggies with a 17-7 triumph. In the win, Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner couldn’t be stopped, amassing 186 yards on 33 carries.

With the victory, Texas is all but guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff. Nonetheless, the Longhorns have a chance to add to their résumé with a win over Georgia on Saturday in the SEC Championship.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Previous Ranking: 4
Dan Mullen is feeling lucky. In fairness, the Fighting Irish have given him little reason to doubt them. Notre Dame defeated USC 49-35 on Saturday. In the victory, Notre Dame running backs Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love combined for 210 yards and two scores on just 25 carries.

With no conference championship to play in, Notre Dame will be in the CFP. Alas, the Fighting Irish won’t simply kick their feet up during their extra time off. In the win on Saturday, Notre Dame gave up 557 yards to USC. Marcus Freeman and Co. will look to seal up their defensive holes this week.

4. SMU Mustangs

Previous Ranking: 6
Dan Mullen dissented from the AP Top 25 rankings with his No. 4 pick. With a dominant 38-6 win over California on Saturday, SMU improved to 11-1. In the win, QB Kevin Jennings completed 20-of-30 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.

SMU finished the regular season as the only team undefeated in ACC play in its first season in the league. Now, the Mustangs will aim to secure their spot in the CFP as they square off against Clemson in the ACC title game.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions

Previous Ranking: 5
For the first time since 2016, Penn State is appearing in the Big Ten Championship. If the Nittany Lions can replicate a fraction of their success from their 44-7 win over Maryland on Saturday in the conference championship, Nittany Lions fans have plenty to look forward to.

In the win, Penn State’s defense held Maryland to just three turnovers while tallying three interceptions. Stellar defense is nothing new for the Nittany Lions, who are only allowing 266.8 yards per game this season, the fourth-least in the nation.

6. Georgia Bulldogs

Previous Ranking: 8
Georgia had to earn Mullen’s respect this past weekend. Entering Saturday as comfortable favorites, the Bulldogs were put to the test, eventually defeating Georgia Tech 44-42 in an eight-overtime thriller.

Georgia QB Carson Beck led the way, completing 28-of-his-43 pass attempts for 297 yards and five touchdowns without throwing an interception. On Saturday, Georgia will look to avoid another stressful ending as it rematches the Texas Longhorns.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes

Previous Ranking: 2
Evidently, Dan Mullen hasn’t lost faith in the Buckeyes despite their shocking 13-10 loss to Michigan on Saturday. To their credit, it was only their second loss of the season. Nonetheless, it was undoubtedly an unwelcome surprise on Ohio State’s part.

In the loss, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard struggled to find a rhythm, only recording one touchdown while tossing two interceptions. Of course, Howard wasn’t solely responsible for the loss. The Buckeyes’ ground game was lackluster, amassing just 77 yards in the defeat.

8. Tennessee Volunteers

Previous Ranking: 9
Tennessee isn’t appearing in the SEC Championship but the Volunteers tickets are all but punched to the CFP. Thanks to their 36-23 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, the Volunteers are one of just two SEC teams to finish the regular season with only two losses.

Tennessee looked formidable against the Commodores, with running back Dylan Sampson stealing the spotlight. Sampson erupted for 178 rushing yards on only 25 carries in the win. Not to be outdone, QB Nico Iamaleava threw four TDs in Tennessee’s winning effort.

9. Indiana Hoosiers

Previous Ranking: 11
Indiana doesn’t have a surplus of quality victories this season but it has enough to still hold Mullen’s respect. After falling 38-15 to Ohio State in Week 13, Indiana bounced back this past weekend with a 66-0 shellacking of Purdue.

Indiana fell to No. 10 in the latest CFP rankings and will likely land somewhere similar when the selection committee updates their rankings on Tuesday evening. With any luck, the Hoosiers will go dancing in their first season under head coach Curt Cignetti.

10. Boise State Broncos

Previous Ranking: 10
Boise State simply keeps winning. Since falling to Oregon in Week 2, Boise State is 10-0, most recently defeating Oregon State 34-18. As usual, Ashton Jeanty was a standout in the victory, notching 37 carries for 226 yards and a touchdown.

Barring an extreme turn of events, the Broncos will be the lone Group of Five team in the CFP this season. Nevertheless, they’ll want to enter the postseason on a good notes as they square off against No. 22 UNLV on Saturday in the Mountain West Championship.

11. Miami (-4)
12. Arizona State (+3)
13. South Carolina (No movement)
14. Alabama (+2)
15. Ole Miss (-3)
16. Iowa State (+3)
17. Clemson (-3)
18. Syracuse (Previously unranked)
19. BYU (-1)
20. UNLV (+1)
21. Colorado (+3)
22. Army (+3)
23. Texas A&M (-6)
24. Memphis (Previously unranked)
25. Duke (-2)