ESPN FPI top 25 updated after final weekend of college football

The regular season is now in the books in college football. Week 13 of the season might have been the most exciting one yet. After an exciting Week 13 slate that contained many important matchups, ESPN has updated its FPI top 25.

ESPN FPI top 25 after Week 13

1. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Michigan Wolverines
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
6. Oklahoma Sooners
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys
8. Cincinnati Bearcats
9. Iowa State Cyclones
10. Clemson Tigers
11. Pittsburgh Panthers
12. Utah Utes
13. Wisconsin Badgers
14. Penn State Nittany Lions
15. Texas A&M Aggies
16. NC State Wolfpack
17. Ole Miss Rebels
18. Baylor Bears
19. Auburn Tigers
20. Oregon Ducks
21. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
22. Appalachian State Mountaineers
23. Miami Hurricanes
24. Michigan State Spartans
25. Iowa Hawkeyes

A pair of top ten rivalry showdowns headlined the weekend

Coming into Week 13, the College Football Playoff picture was extremely murky. With two games containing two top ten teams entering the weekend, the picture is now a lot more clear.

The most important game of Week 13 was ‘The Game’ between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Michigan. Whoever won that game earned not only a spot in the Big Ten Championship, but more than likely a spot in the playoff as well. Michigan came away with the 42-27 victory over Ohio State in the snow in Ann Arbor. The win for the Wolverines will undoubtedly launch them into the top four in the next CFP rankings, and they might simply take Ohio State’s place at No. 2.

Michigan now takes on Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game. Wisconsin came into the weekend ranked No. 14 and just needing a win over Minnesota to also earn a spot in the Big Ten Championship. But the Badgers lost 23-13, resulting in elimination from Big Ten contention and a little bit of a fall in the ESPN FPI rankings after Week 13.

No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 7 Oklahoma State took each other on in Bedlam on Saturday night. The winner earned a spot in the Big 12 Championship. The Sooners led late, but a 13-0 fourth quarter from Oklahoma State was enough to win. Oklahoma State now faces off against another top ten team in Baylor in the Big 12 Championship, offering another opportunity for a win against a top ten opponent, which could be the resume boost the Cowboys need.

Wake Forest was the biggest riser in ESPN’s post-Week 13 FPI rankings. The Demon Deacons beat Boston College to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division, rising ten spots and re-joining the top 25 at No. 21.

Tennessee and Mississippi State fell out of the ESPN FPI top 25 after Week 13. The two schools finish just on the outside looking in, along with Texas, Arkansas, and Kentucky.