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ESPN releases updated FPI Top 25 rankings after conference championship weekend

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•12/04/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Entering the weekend, the College Football Playoff seemed nearly set depending on the outcomes of conference championship games. After conference championship weekend featured multiple upsets, including two losses inside the top four, the rankings have again shifted. The same can be said for ESPN’s FPI Top 25 rankings.

Conference championship weekend began on Friday night, with No. 4 USC taking on No. 11 Utah. It was a chance for revenge for the Trojans, as the Utes won the first battle between these two Pac-12 teams in the regular season. USC was also essentially locked into the Playoff with a victory, but it was Utah that played spoiler and came away with a 47-24 victory.

USC’s loss likely wiped them out of the CFP race, and completely re-opened the fight for the No. 4 spot in the process.

No. 1 Georgia was in no matter what, and the Bulldogs took care of business with an impressive 50-30 win over No. 14 LSU on Saturday for the SEC crown. No. 2 Michigan was also locked in regardless of what happened on Saturday, and the Wolverines, too, took care of business with a 43-22 win over Purdue in the Big Ten title game.

Like the rest of the top four, No. 3 TCU just needed to win to make it into the Playoff. The Horned Frogs fought back to force overtime against No. 10 Kansas State in the Big 12 title game, but it was ultimately the Wildcats that came away with the victory. TCU is likely still in with the loss, though that is far from certain.

In the ACC Championship Game, No. 9 Clemson cruised to a 39-10 victory over No. 23 North Carolina. The Tigers were led to victory by backup quarterback Cade Klubnik, opening up some serious questions for DJ Uiagalelei. Elsewhere, No. 18 Tulane and No. 22 UCF battled for the AAC title. Tulane continued its impressive season, defeating the Knights 45-28.

All No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Alabama could do was watch and hope for a chance this weekend. They’ll soon find out whether or not that will actually occur.

The final CFP rankings will be revealed later on Sunday. But for now, ESPN’s FPI Top 25 rankings give an interesting glimpse into an alternate view on where teams stand.

ESPN’s latest FPI Top 25 rankings

  1. Georgia Bulldogs (13-0) (—)
  2. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) (—)
  3. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) (—)
  4. Michigan Wolverines (13-0) (—)
  5. Tennessee Volunteers (10-2) (—)
  6. Texas Longhorns (8-4) (—)
  7. Utah Utes (10-3) (+1)
  8. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) (-1)
  9. Clemson Tigers (11-2) (—)
  10. TCU Horned Frogs (12-1) (—)
  11. Kansas State Wildcats (10-3) (—)
  12. Florida State Seminoles (9-3) (+1)
  13. LSU Tigers (9-4) (-1)
  14. Oregon Ducks (9-3) (+1)
  15. USC Trojans (11-2) (-1)
  16. Ole Miss Rebels (8-4) (—)
  17. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4) (—)
  18. Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) (—)
  19. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) (—)
  20. Illinois Fighting Illini (8-4) (—)
  21. Baylor Bears (6-6) (—)
  22. Washington Huskies (10-2) (—)
  23. Oregon State Beavers (9-3) (—)
  24. Oklahoma Sooners (6-6) (—)
  25. Louisville Cardinals (7-5) (—)

No new teams joined this week’s FPI Top 25 rankings from ESPN, though Tulane did rise four spots to finish just outside of the Top 25 at No. 26.