By mid-November, the majority of college football teams have established their identities. However, each team still has aspects that can be refined for the late-season surge, particularly those in the top 25.
Ranking positions can be precarious, as Washington, Memphis, Iowa, and ACC challengers Virginia and Louisville discovered on Saturday. Even teams ranked higher, like Oregon and Vanderbilt, came away from close victories with areas needing improvement for the critical matches ahead. BYU has certainly plenty to evaluate on offense after being limited to seven points and just 67 net rushing yards in their first loss of the season, at Texas Tech.
For some teams like Oregon, the focus is simply on regaining health in key positions. For others, it might be enhancing their third-down defense, special teams execution, or effectively converting touchdowns in the red zone. Although Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has performed well, there’s a pressing need to enhance his success with deep passes if the Tide aim to keep the momentum going.
This is our weekly assessment of the top 25 and the areas that require attention as these squads aim to stay within the rankings. — Adam Rittenberg
Previous ranking: 1
The undefeated, top-ranked Buckeyes could finish the season without losses and likely remain in the top 25. The primary concern for the Buckeyes is whether they can secure the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff along with a first-round bye. Ohio State can almost guarantee a bye by breaking its four-game losing streak against Michigan. After that, the Buckeyes can secure the No. 1 seed by winning the Big Ten championship, presumably against No. 2 Indiana. With a victory against Texas already in hand, Ohio State possesses a solid résumé. With a strong finish in the Big Ten, the Buckeyes could head into the playoff as favorites to defend their 2024 national title. — Jake Trotter
Previous ranking: 3
The Aggies may not have played their best, but the outcome was another double-digit victory on the road against a ranked opponent, a fact they take comfort in. Mike Elko noted that Marcel Reed didn’t have access to the complete playbook and they opted for a short passing attack, with just two of Reed’s throws exceeding 10 yards. They adhered to a similar strategy: line up, run the ball, and assert their dominance upfront down the final stretch, totaling 243 rushing yards at 6.3 yards per carry. Elko expressed frustration over yielding 207 rushing yards, yet the Aggies didn’t relent or let Missouri back into the contest. A&M must keep its focus at 9-0 and ranked No. 3 in the CFP; they face 3-6 South Carolina and 1-9 Samford at home before heading to Austin to take on Texas. The Aggies have scored 30 points or more in eight of nine games this season, including 49, 45, and 38 in the past three weeks, but they still have room for growth in the passing aspect. — Dave Wilson
Wisconsin and Purdue. However, Saturday’s narrow escape at Penn State highlighted many focal points for head coach Curt Cignetti and his squad. Similar to 2024, late-season injuries have affected Indiana’s offensive line, which allowed three sacks, eight tackles for loss, and six quarterback hurries in their victory. Indiana played without starting guard Drew Evans and lost starting tackle Kahlil Benson for part of the Penn State game, although he managed to return. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was outstanding in clutch situations but faced significant pressure himself. Indiana’s typically formidable defense permitted eight third-down conversions and three plays of over 30 yards in the win, something coordinator Bryant Haines will certainly address. — Rittenberg
Previous ranking: 4
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer mentioned that the Crimson Tide made just enough plays to secure a 20-9 victory over LSU at home on Saturday. Yet DeBoer and quarterback Ty Simpson expressed visible frustration with the offense’s struggle to find rhythm. The Tide’s inconsistent running game continues to put excessive pressure on Simpson to generate big plays in the passing game. Alabama ranks 14th in the SEC in rushing, averaging 111.9 yards per game. Things were even tougher against LSU’s defense, as the Tide managed just 56 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Jam Miller returned with eight carries for 13 yards; Daniel Hill added 21 yards on seven attempts. If Alabama wishes to overcome Oklahoma’s tough defense Saturday and remain in the SEC title race, they must discover a way to run the ball more efficiently. — Mark Schlabach
Previous ranking: 8
Mississippi State, which many Georgia supporters feared would present a trap game ahead of next week’s home showdown with Texas, encountered a situation where Georgia allowed 322 yards of offense but managed a season-high three sacks after having just eight in their first eight games. Following Mississippi State’s 75-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession, they managed only 87 yards in the rest of the half. Georgia scored the following 38 points and didn’t look back. Defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann dialed up considerable pressure early on, placing Mississippi State in recurring third-and-long situations throughout the first half. With the improved Arch Manning and the Longhorns visiting Sanford Stadium next week, followed by another contest against in-state rival Georgia Tech and star quarterback Haynes King in the regular-season finale, Georgia’s defense must continue to evolve. — Schlabach
Previous ranking: 9
The Red Raiders passed their most significant test yet on Saturday, achieving a 29-7 win over unbeaten BYU. Coach Joey McGuire’s team was prepared for the national spotlight in a crucial game for their Big 12 title aspirations. Texas Tech’s defense excelled once more, achieving 11 stops on third downs and three takeaways while limiting BYU to a season-low 67 rushing yards. This could have been a significant blowout if the Red Raiders had not struggled to finish drives in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on only two of seven red zone chances. This area remains critical for improvement, especially as quarterback Behren Morton continues to find his rhythm after missing two games due to a hairline fracture in his right fibula. — Max Olson
Previous ranking: 6
The Rebels handled their duties with a 49-0 thrashing of The Citadel at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss produced 603 yards of offense, including 151 rushing yards. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss completed 29 of 33 passes for 333 yards with three touchdowns. Defensively, the Rebels dominated the FCS team, restricting the Bulldogs to just five first downs and 106 total yards. This marked the first occasion since 2014 that Ole Miss limited an opponent to under 150 total yards. With Florida set to arrive in Oxford, Mississippi, next week, maintaining focus might be Ole Miss’s biggest challenge. Rebels coach Lane Kiffin is being considered as a potential candidate at Florida following the firing of coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19. With a possible CFP appearance and SEC title still attainable, the Rebels need to sidestep any distractions. — Schlabach
Previous ranking: 5
After lingering near the edge of the top 10 in the initial CFP standings, the Ducks solidified their standing with their best win of the season against Iowa. However, challenges remain, particularly with USC and Washington still to face, along with a depleted receiving corps. The Ducks effectively ran the ball with several backs against Iowa, finishing with 261 rushing yards and averaging 7.3 yards per carry. Quarterback Dante Moore made several clutch throws during the winning drive, but he must enhance his performance for Oregon to keep pace with USC and Washington. If receivers Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr., and top tight end Kenyon Sadiq remain unavailable, Oregon must cultivate other dependable pass catchers. The Ducks will also seek to improve their fourth-down stops after Iowa converted on three of four attempts, including a go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 remaining. — Rittenberg
Previous ranking: 10
A 49-10 rout of Navy marked another straightforward victory for the Irish, who have claimed seven consecutive wins — all by double digits — since an 0-2 start. Notre Dame faces a ranked Pitt team this week — likely its final challenging hurdle before a playoff attempt — making Saturday’s clash with the Panthers a must-win. The Irish are averaging 9.5 yards per drop back this season, second best nationally, while Jeremiyah Love and the running game continue to impress. Beating Pitt will likely hinge on protecting CJ Carr. Notre Dame’s offensive line has excelled following a shaky Week 1 against Miami, but Pitt ranks fifth nationally in tackles for loss and will undoubtedly be aggressive in attempting to rattle Carr. — David Hale
Bear Bachmeier has been at times this season, that usually sprouted from the run game — either with him or LJ Martin. This is just not a team built to play from behind and score quickly. The Cougars are still in the playoff mix, but they didn’t resemble a playoff-caliber team in Lubbock on the biggest stage they’ll get during the regular season. BYU needs more from its passing game if it can win its way to a possible rematch with Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game. — Kyle Bonagura
Previous ranking: 13
The Longhorns are hitting their stride at the right moment, having enjoyed a bye week to recover and refine. Arch Manning threw for 328 yards in Texas’ last game against Vanderbilt, the second most in his career following 346 the previous week against Mississippi State. Manning has matured this season, as noted by coach Steve Sarkisian, and so has his offensive line, providing Manning ample time to navigate his reads. Two of the Longhorns’ star players who initially had slow starts have been on fire: receiver Ryan Wingo (273 of his 593 yards this season have come in the last two games) and edge rusher Collin Simmons (6½ sacks in the past four games). Facing four SEC teams ahead in the CFP rankings, this week’s journey to Georgia serves as a virtual play-in game. A victory transforms things significantly for the preseason No. 1 team. — Wilson
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Previous ranking: 11
Victories in two of their last three matches would almost guarantee a top-25 finish for the 7-2 Sooners. The question now is what route they will take. Oklahoma’s playoff aspirations likely depend on the outcome of next weekend’s matchup against one-loss Alabama. Following that, back-to-back home fixtures against Missouri and LSU suddenly seem much more navigable than at the start of the season. The performance of quarterback John Mateer will be crucial in all three games, as his accuracy and passing stats have significantly decreased since undergoing surgery on his right hand in late September. Regardless of playoff implications, this has been a positive autumn for the Sooners as they’ve bounced back from a 6-7 finish in 2024, and Brent Venables has successfully eased his position off the hot seat. A strong finish over these last three weeks will not only maintain the Sooners’ presence in the top 25 but should also bode well as Oklahoma looks to carry momentum into the off-season. — Eli Lederman
Previous ranking: 17
The Utes took a breather over the weekend but find themselves in a unique playoff scenario, currently sitting at No. 13 in the initial playoff rankings. This positioning suggests that the Utes might win out, miss the Big 12 title game, and still have a viable shot at a playoff spot with a 10-2 record. This complexity arises because their two losses were to Texas Tech and BYU, meaning they will be evaluated against at least one of them for an at-large opportunity. Nonetheless, this is the appeal of the playoff structure. Utah has everything on the line as the season approaches its climax. — Bonagura
Previous ranking: 16
After conceding only 34 combined points against LSU and Missouri in October, Vanderbilt’s defense has shown some vulnerabilities in November. The Commodores yielded 34 points and 7.1 yards per play in a defeat at Texas a week ago, and on Saturday, they allowed 38 points and 6.9 yards per play against a previously struggling Auburn offense. They still harbor playoff aspirations at 8-2 and have a necessary bye week ahead. However, facing an enhancing Kentucky team and a high-scoring Tennessee squad, the defense must urgently regain its footing. Quarterback Diego Pavia and the offense performed well against Auburn and can maintain pace in competitive matches, but will require assistance, especially against Tennessee. — Bill Connelly
Previous ranking: 19
The Hurricanes triumphed over Syracuse 38-10, largely due to a newfound creativity in offensive playcalling that had been absent for most of the season. Malachi Toney connected for a touchdown pass to Carson Beck; Beck reciprocated by throwing a touchdown pass to offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa as Miami surged to victory. It was refreshing to witness Miami expanding their playbook, rekindling momentum for an offense that had stagnated. Miami must keep this momentum going to keep defenses on their toes after becoming somewhat predictable with their tendency to run between the tackles. Despite missing Mark Fletcher Jr. and CJ Daniels — two of their top offensive playmakers — Miami found a way to claim victory, which is promising for the remainder of the season. — Andrea Adelson
Previous ranking: 15
A week off proved timely for the Yellow Jackets, as their top ACC rivals faltered in Week 11, creating an opportunity for Georgia Tech to reach the conference championship. ESPN’s FPI currently grants the Jackets the best odds to win the ACC (35.2%) with a matchup against the struggling 1-9 Boston College next. However, Georgia Tech’s playoff prospects, should they not secure the ACC, still appear somewhat thin, particularly with their best win — over Clemson — losing luster since September. Nevertheless, Georgia Tech’s final two games of the season against ranked opponents — Pitt and Georgia — will likely dictate their playoff chances, provided they can secure victories in both. — Hale
Previous ranking: 20
In a 38-17 victory over Northwestern on Friday night, USC proved once again that they could rely on the run game. For the fourth time in five games, the Trojans had at least 30 rushing attempts, this time led by King Miller, a former walk-on with three games of 100 rushing yards or more. Miller’s rise has given Lincoln Riley’s offense a new approach where they don’t have to lean heavily on Jayden Maiava’s passing, which has been a hallmark in past seasons with other quarterbacks (Maiava himself has added six rushing touchdowns this year) — in fact, USC ranks in the top 25 nationally for rushing yards per game and within the top 10 for rushing yards per attempt. With three wins required for a probable CFP berth, and their defense showing signs of development, this concluding stretch might come down more to their running game than their playmaking receivers like Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. — Paolo Uggetti
Previous ranking: 21
The Wolverines, standing at 7-2, remain an under-the-radar playoff contender. Both losses (at Oklahoma, at USC) have been against ranked teams on the road. Despite the lack of significant notable victories, a key chance awaits on Nov. 29. Should the Wolverines successfully defeat No. 1 Ohio State for the fifth consecutive year, they would become a fascinating playoff possibility (depending on their potential advancement to the Big Ten championship game, providing an automatic berth). Two successes in the upcoming weeks at Northwestern and at Maryland would likely keep Michigan in the top 25 irrespective of their Ohio State outcome. However, another triumph over the Buckeyes would also provide the Wolverines with a compelling playoff résumé. — Trotter
Mason Heintschel at the start of October. No ACC title contender faces a more daunting remaining schedule than the Panthers with Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and Miami ahead, making the week off perfectly timed for Pat Narduzzi’s squad. Their young quarterback must learn from three red zone turnovers against Stanford last week and excel at critical situational football for a shot at the ACC championship. — Olson
Previous ranking: 14
The overtime defeat to Cal in Week 11 was a harsh setback for a Cardinals team that has not lost a game by more than a touchdown in two years but appeared completely flat. Isaac Brown’s absence due to injury diminished their ground game, enabling Cal to apply pressure on quarterback Miller Moss, who struggled, completing only 20 of 38 passes with no touchdowns and an interception. Moss has thrown a pick in five of his last six outings, and it has been over a month since he exceeded 250 passing yards. The Cardinals face potentially challenging encounters in their upcoming matches — Friday against Clemson and Week 13 at SMU — and without a more balanced offensive strategy, a once-promising season could unravel rapidly. — Hale
Previous ranking: 12
The Cavaliers have not shown nearly as much explosiveness on offense, nor been dominant in the ground game over the last five weeks, which includes a 16-9 loss to Wake Forest where quarterback Chandler Morris exited after taking a harsh hit to the head in the second quarter. Virginia also turned the ball over three times — an area they excelled in previously, helping secure many close wins this season. Virginia must rediscover consistency in controlling the ball on offense, an ability seen only sporadically since their significant victory over Florida State. The status of Morris for next week’s game against Duke remains uncertain. Daniel Kaelin committed two turnovers and threw incomplete passes in the end zone during a late-game chance to secure the win. If Morris can play Saturday, Virginia will have a full week to prepare him. — Adelson
Previous ranking: 23
Tennessee’s primary focus continues to be defense. Choose any metric: The Vols rank 61st in yards allowed per play (5.39), 98th in yards allowed per game (395.9), 114th in scoring defense (31.1 points per game), and 120th in completion percentage allowed. Their impressive offensive capabilities are evident, given a 6-3 record with narrow defeats to two ranked teams, but with matches left against efficiently playing Vanderbilt and an all-or-nothing Florida, they must execute several defensive stops to win out and end the season positively after a rollercoaster journey. — Connelly
Previous ranking: 25
The Hawkeyes were just moments away from sealing a victory that would have propelled them towards the CFP radar. However, they couldn’t clinch against Oregon in a game where they were outperformed in areas they typically excel. Iowa allowed its highest rushing total (261) since 2022 and the highest average yards-per-rush against since 2014. They also committed an atypical special teams blunder, with a faulty snap resulting in a safety, marking the game’s opening score. Iowa must avoid errors in its strong suits and be sharper this week against USC and when visiting Nebraska on Nov. 28. The Hawkeyes need to continue developing their downfield passing approach, which showed promise at times during the Oregon game, as quarterback Mark Gronowski connected on passes of 40 and 38 yards. — Rittenberg
Previous ranking: NR
The Mean Green defense has stepped up since a 63-36 defeat to South Florida, limiting each of its last three American Conference opponents to 20 points or fewer. First-year defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity has achieved one of the more remarkable turnarounds in FBS this season, building a top-10 pass defense in Denton. However, North Texas’ No. 130-ranked run defense has faced significant tests in conference play and must still contend with Rice’s explosive option attack on Nov. 22. Coach Eric Morris’s offense, spearheaded by quarterback Drew Mestemaker, will grab headlines, but Cassity’s defense performance in November could play a crucial role in determining whether this team advances to the CFP. — Olson
Previous ranking: NR
With just one conference loss, Cincinnati remains competitive in the Big 12, with three challenging games ahead: Arizona (6-3), BYU (8-1), and TCU (6-3). Following their blowout loss to Utah, it’s hard to envision the Bearcats winning out to reach the Big 12 championship, but it is certainly possible. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby is having one of the finest seasons for any quarterback in college football and will continue to be pivotal for his team’s prospects in the coming weeks. — Bonagura
