College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 11

For the first three quarters of their home game against Wake Forest, the Cardinals looked listless against a motivated Demon Deacons defense. Their fortunes finally seemed to turn when they went for it on fourth down while down 12-10. Three plays later, they were in the endzone for their first lead of the game, and Louisville blocked a punt on the next drive to begin asserting their superiority. By the end they had flipped the script for a 32-point victory.

After turning things around to remain a one-loss team, Louisville could vault back over the Clemson team that dealt them their only defeat. The loss to the Tigers, in terms of opponent quality, was better than Clemson’s loss to Pittsburgh, and the AP voters are likely to put them ahead of their ACC Atlantic rivals in their Top 25 on Sunday. They are done with their ACC schedule, but Louisville still needs the Tigers to lose again next weekend against Wake Forest in order to play the Coastal champ in Orlando. They should be on the cusp of the College Football Playoff top four this week.