College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 12

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Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars wide receiver Chance Allen (21) makes a reception and scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston played its way back into the AP Top 25 with a Thursday-night blowout of third-ranked Louisville. The Cougars defense contained Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson, holding the dual threat to just 244 total yards and one score and forcing a fumble. Not only did Houston put a dent in Jackson’s Heisman hopes, they held Bobby Petrino’s dynamic offense to just 60 percent of its normal yardage. Houston’s offense wasn’t great, but they got the job done as Greg Ward Jr. and Linell Bonner each threw touchdown passes and Duke Catalon added another score on the ground.

Tom Herman’s team needs Navy to lose to both East Carolina and SMU in order to play for the AAC championship, making it likely that the Cougars will be out of the running for the Group of Five’s automatic bid into this year’s Cotton Bowl. While a 10-win season is well within reach when the Cougars head to Memphis to play on Black Friday, Houston will have to content itself with a lower-tier postseason matchup against an ACC or SEC team in Birmingham or St. Petersburg.

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