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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 13

By Zach Bigalke

Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 26, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) scores a touchdown against Rice Owls cornerback J.T. Blasingame (14) and safety Cole Thomas (28) during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 26, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) scores a touchdown against Rice Owls cornerback J.T. Blasingame (14) and safety Cole Thomas (28) during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Stanford showed up at 24th in the College Football Playoff rankings last Tuesday, and after winning their ninth game of the season against Rice the Cardinal should ease their way into the AP Top 25 on Sunday. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown, added 23 receiving yards and another score, and rounded out his day with 44 yards of punt returns. The Cardinal held the Owls under 300 total yards of offense, racing to a 20-3 halftime lead before pouring it on with a three-touchdown third quarter.

The Cardinal now have a shot at reaching double digits for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, with just one 8-5 blip along the way despite transitioning from Jim Harbaugh to David Shaw. Though they sustained three losses in October, Stanford remained in the top half of the Pac-12 North and should line up for a solid bowl opponent this season. While another Rose Bowl or other New Year’s Six appearance is probably too much to expect, the mere fact that the Cardinal have booked their eighth straight bowl appearance is an unprecedented run of success for the school.

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