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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 After National Championship

By Zach Bigalke

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2017; New Orleans , LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers in the fourth quarter of the 2017 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; New Orleans , LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers in the fourth quarter of the 2017 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma capped its Big 12-winning season with a 16-point victory over Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Baker Mayfield completed more than two-thirds of his passes for 296 yards and two scores and added another 34 rushing yards. Backfield combo Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine combined for 177 yards and three scores on the ground. The defense gave up over 100 yards to Kamryn Pettway, but they also kept Auburn from completing even half of its passes. The Sooners’ victory was secured in New Orleans once they extended a one-point halftime lead with 21 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters.

The bowl victory marked Oklahoma’s tenth straight victory after opening the season 1-2. The loss to Houston looked worse as time went on and the Cougars lost several league games. But Ohio State did its job by reaching the College Football Playoff. Bob Stoops’ team ran through the Big 12 schedule to finish undefeated in league play, and the win over Auburn punctuated a championship season with the school’s second Sugar Bowl win in four years.

After opening the season third in the AP Top 25, the Sooners rebounded from their slow start in style. Pollsters will probably bump Oklahoma up into the top five in the final poll of the year thanks to the win over the Tigers and the Big 12’s decent performance this bowl season.

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