What the College Football Playoff rankings should look like for Week 12
![Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart screams during the first half against the Florida Gators at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL on Saturday, October 28, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fdd19e8eb1f6f959bf1b60932bda74e47f1b228e737c2033032f56f6771c99dfd.jpg "Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart screams during the first half against the Florida Gators at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL on Saturday, October 28, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
No. 15: LSU Tigers (7-3, +4). Despite winning big over Florida 52-35, LSU was eliminated from the SEC Championship Game and now shifts priority to getting Jayden Daniels the Heisman. The Senior QB enjoyed a historic night with a video game stat line: 17/26, 372 passing yards, 234 rushing yards, and 5 total TDs, not to mention Junior WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s great 150-yard, 2 TD game performance. Daniels looks to stay in the hunt for hardware against non-conference opponent Georgia State on the weekend.
No. 14: Ole Miss Rebels (8-2, -5). The Ramblin’ Rebels ran into the Georgia Bulldog buzzsaw and lost 52-17 to the No. 2 overall team. The defense had no answer, suffering 628 yards and over 300 on the ground and air each. Ole Miss’ saving grace is a stellar multi-TD performance from Sophomore RB Quinshon Judkins who is on track to eclipse a thousand yards rushing this season. The Rebels lost Junior QB Jaxson Dart to a big hit at the end of the third quarter, who was rested after being cleared to come back. The Rebels face non-conference UL-Monroe this weekend at home looking to stay in contention for a ReliaQuest or Duke’s Mayo-level bowl.
No. 13: Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2, -3). Penn State is on pace to go 10-0 for the second consecutive season against teams not called Michigan or Ohio State. Despite three 50+ point performances, PSU let go of OC Mike Yurcich on Sunday after losing to no. 3 Michigan 24-15. HC James Franklin elevated RB coach Ja’Juan Seider and TE coach Ty Howle to offensive co-coordinators to finish the season. The loss dashes hopes of Big 10 Championship, CFP, and even an NY6 bowl appearance, the Nittany Lions will have to settle for ReliaQuest at best this season. Penn State hosts Rutgers on the weekend in their home closer.
No. 12: Oklahoma Sooners (8-2, +4). The Sooners bounce back and stop their skid with a giant 59-20 home win against West Virginia. Senior QB Dillon Gabriel showed up and showed out with 423 throwing yards and 8 total TDs (5 in the air, 3 on the ground). Looking forward, the Sooners need some help to get to the Big 12 Championship Game, needing a loss from no. 25 Oklahoma State, a Kansas State win over Iowa State, and some help to decide a tie between the Sooners and Wildcats. To get to the tiebreaker, the Sooners have to keep winning, starting with a visit to BYU this weekend.
No. 11: Missouri Tigers (8-2, +3). Missouri had a season-highlight performance against division rival Tennessee, thrashing them at home 36-7. Senior RB Cody Schrader had a career day, racking up 205 yards and a TD on the ground and another 116 yards in the air. The defense also shined, holding Tennessee’s run game to only 83 yards. This win propels them to the top option for the Citrus Bowl, a crowning achievement for a team that wasn’t expected to even be bowl-eligible. The Tigers host the Gators next week in Columbia.