Final Top 25 College Football Rankings for 2023 (2024)

Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) rushes up the field Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, during the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, 26-0.Grace Hollars/IndyStar

The final Top 25 rankings are out and there are some surprises and some teams who deserved better. Once again the College Football Playoff committee decided that one team wasn’t good enough after going undefeated because they weren’t an SEC team. There is a lot that goes into deciding what teams are in and the ones who just missed it. For years they have said that your resume matters but this year they forgot that FSU played a better schedule than Alabama and Georgia. My prediction is Michigan and Texas for the Championship game with Michigan bringing home the hardware.

Michigan

Michigan went 13-0 and beat out plenty of good teams to earn the number one spot in college football. It also did help that Georgia lost to Alabama last night. They have now won the Big 10 three years in a row and also have beaten Ohio State three years in a row. This would be the best year for them to take the national championship. They do have to get past Alabama but the way that the Crimson Tide is playing won’t be hard. JJ McCarthy is the best quarterback in the CFP and with Jim Harbaugh at the helm, the Wolverines could bring home the trophy.

Washington

The Huskies come in at number two after beating Oregon twice this season to stay undefeated and win the PAC 12 one last time. Washington has to take on the Longhorns which will be a hard game. They have played a tough schedule but this Texas team is better than every opponent they have taken on this season. The Huskies have to beat Texas to keep their season going which means their defense will have to play all four quarters. If they make it past the Longhorns then it will be them and Michigan for the title.

Texas

Texas went 12-1 with their only loss being to Oklahoma. This is another team that fought hard to be here but could have also been left out to put Florida State in. They will have to get past Washington which won’t be their most challenging game of the 2023 season. The Longhorns will have to stay consistent and not let the game get away from them like they did against Oklahoma. They have to come out swinging and not let up against the Huskies.

Alabama

The Crimson Tide is the fourth team to make the CFP and many have their opinion on them being in here. They really shouldn’t be in this for this year, but the committee decided they needed an SEC team. They lost to Texas and struggled against many teams this year. This matchup against Michigan will be humbling and hopefully show the committee that in the 12-team playoff it needs those who are undefeated and then turn to the losing teams.

FSU

Florida State is sitting at number five only because the committee decided that Jordan Travis is the only member of that team to make a difference and win games. They forgot that defense wins championships and they also have kept the Seminoles in the game for most of the season. When it comes down to it they should be in the playoffs over both Texas and Alabama because wins and losses should be the only thing that matters. The so-called style points and the nonsense of a player being injured being part of the criteria shouldn’t matter. I hope that Florida State comes out against Georgia and crushes them to show the committee that it takes every player on the field to have an undefeated season not just the quarterback.

Georgia

The Bulldogs will miss out on the CFP after losing to Alabama in the SEC championship game. Georgia will take on the Seminoles in the Orange Bowl to finish out their season.

Teams Ranked 7-25

• Ohio State
• Oregon
• Missouri
• Penn State
• Ole Miss
• Oklahoma
• LSU
• Arizona
• Louisville
• Notre Dame
• Iowa
• NC State
• Oregon State
• Oklahoma State
• Tennessee
• Clemson
• Liberty
• SMU
• Kansas State