Nov
18
- by Elijah Stone
- 0 Comments
After a wild Week 12 of college football, the Ohio State University Buckeyes surged to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 rankings, leaving fans across the country stunned. The vote, released Sunday night, gave Ohio State a commanding 57 of 62 first-place votes — a near-unanimous endorsement after their 45-24 win over Michigan State. Meanwhile, the Southeastern Conference (SEC), headquartered at 2525 Zelda Road in Birmingham, Alabama, quietly updated its conference standings early Monday morning, revealing a messy middle tier that could shape bowl season in unexpected ways.
SEC’s Middle Pack Gets Messier
The University of Missouri Tigers sit at 2-3 in conference play, clinging to a sliver of hope for a bowl berth. Their season, once seen as a rebuild, now feels like a fight for relevance. Down the line, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers and University of Florida Gators are tied at 2-4 — both with three losses in conference play and no path to the SEC Championship Game. And then there’s the University of Kentucky Wildcats, whose 2-? record leaves more questions than answers. Did they win three? Four? The standings don’t say. That’s the problem with mid-tier SEC teams this year: nobody’s dominant, and nobody’s truly dead.Here’s the thing — these aren’t bad teams. They’re just inconsistent. Missouri beat LSU earlier this season. Florida nearly toppled Georgia. Kentucky held Alabama to a field goal in overtime. But when it comes to closing out games? They fold. And that’s why none of them cracked the AP Top 25.
AP Poll: SEC’s Elite Shine, But Not Enough
While Missouri, LSU, Florida, and Kentucky floundered, three SEC teams soared in the national rankings. The Texas A&M Aggies landed at No. 3, their lone first-place vote a quiet nod to their gritty defense and a win over then-No. 7 Alabama. The University of Georgia Bulldogs held firm at No. 4, their offense humming under new coordinator Mike Bobo. And the University of Mississippi Rebels — yes, Ole Miss — climbed to No. 5 after a stunning 38-31 road win at LSU. That’s right: Ole Miss, the team that lost to South Carolina in September, is now ranked higher than any other SEC team outside the top four.What’s fascinating? None of those three teams had a bye week. All played Saturday. All won. And all did it under pressure. Georgia survived a late scare from Vanderbilt. Texas A&M held off a furious Arkansas rally. Ole Miss? They won with a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Conner Weigman with 38 seconds left — a throw that sent Oxford into a frenzy.
Meanwhile, the Indiana University Bloomington Hoosiers at No. 2? A surprise, but not a fluke. They’ve won six straight since losing to Purdue. Their quarterback, Cam Thomas, has thrown 19 touchdowns in his last five games. The AP voters noticed. And so did the playoff committee.
Why This Matters Beyond the Rankings
The 2025 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision season is now in its final stretch. With only two weeks left, the race for the College Football Playoff is narrowing. Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Ole Miss are all in the conversation. But here’s the twist: only three of those five are from the SEC. That’s the lowest number of SEC teams in the top five since 2018.That’s not just a coincidence. It’s a signal. The SEC’s depth is still elite, but its top is no longer untouchable. The Big Ten and Big 12 are catching up. And if the playoff committee values strength of schedule — as they say they do — then a 12-0 Indiana team might look better than a 10-2 Georgia team that beat three ranked teams… but also lost to Florida.
For the SEC’s middle class — Missouri, LSU, Florida, Kentucky — it’s a bitter pill. Their wins over ranked teams don’t count in the national rankings. Their losses to unranked teams? They do. And those losses are piling up. One more defeat, and their season ends in a New Year’s Six bowl they didn’t earn. One more win? Maybe they sneak into a Group of Five matchup they’ll regret.
What’s Next? The Final Two Weeks
Next Saturday, the SEC’s fate hangs on three games: Georgia at Florida, Texas A&M at Arkansas, and Ole Miss at Mississippi State. Georgia needs to win convincingly to keep their playoff hopes alive. Ole Miss needs to avoid an upset — because if they lose to a 5-6 Mississippi State team, they’re out. And Texas A&M? They’re playing for a spot in the top four. A loss here, and they might fall behind Ohio State and Indiana.And don’t forget the wild card: Missouri at Tennessee. A win for Missouri? Suddenly, they’re 3-3 in the SEC and bowl eligible. A loss? Their season ends with a whimper.
The final week? The SEC Championship Game. But here’s the kicker: no one from the SEC’s middle tier will be playing in it. That’s the brutal truth. The conference’s strength is its top. Its weakness? Everything else.
Behind the Numbers
The Tennessean, a Nashville-based paper under the USA Today Network, published the AP rankings on November 16, 2025, just hours after the final whistle. Their data confirmed: Texas Tech and Oregon tied for sixth — a rare tie that hasn’t happened since 2021. The AP panel of 62 voters remains stubbornly independent. One voter picked Alabama over Georgia. Another picked Oregon over Texas A&M. That’s how you get chaos.The SEC’s own standings, posted on secsports.com at 11:34 PM UTC on November 17, 2025, reflect only conference games. That’s critical. A 7-5 team with a 4-4 SEC record might be better than a 9-3 team with a 3-5 SEC record. But the committee doesn’t care. Only the conference record matters for the championship game.
And that’s why this week felt like a turning point. The SEC’s brand is still strong. But its dominance? It’s cracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t Missouri ranked in the AP Top 25 despite beating LSU?
Missouri’s win over LSU was in October, and since then, they’ve lost three straight conference games, including to unranked teams like South Carolina and Tennessee. The AP voters prioritize recent performance and strength of schedule. Missouri’s overall record is 5-6, and they haven’t beaten a ranked team since October. That’s not enough to crack the top 25, even with a signature win.
Can Ole Miss still make the College Football Playoff?
Technically, yes — but it’s a long shot. Ole Miss would need to win out, including beating Mississippi State and then toppling Georgia in the SEC Championship. Even then, they’d need Ohio State or Indiana to lose twice. The committee values conference champions, and the SEC’s top spot is likely between Georgia and Ohio State. Ole Miss would need a miracle finish and a lot of help.
What’s the significance of the tie between Texas Tech and Oregon at No. 6?
It’s rare and telling. It means 31 voters picked Texas Tech, 31 picked Oregon, and zero voters ranked them differently. That kind of split happens when two teams have similar resumes — both beat ranked opponents, both lost to unranked teams. It shows the AP panel sees them as equals, which could impact bowl pairings. Both teams are now guaranteed a New Year’s Six berth, but which one gets the Cotton Bowl? That’s still up in the air.
Why does the SEC standings page only show conference games?
Because the SEC Championship Game eligibility is based solely on conference wins. A team’s non-conference schedule doesn’t count toward their position in the standings. That’s why Georgia’s win over LSU matters more than their win over Western Carolina. The committee uses the same logic: conference record is the primary tiebreaker for the title game, even if it doesn’t reflect overall strength.
Who controls the AP Top 25 rankings?
A panel of 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the U.S., selected by the Associated Press. Each voter submits a personal top 25, with points assigned for ranking positions (25 for No. 1, 24 for No. 2, etc.). The team with the most total points ranks highest. First-place votes are counted separately and often signal momentum — Ohio State’s 57 first-place votes show they’re the clear favorite, even if others have better records.
Will the SEC still dominate the College Football Playoff?
Not necessarily. For the first time since 2019, no SEC team is a clear favorite for the No. 1 seed. Ohio State and Indiana are the top two, and both are from outside the SEC. The conference still has three teams in the top five, but the gap between the top and middle is wider than ever. If Georgia or Texas A&M loses next week, the SEC could be left with only one playoff team — a far cry from the five-team dominance of 2022.
Elijah Stone
I am passionate about delivering timely and accurate news to keep the public informed. With a focus on daily news in the United States, I enjoy dissecting current events and presenting them in a way that's both accessible and engaging. My writing aims to spark conversations and encourage readers to stay updated with the rapidly changing world around them. I believe in the power of journalism to make a difference, and I'm dedicated to maintaining its integrity and relevance in today's society.
