USC averaged 190.8 speeding yards throughout its first 10 video games this fall. On Saturday, an Oregon protection that struggled to cease the run within the early components of this fall stifled the No. 15 Trojans’ floor sport, limiting USC to 52 speeding yards because the No. 7 Geese improved to 10-1.
“I believe it is large when you’ll be able to take away a staff’s energy,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning mentioned after the 42-27 win. “I believe they have been in a position to run the ball very well this season, and for us to have the ability to cease it was huge.”
The in-season turnaround of the Geese’ run protection, which has held every of its previous 4 opponents to lower than 125 yards speeding, is powering this system towards a second straight Faculty Soccer Playoff look. Throughout the nation, vastly improved models like Oregon’s and particular person gamers surging within the again half of the 2025 season shined in Week 13.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning made Longhorns historical past together with his six-touchdown efficiency in opposition to Arkansas, delivering the most recent in a late-fall run of mature performances from the first-year starter. Turnover-starved in September and early October, Oklahoma continued its late-season takeaway spree in a 17-6 victory over Missouri. Elsewhere, Tennessee’s working again tandem of DeSean Bishop and Star Thomas mixed for 187 yards as this system’s sluggish run sport exploded in a win at Florida, whereas the Vols’ Week 14 opponent Vanderbilt put collectively one other smothering effort in opposition to the run in a 28-point victory over Kentucky.
As we enter the ultimate week of the common season, this week’s Energy Rankings give attention to the most important enchancment every of the nation’s prime packages has made since Week 1. — Eli Lederman
Earlier rating: 1
The Buckeyes have gotten their working sport going simply in time for Michigan and the postseason. Earlier than November, Ohio State ranked 51st nationally averaging 4.58 yards per rush and 71st with 151.7 speeding yards per sport. Since Nov. 1, Ohio State ranks fifteenth with 5.55 yards per rush and twenty fourth with 202.5 speeding yards per sport. In Saturday’s 42-9 win over Rutgers, freshman Bo Jackson led the way in which with 110 speeding yards and two touchdowns because the Buckeyes racked up 254 yards on the bottom. With star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate persevering with to battle nagging accidents, Ohio State’s budding working sport figures to be key subsequent weekend at Michigan. — Jake Trotter
Earlier rating: 2
As soon as upon a time, Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana offense weren’t as environment friendly of their capacity to attain, particularly within the pink zone. Mendoza’s Hoosiers debut in opposition to Previous Dominion featured solely 27 factors and 4 scores on seven pink zone journeys. Indiana completed with 502 yards, nevertheless it was extremely inefficient with scoring. Issues have improved significantly as Mendoza, a prime Heisman Trophy contender, directs a Hoosiers offense that has scored touchdowns on 74% of its pink zone journeys (42-of-57) and averages 43.3 factors per sport. Mendoza entered Saturday with a nation-leading 20 passing touchdowns within the pink zone, 5 speeding touchdowns, no interceptions and just one sack taken. IU leads the nation in complete pink zone passing touchdowns with 23. — Adam Rittenberg
Earlier rating: 3
A sport with none drama was a welcome respite for the Aggies, who adopted a 28-point comeback, the most important at school historical past, in opposition to South Carolina two weeks in the past, with a 48-0 win over Samford that allowed Mike Elko to relaxation a lot of his starters. The No. 3 Aggies, who started the season eighth within the SEC preseason media ballot, have discovered the right way to win this season, leaning on Elko’s emphasis on ending video games. Marcel Reed leads the SEC in landing passes with 25, and receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver added pace to an offense that would already put on groups down with its offensive line. The protection continues to harass quarterbacks behind star edge rusher Cashius Howell. Now, Texas A&M turns its consideration to Austin, the place it can face No. 17 Texas with an opportunity to finish a 12-0 common season for the primary time since 1992. Final 12 months, the Longhorns went on the highway and clinched an SEC championship spot by successful the renewed rivalry sport at Kyle Area on their option to the playoff. This 12 months, the Aggies would love nothing greater than to return the favor of their stadium. — Dave Wilson
Earlier rating: 4
Early within the season, when Georgia was coping with accidents on the offensive line and was compelled to start out two true freshmen up entrance, there have been considerations about its capacity to throw the ball down the sector. Sophomore Gunner Stockton has greater than answered the problem, finishing 71.4% of his makes an attempt for two,465 yards with 19 touchdowns (plus one other eight speeding) and 4 interceptions. Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has executed an excellent job getting the ball in Zachariah Department’s arms and using tight ends. Georgia ranks twenty sixth within the FBS in scoring (33.7 factors) and has one of many extra balanced assaults within the SEC. — Mark Schlabach
Earlier rating: 7
Particular groups might need received the day in Eugene as Oregon’s unit dominated USC’s on its option to a 42-27 win. However the bedrock for its victory was its run protection, which held the Trojans’ speeding assault to solely 52 yards — earlier than this sport, USC had averaged over 190 speeding yards per sport. This has been a key a part of Oregon’s second half. Even in wins over Oklahoma State, Northwestern and Penn State within the early a part of the season, the Geese had been permitting a median of 150 speeding yards. Because the loss in opposition to Indiana, Oregon’s rush protection has solely allowed over 110 speeding yards as soon as, and over the previous two video games, it has allowed 114 yards complete. There is a purpose coach Dan Lanning praised his staff’s effort in that a part of the sport Saturday evening. Come playoff time, it is going to be an important a part of its possibilities. — Paolo Uggetti
Earlier rating: 6
The Rebels are in all probability one victory away from showing of their first Faculty Soccer Playoff sport, and one of many major causes is that they’ve executed an excellent job eliminating self-inflicted wounds. In Ole Miss’ first three SEC video games, at Kentucky and residential in opposition to Arkansas and LSU, it was penalized 28 instances for 258 yards. The Rebels additionally had two turnovers in opposition to each the Wildcats and Tigers. Ole Miss received these video games, nevertheless it was taking part in with fireplace too typically. Ole Miss has been a lot better in its previous 4 SEC video games, averaging about 4.8 penalties per sport with a complete of solely three turnovers. If the Rebels hold it clear once more in Friday’s Egg Bowl at rival Mississippi State, they is perhaps internet hosting a CFP first-round sport in Oxford, Mississippi, in mid-December. — Schlabach
Earlier rating: 5
The Crimson Raiders are one win away from their first Large 12 championship sport look and had every week off to recuperate and put together for his or her highway finale at West Virginia. Whereas the well being of QB Behren Morton has garnered a whole lot of consideration all year long, the emergence of sophomores Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams at working again has been a crucial improvement over this staff’s 10-1 begin. Texas Tech needed to exchange all-time main rusher Tahj Brooks coming into 2025 and misplaced touted USC switch Quinten Joyner to a season-ending harm in preseason camp. Dickey and Williams have mixed for a whopping 2,364 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns, they usually have completely exceeded expectations beneath first-year OC Mack Leftwich. — Max Olson
Earlier rating: 8
Few packages have defended higher than the Sooners this fall. Nevertheless it took Brent Venables’ unit till the again half of the common season to start out creating turnovers at a price befitting one of many nation’s prime 10 scoring defenses. After logging simply two takeaways by its first six video games of 2025, Oklahoma has tallied 10 in its previous 5, together with a pair in this system’s’ 17-6 win over Missouri. Turnovers drove the Sooners’ pair of ranked highway victories at Tennessee and Alabama earlier this month — 22 factors off six turnovers in wins determined by a mixed eight factors — they usually’ve lastly develop into a part of the successful components that has Oklahoma on the cusp of the playoff coming into the ultimate week of the common season. — Lederman
Earlier rating: 9
The Crimson Tide didn’t get off to an awesome begin with their run protection, giving up greater than 225 yards in two of their first three Energy 4 video games, in opposition to Florida State and Georgia. However it seems that group has turned a nook up to now month. Alabama held each LSU and Oklahoma beneath 100 yards speeding. In its previous 4 Energy 4 video games, Alabama has not allowed greater than 150 yards on the bottom. On condition that enchancment, Alabama has put itself in place to make it to the SEC championship sport and safe yet one more CFP berth. A win over Auburn within the Iron Bowl would get them to Atlanta. — Andrea Adelson
Earlier rating: 10
Keep in mind again when the Irish had been 0-2? The sky was falling, the playoff was a close to impossibility and, most surprising of all, the secondary was a large number. That looks like one other lifetime. Because the losses to Miami and Texas A&M, opposing QBs are averaging simply 4.9 yards-per-dropback, with a mere eight passing touchdowns and a whopping 19 interceptions. That Leonard Moore and Christian Grey reverted again to their All-America caliber kind is maybe not all that shocking. It was the primary two video games that felt just like the outlier. Nevertheless it’s not simply that the Notre Dame secondary has confirmed to be each bit nearly as good as we would’ve guessed earlier than the season, nevertheless it has really been higher. Chalk that as much as the emergence of Tae Johnson, who has blossomed right into a star in his personal proper, racking up 48 tackles and 4 picks, taking Notre Dame’s DB room from early-season fear to one of many nation’s most dominant models. — David Hale
Earlier rating: 11
For BYU, the trail to the playoff has develop into fairly easy: Win and also you’re in. With the way in which the bubble is shaping up, a loss to both UCF within the regular-season finale or in opposition to Texas Tech within the Large 12 title sport nearly certainly means the Cougars are out, barring some sudden outcomes elsewhere within the nation. It is a harsh actuality for a staff that’s 10-1 in a Energy 4 convention, however the rankings are what they’re. The Cougars took care of enterprise at Cincinnati on Saturday, however the Bearcats are on a three-game skid. It was an anticipated win that does not increase the resume in a significant manner. — Kyle Bonagura
Earlier rating: 13
The Hurricanes have developed extra depth of their passing sport in latest weeks, which is an enormous purpose why there was enchancment on this space for the reason that SMU loss. Up to now three video games, Carson Beck has thrown for 858 yards with eight touchdowns to zero interceptions and is finishing greater than 75% of his passes. Along with freshman Malachi Toney rising as his favourite receiver, Miami has seen key contributions from Keelan Marion with three of his greatest video games of the season and tight finish Elija Lofton, who caught his first two touchdowns of the season up to now two weeks. Freshmen Daylyn Upshaw and Joshua Moore have additionally seen their most in depth motion of the season. To have any shot at an at-large berth to the CFP, Miami should proceed with the strides it has made in its passing sport at Pitt subsequent week. — Adelson
Earlier rating: 12
With 4:35 left in opposition to Kansas State, the Utes trailed 47-37 and had been successfully eradicated from the Faculty Soccer Playoff. The Utes had already allowed extra speeding yards than any sport at school historical past — Okay-State completed with 472 speeding yards — and ESPN Analytics gave the Wildcats a 97.3% probability of successful the sport. Someway the Utes defended their dwelling Rice-Eccles Stadium and received 51-47 win to maintain their faint playoff hopes alive. What occurred on Saturday is one thing that didn’t happen in opposition to Texas Tech and BYU earlier this 12 months: Utah stayed composed late. The Utes benefitted from some key officiating choices, however their poise late within the sport exhibits an essential enchancment from earlier this 12 months. — Bonagura
Earlier rating: 16
Vanderbilt remains to be within the combine for a CFP at-large bid and its first 10-win season at school historical past, thanks partially to its enchancment on protection in opposition to the run. Final season, the Commodores ranked thirteenth within the SEC in run protection (140.8 yards). This 12 months, they’re fifth and surrendering 105.1 yards per contest. In Saturday’s 45-17 victory in opposition to Kentucky, the Wildcats ran for 48 yards on 19 makes an attempt (not together with sacks). It was the fifth time this season that the Commodores held an opponent beneath 100 yards speeding. Solely two groups, Missouri (170 yards) and Auburn (210), ran for greater than 150. Vanderbilt will want an identical effort in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Tennessee. — Schlabach
Earlier rating: 18
The maturation of true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and emergence of true freshman receiver Andrew Marsh has elevated the Wolverines’ total passing assault. Since Oct. 4, when Marsh grabbed a outstanding position within the receiving rotation, Michigan has ranked fifth within the Large Ten with 8.14 yards per passing try; earlier than that, the Wolverines ranked 14th. Marsh now leads the Wolverines with 42 receptions for 641 yards, together with 5 catches for 76 yards and a landing in Saturday’s 45-20 win at Maryland. With star working again Justice Haynes (foot) out the remainder of the common season and main rusher Jordan Marshall battling a shoulder harm, the Wolverines will want Underwood and Marsh to make performs within the passing sport for Michigan to have an opportunity of knocking off top-ranked Ohio State for a fifth straight victory within the collection. — Trotter
Earlier rating: 17
The Longhorns received a historic efficiency from Arch Manning on Saturday, as he turned the primary Longhorn participant ever to run for a TD, throw for one and catch one other in Texas’ 52-37 win over Arkansas. The porous Razorback protection was simply the salve the Longhorns wanted after a 35-10 loss at Georgia that set their CFP hopes on life assist. However the Longhorns’ offensive line has improved, and Manning’s poise has impressed Steve Sarkisian, who mentioned he now has extra choices because of this, together with utilizing Manning’s speeding capacity. The Longhorns will want the protection to play at a degree it hasn’t since earlier within the season to sluggish Texas A&M’s potent offense, however taking part in at dwelling, with one closing shot to beat a top-5 staff in a reheated rivalry matchup can be all of the motivation they want. — Wilson
Earlier rating: 19
Whereas all of the give attention to Virginia has been on quarterback Chandler Morris and the enhancements which were made on offense, the Virginia protection has carried this staff at instances all through the course of the season. Let’s return to the loss to NC State in Week 2. Virginia blew a 10-point halftime lead by giving up three touchdowns within the third quarter. Since a double OT win in opposition to Florida State, Virginia has not allowed greater than 27 factors. In wins over Louisville, Washington State, North Carolina and Cal, the protection got here up with crucial turnovers and stops in essential moments. Virginia has compelled extra turnovers and has extra sacks than final 12 months, and maybe most essential of all: It has a top-30 protection. Final 12 months? That group ranked No. 101. — Adelson
Earlier rating: 20
DeSean Bishop and Star Thomas rushed 33 instances for 187 yards and three touchdowns in Tennessee’s 31-11 win over Florida. It was solely the Vols’ third win in 50 years in Gainesville, and whereas the massive story was a protection that pitched a first-half shutout (and has now allowed simply 20 factors in two video games after a dreadful first 9 video games), the Bishop-Thomas mixture had its greatest sport all season in opposition to a good protection. In two tight losses that eradicated the Vols from playoff competition, they averaged simply 4.8 yards per carry in opposition to Georgia and a couple of.8 in opposition to Oklahoma. A burly run sport will give them a strong probability of depriving Vanderbilt of a playoff bid subsequent weekend. — Invoice Connelly
Earlier rating: 14
Regardless that USC has made strides on the defensive aspect of the ball because the season has progressed, the Trojans have merely been unable to essentially management the tempo of the sport on that aspect of the ball. Oregon made it look straightforward on Saturday, totaling 436 yards and averaging over six yards per play. The Trojans have sustained some key accidents — safeties Bishop Fitzgerald and Kamari Ramsey didn’t play within the 42-27 loss — and whereas their offense has proved to be one of the electrical within the nation, when going through harder opponents like Oregon, Notre Dame and Illinois, the protection has been unable to pitch in and assist Lincoln Riley’s staff pitch an entire sport. — Uggetti
Earlier rating: 22
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has been good all season, however since North Texas’ midseason loss to USF, he has shifted into a totally totally different gear. And on Saturday night in opposition to Rice, with large assist from receiver Wyatt Younger (eight catches, 295 yards, two touchdowns), Mestemaker loved one of the best sport of his life: He accomplished 19 of 23 passes for 469 yards and three touchdowns because the Imply Inexperienced noticed Rice a 14-0 lead, then outscored the Owls 56-10 the remainder of the way in which. In his previous 5 video games, he has thrown for 1,886 yards (377.2 per sport) and 13 touchdowns, and his staff is 2 wins from a possible CFP bid. Mestemaker’s nice efficiency in final 12 months’s First Responder Bowl was actually a touch at his potential, however coach Eric Morris in all probability did not understand this was in retailer in 2025. — Connelly
Earlier rating: NR
Jake Retzlaff and Tulane took care of enterprise on Saturday in a 37-13 highway win at Temple that places the Inexperienced Wave one win away (in opposition to 1-10 Charlotte) from securing this system’s fourth consecutive American Convention title sport look. Coach Jon Sumrall has continuously lamented his staff’s inconsistency throughout its 9-2 begin, with numerous ups and downs away from dwelling. This was a very good time for a no-doubt highway victory, that includes a double-digit lead all through the second half and simply 204 yards allowed on protection, for a squad that could possibly be two wins away from taking part in within the CFP. — Olson
Earlier rating: NR
The Mustangs’ season figured to be an afterthought again in September after two early losses to Baylor and TCU. The 2 Large 12 squads lit up SMU’s secondary to the tune of 819 yards and 9 touchdowns. However a humorous factor occurred after that. SMU’s seemingly inept secondary discovered a spark — or stopped taking part in Large 12 groups at the least. Since Oct. 1, SMU is permitting a 42.8 Complete QBR, the second-best mark within the ACC behind Wake Forest (the one staff to beat the Mustangs since then), and is tied for the ACC lead with 11 interceptions. The development is multifaceted. Whereas the secondary has clearly improved, holding opponents to only 6.52 yards-per-pass, the move rush has been maybe the most important indicator of a brand new method, with a 36% stress price regardless of one of many league’s lowest blitz charges. SMU’s protection was certain to be a piece in progress this 12 months, however coordinator Scott Symons appears to have discovered a components that works, and it has helped rekindle ACC championship desires for the Mustangs. — Hale
Earlier rating: NR
The early season was tormented by expensive turnovers and late collapses. Eli Holstein, Pitt’s starter for the primary 4 video games of the 12 months, wasn’t precisely dangerous, however 5 interceptions — together with two ugly throws in a loss to Louisville — had been defining. Freshman Mason Heintschel took over in Week 6, and whereas he has not been with out his rising pains, he has helped open up the Pitt offense with out the identical expensive errors. On Saturday, Heintschel accomplished 74% of his throws with two touchdowns and no picks in a probably season-defining win over Georgia Tech. These late struggles — blown double-digit leads vs. West Virginia and Louisville — have evaporated, too. The Georgia Tech sport was a main instance of a extra resilient Pitt. With the Yellow Jackets threatening to erase a 28-0 lead, Braylan Lovelace picked off Haynes King ultimately zone and returned it 100 yards for a rating that every one however sealed the win. — Hale
Earlier rating: 21
The Dukes have received 9 in a row and stay proper within the thick of the Faculty Soccer Playoff race after a 24-20 comeback win over Washington State on Saturday. James Madison hadn’t trailed in a fourth quarter since its Week 2 loss to Louisville, however received a 58-yard speeding landing from Wayne Knight and a crucial fourth-down cease with lower than three minutes remaining. The protection received burned by huge performs in that lone loss to Louisville, nevertheless it continues to do a superb job of stopping explosive performs since, permitting simply 28 performs of 20-plus yards this season, tied for fourth fewest within the FBS. — Olson
Earlier rating: 15
The most important bugaboo of Georgia Tech’s early season was turnovers. The Yellow Jackets handed the ball over to Colorado on every of their first three possessions to open the 2025 season, then every week later, bumped into the identical early struggles. 5 turnovers within the first two video games was each an enormous drawback and utterly out of character for the Jackets. However, as typically occurs with turnovers, the dangerous luck evaporated, and the pendulum swung within the different route. Georgia Tech coughed up the ball simply twice in its subsequent 5 video games — all wins — and the issue gave the impression to be solved. And but, the takeaway gods are fickle, and it was two essential interceptions, together with a 100-yard pick-six, that value the Jackets in Week 13 in opposition to Pitt. Their playoff hopes now on life assist, Georgia Tech lived and died with turnover luck this 12 months, and now it will must play its greatest sport of the season — and mistake-free ball — if it hopes to down rival Georgia and rekindle any playoff speak. — Hale