The two teams that played for the national title on Monday evening ended the season at the top of the AP Top 25.
Ohio State is the obvious No. 1 team after beating Notre Dame 34-23 for the College Football Playoff national title. The Irish are the clear number 2 in the poll with almost 100 points more than number 3 Oregon. As you might expect, Ohio State received all 56 first-place votes.
The Ducks opened the College Football Playoff at No. 1 after being the only undefeated team at the highest level of college football during the regular season. However, Oregon’s undefeated streak came to an end in the first playoff game as Ohio State jumped out to a 31-0 second quarter lead en route to a 41-21 win in the Rose Bowl.
The other two teams in the top five are the two losers of the semi-finals. Texas ends the season at No. 4 after a 28-14 loss to the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl. No. 5 Penn State lost 27-24 to Notre Dame on a late field goal in the Orange Bowl.
The top 10 is also filled in by teams that made the play-offs. Georgia, Arizona State, Boise State, Tennessee and Indiana are ranked Nos. 6 through 10. The two teams that made the playoff but finished the season outside the top 10 are No. 12 SMU and No. .14Clemson. The Tigers made the playoffs with their last-second win over the Mustangs in the ACC title game, while SMU was the last major team in the field.
Ole Miss is the highest ranked non-playoff team at No. 11. The SEC ends the season with the highest-ranked teams with seven, while the Big Ten had five teams in the top 25 and all five in the top stood. 16.
Latest AP Top 25
1. Ohio State (14-2)
2. Notre Dame (14-2)
3. Oregon (13-1)
4. Texas (13-3)
5. Penn State (13-3)
6. Georgia (11-3)
7. Arizona State (11-3)
8. Boise State (12-2)
9. Tennessee (10-3)
10. Indiana (11-2)
11. Ole Miss (10-3)
12. SMU (11-3)
13. BYU (11-2)
14. Clemson (10-4)
15. Iowa State (11-3)
16. Illinois (10-3)
17. Alabama (9-4)
18. Miami (10-3)
19. South Carolina (9-4)
20. Syracuse (10-3)
21. Army (12-2)
22. Missouri (10-3)
23. UNLV (11-3)
24. Memphis (11-2)
25. Colorado (9-4)