Pool's Poll Week 14: Say Goodbye to Oregon and Penn State's Playoff Dreams

The Oregon Ducks were being placed in various Top 4 spots by talking heads, but Arizona State had no interest in letting the PAC-12 North Champs realize those dreams. Penn State also had their playoff hopes dashed by Chase Young and Ohio State, despite the Buckeyes best effort to give the game away.

The Sun Belt (Appalachian State/Louisiana), SEC (LSU/Georgia), Big 12 (Baylor/Oklahoma) and Mountain West (Boise State/Hawai'i) have all had their conference championship games set, but rivalry week will decide many more. The American will see Cincinnati face off against either Navy or Memphis; the ACC will be Clemson against the winner of the Commonwealth Cup between Virginia and Va Tech; the Big Ten has Ohio State facing the winner of Minnesota/Wisconsin; Conference USA is wide open with five teams vying for two spots; the MAC has Miami awaiting either Western or Central Michigan; while the PAC-12 will see Oregon take on either Utah or USC.

This week Louisiana Tech and San Diego drop out, with the Aztecs' loss clinching the first ever conference championship appearance for Hawai'i. There have been 73 teams who have become bowl eligible which leaves five spots for 14 teams five-win teams to fill. The Ohio Bobcats (5-6) are one of those teams and can become bowl eligible by making Akron (0-11) the only winless team in the FBS.

Here's a look at the Top 25.

1.)LSU (11-0, 62.5 WP, 0 LP)

The Tigers were nearly overtaken by the Buckeyes after OSU picked up a big win while LSU taunted and toyed with Arkansas, but at least they were an SEC team that played an FBS school this week, so that's pretty cool.

Last Week Rank: 1
Best Win: Alabama
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: 56-20 over Arkansas
Up Next: Texas A&M(7-4, No.52)

2.)Ohio State (11-0, 62.7 WP, 0 LP)

Despite the Buckeyes inability to hold onto the football, they still came away with a big win over Penn State to clinch a familiar spot in the Big Ten Championship. Next the head north for The Game against whatever stupid name they choose to call the Wolverines, whom they haven't lost to since 2011.

LWR: 3
Best Win: Penn State
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: 28-17 over Penn State
Up Next: Michigan (9-2, No.17)

Rivalry Notes: Michigan leads series 58-50-6, OSU currently on seven game win streak.

3.)Clemson (11-0, 65.2 WP, 0 LP)

The Tigers took a cat nap this week to get ready feast on the feathers of their in-state rival in the Palmetto Bowl. Clemson will also have their eye on Virginia/Virginia Tech.

LWR: 2
Best Win: Texas A&M
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: South Carolina (4-7, No.92)

Rivalry Notes: Clemson leads series 70-42-4 and has won the last five meetings.

4.)Georgia (10-1, 58.8 WP, 90 LP)

The Bulldogs exhaled as they won they held off a rally by the Aggies to drop Texas A&M to set the stage for some Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.

LWR: 6
Best Win: Florida
Worst Loss: South Carolina
Last Week: 19-13 over Texas A&M

Up Next: Georgia Tech (3-8, No. 115)

Rivalry Notes: Georgia leads series 67-41-5 and has won last two meetings.

5.)Oklahoma (10-1, 65.9 WP, 45 LP)

Those scrapy Horned Frogs couldn't pull off the upset and now Oklahoma will face Baylor in the Big 12 Championship, but first will they survive Bedlam?

LWR: 8

Best Win: Baylor

Worst Loss: Kansas State

Last Week: 28-24 over TCU

Up Next: Oklahoma State (8-3, No.27)

Rivalry Notes: Oklahoma leads series 88-18-7 including last four meetings.

6.)Utah(10-1, 66.9 WP, 36 LP)

The Utes might have coasted over Arizona, but still haven't clinched the PAC-12 South because of their lone loss to USC, who are waiting in the shadows to snatch the crown if Utah slips up this week during the Rumble in the Rockies.

LWR: 8
Best Win: Arizona State
Worst Loss: USC
Last Week: 35-7 over Arizona
Up Next: Colorado (5-6, No. 74)

Rivalry Notes: Colorado leads series 32-30-3, Utah has won last two meetings.

7.)Boise State (10-1, 69 WP, 97 LP)

The Broncos are once again atop the Mountain West after throttling Utah State, but will see a new opponent in the championship in Hawai'i.

LWR: 9

Best Win: Air Force

Worst Loss: BYU

Last Week: 56-21 over Utah State

Up Next: Colorado State (4-7, No.104)

8.)Baylor (10-1, 73.6 WP, 12 LP)

The Bears clinched their first ever appearance in the Big 12 Championship game and they did so will a win over rival Texas. They'll try and exact revenge against Oklahoma, but first Kansas.

LWR: 11
Best Win: Kansas State
Worst Loss: Oklahoma
Last Week: 24-10 over Texas
Up Next: Kansas (3-8, No.112)

9.)Appalachian State (10-1, 77.8 WP, 59 LP)

The Mountaineers knocked around Texas State and clinched their spot in the Sun Belt Championship with a rematch of last year's meeting with Louisiana.

LWR: 10

Best Win: North Carolina
Worst Loss: Georgia Southern
Last Week: 35-13 over Texas State
Up Next: Troy (5-6, No.86)

10.)Cincinnati(10-1, 81.1 WP, 32 LP)

The Bearcats once again hung on and clinched their spot in the AAC Championship game. They'll get a preview of one of their potential opponents as they face Memphis in a Top 20 showdown.

LWR:16
Best Win: UCF
Worst Loss: Ohio State
Last Week: 15-13 over Temple
Up Next: Memphis (10-1,No.11)

11.)Memphis (10-1, 83.6 WP, 27 LP)

The Tigers cruised to victory over USF, but now need either a win against Cincinnati or a Navy loss to secure a bid in the AAC Championship game and keep their spot in the Cotton Bowl.

LWR: 13

Best Win: SMU
Worst Loss: Temple
Last Week: 49-10 over USF
Up Next: Cincinnati (10-1, No.10)

12.)Minnesota (10-1, 87.2 WP,  39 LP)

The Gophers hopes for a Big Ten title are still alive and they can clinch a spot with a victory over the Badgers.

LWR: 14
Best Win: Penn State
Worst Loss: Iowa
Last Week: 38-22 over Northwestern
Up Next: Wisconsin (9-2, No.18)

Rivalry Notes: Series tied 60-60-8, Minnesota won in 2018 snapping Wisconsin's 14-game win streak.

13.)Alabama (10-1, 88.8 WP, 1 LP)

The Crimson Tide took won their scrimmage in the second to last week of the season and they will square off against their equally rested rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Alabama, as always, has a chance to crash the party despite not winning the SEC.

LWR: 15
Best Win: Texas A&M
Worst Loss: LSU
Last Week: 66-3 over Western Carolina (FCS)

Up Next: Auburn (8-3,No.26)

Rivalry Notes: Alabama leads series 46-36-1 and won the last meeting.

14.)Oregon (9-2, 57.3 WP, 47 LP)

The Ducks were stunned by Arizona State and despite winning the PAC-12 North, the playoff hopes are all but dead. Not to mention the Beavers should provide a feistier opponent than in past Civil War meetings.

LWR: 4
Best Win: Washington
Worst Loss: Arizona State
Last Week: 31-28 loss to Arizona State

Up Next: Oregon State (5-6, No.78)

Rivalry Notes: Oregon leads 65-47-10 and has won the last two meetings.

15.)Notre Dame (9-2, 58.6 WP, 24 LP)

The Irish can't get people to come to their games anymore, but they're winning and could easily have ten wins by the time it's bowl season.
LWR: 18
Best Win: Navy
Worst Loss: Michigan
Last Week: 40-7 over Boston College
Up Next: Stanford (4-7, No.88)

16.)Penn State (9-2, 59.1 WP, 5 LP)

The rough stretch claimed Penn State's title hopes as they've now dropped two out of three. Luckily they finish with Rutgers so ten wins it is.

LWR: 5
Best Win: Iowa
Worst Loss: Minnesota
Last Week: 28-17 loss to Ohio State
Up Next: Rutgers (2-9, No.119)

17.)Michigan (9-2, 62.3 WP, 10 LP)

The Wolverines shook off a slow start and unleashed an aerial assault on the Hoosiers. They'll have to do that times a thousand if they hope to contain the beast that has mauled them so many times in the past.

LWR: 18
Best Win: Notre Dame
Worst Loss: Wisconsin
Last Week: 39-14 over Indiana

Up Next: Ohio State (11-0, No.2)

Rivalry Notes: Michigan leads series 58-50-6, OSU currently on seven game win streak.

18.)Wisconsin (9-2, 66.1 WP, 53 LP)

The Badgers also had a hard time shaking their Indiana based opponent, but pulled away late as Jonathan Taylor continued to run his way into the record book. Now it's time for them to avenge the Gophers for last year's loss and win their half of the Big Ten.
LWR: 19
Best Win: Michigan
Worst Loss: Illinois
Last Week: 45-24 over Purdue
Up Next: Minnesota (10-1, No.12)

Rivalry Notes: Series tied 60-60-8, Minnesota won in 2018 snapping Wisconsin's 14-game win streak.

19.)Air Force (9-2, 71.8 WP, 33 LP)

The Falcons took it to the Lobos and now have a good meeting between fellow under the radar Mountain West team Wyoming.

LWR: 21

Best Win: Hawaii

Worst Loss: Navy
Last Week: 44-22 over New Mexico

Up Next: Wyoming (7-4, No.49)

20.)Florida (9-2, 75.6 WP, 14 LP)

The Gators took a week off and now they hope to chomp up the Seminoles.

LWR: 17
Best Win: Auburn
Worst Loss: Georgia
Last Week: Bye

Up Next: Florida State (6-5, No.62)

Rivalry Notes: Florida leads the series 35-26-2 and won in 2018.

21.)SMU(9-2, 76.8 WP, 19.5 LP)

The Mustangs have been in plenty of close games, but a 70-yard touchdown run late in the game gave Navy the victory this time. That knocked the Ponies out of the race for the AAC Championship and they'll have to settle for a ten-win campaign.

LWR: 12
Best Win: TCU
Worst Loss: Navy
Last Week: 35-28 loss to Navy
Up Next: Tulane (6-5, No.70)

22.)Louisiana (9-2, 102.9 WP, 20 LP)

The Ragin' Cajuns will meet Appalachian State in the Sun Belt title after destroying Troy 53-3. They hope to do the same to their in-state rival in the Battle on the Bayou.

LWR: 23

Best Win: Georgia Southern

Worst Loss: Mississippi State

Last Week: 53-3 over Troy

Up Next: Louisiana Monroe (5-6, No.81)

Rivalry Notes: Louisiana leads series 28-25 and won last year's meeting.

23.)Navy (8-2, 74.1 WP, 21 LP)

The Midshipmen raced their way to a late win over SMU and set-up a shot at playing Cincinnati in the AAC Championship with a win over Houston and a Memphis loss.

LWR: 25
Best Win: SMU
Worst Loss: Notre Dame
Last Week: 35-28 over SMU
Up Next: Houston (4-7,No.107)

24.)Wake Forest (8-3, 65.3 WP, 37 LP)
The Demon Deacons took it to Duke and can get to nine wins with a victory over Syracuse this week.

LWR: 26

Best Win: Utah State

Worst Loss: Louisville

Last Week: 39-27 over Duke

Up Next: Syracuse (4-7,No.96)

25.)Iowa (8-3, 70.3 WP, 25.3 LP)

The Hawkeyes avoided the new trap in the Big Ten known as Illinois and eeked out a 19-10 win.

LWR: 30

Best Win: Minnesota

Worst Loss: Michigan

Last Week: 19-10 over Illinois

Up Next: Nebraska (5-6,No.83)

Dropped Out: La Tech, San Diego State

Next Ten: Auburn, Oklahoma State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, UCF, FAU, San Diego State, La Tech, UAB, USC