Pool's Poll Week 12: Wild Weekend Leaves Just Five Undefeated Teams Remaining

While all my teams took a break this week, I was still treated to some incredible football. The two matchups of undefeated teams lived up to the hype and Baylor nearly joined Alabama and Penn State, but survived a wild finish in Ft. Worth. Not to mention, not one, but two SEC teams lost to Group of 5 teams as Western Kentucky throttled Arkansas and Appalachian State held off South Carolina.

The top two in this poll remain the same, but it's pure anarchy after that. UCF is one of the teams that falls out of the ranks after Tulsa finally won one of their close games against the elite of the AAC. San Diego State falls out after losing to Nevada at home for the first time in 46 years! It's also a welcome back to Wisconsin and Notre Dame.

Here's how the list breaks down:

1.)LSU (9-0, 51.9 WP, 0 LP)

A statement win for Joe Burrow and LSU as they beat Bama for the first time since 2011. The next two should be very winnable, but Texas A&M has a chance to play spoiler in the final week.

Last Week Rank: 1
Best Win: Alabama
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: 46-41 over Alabama
Up Next: Ole Miss (4-6, No. 101)

2.)Ohio State (8-0, 63.1 WP, 0 LP)

They embarrassed Maryland and still won't miss Chase Young because Rutgers welcomes the Buckeyes to town next week.

LWR: 2
Best Win: Wisconsin
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: 73-14 over Maryland
Up Next: Rutgers (2-7, No. 117)

3.)Clemson (10-0, 69.6 WP, 0 LP)

The Tigers have already clinched their half of the ACC after a drubbing of NCST and a loss by Wake Forest. The loss by the Demon Deacons is a crushing blow to Clemson as they might not have a Top 25 matchup going into next week, which only hurts their stock in the playoff hunt. 

LWR: 4
Best Win: Texas A&M
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: 55-10 over NCST
Up Next: Wake Forest (7-2, No.21)

4.)Baylor (9-0, 76.4 WP, 0 LP)

In a day of great finishes, this was arguably the best. Both Baylor and TCU converted on fourth down must score a touchdown scenarios and the Horned Frogs were helped and harmed by replay to secure yet another close win for the Bears.

LWR: 5
Best Win: Kansas State
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: 29-23 (3OT) over TCU
Up Next: Oklahoma (8-1, No.12)

5.)Minnesota (9-0, 83.6 WP, 0 LP)

It's been over 100 years since the Gophers were 9-0 and they did it in dramatic fashion with an interception in the end zone to stun Penn State. If the magic continues, they're potentially headed for an undefeated showdown with the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship.

LWR: 7
Best Win: Penn State
Worst Loss: None
Last Week: 31-26 over Penn State
Up Next: Iowa (6-3, No.39)

6.)SMU(9-1, 76.8 WP, 14 LP)

The Ponies fought off yet another Pirate invasion on the upper echelon of the AAC and take advantage of several bye weeks to jump up four spots. Up next is a Top 25 showdown with Navy.

LWR: 10
Best Win: TCU
Worst Loss: Memphis
Last Week: 59-51 over ECU
Up Next: Navy (11/23)

7.)Oregon (8-1, 54.6 WP, 27 LP)

The Ducks waded in a pond somewhere and now get ready to climb back into the driver's seat of the PAC-12 North.

LWR: 8
Best Win: Washington
Worst Loss: Auburn
Last Week: Bye

Up Next: Arizona (4-5, No.79)

8.)Penn State (8-1, 63.3 WP, 7 LP)

They had their chance and missed. Maybe they were looking two weeks ahead to Ohio State, but now critics can't say the Gophers haven't won against a tough team. The Nittany Lions get a second round of surprise Big Ten teams when they face Indiana next.

LWR: 3
Best Win: Iowa
Worst Loss: Minnesota
Last Week: 31-26 loss to Minnesota
Up Next: Indiana (7-2, No.26)

9.)Utah(7-1, 63.6 WP, 36 LP)

The Utes are rested and ready for whatever Chip Kelly has to throw at them. They just need to keep winning and hope Oregon does the same thing to ensure a playoff berth.

LWR: 9
Best Win: Arizona State
Worst Loss: USC
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: UCLA (4-5, No.74)

10.)Boise State (8-1, 64.8 WP, 97 LP)

They needed to rally once again, but the Broncos defense came up strong in overtime and held off one of the surprise teams in the Mountain West.

LWR: 14

Best Win: Air Force

Worst Loss: BYU

Last Week: 20-17 (OT) over Wyoming

Up Next: New Mexico (2-7, No. 120)

11.)Georgia (8-1, 65.6 WP, 90 LP)

They didn't clinch the SEC East just yet, but the Bulldogs blanking of Missouri was certainly impressive. They need to have the same defensive effort next week against their final tough test in Auburn.

LWR: 13
Best Win: Florida
Worst Loss: South Carolina
Last Week: 27-0 over Missouri

Up Next: Auburn (7-2, No. 24)

12.)Oklahoma (8-1, 76.4 WP, 45 LP)

The crowd in Norman was thinking not again as Iowa State rallied from 14 down to get within one in the final minute. The Cyclones went for two and despite heavy contact by the Sooners secondary, no flags were thrown and Boomer Sooner escaped with a 42-41 victory. Next is a showdown for Big 12 supremacy.

LWR: 16

Best Win: Texas

Worst Loss: Kansas State

Last Week: 42-41 over Iowa State

Up Next: Baylor (9-0, No. 4)

13.)

Memphis (8-1, 78 WP, 27 LP)

The Tigers need to remain focused as Houston will be playing with nothing to lose and boasts and offense that can score points.

LWR: 11

Best Win: SMU
Worst Loss: Temple
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: Houston (3-6, No. 110)

14.)Appalachian State (8-1, 78.5 WP, 59 LP)

The Mountaineers held off a comeback by South Carolina to secure their second win against a Power 5 school this year, something no Sun Belt squad had ever done. Now they'll have to avoid a letdown against Georgia State who is coming off a bad loss.

LWR: 15
Best Win: North Carolina
Worst Loss: Georgia Southern
Last Week: 20-15 over South Carolina
Up Next: Georgia State (6-3, No. 37)

15.)Alabama (8-1, 84.6 WP, 1 LP)

Alabama's 46-41 loss still doesn't seem like a knockout blow in the CFP hunt. There's just this feeling they're going to be right in the thick of it, especially if the PAC-12 Champ stumbles or Baylor's not the Big 12 Champ as an undefeated squad and less likely an unscathed Minnesota team. So it's looking alright still for the Tide. Mississippi State will feel their wrath.

LWR: 6
Best Win: Texas A&M
Worst Loss: LSU
Last Week: 46-41 loss to LSU

Up Next: Mississippi State (4-5, No. 80)

16.)Cincinnati(8-1, 86.1 WP, 32 LP)

As expected, the reserves got their chance to shine in a bludgeoning of UConn. If they remain focused they can maintain their spot as the top Group of 5 teams.

LWR:17
Best Win: UCF
Worst Loss: Ohio State
Last Week: 48-3 over UConn
Up Next: USF (4-5, No. 94)

17.)Louisiana Tech 8-1, 108.3 WP, 12 LP)

The Bulldogs continue to roll through the dumpster fire known as Conference USA. They'll finally get an opponent not ranked in the 90's or higher when they face Marshall next.

LWR: 20
Best Win: Southern Miss
Worst Loss: Texas
Last Week: 52-17 over North Texas
Up Next: Marshall (6-3, No. 44)

18.)Navy (7-1, 83 WP, 19 LP)
The Midshipmen stayed put and await a Notre Dame team that will easily be their toughest task of the season. It's also one of the many ranked matchups this week.

LWR: 18
Best Win: Air Force
Worst Loss: Memphis
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: Notre Dame (7-2, No. 23)

19.)Florida (8-2, 76.9 WP, 14 LP)

The Gators expressed their frustrations from falling out of favor in the SEC with a 56-0 beatdown of Vanderbilt. They'll look to chomp on some tiger of the Missouri variety next.

LWR: 24
Best Win: Auburn
Worst Loss: Georgia
Last Week: 56-0 over Vanderbilt

Up Next: Missouri (5-4, No. 65)

20.)Wisconsin (7-2, 60.1 WP, 53 LP)
Another close call and great finish as the Badgers staved off a comeback by Iowa when they denied the Hawkeyes on a two-point try that would've tied the game. The Badgers look to cruise next week against Nebraska
LWR: 28
Best Win: Michigan
Worst Loss: Illinois
Last Week: 24-22 over Iowa
Up Next: Nebraska (4-5, No. 85)

21.)Wake Forest (7-2, 60.9 WP, 54 LP)

The Demon Deacons fell into a trap against Virginia Tech as they looked past the Hokies to Clemson. Now Wake Forest can only play spoiler in the Tigers National Title plans.

LWR: 12
Best Win: North Carolina
Worst Loss: Louisville
Last Week: 36-17 loss to Virginia Tech
Up Next: Clemson (10-0, No. 3)

22.)Air Force (7-2, 61.3 WP, 33 LP)

The Falcons had their game tragically postponed after a player for New Mexico, Nahje Flowers, died on Tuesday from unknown causes. The game is rescheduled for Nov. 23. Air Force resumes play against their instate rival Colorado State next.

LWR: 21

Best Win: Hawaii

Worst Loss: Navy
Last Week: Postponed

Up Next: Colorado State (4-5, No. 93)

23.)Notre Dame (7-2, 61.9 WP, 24 LP)
The Irish took it to Duke and now have a ranked matchup with Navy next. It's hard to think that the Midshipmen would enter with the better record coming into the game.
LWR: 27
Best Win: Virginia
Worst Loss: Michigan
Last Week: 38-7 over Duke
Up Next: Navy (7-1, No. 18)

24.)Auburn (7-2, 62.3 WP, 9 LP)

The Tigers are well rested and hope to dash the Georgia playoff hopes before trying to do the same to Alabama in a few weeks.

LWR: 22
Best Win: Oregon
Worst Loss: Florida
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: Georgia (8-1, No. 11)

25.)Michigan (7-2, 63.9 WP, 10 LP)

The Wolverines can only hope that Sparty is still choking from their collapse against Illinois. Michigan State blew a 25 point lead to the Illini who are 4-0 since their loss to Michigan.

LWR: 24
Best Win: Notre Dame
Worst Loss: Wisconsin
Last Week: Bye

Up Next: Michigan State (4-5, No. 76)

Dropped Out: San Diego State, UCF

Next Ten: Indiana, San Diego State, Louisiana, Virginia, UCF, FAU, Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Temple