The Final Top 25: The SEC Reigns Supreme...Again

 The end of the college football season is finally here and unless you like Georgia or Alabama, you probably weren't too excited about Monday night's affair. There were some bright spots aside from the SEC. Michigan had a banner year and won their first Big Ten Championship Game. Cincinnati became the first Group of 5 team to make the College Football Playoffs. Perhaps nothing was more shocking than UTSA being undefeated going into the final week of the regular season and ultimately finishing 12-2. Another surprise was the Mountain West that had four teams finishing in the Top 25 (of this poll anyways), essentially filling in for the PAC-12 as the West Coast's elite conference. Here's a full breakdown of those who finished with three losses or fewer.

25.

NCST (9-3, 78.8 WP, 43.3 LP)

Last Year Rank: 35

Preseason Rank: 32

Prediction: 8-4

The Wolfpack seemed destined to win the ACC after the beat Clemson in a double overtime thriller, but then they lost two very close games to Miami and eventual ACC Championship Game participant, Wake Forest. NCST did take care of UNC to end the season, but had their appearance in the Holiday Bowl canceled because of a COVID issue with UCLA. Head coach Dave Doeren was so mad about the late cancelation that he said NCAA stands for, "No Clue At All!"

24. BYU (10-3, 78.2 WP, 48 LP)

LYR: 3

PR: 29

Prediction: 8-4

The Cougars got big wins Utah, USC, Washington State, Arizona State, and then dropped 66 on their former coach and Virginia. In the middle of the season, BYU hit a minor rut with back-to-back losses to Boise State and Baylor. They made the Indpendence Bowl and were stunned by UAB, who went on to upset the Cougars 34-31.

23. Air Force (10-3, 78.2 WP, 34.7 LP)

LYR: 63

PR: 82

Prediction: 8-4

The Air Force defense helped support a strong rushing attack by the Falcons that had them a win away from appearing in the Mountain West Championship. Instead, they settled for an appearance in the First Responder Bowl and held off a late comeback by Louisville to win 31-28.

22. Kentucky (10-3, 76.8 WP, 44.3 LP)

LYR: 70

PR: 57

Prediction: 7-5

Mark Stoops was linked to a handful of different jobs, but he didn't let that prevent his team from taking care of business in a difficult SEC. The Wildcats picked up wins over LSU and Florida and annihilated Louisville for the Governor's Cup. They earned a trip to the Citrus Bowl and clawed their way back in the fourth quarter to upend the Iowa Hawkeyes.

21. Clemson (10-3, 74.1 WP, 34.3 LP)

LYR: 12

PR: 3

Prediction: 11-1

In hindsight, losing to Georgia by 3 is a much better look for Clemson than most other teams that faced the Bulldogs, but that set the tone for season that Clemson's offense was in trouble. It came up two weeks later when they only scored 14 against Georgia Tech. They still had a chance to win their half of the ACC despite losses to Pitt and NCST because they throttled Wake Forest. However, they settled for a listless appearance in the Cheez-It bowl were the defense did most of the heavy lifting in a 20-13 win over Iowa State.

20.

Fresno State (10-3, 71.3 WP, 61 LP)

LYR: 67

PR: 63

Prediction: 6-6

The Bulldogs had a tough schedule, but they looked like they could handle it by challenging Oregon in Week 2. That helped them stun UCLA two weeks later, but then a trip to islands saw their bid for a Mountain West crown derailed. The Bulldogs met up with the surprise UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl and were able to fend off the Miners, 31-24. Head coach Kalen DeBoer left for Washington and Fresno State brought back Jeff Tedford who had previously been the head coach before having to retire due to health issues.

19. Ole Miss (10-3, 61.8 WP, 16.7 LP)

LYR: 64

PR: 42

Prediction: 8-4

Lane Kiffin's second season went pretty well with the exception of any game against SEC teams from the state of Alabama. The Rebels did well enough to earn a trip to the Sugar Bowl to take on the Baylor Bears. Unlike Kenny Pickett and a slew of other top draft picks, quarterback Matt Corral decided to play in his bowl game. Unfortunately, he proved why it might be best to skip as he had to be carted off the field in the first half with a leg injury. That took the wind out of the sails of the Rebels and they lost 21-7.

18. Utah State (11-3, 83.7 WP, 55.7 LP)

LYR: 115

PR: 118

Prediction: 4-8

The Aggies came out with a big win against Washington State and picked up a few big wins along the way. They did so well that they made an appearance in the Mountain West Championship where they dismantled San Diego State 46-13. They capped an amazing turnaround from the 2020 season with a 24-13 win over Oregon State in the L.A. Bowl.

17. Wake Forest (11-3, 77.9 WP, 40.3 LP)

LYR: 74

PR: 61

Prediction: 6-6

Perhaps the biggest surprise appearance in any conference championship was that of Wake Forest. Long dominated by Clemson, the Demon Deacons took advantage of the Tigers' shortcomings in 2021 thanks to strong quarterback play from Sam Hartman. The offense scored points in droves, only being held to less than 35 points twice, both losses. They had an interesting matchup with Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl, but after a COVID outbreak in College Station, Rutgers replaced A&M. With a much easier opponent, the Deacons handled their new task easily, 38-10.

16. Pitt (11-3, 71 WP, 65.7 LP)

LYR: 55

PR: 51

Prediction: 6-6

The Demon Deacons were thwarted from winning the ACC Championship by Kenny Pickett and the Pitt Panthers. Pickett had such a strong 2021 that he earned a trip to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He opted out of the Peach Bowl which seriously hurt Pitt's chances and they lost 31-21 to Michigan State.

15.

Coastal Carolina (11-2, 92.6 WP, 67 LP)

LYR: 2

PR: 9

Prediction: 10-2

The Chanticleers were back in the Top 25 until a stunning finish by Appalachian State blemished their perfect record. An injury to quarterback Grayson McCall limited their abilities against Georgia State and they were stunned once again. Those losses prevented them from appearing in the Sun Belt Championship and they settled for a thrilling matchup with MAC Champs, Northern Illinois. The Huskies had a chance to win late, but a little help from the refs, plus a defensive stand gave the Chanticleers a 47-41 victory.

14. Notre Dame (11-2, 70.4 WP, 14 LP)

LYR: 14

PR: 8

Prediction: 10-2

The Fighting Irish's CFP chances were greatly hurt when the ACC and Pac-12 were drastically down in 2021. Their toughest task came at home against Cincinnati, which the Bearcats won 24-13. While they could hang their hat on the Wisconsin win, but after they failed to make the Big Ten title game, it once again hurt their chances. On the outside looking in, the Irish were left with a trip to the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State. In between the game, the head coach Brian Kelly was hired by LSU and defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman was promoted to head coach. His debut started off with a 28-14 halftime lead, only for the Irish to allow 17 unanswered in the third quarter en route to a 37-35 loss.

13. Michigan State (11-2, 60.5 WP, 29 LP)

LYR: 104

PR: 96

Prediction: 4-8

The Spartans were the talk of the town after they rallied to knock off Michigan in a battle of the unbeaten to go 8-0. Then they ran into the Purdue and were completely dismantled by Ohio State, dashing their shot at a Big Ten title. Kenneth Walker III and his 1,600 yards rushing opted out of the Peach Bowl, but the Spartan defense was enough to overwhelm Pitt's backup quarterbacks, 31-21.

12. Ohio State (11-2, 59.9 WP, 12 LP)

LYR: 9

PR: 4

Prediction: 12-0

The Buckeyes were loaded offensively and it looked like they couldn't be stopped, then they actually played. The first three weeks were rough as they had to put Minnesota away late, lost to Oregon, and then let Tulsa hang around longer than they should have. Finally, it clicked and the Buckeyes posted four-straight games in which they scored at least 52 points. There win streak was finally halted by Jim Harbaugh's first win against the Buckeyes in six tries. OSU was shutout of the Big Ten Championship and the CFP, but got a nice consolation prize in the Rose Bowl against Utah. It looked grim when the Utes couldn't be stopped in the first half, but CJ Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba hooked up for 347 yards and three touchdowns, while Stroud threw another three touchdowns to Marvin Harrison Jr. to complete a 48-45 comeback.

11. Oklahoma (11-2, 58.3 WP, 15.5 LP)

LYR: 15

PR: 6

Prediction: 11-1

Like Ohio State, the Sooners seemed destined to coast into the CFP, but they nearly lost their home opener to Tulane, and had close calls with Nebraska, West Virginia, and Texas. The Texas game saw the Sooners rally after benching Heisman candidate Specner Rattler (he is now playing for South Carolina). At 9-0, the Sooners were still in control, but lost two of their last three to Baylor and Oklahoma State. That left them out of the Big 12 Championship and they settled for a disappointment bowl with Oregon. Like the Ducks, the Sooners were without their head coach as Lincoln Riley left to take the job at USC. Bob Stoops came back and led the troops to a convincing  47-32 Alamo Bowl victory.

10.

Houston (12-2, 93.9 WP, 40 LP)

LYR: 84

PR: 89

Prediction: 8-4

Houston dropped their opener to Texas Tech, but went on to rattle off 11-straight victories to earn their way into the Top 25 and a spot in AAC Championship game. The Cougars weren't able to knock off Cincinnati, but they'd get a chance to beat a Power 5 team when they squared off against Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl. While Houston was best known for its offense, the defense was able to limit the Tigers and the Cougars won a close one, 17-13.

9. UTSA (12-2, 83.6 WP, 54.5 LP)

LYR: 50

PR: 47

Prediction: 8-4

The Roadrunners have been greatly improved under Jeff Traylor. In the last two seasons, they have won 19 games, compared to the 13 they won the previous three seasons. UTSA got noticed in Week 1 with an impressive win over Illinois, then a few weeks later, they knocked off Memphis. They beat WKU in a shootout and after a couple close calls, they entered the final week undefeated. Then shockingly, they were blasted by North Texas as the Mean Green won 45-23 to ruin the perfect season. The Roadrunners shook it off and defeated the Hilltoppers again to claim the CUSA Championship. They earned a trip to the Frisco Bowl against Mountain West runner-up San Diego State. The Aztecs proved too much, but UTSA still finished with the most win in school history.

8. San Diego State (12-2, 74.5 WP, 27.5 LP)

LYR: 65

PR: 69

Prediction: 7-5

Speaking of the Aztecs, they finished 2-0 against Pac-12 schools, including a win over Utah. At 7-0, they could not navigate the difficult Mountain West unscathed, losing to Fresno State, but they would still make the conference championship. They were hit early and often as Utah State crushed the Aztecs 46-13.

7. Oklahoma State (12-2, 64.8 WP, 33.5 LP)

LYR: 27

PR: 18

Prediction: 9-3

The Cowboys were playing with fire throughout the season and were finally burned when they lost to Iowa State. Still, they managed victories over Texas, Oklahoma, and Baylor and earned a rematch with the Bears in the Big 12 Championship. OKST and Baylor were locked in a defensive struggle with the Bears ultimately coming away with a 21-16 win. The Cowboys settled for a spot in the Fiesta Bowl were they used a strong third quarter to stun Notre Dame.

6. Michigan (12-2, 64.7 WP, 3.5 LP)

LYR: 95

PR: 64

Prediction: 7-5

It finally happened! Jim Harbaugh was able to check three things off his checklist for the first time in his seven years in Ann Arbor. First, the Wolverines finally defeated Ohio State for the first time since 2011. That win earned them a spot in the Big Ten Championship, the first since the inception of the game, where they crushed Iowa. That marked the first Big Ten title since 1997 for the maize and blue. With all their impressive wins throughout the season, they were rewarded with a trip to the CFP for the first time ever. That's where the dream season ended as the eventual champs, Georgia, crushed their dreams early en route to a 34-11 Orange Bowl defeat.

5.

Baylor (12-2, 56.7 WP, 54.5 LP)

LYR: 111

PR: 86

Prediction: 4-8

The Bears had the biggest jump from last season as they rose 106 spots from their 2020 finish in the Pool Poll. Baylor survived losses to Oklahoma State and TCU to make it to the Big 12 Championship game where they avenged their loss to the Cowboys. The Bears took on Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl and held the high powered Rebels to just 7 points.

4. Alabama (13-2,  54 WP, 24.5 LP)

LYR: 1

PR: 1

Prediction: 12-0

It was clear that Alabama was not as dominant as they have been in the past, but that didn't mean they were pushovers. A loss to Texas A&M couldn't prevent them from going to another SEC title game and were faced with the seemingly unstoppable Georgia Bulldogs. Like they had in the past, the Crimson Tide destroyed the psyche of Georgia fans and cruised to a 41-24 win. Quarterback Bryce Young went on to win the Heisman and afterwards led the Tide to a Cotton Bowl victory over Cincinnati in the CFP. That set up a rematch with Georgia for the National Championship and it was a 180 for the Tide. They struggled to score and Young threw a game-sealing pick-six to give the Bulldogs a 33-18 win.

3. Cincinnati (13-1, 71.3 WP, 5 LP)

LYR: 6

PR: 5

Prediction: 11-1

The Bearcats finally proved that a Group of 5 team could make the CFP. Their only wins over ranked opponents came against Notre Dame and Houston in the AAC Championship game, but it was enough to make it in. They were respectable in the first half against the Crimson Tide, but their offense wasn't good enough to move the ball against an SEC defense. The Bearcats might have lost, but they won because they were able to keep Luke Fickell from searching for greener pastures. It might help that they'll be joining Big 12 in the next couple years.

2. Louisiana (13-1, 68.2 WP, 30 LP)

LYR: 4

PR: 15

Prediction: 9-3

This is where the Pool Poll works it's magic. The Ragin' Cajuns at number 2? Well after they lost to Texas in Week 1, they never lost again. Louisiana currently holds the longest active win streak in the FBS at 13. They won the Sun Belt Championship and took care of business in the R+L Carriers Bowl against Marshall. They accomplished the last item without head coach Billy Napier, who left to take the job at Florida. The Cajuns went internal and promoted Michael Desormeaux to lead them in 2022.

1.

Georgia (14-1, 49.3 WP, 3 LP)

LYR: 16

PR: 7

Prediction: 10-2

The Bulldogs finally slayed the dragon in Alabama and honestly it feels good. There honestly was no other team in college football this season that seemed as dominant and destined for this moment. A tough Week 1 win over Clemson was followed by 11 more wins that were dismantlings of the SEC East and anyone else who stood in their way. That's why their loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship was so shocking. For the first time they looked human, which gave me false confidence before they crushed Michigan in the Orange Bowl. The defense made sure Bryce Young wasn't going to beat them and they swarmed the Tide, earning a tough 33-18 victory and their first title since 1980.

Final Rankings 50-26: Looking Good on the Outside of the Top 25

 The Top 50 is a measurement I use to see how strong a conference is and compared to teams that rank in the Bottom 30. It's where you'll find all but one of the conference championship participants and the best of the Group of 5 schools. Before we look at the first 25 of the Top 50 here's a look at the power index (Teams in the Top 50 - Teams in the Bottom 30) for each conference.

AAC: +1

ACC: +3

Big 12: +3

Big Ten: +4

CUSA: -1

Independents: +2

MAC: -1

Mountain West: +3

Pac-12: -1

SEC: +5

Sun Belt: +2

50.

Miami (7-5, 69.6 WP, 51.2 LP)

Last Year Rank: 26

Preseason Rank: 14

Prediction: 10-2

Back when Manny Diaz was looking for a job, he took the head coaching job at Temple, but a few days later, he spurned the Owls and accepted the same job at Miami. Well, after three years both Temple and Miami were looking for new head coaches. That's because the Hurricanes were embarrassed by Alabama and barely beat Appalachian State in their home opener in the opening month. With two weeks left in the season, they were sitting at 5-5 but got wins over Virginia Tech and Duke to end the season. The Hurricanes fired Diaz as soon as they found out they could lure Mario Cristobal away from Oregon; then, they had their season cut short with a COVID outbreak that cost them a chance to play in the Sun Bowl.

49. Boise State (7-5, 50.6 WP, 35 LP)

LYR: 29

PR: 26

Prediction: 10-2

The Broncos were in rough shape after their first five games at 2-3 when they failed to capture those big pre-conference wins they're known for. First, it was a loss to fellow Power 5 killer, UCF, then a one-point loss to Oklahoma State. They scored an upset win over BYU but then were beat by Air Force to get back below .500. Then first-year coach Andy Avalos got some consistency with a four-game win streak that included another big win over Fresno State but was snapped in the final week against San Diego State. The Broncos earned a trip to the Arizona Bowl but were forced to cancel because of COVID concerns. So their opponent and Miami's played each other instead.

48. Nevada (8-5, 97.9 WP, 29.4 LP)

LYR: 19

PR: 21

Prediction: 8-4

Nevada was one of those teams that took liberties with an inconsistent Boise State team to try and jockey up the conference ladder. The Wolfpack jumped out to a 7-2 start that included a win over Cal. With the conference championship within sight, they would have to navigate a final three-game stretch that proved costly. First, they lost a close game with San Diego State before dropping a three-overtime thriller with Air Force. They still earned a trip to the Quick Lane Bowl but would do it without coach Jay Norvell, who took the Colorado State job after the season. Without most of their coaching staff, the interim staff was overmatched by Western Michigan in their home state, as the Broncos romped to a 52-24 victory. Ken Wilson comes over from Oregon to be the new head coach but has decades of experience in Reno as an assistant coach with the Wolfpack.

47: Liberty (8-5, 91.3 WP, 41.8 LP)

LYR: 5

PR: 11

Prediction: 11-1

The Flames certainly had the ability and the quarterback to play like they did in 2021, but their solid schedule proved tougher to navigate than expected. They missed their big moments to stun Syracuse and Ole Miss, lost to bowl-bound Louisiana and Army, but the biggest loss was a 31-28 shocker to Louisiana Monroe. Still, four of their wins came against bowl-eligible teams, and Malik Willis amassed nearly 4,000 yards of offense and was responsible for 40 touchdowns. Five of those touchdowns came in a Lending Tree Bowl dismantling of Eastern Michigan. Willis is expected to be drafted in the earlier rounds this season, although it might be interesting if some teams try to make him a running back or receiver instead.

46. Arizona State (8-5, 91 WP, 44.4 LP)

LYR: 66

PR: 39

Prediction: 7-5

Herm Edwards started the season in hot water because of an NCAA investigation about hosting an event for recruits when he should not have, but the end of their season might still have people grumbling. ASU got off to a 5-1 start and beat USC, so they seemed like they were on the right track, but losses to Utah, Oregon State, and Washington State prevented them from winning a very weak Pac 12. They did stomp on their lowly in-state rival to end the regular season but brought a lackluster effort to the Las Vegas Bowl in a 20-13 loss to Wisconsin.

45.

Georgia State (8-5, 77.1 WP, 38.4 LP)

LYR: 48

PR: 77

Prediction: 5-7

After losing 102-27 to UNC and Army to begin the season, the Panthers decide to be a thorn in anyone else's side that they played. They beat Charlotte and then took a 24-19 lead into the fourth quarter. That lead held until the final moments when a horrible call by the SEC referee's allowed Auburn helped set up a score. A pick-six in the final moments made the final score as bad as it was, but the Panthers were certainly feeling good. They were knocked around by Appalachian State but nearly upset Lousiana before they actually did upset Coastal Carolina. They earned a Christmas Day spot in the Camelia Bowl and blasted Ball State 52-10 to end the year on a high note.

44. Kansas State (8-5, 74 WP, 42.8 LP)

LYR: 78

PR: 59

Prediction: 6-6

As Chris Klieman watched his former employer, North Dakota State, win yet another FCS title, he and his Wildcats posted another slightly above average effort in the Big 12. Kansas State beat everyone they should have but watched as they were close, but just out of reach against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas, and Iowa State. They earned a spot in the Texas Bowl, the last of the bowl season before the National Championship, and took their frustrations out on LSU on a Tuesday night. It was never close as the Wildcats scored early and often en route to a 42-20 win over the Bayou Bengals.

43. Western Michigan (8-5, 71.6 WP, 77.6 LP)

LYR: 34

PR: 72

Prediction: 4-8

I'm not sure why I lacked so much confidence in this Broncos squad, but they had one of the early upsets of the year when they outscored Kenny Pickett and the Pitt Panthers 44-41. They were scoring points and sitting at 5-2, but in true MAC strangeness, Western had no issue against an ACC opponent but lost four straight against MAC West opponents, including losses to Eastern and Central. Their lone win against the West was the conference champs, Northern Illinois, so go figure. They had a short trip from Kalamazoo to Detroit for their bowl game and throttled Nevada to win the Quick Lane Bowl.

42. Western Kentucky (9-5, 86.9 WP, 29.8 LP)

LYR: 77

PR: 95

Prediction: 7-5

Speaking of scoring points, no one did it better than the Hilltoppers. They never finished with less than 31 points and those games were losses to Michigan State and Indiana. They needed to score because as many points as they had, they gave up significantly more and began the season 1-4. Once the defense figured it out, they were unstoppable, winning seven straight and earning a trip to the Conference USA Championship with the hopes of avenging a loss to UTSA earlier in the year. Like their first meeting, the scoreboard was on fire, and when the smoke cleared, the Roadrunners won 49-41. They got a great matchup in the Boca Raton Bowl with Appalachian State to highlight two of the best in the Group of 5. It was all Hilltoppers though as Bailey Zappe threw for 422 yards and six touchdowns to give the Mountaineers their first bowl loss ever, a 59-38 throttling. Zappe had a record-breaking season as he became the first player to throw for 5,900 yards in FBS history. He also broke Joe Burrow's 60 touchdown mark, with 63 TD passes in 2021.

41. Northern Illinois (9-5, 80.9 WP, 51.2 LP)

LYR: 124

PR: 125

Prediction: 4-8

The Huskies had one of the biggest turnarounds from last season after winning 0 games in 2020. They needed just one game, on the road, against a Power 5 as they edged Georiga Tech 22-21. They would play in plenty of close contests but nearly navigated the MAC unscathed before losing in the final week to Western Michigan. They rebounded and defeated Kent State in the MAC Championship to earn a trip to the Cure Bowl against Coastal Carolina. It was a down-to-the-wire affair, but the Huskies ran out of time after a costly blunder by the referee, who said the clock should run, even though the runner was out of bounds. Instead of potentially tying and winning the game, they lost 47-41.

40.

SMU (8-4, 86.9 WP, 29.8 LP)

LYR: 32

PR: 35

Prediction: 8-4

The Sonny Dykes era ended with a thud as the Mustangs began the year 7-0, only to lose four of their final five. Dykes left after the regular season to take the job at TCU and the Mustangs had the Fenway Bowl canceled against Virginia. Rhett Lashlee returns to SMU after a two-year stint as the Offensive Coordinator at Miami (FL). Lashlee had served in the same position for the Mustangs in 2018 & 2019.

39. UCLA (8-4, 81.4 WP, 40.8 LP)

LYR: 76

PR: 58

Prediction: 6-6

The Bruins got a statement win under Chip Kelly when they knocked off LSU and it looked like things were going to go smoothly in L.A. However, they followed that win with a loss to Fresno State and then Arizona State two weeks later. UCLA did finish the year with three straight wins, but concerns about COVID caused them to pull out of the Holiday Bowl.

38. Texas A&M (8-4, 58.8 WP, 41.8 LP)

LYR: 7

PR: 2

Prediction: 11-1

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I said 11-1, but there was cause for concern in Week 2 when they had to escape Colorado 10-7. The Aggies were one of the first teams to learn that Arkansas was going to be good in 2021, then they lost a close one against Mississippi State. They seemed to redeem themselves when they handed Alabama their lone loss of the season, but Ole Miss and LSU made it two losses in their final three games. The Aggies were forced to pull out of the Gator Bowl due to COVID and were replaced by Rutgers...oof!

37. UCF (9-4, 90.8 WP, 61.3 LP)

LYR: 49

PR: 36

Prediction: 8-4

The Gus Malzahn era got off to a rocky start when they began the season 3-3, but won six of their final seven games. Then came a stellar bowl matchup with Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Knights took care of business to upend their Power 5 instate foes 29-17.

36. Army (9-4, 87.1 WP, 78.5 LP)

LYR: 22

PR: 56

Prediction: 7-5

The Black Knights did their thing, ran the ball a lot, and beat some good teams. Army went 5-3 against bowl-bound teams, but none of that matters because they failed to beat Navy. The Midship sunk Army's chances of winning the Commander's-in-Chiefs Trophy. They would walk away with Armed Forces Bowl trophy after a game-winning field goal handed them a 24-22 victory over Missouri. 

35.

UAB (9-4, 82.8 WP, 38.5 LP)

LYR: 37

PR: 60

Prediction: 6-6

Since bringing football back in 2017, the Blazers have posted a winning season every year. This year was no exception as they navigated Conference USA to become bowl eligible, but had a tough draw in No. 12 BYU. That did not faze UAB in the slightest as they held on to win the Independence Bowl, 34-31.

34. Purdue (9-4, 80.4 WP, 39.8 LP)

LYR: 98

PR: 81

Prediction: 5-7

The Boilermakers were giant killers in 2021. Purdue got two top-five wins against Iowa and Michigan State and earned a trip to the Music City Bowl. There were points aplenty, and some help from the men in zebra stripes gave them a 48-45 win in overtime against Tennessee.

33. Central Michigan (9-4, 80.2 WP, 71.8 LP)

LYR: 68

PR: 88

Prediction: 7-5

It took a minute for the Chippewa's to get going, but they finished the year on a roll, winning six of their last seven games, and the Michigan MAC Trophy. They looked like their season would be cut short when Boise State backed out of the Arizona Bowl, but they took Miami's spot in the Sun Bowl to play Washington State. The Chips pitched a shutout in the first half and held on 24-21 to upend a Power 5 school in a bowl game.

32. Minnesota (9-4, 74.1 WP, 59 LP)

LYR: 75

PR: 53

Prediction: 7-5

The Golden Gophers had a strange year that saw them lose to Bowling Green and Illinois but finish off Wisconsin to reclaim Paul Bunyan's Ax. Though a boring affair, they defeated West Virginia, 18-6, in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. P.J. Fleck should be in the Twin Cities for some time after signing a seven-year contract extension.

31. Wisconsin (9-4, 66 WP, 24.8 LP)

LYR: 52

PR: 28

Prediction: 10-2

With the exception of the Iowa game, Wisconsin lost every big game they played in. They lost their opener to Penn State, got throttled by Michigan, and had their chance to go to the Big Ten Title game blown up by Minnesota. After all that heartbreak, they still went on to win their bowl game, a 20-13 victory over Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

30.

Arkansas (9-4, 64.4 WP, 23.5 LP)

LYR: 100

PR: 84

Prediction: 4-8

Arkansas was one of the surprises of the 2021 season. Wins over Texas A&M, Texas, LSU, and Mississippi State helped them rise towards the top of the SEC. Led by a middle linebacker named Bumper Pool, this Pool Poll endorsed squad knocked around Penn State in the Outback Bowl. It was the first time since 2016 that the Hogs finished with a winning record and the first time they amassed at least nine wins since 2011.

29. Appalachian State (10-4, 85.3 WP, 36.3 LP)

LYR: 21

PR: 37

Prediction: 9-3

It's hard to believe, but Appalachian State picked up their first win over a Top 25 team since they went to Michigan and stunned the Wolverines. Their latest win was a thriller that handed Coastal Carolina their first loss of the year. One team the Mountaineers did not have an answer for was Louisiana as the Ragin' Cajuns won the regular-season matchup and the Sun Belt Championship over App State. An even harder puzzle to solve was Bailey Zappe and the Western Kentucky offense, as the Hilltoppers dropped 59 points on the men of Boone, North Carolina in the Boca Raton Bowl.

28. Oregon (10-4, 77.5 WP, 34 LP)

LYR: 51

PR: 25

Prediction: 10-2

The Ducks threw a heavyweight punch when they went to Columbus and stunned the Buckeyes. They seemed poised to win the PAC-12 easily, but Stanford stunned Oregon in overtime and they were blown out by Utah. They had a chance to get a rematch with the Utes in the Pac-12 Championship and got beat down again. Things got worse when Mario Cristobal left for Miami and then they were throttled by Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. Dan Lanning heads north from running the Georgia defense to be the new head coach of the Ducks in 2022.

27. Utah (10-4, 71 WP, 22.3 LP)

LYR: 45

PR: 40

Prediction: 8-4

The Utes started the season 1-2 after surprise losses to BYU and San Diego State but won 10 of their next 11 games, including a win over Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. They were set to win a magical Rose Bowl over Ohio State, but a depleted secondary could only contain CJ Stroud for so long. The Utes blew a 35-21 lead after the half and lost 48-45 to the Buckeyes.

26. Iowa (10-4, 58.9 WP, 35.8 LP)

LYR: 23

PR: 16

Prediction: 8-4

Since 1998 the Hawkeyes have been led by Kirk Ferentz and the results have been predictably the same. They had a Top 5 win over Penn State and were in control of their own destiny. So, they immediately lost their next two games in a horribly embarrassing fashion. They did win their next four games to make it to the Big Ten Championship where they were completely dismantled by Michigan. Their appearance in the Citrus Bowl was played in Ferentz's typical playing not to lose mode, which is exactly what they ended up doing as their lack of aggression gave Kentucky a chance to take home a 20-17 win.

Final Rankings 65-51: Eastern Michigan Finishes with the Same Record as Penn State and Tennessee

Success is subjective because some on this list would be disappointed with a 7-6 record but others, like the trio of MACtion that starts this list, are excited to get their brand out in a bowl game. So here's the list of those who just barely finished above the .500 mark.

65.

Toledo (7-6, 101.4 WP, 72.8 LP)

Last Year's Rank: 41

Preseason Rank: 49

Prediction: 8-4

The Rockets had a wild and unpredictable season that saw them put Notre Dame on the ropes, but then get blown out by Colorado State the next week. They went just 2-3 against their MAC West counterparts but became bowl eligible thanks to three straight games against MAC East bottom feeders to earn a trip to the Bahamas Bowl. Although they got a sweet trip, the Rockets seemed to be in an island daze in the first half which put them on the short end of a 31-24 loss to Middle Tennessee State.

64. Eastern Michigan (7-6, 95.9 WP, 76.8 LP)

LYR: 91

PR: 110

Prediction: 5-7

It was another season of nerve-racking EMU football as the Eagles were all over the place. They picked up big conference wins against Western Michigan, Miami, and Toledo (all bowl-bound teams), but then got beat at home by a slumping Ohio that featured a dual-threat quarterback. So you can imagine my dismay when EMU drew Liberty in the Lending Tree Bowl. Malik Willis isn't just any dual-threat QB, he's the top-rated headed into the NFL Draft, and he used those skills to carve up the Eagles 56-20. To make matters worse for Chris Creighton, after the bowl game, both quarterbacks (Ben Bryant and Preston Hutchinson) entered the transfer portal.

63. Miami-OH (7-6, 93.1 WP, 61.2 LP)

LYR: 42

PR: 68

Prediction: 6-6

The Redhawks had one of the best defenses in the MAC, but it was a shootout with Kent State that cost them their shot at the MAC crown. The Golden Flashes won a 48-47 overtime thriller to steal the spot in Detroit. The Frisco Football Classic looked like a bad match-up as North Texas had just snapped UTSA's win streak by dropping 45 on the Roadrunners. Instead, the defense came to play and held the Mean Green to their third-lowest point total on the season to win 27-14.

62. Tennessee (7-6, 90.7 WP, 26.5 LP)

LYR: 82

PR: 71

Prediction: 9-3

The Volunteers seem to be trending in the right direction and really should be a smidge higher on this list, but they were perhaps the biggest victims of bad refereeing in a bowl game. It was really a shame because the Music City Bowl was one of the more entertaining bowls this season as Purdue and Tennessee traded four touchdowns in less than five minutes during the fourth quarter to send it to overtime. In OT, the Volunteers elected to go for it on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line and it looked like the gamble paid off. It appeared that Jaylen Wright was on top of a defender and stretched the ball out over the goal line, but he was ruled down and the whistle was blown prematurely, making it ineligible to be reviewed. Purdue kicked a chip-shot field goal to win it 48-45.

61. Maryland (7-6, 90.7 WP, 20.7 LP)

LYR: 83

PR: 80

Prediction: 4-8

The Terrapins had a big opening month going 4-0 before snapping back to reality with losses to Ohio State and Iowa that saw a 117-31 point differential. Still, they kept working their way to six wins in a winner take all game against Rutgers. That victory earned them a trip to the Pinstripe Bowl where they lit up the scoreboard and the Virginia Tech defense 54-10.

60.

Tulsa (7-6, 89 WP, 81.8 LP)

LYR: 36

PR: 50

Prediction: 7-5

It was a weird first month for Tulsa as they lost to UC Davis (FCS), nearly upset Oklahoma State, and briefly held their own against Ohio State. At one point they were sitting at 1-4 but managed to put together a three-game win streak at the end of the season that was capped by a thriller over SMU to become bowl eligible. Despite allowing the opening kickoff to be returned for a touchdown, the Golden Hurricane demolished Old Dominion to win the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

59. South Carolina (7-6, 86.3 WP, 38.8 LP)

LYR: 101

PR: 98

Prediction: 5-7

The Gamecocks were all over the place winning against Florida, nearly losing to Vanderbilt, and then got shut out in their rivalry game against Clemson. Still, they got a chance to battle a fellow Carolina when they faced their counterparts to the North in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Despite not having an established quarterback all season, the Gamecocks threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-15 passing en route to a 38-21 victory.

58. Washington State (7-6, 84.6 WP, 45.7 LP)

LYR: 109

PR: 93

Prediction: 4-8

It would be hard to find a weirder season for a team than what happened in Pullman. After a 4-3 start to the season, Nick Rolovich was fired, not for his team's start, but because of his vaccination status. He had attempted to get an exemption, but it was denied by the university and he was ultimately fired. Still, they pummelled Washington in Apple Cup and finished the regular season with seven wins and a date with Miami (FL) in the Sun Bowl. Except that's not what happened; instead, the Hurricanes canceled because of COVID and would end up with a new opponent from the MAC after their opponent canceled in the Arizona Bowl. In a Power 5-Group of 5 matchup, the Cougars were punched in the mouth early by Central Michigan, who became the first team to shut Wazzu out at the half since the Huskies did it in 2017. Though they finally scored in the second half, the Chippewa's held on for the upset, 24-21. Jack Dickert will take over for the Cougars in 2022.

57. Texas Tech (7-6, 84.4 WP, 36.8 LP)

LYR: 80

PR: 78

Prediction: 6-6

Another coach that didn't make it through the season was Matt Wells. The Red Raiders saw enough as they struggled through the Big 12 season and lost four of their final five contests. That made their performance in the Liberty Bowl against their former ball coach, Mike Leach, all the more impressive. The Red Raiders found the end zone early and often and limited the high octane Leach offense to just seven points in a 34-7 rout. Joey McGuire, a former High School coaching legend in the state of Texas and Baylor assistant coach, will be the new head ball coach in 2022.

56. Iowa State (7-6, 81.1 WP, 37.2 LP)

LYR: 20

PR: 10

Prediction: 9-3

Disappointment fell across Ames, Iowa, in 2021 as the Cyclones struggled in conference play including a loss to the aforementioned Texas Tech squad. They had hopes of a Big 12 title and a New Year's Bowl, but instead, the Cheez-It Bowl came calling with an equally bummed-out opponent, Clemson. The Tigers and Cyclones slogged their way to a listless 20-13 contest with Iowa State having a chance to tie it late before a costly fumble handed the Tigers a win.

55.

Wyoming (7-6, 78.3 WP, 69 LP)

LYR: 93

PR: 91

Prediction: 7-5

The Cowboys started 4-0 before losing their next four. They patched together wins, including a blowout of Utah State before getting blown out by Hawai'i in the season finale. Still, they earned a trip to Boise in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to face off against the MAC East Champs, Kent State. The Cowboys mashed their way to a 52-38 victory and Hicksville native Garrett Crall picked up 1.5 sacks in his final college game. Coach Craig Bohl got doused in french fries, but then had to post an ad online for a quarterback when all of his entered the transfer portal.

54. Oregon State (7-6, 71.1 WP, 70 LP)

LYR: 106

PR: 90

Prediction: 4-8

After all the struggles, former Oregon State quarterback Jonathan Smith has his alma mater back on the winning side. The Beavers made their first bowl appearance since 2013 after wins over Utah and USC. The LA Bowl, however, did not go the way they planned, as Utah State stymied the Beavers' offense and continued the Mountain West's success over the PAC-12, in a 24-13 win.

53. Penn State (7-6, 66 WP, 31.2 LP)

LYR: 73

PR: 44

Prediction: 8-4

The Nittany Lions were 5-0 and ready to win their sixth straight when Sean Clifford went down with an injury against Iowa. That moment altered the two teams' trajectories as the Hawkeyes rallied to win and eventually played in the Big Ten Championship, while Penn State dropped five of their final seven contests. They stumbled into an Outback Bowl appearance against Arkansas which they easily lost 24-10. After two rough seasons, James Franklin might feel the heat in 2022.

52. Mississippi State (7-6, 61.7 WP, 36.2 LP)

LYR: 87

PR: 65

Prediction: 6-6

The Bulldogs have no desire to go back to Memphis anytime soon. Earlier this season they lost a wild game to the Tigers and then ended their year with a blowout loss to Texas Tech on the same field in the Liberty Bowl. They did pick up wins over three ranked opponents in Texas A&M, NCST, and Kentucky.

51. ECU (7-5, 94 WP, 42.2 LP)

LYR: 97

PR: 102

Prediction: 4-8

The Pirates finished the year on a strong note winning four of their final games, and the lone loss came against Cincinnati. Unfortunately, that's where the season would end as the Military Bowl was cancelled, but the Pirates did have their first winning season since 2014.

Final Rankings 84-66: Bowl Game Losers and Victims of Cancelation

 Bowl season is wrapping up and the college football season is coming to an end, but for these teams in the worst of the decent, the extended season came at the cost of finishing with a losing record. Other schools were ravaged by Covid-19 and were forced to opt-out of their bowl hopes.

Here are the losers and the canceled of bowl season:

84. 

Old Dominion (6-7, 100.7 WP, 74.3 LP)

Last Year Rank: Did not play in 2020

Preseason Rank: 129

Prediction: 2-10

It was hard to gauge how the Monarchs would be under a coach that was hired at the end of the 2019 season but didn't get a chance to coach until this year because of Old Dominion canceling their season in 2020. My prediction actually looked on point as the Monarchs started the year 2-6, but won their final four to make a bowl appearance. They started the Myrtle Beach Bowl with a bang as they returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. That was the highlight as Tulsa went on to outscore ODU 30-10 from that point on.

83. Missouri (6-7, 98.7 WP, 34.3 LP)

LYR: 62

PR: 48

Prediction: 9-3

I thought Missouri might have things figured out, but it turns out I mistook them for Arkansas. The Tigers secured their bowl spot with a two-point conversion in overtime to stun Florida. They would be the ones who were stunned as Army kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to knock off Mizzou 24-22 in the Armed Forces Bowl.

82. Hawai'i (6-7, 95.3 WP, 66.3 LP)

LYR: 53

PR: 74

Prediction: 7-6

The Rainbow Warriors got a big win over Fresno State and finished the year with two straight wins to become bowl eligible. They wouldn't have to travel very far as they got a spot in the Hawai'i Bowl against Memphis, but the Warriors were hit with a COVID outbreak and were forced to cancel. It was probably a good thing as 14 players, including Todd Graham's own son, have entered the transfer portal, with one player telling the San Francisco Gate that Graham has "killed our love and passion for football." As of now, Graham is still the head coach in Honolulu.

81. Florida (6-7, 91.8 WP, 43.5 LP)

LYR: 39

PR: 22

Prediction: 9-3

What a year for the Gators! Dan Mullen was fired thanks in part to losses to Kentucky, South Carolina, and Missouri. Florida also gave up a record 42 first-half points to Samford (FCS) at The Swamp and needed a win over Florida State to even become bowl eligible. Billy Napier will take over and he certainly saw a lot of work needs to be done when the Gators were lanced by UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl.

80. 

North Texas (6-7, 88.8 WP, 75.4 LP)

LYR: 81

PR: 104

Prediction: 3-9

A swing and a miss on this prediction as the Mean Green doubled their win total despite starting the year 1-6. It started with an overtime win over Rice before rattling wins off against Southern Miss, UTEP, FIU, and finally handing UTSA their first loss on the year. Surely a team this hot going into a bowl game with a mediocre MAC team in a made-up bowl game spells success, right? Well, the Miami Redhawks' defense came out in the Frisco Football Classic to hold North Texas to their lowest point total since Week 3 (14).

79. Louisville (6-7, 81.2 WP, 39.1 LP)

LYR: 88

PR: 85

Prediction: 5-7

I figured tougher sledding in the ACC for Louisville, but they were competitive throughout the season. They became bowl eligible with blowout wins over Syracuse and Duke to set up a meeting with Air Force in the First Responders Bowl. The Cardinals closed a big halftime deficit, but it was too little too late and Louisville fell 31-28 to the Falcons.

78. Virginia Tech (6-7, 80.5 WP, 65 LP)

LYR: 71

PR: 52

Prediction: 7-5

The Hokies entered the last week of the season needing a win and a new head coach after Justin Fuente was fired following a disappointing season. Fortunately, they've dominated Virginia this century and got their sixth win at the expense of their in-state rival. Maybe they should've stayed home and maybe new head coach Brent Pry is regretting going on national television during his team's game. Pry was talking to the ESPN commentators about the toughness and discipline of Va Tech football before Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's brother, unloaded a 70-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive to give Maryland a 14-3 lead. The Terrapins played like the Hall of Fame legends beyond the outfield wall at Yankee Stadium, while the Hokies played like the 2003 Detroit Tigers in their 54-10 loss in the Pinstripe Bowl.

77. West Virginia (6-7, 76 WP, 38 LP)

LYR: 46

PR: 41

Prediction: 9-3

I predicted great things for the Mountaineers in 2021, but instead, they needed two wins in their final two games to become bowl eligible. They did, barely, against a disappointing Texas squad and then slid past an always horrendous Kansas team. They sleepwalked their way through the Guarantee Rate Bowl in one of the least exciting bowls of the 2021 season, an 18-6 loss to Minnesota that featured just three points in the second half.

76. Ball State (6-7, 72.3 WP, 53 WP)

LYR: 10

PR: 20

Prediction: 9-3

The Cardinals were a dominating force in 2020 and brought back a lot of key pieces, so they were destined for greatness right? Well, they needed a 20-3 win over Buffalo in the final week to become bowl eligible as they battled through a very competitive MAC West that sent every team to a bowl game, compared to just 2 from the MAC East. The Cardinals got a tough task on Christmas Day in Camellia Bowl against Georgia State, who was competitive with Auburn and upset Coastal Carolina. It turned out to be a lump of coal in their stockings as they were dropped 51-20.

75.

Auburn (6-7, 71.3 WP, 25.6 LP)

LYR: 56

PR: 34

Prediction: 8-4

The SEC can be a tough place to navigate, especially when you don't have a quarterback. Bo Nix, who is transferring to Oregon, was injured late in the season, which led to the Tigers dropping their last four contests heading into the bowl season. Despite that, they were still competitive in the Iron Bowl before losing to Alabama, 24-22, in four overtimes. They got a chance to play in their home state against a Top 25 team in Houston, but ultimately, the lack of strong quarterback play led to a 17-13 loss at the hands of the Cougars.

74. LSU (6-7, 70.2 WP, 29.1 LP)

LYR: 59

PR: 31

Prediction: 9-3

The season started with Ed Orgeron telling a UCLA fan that he had a "Sissy blue shirt," then Orgeron had to sit on the sideline knowing he was already fired before the season ended. Orgeron's season ended with two close losses to Alabama and Arkansas, a win over Louisiana Monroe (barely), and a stunner over Texas A&M to become bowl eligible. That moment gave us one more "Geaux Tigers!" from Orgeron in his backwoods swamp accent. That would've been a great note to finish on, but instead, they got blasted by Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, 42-20, and finished with a losing season. The Brian Kelly era will officially start in 2022 unless he's chased away for pretending to have a southern accent.

73. UNC (6-7, 69.5 WP, 59.7 LP)

LYR: 33

PR: 17

Prediction: 10-2

I drank the Kool-Aid of the prognosticators who believed that UNC was set to have a year in the ACC. Unfortunately, that team was in Winston Salem and not Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels didn't become bowl eligible until the second last week with a win over Wofford (FCS). While they did beat Wake Forest in a shootout, they did not have the same success against NCST and finished the regular season at 6-6. Mack Brown can at least thank the football gods for not getting doused in Duke's Mayo, but in order to do so, he had to watch South Carolina running backs throw 70-yard touchdowns in a 38-20 rout.

72. Kent State (7-7, 92.3 WP, 34.1 LP)

LYR: 24

PR: 66

Prediction: 8-4

The Golden Flashes needed an overtime win against Miami to claim the MAC East crown and earn their way to Detroit for a shot at their first MAC Championship since 1972. Instead, it was a repeat of the 2012 MAC Championship as they were knocked off by Northern Illinois. So they tried for their second bowl win ever, but they watched Craig Bohl get french fries dumped on his head to celebrate Wyoming's 52-38 win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

71. Boston College (6-6, 91.8 WP, 62.7 LP)

LYR: 57

PR: 54

Prediction: 6-6

The Eagles carved through their non-conference schedule that included a win over an SEC school (Missouri), but the ACC scheduled proved to be rough sailing. In fact, BC limped into the bowl season losing to Florida State and getting blown out by Wake Forest. They didn't get a chance to play in their bowl game, as COVID forced the Military Bowl to be canceled.

70.

Virginia (6-6, 82.8 WP, 39.3 LP)

LYR: 61

PR: 55

Prediction: 6-6

The Cavaliers were looking good and had a shot at the ACC title game, but dropped their final four games in horrific fashion. They played three ranked teams consecutively and lost to BYU, Notre Dame, and Pitt by a combined score of 142-90. Then came their shot to win against Virginia Tech for the second time in three years, but the Hokies won for the 17th time out of the last 18 matchups. Bronco Mendenhall surprised many when he resigned, so Clemson Offensive Coordinator, Tony Elliott takes the reigns.

69. Memphis (6-6, 77 WP, 63.3 LP)

LYR: 28

PR: 43

Prediction: 8-4

The Tigers started strong going 3-0 with a win over Mike Leach and Mississippi State, but they stumbled with three-straight losses to surprise bowl teams UTSA and Tulsa, and dumpster fire Temple. From there they traded wins and losses before finally winning their last game against Tulane to become bowl eligible. They got a nice trip to Hawai'i but never got a chance to play as the Rainbow Warriors were forced to cancel my Christmas Eve viewing plans, the Hawai'i Bowl.

68. Middle Tennessee State (7-6, 105 WP, 52.7 LP)

LYR: 99

PR: 105

Prediction: 6-6

Speaking of exotic locations, the Blue Raiders won two out of their final three contests to earn a trip to the Bahamas Bowl. It wasn't all sunshine, as MTST was 2-4 in the first half of their schedule, but finished the season strong. That should've been my indicator to take them and not Toledo, but like these season predictions (this one excluded), I was wrong right off the bat for bowl season.

67. UTEP (7-6, 104.3 WP, 57.8 LP)

LYR: 86

PR:112

Prediction: 4-8

The Miners got off to a fast start, shocking many by winning 5 games for the first time since 2015 and they did it in six weeks. Their 6-1 start got them to bowl eligibility, but went into bowl season going 1-4 in their final 5 games. They did put up a fight in the New Mexico Bowl in a match-up that heavily favored Fresno St, but eventually fell 31-24.

66. Marshall (7-6, 104 WP, 64.7 LP)

LYR: 31

PR: 46

Prediction: 10-2

The Thundering Herd's schedule proved tougher than imagined as they faced 7 teams that would go on to a bowl appearance. They got to bowl eligibility thanks to four-straight wins when they knocked off FIU, Old Dominion, FAU, and North Texas. Their bowl experience was not great as they essentially played a home game with Louisiana in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, a matchup the Ragin' Cajuns took home 36-21.