The College Football Playoff committee had a number of interesting questions this week after a hectic Week 11. What do you do with Auburn, which fell to unranked Texas A&M after two late fumbles? Should TCU and Arizona State get consideration over Alabama for that vacant top-four spot, after dominating victories over highly ranked opponents? How high would Ohio State rise after running right through Michigan State?
And who would replace ex-No. 23 West Virginia? The committee went without a mid-major last week, but Marshall had another strong showing against an overmatched opponent. Colorado State was another possible candidate, but the Thundering Herd had the undefeated record advantage.
The answers are in, including one big surprise: Oregon jumping No. 2 Florida State after winning at Utah. TCU rises to the No. 4 spot, with the rest of the top 10 getting a significant shuffling. As for that top non-power-conference spot, it remains a mystery for the second week in a row.
Here's the new top 25 heading into Week 12, which now features a No. 1 vs. No. 4 game on Saturday. Also, the toughest opponents left for each, according to Football Outsiders, and the updated New Year's picture (remember that the Orange Bowl has deals with the ACC and SEC).
3 takeaways
| Rank | Team | Last week | Week 11 result | Toughest opponent left (per F/+) | If the season ended today ... |
| 1 | Mississippi State (9-0) | 1 | Won 45-16 vs. Tennessee-Martin | Alabama | Sugar Bowl vs. TCU |
| 2 | Oregon (9-1) | 4 | Won 51-27 at No. 17 Utah | Oregon State | Rose Bowl vs. Florida State |
| 3 | Florida State (9-0) | 2 | Won 34-20 vs. Virginia | Miami | Rose Bowl vs. Oregon |
| 4 | TCU (8-1) | 6 | Won 41-20 vs. No. 7 Kansas State | Texas | Sugar Bowl vs. Mississippi State |
| 5 | Alabama (8-1) | 5 | Won 20-13 (OT) at No. 16 LSU | Auburn | Orange Bowl vs. Clemson |
| 6 | Arizona State (8-1) | 14 | Won 55-31 vs. No. 10 Notre Dame | Arizona | New Year's bowl |
| 7 | Baylor (8-1) | 13 | Won 48-14 at No. 15 Oklahoma | Kansas State | New Year's bowl |
| 8 | Ohio State (8-1) | 14 | Won 49-37 at No. 8 Michigan State | Minnesota | New Year's bowl |
| 9 | Auburn (7-2) | 3 | Lost 41-38 vs. Texas A&M | Alabama | New Year's bowl |
| 10 | Ole Miss (8-2) | 12 | Won 48-0 vs. Presbyterian | Mississippi State | New Year's bowl |
| 11 | UCLA (8-2) | 18 | Won 44-30 at Washington | USC | New Year's bowl |
| 12 | Michigan State (7-2) | 8 | Lost 49-37 vs. No. 14 Ohio State | Maryland | |
| 13 | Kansas State (7-2) | 7 | Lost 41-20 at No. 6 TCU | Baylor | |
| 14 | Arizona (7-2) | 19 | Won 38-20 vs. Colorado | Arizona State | |
| 15 | Georgia (7-2) | 20 | Won 63-31 at Kentucky | Auburn | |
| 16 | Nebraska (8-1) | 13 | Idle | Wisconsin | |
| 17 | LSU (7-3) | 16 | Lost 20-13 (OT) vs. No. 5 Alabama | Arkansas | |
| 18 | Notre Dame (7-2) | 10 | Lost 55-31 at No. 9 Arizona State | Louisville | |
| 19 | Clemson (7-2) | 21 | Won 34-20 at Wake Forest | Georgia Tech | Orange Bowl vs. Alabama |
| 20 | Wisconsin (7-2) | 25 | Won 34-16 at Purdue | Nebraska | |
| 21 | Duke (8-1) | 22 | Won 27-10 at Syracuse | Virginia Tech | |
| 22 | Georgia Tech (8-2) | 24 | Won 56-23 at NC State | Georgia | |
| 23 | Utah (6-3) | 17 | Lost 51-27 vs. No. 4 Oregon | Arizona | |
| 24 | Texas A&M (7-3) | NR | Won 41-38 at No. 3 Auburn | LSU | |
| 25 | Minnesota (7-2) | NR | Won 51-14 vs. Iowa | Ohio State |
Note: This is an updated version of a story from earlier Tuesday, which forecasted Tuesday night's rankings reveal.