:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44183308/usa-today-8088898.0.jpg)
Sitting at 7-3 overall and 5-2 in Pac-12 play, the USC Trojans finally snaked their way into the College Football Playoff selection committee's top 25 ranking coming in at No. 19. In the fourth week the CFB selection committee has ranked its top 25, USC made its first ever appearance, joining five other Pac-12 teams in the rankings.
Oregon leads the way for the West Coast. The Ducks stayed at No. 2 after having the week off. The Ducks were jumped by Alabama, who jumped from No. 5 to No. 1! Florida State remained No. 3 while Mississippi State slipped from No. 1 to No. 4 while TCU got pushed out of the potential playoff to No. 5. Ohio State moved up to No. 6 over No. 7 Baylor.
Oregon has two games that should be easy money to end the regular season before taking on the Pac-12 South champion in Levi Stadium. Win out and the Ducks are easily in.
Arizona State's loss to ORegon State pushed them down to No. 13 and makes their journey to the College Football Playoff more difficult. If the Sun Devils were to win out, including knocking off Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship, would a two-loss ASU squad get in the College Football Playoff? They would definitely need some help.
The Pac-12's other two-loss squads went in opposite directions. Though idle, UCLA was bumped up to No. 9 from No. 11 while Arizona dropped a spot to No. 15 after a last second victory over Washington. Utah's two overtime victory at Stanford gave them a big boost from No.23 to No. 17. After back-to-back losses, USC's cross-country rival, Notre Dame, plummeted from the rankings after being No. 10 two weeks ago.
Here's the full Top 25 heading into Week 13, plus the current postseason picture and each school's toughest opponent left, according to Football Outsiders' F/+:
| Rank | Team | Last week | Week 12 result | Toughest opponent left (per F/+) | If the season ended today ... |
| 1 | Alabama (9-1) | 5 | Won 25-20 vs. No. 1 Mississippi State | Auburn | Sugar Bowl vs. Mississippi State |
| 2 | Oregon (9-1) | 2 | Idle | Oregon State | Rose Bowl vs. Florida State |
| 3 | Florida State (10-0) | 3 | Won 30-26 at Miami | Boston College | Rose Bowl vs. Oregon |
| 4 | Mississippi State (9-1) | 1 | Lost 25-20 at No. 5 Alabama | Ole Miss | Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama |
| 5 | TCU (9-1) | 4 | Won 34-30 at Kansas | Texas | New Year's bowl |
| 6 | Ohio State (9-1) | 8 | Won 31-24 at No. 25 Minnesota | Michigan | New Year's bowl |
| 7 | Baylor (8-1) | 7 | Idle | Kansas State | New Year's bowl |
| 8 | Ole Miss (8-2) | 10 | Idle | Mississippi State | Orange Bowl vs. Georgia Tech |
| 9 | UCLA (8-2) | 11 | Idle | USC | New Year's bowl |
| 10 | Georgia (8-2) | 15 | Won 34-7 vs. No. 9 Auburn | Georgia Tech | New Year's bowl |
| 11 | Michigan State (8-2) | 12 | Won 37-15 at Maryland | Penn State | New Year's bowl |
| 12 | Kansas State (7-2) | 13 | Idle | Baylor | |
| 13 | Arizona State (8-2) | 6 | Lost 35-27 at Oregon State | Arizona | |
| 14 | Auburn (7-3) | 9 | Lost 34-7 at No. 15 Georgia | Alabama | |
| 15 | Arizona (8-2) | 14 | Won 27-26 vs. Washington | Arizona State | |
| 16 | Wisconsin (8-2) | 20 | Won 59-24 vs. No. 16 Nebraska | Minnesota | |
| 17 | Utah (7-3) | 23 | Won 20-17 (2OT) at Stanford | Arizona | |
| 18 | Georgia Tech (9-2) | 22 | Won 28-6 vs. No. 19 Clemson | Georgia | Orange Bowl vs. Ole Miss |
| 19 | USC (7-3) | NR | Won 38-30 vs. Cal | UCLA | |
| 20 | Missouri (8-2) | NR | Won 34-27 at No. 24 Texas A&M | Arkansas | |
| 21 | Oklahoma (7-3) | NR | Won 42-30 at Texas Tech | Oklahoma State | |
| 22 | Clemson (7-3) | 19 | Lost 28-6 at No. 22 Georgia Tech | South Carolina | |
| 23 | Nebraska (8-2) | 16 | Lost 59-24 at No. 20 Wisconsin | Minnesota | |
| 24 | Louisville (7-3) | NR | Idle | Notre Dame | |
| 25 | Minnesota (7-3) | 25 | Lost 31-24 vs. No. 8 Ohio State | Wisconsin |