2024 college football rankings: Oregon, Ohio State top; Colorado comes in at 12

Travis Hunter’s case for the Heisman Trophy has grown along with Colorado’s chances of having its best season since 2016.

Hunter was outstanding on Saturday, including two rushing touchdowns and an interception in Colorado’s win over Utah. The rushing score was Hunter’s first of the season – giving him nine TDs, a rushing TD, a forced fumble, and three interceptions on the year. He joins former Georgia star Champ Bailey as the only players in the last 27 years with at least 40 catches and three interceptions in a season.

And Hunter has done this twice.

With 69 catches for 856 yards and nine TDs, he has already surpassed his offensive production from last year— 57 catches for 721 yards and five scores. His nine receiving touchdowns tops the Big 12.

As I’ve written and said for 12 weeks now, the Heisman winner is in Boulder, and Deion Sanders agrees.

“It should go to the best college player,” Coach Prime said. “I think that wraps it up from Week 2.”

And as good as Hunter was on Saturday, his teammates were also special. Colorado scored 49 points against Utah, the most points scored by the Utes since 2014. Shedeur Sanders completed 30 of 41 passes for 340 yards with two touchdown passes in the win. He has now thrown 27 passing touchdowns this season and needs one more to set the single-season TD passing record at CU.

The Buffaloes are two wins shy of a Big 12 title game, two wins shy of a 10-win season, and six wins shy of a national title. Yes, I said it. And rightly so because Colorado fans have earned the right to reach that dream.

With that, here’s a look at my top 25 rankings following Week 12 of college football season:

1. In Oregon (11-0)

Week 12 result: Wisconsin lost, 16-13

The Ducks converted a fourth-and-9 en route to their first TD of the game — early in the fourth quarter. That tied the game at 13-13 in Madison. Atticus Sappington broke the tie with a 24-yard field goal with 2:36 left to give Oregon the win and keep its undefeated season alive.

2. State of Ohio (9-1)

Week 12 result: Lost to Northwestern, 31-7

Jeremiah Smith had four catches for 100 yards, and the tailback tandem of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson combined for 150 yards rushing in the Buckeyes’ 31-7 win over Northwestern.

Since allowing 32 points to Oregon back in Week 7, the Buckeye defense has allowed just 27 points in its last four games.

3. Texas (9-1)

Week 12 result: Lost at Arkansas, 20-10

Texas’ defense held Arkansas to just 231 yards of offense while collecting six sacks and committing two turnovers in the win. The Longhorns have held eight of their 10 opponents to 17 points or less this season.

4. In Indiana (10-0)

Week 12 result: Doing nothing

5. Penn State (9-1)

Week 12 result: Purdue lost, 49-10

Drew Allar threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, and tight end Tyler Warren had 190 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the hapless Boilermakers.

6. Notre Dame (9-1)

Week 12 result: Virginia lost, 35-14

The Fighting Irish got 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns from running back Jeremiah Love, and the defense forced five turnovers in the win.

Notre Dame has held its last five opponents to 14 points or less and has not given up more than 24 points in a game this season.

7. Alabama (8-2)

Week 12 result: Mercer lost, 52-7

The Tide rocked their FCS foe as Jalen Milroe tallied 229 yards and three touchdowns.

8. Georgia (8-2)

Week 12 result: Lost to Tennessee, 31-17

Carson Beck put together his best performance of the season on Saturday night. The senior QB completed 25 of 40 passes for 346 yards with two touchdowns, while Georgia’s defense held the Vols scoreless in the second half.

9. SMU (9-1)

Week 12 result: Lost to Boston College, 38-28

SMU QB Kevin Jennings completed 24 of 35 passes for 298 yards with three touchdowns and a pass in the win that kept the Mustangs perfect in conference play. SMU has just two regular season games left to punch its ticket to the ACC title game in its first year as a member.

10. Ole Miss (8-2)

Week 12 result: Doing nothing

11. Miami (Fla.) (9-1)

Week 12 result: Doing nothing

12. In Colorado (8-2)

Week 12 result: Lost to Utah, 49-24

The Buffaloes became the first team to score 49 points against Utah since 2014. Colorado’s defense has amassed 34 sacks in 10 games – two short of the 36 CU team in 2016 that went 14 games in 14 games.

13. The army (9-0)

Week 12 result: Doing nothing

14. Texas A&M (8-2)

Week 12 result: Lost to New Mexico State, 38-3

The Aggies led 31-0 before giving up their first points of the game. Marcel Reed enjoyed his best performance of the season, completing 20 of 31 passes for 268 passing yards, with two TDs and an INT. Theo Ohrstrom led all receivers with five catches for 111 yards.

15. Tennessee (8-2)

Week 12 result: Lost to Georgia, 31-17

Nico Iamaleava was sacked four times and the Vols offense went scoreless in the second half. Iamaleava finished 20-of-33 for 167 yards as the Vols were handed their second loss of the season.

16. BYU (9-1)

Week 12 result: Lost to Kansas, 17-13

The Cougars’ undefeated season ended Saturday night as Kansas running back Devin Neal scored the game-winning touchdown with 13:19 left in the contest to seal the victory for the Jayhawks.

17. Boise State (9-1)

Week 12 result: Lost to San Jose State, 42-21

The Broncos rallied from 14-0 behind 159 rushing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Ashton Jeanty. The Broncos’ do-it-all back rushed for 1,893 yards this season. He needs 736 yards to break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.

18. Clemson (8-2)

Week 12 result: Pitt lost, 24-20

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik led the Tigers in a late comeback win, including 320 yards and three touchdowns as they remained in the hunt for a spot in the ACC title game.

Klubnik scampered 50 yards to the house to cap Clemson’s comeback with 1:16 to play.

19. South Carolina (7-3)

Week 12 result: Lost to Missouri, 34-30

Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers completed 21 of 30 passes for 353 yards with five touchdowns and an interception in the win over South Carolina.

20. Arizona State (8-2)

Week 12 result: Lost to Kansas State, 24-14

Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson caught 12 passes for 176 yards with two touchdowns, while ASU’s defense committed three turnovers and gave up fewer than 14 points for just the second time this season. The Sun Devils picked up their second win against a team ranked in the AP Top 25.

21. Iowa State (8-2)

Week 12 result: Cincinnati lost, 34-17

The Cyclones bounced back from a losing streak with a 34-17 win over Cincinnati. Rocco Becht threw for 234 yards and a score, while adding 48 yards and a touchdown.

22. Fight each other (9-2)

Week 12 result: Defeated Navy, 35-0

Tulane is undefeated in conference play and its only losses are to Power 4 opponents – Kansas State and Oklahoma. Navy’s victory marked the program’s first shutout of an FBS opponent since 1997. The Green Wave also clinched a spot in the AAC title game with the win.

23. Missouri (7-3)

Week 12 result: Lost to South Carolina, 34-30

Brady Cook did his part with 237 yards and a touchdown, and Nate Noel added 150 yards and a score on the ground, but the Tigers’ defense gave up 462 yards of total offense to the Gamecocks. Mizzou has now given up 34 or more points three separate times this year, all three resulting in losses.

24. Memphis (9-2)

Week 12 result: UAB lost, 53-18

Seth Henigan threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns, giving him his 100th TD pass. The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 38 straight games, the longest streak in the country.

25. UNLV (8-2)

Week 12 result: Lost to San Diego State, 41-20

Hajj-Malik Williams did it with both his arm and his legs, throwing for 241 yards and a touchdown, while adding another 29 yards and two scores on the ground. The Rebels gained 515 yards in the victory while holding the Aztecs to just 270 yards.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and commentator for FOX Sports and host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him on @RJ_Omusha.

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