College football polls: Updated AP Top 25, Coaches Poll rankings for Week 14

There might not be a more important set of regular-season top 25 rankings than the ones that follow Week 13 of the college football season.

Incredibly, three top-10 teams, each in contention for the College Football Playoff, fell during Rivalry Week, including two to unranked opponents. No. 3 Michigan dismantled No. 2 Ohio State 45-23; Texas A&M upset No. 6 LSU 38-23, and South Carolina took down No. 8 Clemson 31-30.

That sets up a relatively clear path for several teams to make the Playoff during conference championship week — and also opens the door for yet more chaos in the last week of play before the final CFP rankings are unveiled.

Georgia, Michigan and TCU will make up the top three of the latest rankings, with USC — fresh off a 38-27 victory over No. 15 Notre Dame — likely to take the fourth spot as it heads into the Pac-12 championship weekend.

MORE: College football rankings: Projecting 2022 Playoff picture

If each of those teams win in their respective conference championship games on Saturday, they will make it into the Playoff. But a loss by any of those teams opens up the possibility of one of 11-1 Ohio State or 10-2 Alabama to jump into the Playoff, as well.

Should any of those teams lose in Week 14, then the arguments between the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide will begin in earnest. Ohio State has a better record and has a ranked non-conference victory Notre Dame to its resume, but was run out of its own stadium in a 22-point blowout. Alabama's is the worse record, but its two losses were by a combined four points on game-ending plays, both on the road vs. ranked teams in top-10 teams LSU and Tennessee.

It could all be a moot point, of course — but the way this season has gone so far, it might not. And that's all the reason to pay close attention to the Week 14 rankings, which could be a precursor to the penultimate CFP rankings:

College football rankings for Week 14

Coaches Poll

Others receiving votes: Ole Miss 83; Troy 58; N.C. State 58; Cincinnati 49; Boise State 37; Purdue 36; Pitt 36; Coastal Carolina 26; Air Force 19; South Alabama 15; Illinois 10; Minnesota 7; Duke 7; Iowa 6; James Madison 2; Fresno State 2; Wake Forest 1.

MORE: College Football Playoff ranking schedule, release dates for 2022

AP Top 25

This section will be updated with the release of the AP Top 25 poll.

Others receiving votes: Troy 80; N.C. State 62; Cincinnati 43; Boise State 39; Purdue 24; Ole Miss 22; South Alabama 12; Illinois 10; Coastal Carolina 6; Pitt 5; Fresno State 4; James Madison 4; Ohio 2; Minnesota 1.