College football rankings projected: Texas stuns LSU, Georgia clowns Mizzou as Indiana ends USC; AP 25 outlook

A turbulent Week 11

Week 11 brought a series of surprising results amid ranked matchups, injuries and changes to kickoff times. Texas and Arch Manning rallied to beat LSU, while Georgia dismantled Missouri.

Indiana defeated USC, and Wake Forest routed SMU. South Carolina and New Mexico also suffered unexpected losses, adding uncertainty to the next AP Top 25.

Four teams projected out

The projection has South Carolina, New Mexico, LSU and SMU leaving the rankings. The results could open places for new teams in the AP Top 25. The article notes that four-loss teams such as South Carolina or LSU could still receive votes. Instead, it points to American Conference contenders UTSA and North Texas as possible additions after strong play.

Other teams in contention

Oklahoma State is also projected to return to the rankings after a chance to strengthen its position against Texas Tech. The Cowboys’ win over Oregon is cited as a reason they could earn a boost.

Liberty, at 9-1, is presented as another possible newcomer, following strong Conference USA results. Louisville is also described as deserving more attention after beating North Carolina, despite the win being characterized as ugly.

Houston and USC setbacks

Houston’s loss to Colorado in Boulder is described as a major setback. The Cougars had already lost to Utah and Texas Tech, and the defeat is expected to push them away from the playoff picture.

USC missed an opportunity to earn a notable win at Indiana and strengthen its playoff case. The article frames the result as part of a day likely to make the AP rankings more unpredictable.