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How does chalk taste?

We found out in Week 12. Eight of the top nine teams in last week's Power Rankings won. Louisville was culled from the College Football Playoff herd. Oklahoma, Penn State and Wisconsin all remain playoff factors despite two losses each.

A lot of it will change -- or threatens to -- in this penultimate week of the season. Give thanks for Michigan-Ohio State, Auburn-Alabama, Washington-Washington State, Florida-Florida State, Notre Dame-USC, Mississippi State-Ole Miss.

South Carolina-Clemson. Don't laugh. Utah-Colorado. Please don't laugh.

And you thought Thanksgiving leftovers were tasty.

Biggest Movers
12 Houston
10 Louisville
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Teams
  
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1 Alabama Jalen Hurts threw for three touchdowns (no interceptions) for the first time in his career. Nick Saban focused the Tide enough against an FCS team (Chattanooga) the week before the Iron Bowl. Bama opened as an 18.5-point favorite. -- 10-3
2 Ohio State Sometimes I think parity in the Big Ten simply means the month of November and weather. Michigan State and snow made the Buckeyes look vulnerable in a one-point loss. The Game will decide if Saturday was just a hiccup. -- 12-1
3 Clemson A week after their first regular-season loss since 2014, the Tigers took care of business, routing Wake Forest. That clinched a spot in the ACC title game. Again. A second straight playoff berth seems assured depending on wins over South Carolina and in Charlotte. 1 7-5
4 Michigan Let's cut to the heart of the Wolverines' psyche this week: Can John O'Korn beat the Buckeyes in The Shoe? Michigan's backup quarterback was not impressive Saturday vs. Indiana. Bad time for Wilton Speight to get injured. 1 9-3
5 Washington This one's for all the low-hanging red fruit. A rout of Arizona State sets up the biggest Apple Cup since ... when? Mike Leach is an early 21.5-quote favorite over Chris Petersen. 1 8-4
6 USC Not only the best three-loss team in the nation, one of the best teams in the nation. Did you see Sam Darnold throw for 267 yards vs UCLA? Did you see the defense shut down the Bruins? USC is a Utah win (over Colorado) away from playing for the Pac-12 for the second straight year. 5 9-3
7 Wisconsin Consider the Badgers the best two-loss team with the best chance to get to the playoff. Wisconsin needs only to beat Minnesota in Madison (or have Nebraska lose to Iowa) to get to the Big Ten title game. It is 1-1 against Michigan and Ohio State. The Badgers have yet to play possible East Division winner Penn State. -- 4-8
8 Oklahoma Don't count out the Sooners, who have bullied their way to the top of the Big 12. The only other teams still undefeated in conference play are Western Michigan, Alabama and Arkansas State. There's something to be said for going 16-1 in conference since the beginning of 2015. 1 10-2
9 Penn State An Ohio State win over Michigan (and a Nittany Lions win over Michigan State) stands between James Franklin and a Big Ten title game berth. That said, I hereby humbly submit JFrank for Big Ten coach of the year. 1 6-6
10 Oklahoma State The Central Michigan thing won't go away, mostly because Oklahoma State won't let the Central Michigan thing go away. You're a two-loss team, Cowboys. The playoff committee considers you a two-loss team. Focus on Bedlam. 8 1-11
11 Colorado Just read this headline and can't believe it: "It's time to talk about Colorado as a playoff contender." At this rate, Ralphie is going to put out his own workout video. A 38-24 over Washington State means CU has to get beat Utah to get to the Pac-12 title game. 3 3-9
12 Houston At this rate, Tom Herman is about to become the hottest coaching candidate since Knute Rockne. He's at, or near, the top of the list for LSU and Texas. A blowout of Louisville made a lot of folks forget about that loss to SMU. 12 9-3
13 Louisville One solace after being run out of the building by Houston: Lamar Jackson remains the Heisman leader in the clubhouse. Playoff hopes, though, are gone. 10 8-4
14 Western Michigan Let's hope the CFP committee comes to its senses this week and has the Broncos ranked as the No. 1 Group of Five team. Western Michigan has beaten as many or more Big Ten teams (two) than five Big Ten teams. 2 9-4
15 Boise State The Broncos need a New Mexico win over Wyoming on Saturday to stay alive for the Mountain West title game. That's only if Boise beats Air Force on Friday to keep their hopes alive until Saturday. -- 9-5
16 Florida Who knew the Gators could be motivated by the politics involving the rescheduling a game postponed by a hurricane? Jim McElwain's postgame comments indicated Florida clearly was in a 16-10 SEC East-clinching win over LSU. 3 4-8
17 West Virginia With Oklahoma hanging 56 on the Mountaineers, the only Big 12 teams not to give up at least 50 points this season are Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Iowa State. Dana Holgorsen needs at extension. Now. 7 4-8
18 South Florida The Bulls are one of the most anonymous teams in the country. After beating SMU, USF has won six of its last seven. Bulls still need help to win the American East. Not likely with Temple needing only to beat East Carolina at home to clinch. 5 9-3
19 Auburn The injury situation looks bleak for the Tigers. Sure, the Tigers whupped Alabama A&M. But Alabama -- without the A&M -- looms in the Iron Bowl. Jeremy Johnson was an efficient 14 of 19 in his last home game. Gus will have an injury update on quarterback Sean White and tailback Kamryn Pettway on Monday night or Tuesday. 1 5-7
20 Nebraska Huskers still have a sliver of Big Ten West hope. If they beat Iowa and Wisconsin loses to Minnesota, Nebraska gets to Indianapolis. Huskers haven't so much as won a division since 2012. 2 7-5
21 Utah Where did that come from? An Oregon team that had flat-lined won in the final seconds at Rice-Eccles. Say goodbye to Pac-12 South chances. 8 10-2
22 Washington State All of the Cougars' goals are still in front of them after a gutsy loss at Colorado. If Wazzu wins the Apple Cup, it wins the Pac-12 North. Anything that puts Leach center stage is OK with me. 6 6-6
23 San Diego State Am I missing something? With a Cotton Bowl invite on the line, Aztecs coach Rocky Long chose to go for two at Wyoming. The only option seemed to kick the extra point and take the game to overtime with the NCAA's No. 5 career rusher (Donnel Pumphrey). Strange. See ya, Cotton. 6 9-3
24 Tennessee Josh Dobbs just may be the first-team all-SEC quarterback. His 422 yards of total offense and five touchdowns were over shadowed by one of the weirdest stat lines of the season. Missouri scored 37 points, had 41 first downs, put up 740 yards -- and lost by 27. NR 8-4
25 Stanford Welcome a familiar face back to the Heisman race. Christian McCaffery has all but clinched becoming the Pac-12's leading rusher and all-purpose player for the second straight year. Cardinal have won four in a row heading into finale against Rice. NR 4-8