College Football's Bottom 25 Poll, Week 12, 2023

                            (Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, home of the East Carolina Pirates)

There were eight teams in the 25 who won last week, which is a nice haul but left me with a dilemma. Two of the 8 notched their second wins and dropped down 6 spots each, respectively. Two 3-7 teams with a BYE dropped out and six teams won to go to 3-7, but only five dropped out into the DHM...and herein lies the dilemma. Cincinnati WON to go to 3-7, but unfortunately, earlier this year, they lost to Baylor at home, 32-29. So even though Baylor LOST last week to drop back into the poll, since both teams land at the same 3-7 record, rightly Cincinatti must remain in the poll and be ranked at least one spot higher than Baylor. And there they are, #24 and 25 in the latest poll.

As always, enjoy the games starting Tuesday night with a MAC hootenanny featuring B25 #8 Akron at Eastern Michigan!


1) Connecticut (1-9) The Fusskies did not put up their Dukes and were smashed 44-6 at James Madison. Sacred Heart of the FCS visits this week.

2) Kent State (1-9) The Golden Bashed lost at home to Bowling Green, 49-19. Next is an (almost) Bummer Bowl at DHMers Ball State.

3) Vanderbilt (2-9) The Commode–doors lost an almost Bummer Bowl at former DHMers South Carolina, 47 – 6, propelling the Gamecocks all the way out of the poll. That is NINE, (count ‘em) nine straight losses. Next is a BYE before the rivalry game at Tennessee, which will mercifully close out 2023 in Nashville. Go Titans!!!

4) UL Monroe (2-8) The Marhawks got trampled by the Troy Trojans, 45-14. Next is a cross border trip to take a paycheck at Ole Miss. Ole NO!

5) Nevada (2-8) The Wolfcack are back to normal, losing 41-24 at Utah State. Next is a visit to Colorado State who, like South Carolina, just dropped entirely out of the poll.

6) Pittsburgh (2-8) The Panters lost 28-13 at home to Syracuse, who had yet to have a 2023 ACC win until then. Next is a home game against Boston College on Thursday.

7) Virginia (2-8) The Cabriolets lost 31-21 at Louisville. A decent showing considering the game before. Next, Duke pays a visit to Charlottesville.

8) Akron (2-8) The Zips were zipped, actually, losing 19-0 at Miami of Ohio. Next is a MAC Tuesday night special at Eastern Michigan.

9) East Carolina (2-8) The Pirates won at FAU, 22 – 7, dropping 6 spots on the win. This week is a very fitting game at Navy, who are the most natural of Pirate enemies.

10) Sam Houston (2-8) The Bearkats are on a winning streak after a Conference USA Bummer Bowl victory at Louisiana Tech, 42-27. They also drop six spots ahead of this week’s game at Western Kentucky.

11) Louisiana Tech (3-8) The Dulldogs lost a CUSA Bummer Bowl to Sam Houston 42-27, but still remain one spot below them by virtue of their three wins versus 2 for the Bearkats. Next, the season finale at Jacksonville State, making LaTech the first 25er to reach the end of the 2023 schedule.

12) Tulsa (3-7) The Golden Bore-icanes took their 5th straight loss, falling 24-22 in the 23rd annual (Jethro) Tul Bowl at #24 Tulane. Next, B25 #15 North Texas comes to town for a CUSA Bummer Bowl.

13) Buffalo (3-7) The Lulls lost at home to Ohio, 20-10. Next, another Ohio squad (not unusual in the MAC) on the slate with a trip to play at Miami of Ohio on Wednesday.

14) Temple (3-7) The Fowls are back in after they lost 27-23 at the University of South (really West) Florida.  This weekend brings a trip down to Birmingham to take on B25 #18 UAB in an AAC Bummer Bowl.

15) North Texas (3-7) The Lean Spleen are now up to 4 straight losses after falling 45-21 at SMU. Next, an AAC Bummer Bowl at B25 #12 Tulsa.

16) New Mexico (3-7) Los Loblos lost 42-14 at Boise State, ensuring their return to the poll.  Next, they play at Fresno State

17) Charlotte (3-7) Biff Poggi’s 3-7ers are back in off a 44-38 home loss to Memphis. Next, AAC foes Rice come to town. Both squads are tied at 2-4 in conference play and a loss for the Owls could potentially put them in the poll next week.

18) UAB (3-7) The Faders rejoin after a 31-6 keel-hauling at Navy. B25 #14 Temple visits this weekend for an AAC Bummer Bowl.

19) Michigan State (3-7) Farty lost 38-3 at Ohio State, which was entirely to be expected. Next is a Big 10 (12, 14, whatever) Bummer Bowl at Indiana, currently #23 in the poll.

20) San Diego State (3-7) The Azwrecs lost 22-19 at Colorado State, to join the B25 for the first time in a while. Next is a game at San Jose State, which SHOULD be a rivalry game but isn’t. I christen it the San(s) A Name Rivalry!!

21) Stanford (3-7) The Marginal lost at Oregon State 62-17 to mark their return to the poll.  Next is The Big Game, with California coming in. The LAST ever Big Game as a PAC 12 Conference game. That is kind of sad.

22) Arkansas (3-7) The BluntBoars lost 48-10 in Fayetteville to Auburn. Next, FIU comes to town. Weird time of the year for a non-conference game.

23) Indiana (3-7) The Loosiers are back in after a 48-45 loss at Illinois, in another game that is surprisingly not a named rivalry game. Next is a home BIG 10 (12, 14, whatever) Bummer Bowl against B25 #19 Michigan State.

24) Cincinnati (3-7) The Bearcats won 24-14 at Houston. Usually, that would put them out of the poll and into the DHM, except for the inconvenient fact that they lost by 3 earlier this year to Baylor and now have to be higher ranked. And since Baylor is number 25…. Next is a road trip to play at West Virginia.

25) Baylor (3-7) The CareBears lost 59-25 at Kansas State to rejoin the B25 shuffle.  Next weekend they will be at TCU.

 

DISHONORABLE MENTION: Massachusetts (3-7), UTEP (3-7), Arizona State    (3-7), Purdue (3-7), Middle Tennessee State (3-7), Ball State (3-7), Southern Mississippi (3-7)

Dropped Out

Western Michigan, Colorado State, Hawai'i, South Carolina and California 

 

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

AAC – 5 

ACC – 2

Big12 – 2

BIG 10 (12, 14, whatever) – 2 (+ 1 DHM)

CUSA – 2 (+2 DHM)

Ind. – 1 (+1 DHM)

MAC – 3 (+1 DHM)

Mountain West – 3

PAC 12 (soon to be none) – 1 (+1 DHM)

SEC – 2

Sun Belt - 1 (+1 DHM)

 

8 Winners for the week

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