College Football's Bottom 25 Poll, Week 14, 2024

 

Boone-Pickens Stadium, Home of Oklahoma State football


We are down to the end of things for the 2024 season for the 25, as, obviously, there are no bowl games awaiting any of the teams here. It is, however, rivalry week throughout most of the land, aside from those rivalries that play out at weird times, like Colorado vs. Colorado State (game 3 for each) or New Mexico vs. New Mexico State, which was game 5 for both and Miami vs Florida (game 1) and Florida State (game 8), although FSU is playing Florida during rivalry week.

On another note, Jim McElwain is coaching his final game before retirement this week, and as Central Michigan just dropped out of the poll, I am personally hoping that the Chippewas win their finale to stay out of the poll. 

Seven of the 25ers have not won a conference game this year...FAU, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Kent State, Nevada, Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi. Of those, FAU and Southern Mississippi have Bummer Bowls and a chance. Kent State is playing at 7-4 Buffalo and all of the rest are playing against nationally ranked opponents, so they have very little chance to capture a last-ditch conference "W".

As always, enjoy the games!!!


1) Kent State (0-11) The Golden Flashless lost their last best chance at a win Tuesday night in a MAC Bummer Bowl at home, falling to Akron, 38-17 and likely cementing them in first for the final poll. One last Tuesday night MAC special at Buffalo will close out the 2024 season.

2) Southern Mississippi (1-10) Now it is up to 9 straight losses for the Golden Favres after a 35-14 home loss to Sun Belt middleweights, South Alabama. Troy hosts USM this weekend in a Sun Belt Bummer Bowl to close out 2024 for both teams

3) Purdue (1-10) The Shotandabeers losing streak is up to 10 after a relatively close 24-17 loss at Michigan State. When is a rivalry game not really a rivalry game? When the 1-10 team is playing at nationally ranked Indiana, who just suffered their first loss of the season.

4) FAU (2-9) The Fowls #1 took loss #6 in a row, dropping an AAC Bummer Bowl against Charlotte, 39-27. Next up is one more Bummer Bowl to close out 2024 at Tulsa.

5) Massachusetts (2-9) So when is a 59-21 loss not so terrible? When you are the Minute-men and you are playing at #10 Georgia. UConn comes to Amherst next to close out 2024.

6) Wyoming (2-9) The Cowboils #1 played respectably against nationally ranked Boise State, falling 17-13. Washington State plays host this weekend to close the 2024 season in Laramie.

7) Mississippi State (2-9) The Dulldogs almost got doubled up at home against Missouri, 39-20. The Egg Bowl at Ole Miss should be no contest this year, with The Rabble at 8-3 on the season.

8) Kennesaw State (2-9) The Fowls #2 picked up win number 2 in a home CUSA Bummer Bowl, beating FIU, 27-26, by kicking the game winning FG with 1:01 left in the game and then getting a clinching interception on FIU’s subsequent possession. Louisiana Tech plays host this weekend to finish out 2024. Normally a win to reach a particular record puts you lower (higher) in the poll, but since the Fowls lost earlier this season to UTEP, despite winning last week, they are ranked higher (lower) in the B25.

9) UTEP (2-9) The Minors did indeed get Knoxed Out at Tennessee, 56-0. Next up is an easier assignment, a season ending CUSA Bummer Bowl at New Mexico State. A much shorter trip, too.

10) Florida State (2-9) The ‘Noles did get the win, 41-7 over Charleston Southern of the FCS. Next up is the team no one wants to play, Florida, who just knocked off LSU and Ole Miss in consecutive weeks to become bowl eligible. But with the Gators visiting Doak Campbell, you never know.

11) Nevada (3-9) Air Force has now won 3 straight after beating the Wolfcack, 22-19. For Nevada, the rivalry Fremont Cannon game at nationally ranked UNLV is all that remains for the 2024 season.

12) Ball State (3-8) The Marginals lost interim HC Colin Johnson’s first game, falling to Bowling Green at home, 38-13. The season finale will be at Ohio next weekend.

13) San Diego State (3-8) The Azwrecs are now at 5 straight losses after consecutive 41-20 thrashings, last weeks in an (almost) Bummer Bowl at Utah State. The former 25ers but now resurgent Air Force Falcons visit to close out 2024 for both schools.

14) FIU (3-8) The Panters #1 lost a Bummer Bowl squeaker at Kennesaw State, 27-26. One more CUSA Bummer Bowl remains, hosting the MTSU Blue Faiders.

15) Tulsa (3-8) The Golden Bore-icane were walloped 63-30 at South (really West) Florida, leading to the post game firing of second year head coach Kevin Wilson. Interim coach Ryan Switzer will lead them against FAU in the 2024 Bummer Bowl finale at home.

16) Middle Tennessee State (3-8) The Blue Faiders lost a home Conference USA Bummer Bowl to New Mexico State, 36-21. The season finale Bummer Bowl at FIU comes up next.

17) Rice (3-8) The Fowls #3 were Blazed by UAB 40-14 in a road Bummer Bowl. South (really West) Florida visits to close the 2024 Fowls’ campaign.

18) Temple (3-8) The Fowls #4 were plucked at UTSA, 51-27.  Next is the Fowls #4 2024 closer at home against North Texas. 

19)  Oklahoma State (3-8) The Cowboils #2 were bucked, 56-48 at home against Texas Tech. Next, a game at nationally ranked Colorado is the only thing that stands between OSU and a winless conference season in 2024.

20) Troy (3-8) The Trojadies took a week off from the poll after two straight wins, but were dominated at conference leaders Louisiana, 51-30. Southern Mississippi visits this weekend to close out 2024 for both schools in a Sun Belt Bummer Bowl.

21) Stanford (3-8) The Marginal rejoin also, after dropping the Big Game at former 25ers California, 24-21. A visit to San Jose State ends 2024 in kind of an odd venue for Stanford. This is a quasi-rivalry, known as the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, that has been on hiatus since 2013. The last time the game was played in San Jose was in 2006. And, this will be only the 5th game out of the 68 in the series to be played at the Spartans home field!

22) New Mexico State (3-8) The (What’s an?) Aggies won a CUSA Bummer Bowl, beating MTSU on the road, 36-21. Another conference Bummer Bowl is in the offing as UTEP comes to Las Cruces to close our 2024 for both squads.

23) Georgia State (3-8) The Panthers (Panters #2) played a crazy game at Texas State, falling behind 21-14 in the first half, then scoring 31 unanswered points to take a 45-21 lead, before getting outscored 23-7 in the final quarter, but still managing to hold on for a 52-44 victory. Coastal Carolina visits Atlanta this week to close out 2024 while everyone in the state will be paying attention to the Clean, Old Fashioned Hate Game over in Athens. GOOOOO JACKETS!!!!!!

24) UAB (3-8) The Blazers dominated their home Bummer Bowl, eating Rice 40-14. Next up is a conference (almost) Bummer Bowl at Charlotte of the DHM to close out both school’s 2024 seasons.

25) Akron (3-8) The Zips zippered the Golden Flashless of B25 #1 Kent State, 38-17 on the road. The Zips close out 2024 on Tuesday, hosting 7-4 Toledo.

 

DISHONORABLE MENTION:  Charlotte (4-7), Wake Forest (4-7), Arizona (4-7), Houston (4-7), UCF (4-7), Utah (4-7), UCLA (4-7), Northwestern (4-7), Maryland (4-7), Louisiana Tech (4-7), Hawai'i (4-7), Kentucky (4-7) and Old Dominion (4-7)

Dropped Out:  Air Force, Utah State and Central Michigan


CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

AAC – 5 (+1 DHM)

ACC – 2 (+ 1 DHM)

Big12 (16) – 1 (+4 DHM)

BIG 10 (18) – 1 (+3 DHM)

CUSA – 5 (+1 DHM)

Ind. – 1

MAC – 3

Mountain West – 3 (+1 DHM)

PAC 12 (2) – 0

SEC – 1 (+1 DHM)

Sun Belt - 3 (+1 DHM)


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