2025 Week 12 College Football Recap And Top Performers

Normally, our weekly recaps run long and detailed. This week, however, we’re keeping it short and sharp as the 2025 college football regular season comes to a close.

What Did We Learn From Week 12?

• Ok, let's talk Alabama. The good news is that, despite the setback against Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide remain 6–1 in SEC play—a strong position by any measure. The concern, however, is that at 8–2 overall, the margin for error has become razor-thin. Looking back, that Week 1 loss to Florida State may prove more damaging than initially expected, as it continues to weigh heavily on their playoff hopes.

• Speaking of the playoff race, Texas may have surrendered its hopes after the lopsided loss to Georgia. The game made it clear that this team as a whole—not just Arch Manning—is not yet ready to compete at the highest level. Perhaps that will change in 2026, but for now the Longhorns remain a step behind the elite.

• The Cinderella story of Trinidad Chambliss and the Ole Miss Rebels continues to grow, highlighted by a hard-fought win over a determined Florida Gators squad. Now sitting at 10–1, the Rebels remain firmly in the playoff conversation, with their seat still warm as the committee prepares its next rankings.

• At this point, Indiana winning games has become as routine as a morning shower. Wisconsin kept things somewhat close through the first half, but the Hoosiers quickly shut the door once they decided the party was over. That team is simply operating on a different level than the rest of the conference.

• Not all 7–2 teams are created equal, and that’s the lesson the Pittsburgh Panthers learned in their loss to Notre Dame. Frankly, not every roster has a playmaker like Jeremiyah Love. The Irish have come a long way from the early part of the season, when things weren’t looking so promising.

• The jury is still out on whether the Michigan Wolverines are a playoff team this year. What is certain, however, is that their future looks bright. With Bryce Underwood at quarterback, a promising running back room led by Jordan Marshall, and a strong defensive unit, the foundation is in place. Their narrow win over Northwestern shouldn’t have required a last-minute field goal, but moments like that are part of the growth process for a young team finding its identity.

• The mark of a great team is its ability to win in different ways. Texas A&M found itself trailing by 27 points in the first half against South Carolina, and for a moment it looked like the Gamecocks were on the verge of pulling off a stunning upset. But the Aggies dug in, shut South Carolina out in the second half, and stormed back to seize both the lead and the victory. Great teams always find ways to win—and the Aggies proved they are exactly that.

• Oregon’s win over Minnesota didn’t reveal much beyond the obvious: one team is decidedly average, while the other is clearly elite. For Ducks quarterback Dante Moore, the matchup served as little more than a tune-up ahead of the College Football Playoff.

• Miami’s win this week was an encouraging step in solidifying their place in the College Football Playoff picture. The challenge now is maintaining momentum and continuing to stack wins. The Hurricanes have shown they can rise to the occasion—now it’s about proving they can sustain it.

• Georgia Tech should count its blessings for having Haynes King—and kicker Aidan Birr—leading the way. In all seriousness, the Yellow Jackets came dangerously close to slipping out of the playoff picture, as they found themselves trailing to Boston College of all teams. Now sitting at 9–1, and with USF’s loss to Navy shaking up the landscape, it will be interesting to see whether the playoff committee rewards Georgia Tech with a spot in the Top 12.

• USC deserves credit for its win over Iowa. Early on, the Trojans looked challenged by the Hawkeyes’ physical style of play, struggling to establish momentum in the first two quarters. In the second half, however, they made the right adjustments and executed well enough to pull off the comeback victory. The playoff race is still open, and USC remains very much in the conversation.

• Texas Tech did exactly what was expected—dominate USF. With that performance, the Red Raiders have firmly secured their place in the College Football Playoffs.

• Meanwhile, Louisville’s loss to Clemson effectively sealed the Cardinals’ fate, eliminating any remaining playoff hopes. At this stage, the only objective left for Louisville is to regroup and finish strong with a victory in their bowl game.

Week 12 Top Performers

Offense -

RB Ahmad Hardy - Missouri (Player of the week)

RB Caleb Hawkins - North Texas

QB Gunner Stockton - Georgia

QB Fernando Mendoza - Indiana

QB Dante Moore - Oregon

RB Jeremiyah Love - Notre Dame

WR Marcel Williams - Akron

QB Haynes King - Georgia Tech

QB Ty Simpson - Alabama

QB Byrum Brown - USF

RB Byrd Ficklin - Utah

QB Sawyer Robertson - Baylor

WR Josh Cameron - Baylor

QB Dru DeShields - Kent State

RB Jordan Marshall - Michigan

WR Makai Lemon - USC

RB J'Mari Taylor - Virginia

QB Marcel Reed - Texas A&M

WR Trell Harris - Virginia

QB Dylan Lonergan - Boston College

WR KC Concepcion - Texas A&M

QB Ben Finley - Akron

WR Ashton Bethel-Roman - Texas A&M

WR Malachi Fields - Notre Dame

RB Devin Roche - Old Dominion

QB Chandler Morris - Virginia

WR Andrew Marsh - Michigan

RB Adam Randall - Clemson

Defense -

DB Vicari Swain - South Carolina

DL Joshua Burnham - Notre Dame

LB Mason Woods - Kent State

DB Jakobe Thomas - Miami

LB Harold Perkins Jr. - LSU

S Adon Shuler - Notre Dame

DL Mikah Coleman - Cincinnati

EDGE Cashius Howell - Texas A&M

DB CJ Young - Kent State

LB Emar'rion Winston - Baylor

LB Ty'Anthony Smith - Texas

LB Sammy Brown - Clemson

EDGE Fisher Camac - Virginia

LB Jacob Rodriguez - Texas Tech

LB Rasheem Biles - Pitt

EDGE Dylan Stewart - South Carolina

LB Jackson Forrest - Old Dominion

CB Avieon Terrell - Clemson

DB Brandon Finney Jr. - Oregon

DE Kris Trinidad - Old Dominion