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Week 12 Steadies CFP Race as Oregon Escapes Iowa, Indiana Squeaks Past Penn State, Texas Tech Deals BYU First Loss

Early projections point to minimal Top 25 churn after a slate of tight finishes.

Overview

  • Oregon beat Iowa 18-16 on a last-second field goal in harsh conditions at Kinnick, with multiple key Ducks sidelined or exiting as the defense held the Hawkeyes to 2.3 yards per carry.
  • Indiana topped Penn State 27-24 on a Fernando Mendoza touchdown to Omar Cooper Jr. with 35 seconds left, reinforcing the Hoosiers’ standing near the top of media projections.
  • Texas Tech routed BYU 29-7 to reassert itself in the Big 12 picture, handing the Cougars their first loss of the season in a one-sided result.
  • FanSided’s projected Top 25 shows limited movement, listing Ohio State No. 1, Indiana No. 2 and Texas A&M No. 3, with Oregon and Texas Tech both holding strong positions.
  • Week 12 commentary highlighted ongoing coaching turnover and broader program instability across the Power 4, framing late-season evaluations beyond single-game outcomes.