AP Top 25 College Football Poll 2014 Week 16: Final Rankings Drop TCU Out of Top 5 in Favor of Ohio State

The Associated Press has released its final college football top 25 poll and TCU (6) is still not getting any respect.

Previously ranked fourth overall, TCU trounced Iowa State to round out the regular season, as the Big 12 does not have a conference title game, but fell two places. On the rise were Ohio State (5) and Baylor (4), the Big 12 co-champion with TCU.

Alabama (1) held its narrow lead above Florida State (2) with Oregon (3) trailing. Rounding out the top 10 was Michigan State (7), Mississippi State (8), Ole Miss (9) and Georgia Tech (10).

Georgia Tech held their own against Florida State in the ACC Championship game, but wound up losing 37-35. Georgia Tech could not come back from a 21-point outburst from Florida State in the second quarter with their dominant option rushing offense.

Ohio State (5) capped its push by dominating Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten Championship with their third-string quarterback under center. Cardale Jones was 12 of 17 with three touchdowns as J.T. Barrett's replacement after the latter was filling in for Braxton Miller. The win got Ohio State into the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal game against Alabama.

Despite Baylor winding up fourth in the AP poll, the Big 12 was ultimately snubbed out of the CFP. The conference chose to name Baylor and TCU co-champions, as the latter seemed primed to cement their place in a semifinal game with a big win over Iowa State. Baylor also had a shot at the CFP, but the committee moved Florida State up to make way for Ohio State to claim the fourth spot. Both TCU and Baylor were placed in New Year's bowl games.

The SEC finished with three teams in the AP top 25, whereas the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 had two and the Pac-12 had one.