TCU finished runner-up in the national championship game and the Horned Frogs were No. 2 behind Georgia in the final AP Top 25 poll released Tuesday.
The Bulldogs (15–0) began the season ranked third and defended their national title on Monday night in a 65–7 rout to cap the first repeat in College Football Playoff history.
Georgia received all 63 first-place votes.
TCU (13–2) was unranked to begin the 2022 regular season but won 13 games to reach the championship game. Michigan (13–1), which lost in the CFP semifinals to TCU, finished third in the Top 25 ahead of Ohio State (11–2), Alabama (11–2), Tennessee (11–2), Penn State (11–2) and Washington (11–2). The Huskies finished the season with seven consecutive wins. UW is ranked in the final poll for the first time since 2018.
Ranked No. 1 entering the season, the Crimson Tide beat Kansas State 45–20 in the Sugar Bowl with their only losses this season to sixth-ranked Tennessee (52–49) and LSU (32–31). The Tigers (10–4) landed at No. 16 in the season-ending poll.
Alabama was the last team to finish consecutive seasons ranked No. 1 (2011, 2012).
No. 9 Tulane (12–2) moved up five spots on the strength of the Green Wave victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl. The 46–45 loss dropped the Trojans (11–3) four spots to No. 12.
