INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 03: The Penn State Nittany Lions storm the field after beating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

FanBuzz college football Top 25: The final rankings of the regular season

Who made our Top 4?

Who are the best four teams in college football?

College football selection day is here, and with that we bring our final Top 25 of the regular season. It is formatted a little differently this week to give everyone our definitive Top 4 and then the first four out of the Playoff, but we hope you have enjoyed our rankings for the whole season.

And without further ado...

THE TOP FOUR

1. Alabama — SEC, 13-0
LW: 1 — Result: W, 54-16 vs. Florida

Was there really any doubt?

2. Ohio State — Big Ten, 11-1
LW: 2 — Result: W, 30-27 vs. Michigan

Yes, Ohio State stays at No. 2. They only have one loss and they easily have one of the most impressive resumes. They won at Oklahoma, and they beat Michigan to end the season. I don't really care that they didn't get into the Big Ten title game because of technicalities.

3. Washington — Pac-12, 12-1
LW: 4 — Result: W, 41-10 vs. Colorado

Washington really had one of the more impressive wins of the weekend. I know Colorado QB Sefo Luifau went down early, but Washington putting up 41 on that defense was quite the statement. At 12-1, they should be in the Playoff.

4. Clemson — ACC, 12-1
LW: 3 — Result: W, 42-35 vs. Virginia Tech

Clemson moves down a spot for the sake of making things easy. Plus, that win over Virginia Tech pales in comparison to what Washington did on Friday. I mean, VT lost to Syracuse, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee before that ACC title game; not exactly inspiring.

Alabama vs. Clemson in the Peach Bowl, and Washington vs. Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Boom, done. Book it.

THE NEXT FOUR

5. Michigan — Big Ten, 10-2
LW: 5 — Result: DNP

Some are probably going to refer to this category as "just missed" the Playoff, but not to me, these guys are decidedly out.

Why Michigan at 5 over Penn State? Well, there is that 49-10 whooping that Michigan put on Penn State a while back. And if these two teams were to play today, I would still take Michigan over how much the Nittany Lions have improved since then.

6. Penn State — Big Ten, 11-2
LW: 6 — Result: W, 38-31 vs. Wisconsin

The comeback win against Wisconsin was impressive. The Big Ten title is cool. However, Penn State still didn't do enough to get into the Playoff above the teams ahead of them. I know a lot of people are talking about how a conference title should mean more, but are we just going to disqualify out-of-conference records and forget that Penn State lost to Pitt as well as Michigan?

Conference titles should matter, but we have a committee for years like this where it's more complicated than that.

7. Oklahoma — Big 12, 10-2
LW: 9 — Result: W, 38-20 vs. Oklahoma State

Speaking of "conference titles should matter", Oklahoma just won their conference and they don't deserve to be in the Top 4 either. However, I am impressed with the way they have closed the season, and hopefully Dede Westbrook recovers in time to play in a bowl game.

8. Wisconsin — Big Ten, 10-3
LW: 7 — Result: L, 31-38 vs. Penn State

ROW THE BOAT

9. Western Michigan — MAC, 13-0
LW: 10 — Result: W, 26-20 vs. Ohio

Going undefeated is hard, even in the MAC. Congrats to P.J. Fleck and his team.

LIKELY NEW YEAR'S SIX TEAMS... AND COLORADO

10. USC — Pac-12, 9-3
LW: 12 — Result: DNP

11. Colorado — Pac-12, 10-3
LW: 8 — Result: BYE

 

12. Florida State — ACC, 9-3
LW: 13 — Result: DNP

 

13. Auburn — SEC, 8-4
LW: 15 — Result: DNP

STILL VERY GOOD POWER 5 TEAMS

14. Stanford— Pac-12, 9-3
LW: 16 — Result: DNP

 

15. West Virginia — Big 12, 10-2
LW: 13 — Result: W, 24-21 vs. Baylor

 

16. Oklahoma State — Big 12, 9-3
LW: 11 — Result: L, 20-38 vs. Oklahoma

 

17. Florida — SEC, 8-4
LW: 18 — Result:L, 16-54 vs. Alabama

18. LSU — SEC, 7-4
LW: 19 — Result: DNP

19. Pittsburgh — ACC, 8-4
LW: 23 — Result: DNP

 

THE AMERICAN

20. Houston — AAC, 9-3
LW: 20 — Result: DNP

 

21. Temple — AAC, 10-3
LW: NR — Result: W, 34-10 vs. Navy

22. Navy — AAC, 9-3
LW: 14 — Result: L, 10-34 vs. Temple

23. South Florida — AAC, 10-2
LW: 21 — Result: DNP

DON'T LOSE LATE NEXT TIME

24. Louisville — ACC, 9-3
LW: 24 — Result: DNP

25. Boise State — MW, 10-2
LW: 25 — Result: DNP

 

DROPPED FROM THE RANKINGS: Virginia Tech (22)