Danny Kanell releases ratings of Top-12 resumes after Week 5

September is coming to an end with the first month of games complete in college football. With the season now a third or so the way through and conference play fully starting in October, rankings and ratings are continuing to come out, including one from Danny Kanell.

Kanell shared his top-dozen resumés from this season so far on social media on Sunday. The SEC led the way with five selections along with each slot in the top-three. The Big Ten then had four, the ACC had two, and the Big 12 had one that, while unexpected, is deserved with what they’ve already done.

Here’s how the Top-12 looks for Kanell coming out of September:

1. Texas Longhorns

Despite losing their top rating in other rankings across the country, Texas remained at No. 1 for Kanell. That comes after their 35-13 win over Mississippi State in their debut in the SEC on Saturday.

The Longhorns still have one of the best wins of the year thus far while also handling a quarterback question well over the past three weeks. They’ll now take a week off before further proving themselves in conference play with the first edition of The Red River Rivalry as part of the Southeastern Conference.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Saturday was Alabama’s proving ground that everyone had circled coming into this fall. That stage and their performance lived up to that too with the Crimson Tide getting another win over Georgia by a final score of 41-34.

‘Bama has verified that they’re still among the very best in the country through four games under Kalen DeBoer. Now, the new No. 1 team in the AP Poll will have two more games before having another chance to certify themselves on Rocky Top.

3. Tennessee Volunteers

Speaking of Knoxville, Tennessee was at No. 3 despite having the week off on a bye. Still, they positioned themselves here with what they did over their four prior weekends.

The Volunteers are the highest-scoring team in the nation and are pairing that with a quality defense as well. They too now have a pair of matchups between them and what looks like it’ll be a top-five game, or top-three one based on this ranking, on The Third Saturday of October.

4. Miami Hurricanes

Miami almost cost themselves from being this high on the list with their conference opener on Friday.

The Hurricanes were down double digits three times, including at the start of the fourth quarter, to Virginia Tech. However, Cam Ward came through in time while they also were on the right side of a last-second call to win by four and remain undefeated going into the second month of their season.

5. Oregon Ducks

There were legitimate concerns about Oregon following their first two games. They’ve calmed some of that criticism, though, with their next pair in a rivalry game and their start to conference play to be the top team in the Big Ten for Kanell.

After struggling against Idaho and Boise State, the Ducks took a 35-point win over Oregon State and a 21-point win over UCLA this weekend. That has them rounding out the top-five with a weekday game this week between them and one of the biggest games for their league and of the entire fall the week after.

6. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State is coming off their best win of the season so far with a 21-7 victory over Illinois in a Top-20 matchup for homecoming.

The Nittany Lions have handled their business for the most part over their first four games. They now have eight more in conference play to further evidence why they should finally make it into the playoff field.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes

Despite being one of the highest-ranked teams in the country, Kanell doesn’t have Ohio State any higher than seventh with them being his third highest-rated team out of the Big Ten.

As for resumé, Kanell might have a case with the Buckeyes playing little to no competition before a 31-point win to open conference play yesterday. That’ll pick up over the next five weeks, though, with several quality opponents in the league, including both teams ranked higher than them here in the Ducks and the Nittany Lions.

8. Georgia Bulldogs

Someone had to lose the 41-34 classic between ‘Bama and Georgia. Unfortunately for the ‘Dawgs, it was them again but for the first time prior to the postseason with it being their first regular-season loss since 2020.

The Bulldogs likely find themselves this low with a so-so resumé through four games. Their blowout of Clemson in the opener looks much better now than it did then but their first two conference games have had their issues with a one-point win in Lexington and with what happened in Tuscaloosa. Still, they remain one of the best teams in the country with plenty of season left to go.

9. Clemson Tigers

Those Tigers are then a spot down from there at No. 9. Even so, as noted, they’ve been much different since their three-point outing and 31-point loss to start against Georgia.

In their three wins since, Clemson is averaging 55 ppg. with nearly 550 yards of offense per game with two of those being in against conference opponents. That has brought them back into the debate as an option to come out of the ACC.

10. Indiana Hoosiers

The next two are teams that you wouldn’t have expected to see on this kind of list coming into the year in September. By the end of it, though, they’ve each had their own great starts to the season – including Indiana first at No. 10 in their debut season under Curt Cignetti.

The Hoosiers are pouring on the point through their undefeated start, with two of those being in league play, at 48.8 ppg. and 42-plus in each of their last four. That’s put them into the Top-10 and as the fourth and final team from the Big Ten for Kanell.

11. BYU Cougars

The lone selection out of the Big 12 is…BYU? Yes, BYU as they’re in first place in the league at 5-0.

The Cougars are doing it on both sides of the ball with a win over SMU, a 29-point victory over a Top-15 opponent in Kansas State, and their latest win over Baylor. That has them in the lead in the conference for now with all the other expected contenders in it already having one or more loss during September.

12. Missouri Tigers

Missouri rounds out the Top-12 for Kanell coming out of their bye week.

The Tigers have had an undefeated yet indifferent start to the season with blowouts over two smaller teams but close calls against Boston College and Vanderbilt. Still, with their schedule, they’ll have enough wins to find themselves with one of the better resumés in their conference and in the country this fall.