Danny Kanell updates Top-12 in college football following Week 12

Following Week 12 in college football, Danny Kanell has updated his top-dozen with the regular season ending soon.

Two losses from a pair of teams that were previously in his top-five last week caused every team but the ones at No. 1 and No. 2 to move up a spot, if not two or three, in this update.

While the Big Ten and SEC each have four teams apiece in his rating, Kanell leans more to the Big Ten with each of his top-four spots going to the quartet at the top of the standings from that conference. The ACC then has a pair, the Big 12 now has zero, and one independent made the list. A Group of Five team also made it in the final spot – but not the one that you might think it may be.

With that, here’s how Kanell ranks the best in the sport per his tweet of them earlier this morning:

1. Oregon Ducks

Kanell, along with other rankings across college football, about had to have a new team at No. 1. That was after Oregon almost suffered their first loss of the season in what ended in a 16-13 victory on the road in Madison.

Wisconsin led the Ducks by seven late in the fourth quarter last night at Camp Randall. However, Oregon scored 10 unanswered in the final frame to escape with a three-point win to remain undefeated at 10-0, maintain their standing as the top team in the nation, and all but basically clinch their spot in the Big Ten Championship.

2. Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana (10-0) remained at No. 2 for Kanell despite having their second bye week this weekend.

Big news still came out of Bloomington on Saturday, though, with Curt Cignetti signing an eight-year extension to stay at IU. He’ll now lead the Hoosiers into The Shoe in their next game for a top-five matchup at Ohio State that’ll have implications for the Big Ten Championship and CFP.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (+1)

Ohio State (9-1) moved into the top-three after a 31-7 win over Northwestern yesterday at Wrigley Field.

After being shutout in the first quarter and down a touchdown early in the second, the Buckeyes scored the 31 unanswered, including 28 of those in less than a 10-minute span with two apiece for Quinshon Judkins and Carnell Tate. This now sets up that top-five matchup in Columbus next weekend between them and Indiana.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (+2)

Penn State jumped two spots into the top-five and is the last of four teams to open the ranking from out of the Big Ten.

The Nittany Lions did so after a 49-10 win at Purdue to move to a record of 9-1. That has them in position to, despite that one loss to Ohio State, finish at 11-1, possibly make the Big Ten Championship, and at least be an at-large in the CFP.

5. Texas Longhorns (+2)

Texas rounded out the top-five following a 20-10 win yesterday in a rivalry game at Arkansas.

The ‘Hogs made it interesting by making it just a field goal-margin in the fourth quarter. Still, the Longhorns scored again, forced a fumble, and closed out the clock in order to move to 9-1 and earn a tie for the top spot in the standings in the Southeastern Conference.

6. SMU Mustangs (+2)

SMU (9-1) also shifted up two spots as the top team in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Kanell. They did so by remaining undefeated in conference play with a 38-28 win over Boston College.

The Eagles, even in a 10-point loss, gave them a game yesterday by keeping it within reach for the entire afternoon. Still, the Mustangs went on to win their seventh consecutive, six of those being in their league, with two games left between them and a spot in the ACC Championship, if not the playoff, in their debut season as part of it.

7. Miami Hurricanes (+3)

Although being idle this last week and coming off of their first loss of the season, Miami (9-1) actually moved the most of anyone this week as they’re up three spots for Kanell.

The ‘U lost by five at Georgia Tech in the last game that we saw them in a week ago. Still, with other outcomes affecting them within the conference, the Hurricanes have two more games to still position themselves for a spot in the ACC Championship and CFP as well.

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+1)

Notre Dame (9-1) won their eighth straight game yesterday with a 35-14 win over Virginia.

Over those eight games, seven of which have come against power conference or ranked opponents, the Fighting Irish have won by an average margin of 32.3 with both units being amongst the best in scoring in the nation. That has helped to make up for one of the worst losses of the entire season with two games left between them and being in the playoff.

9. Ole Miss Rebels (+2)

Ole Miss (8-2) is at No. 9, which is second in the SEC now for Kanell, after moving up two spots over their bye week.

The Rebels saved their season after an 18-point upset win over Georgia last weekend. That has put them back in the playoff picture with a pair of conference matchups left to determine if they can get into the field as an at-large.

10. Alabama Crimson Tide (+2)

Although an obvious win at 52-7 over Mercer, Alabama (8-2) did still trend up two spots for Kanell.

The Crimson Tide have looked more like the top team that we saw in their first four games during their last three as compared to the one that we saw through their other three games in October. That is the difference in them being back in the mix for the conference championship or at least an at-large spot in the playoff field.

11. Georgia Bulldogs (Prev. Unranked)

Georgia (8-2) saved their own season with a 31-17 win in a Top-12 matchup against Tennessee on Saturday.

The Bulldogs answered the bell again, especially with Carson Beck having his best game of the season and the ‘Dawg defense posting a second-half shutout, in a must-have situation in Athens. That also has them back in the conference and playoff mix amongst several teams now in the SEC.

12. Tulane Green Wave (Prev. Unranked)

Tulane, at 9-2 out of the American, is at No. 12 in the ranking for Kanell.

After losing to Top-20 opponents in Kansas State and at Oklahoma, the Green Wave have won eight straight, including a 35-0 shutout yesterday over Navy, by an average of 28.5 points. That has them, in their debut season under Jon Sumrall, as one of the team that would be next-up as the potential No. 12 seed in the CFP as a conference champion from out of the Group of Five.