Joel Klatt releases updated Top-10 rankings following Week 13

Following a wild Week 13 that saw seven Top 20 college football teams go down, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt unveiled his personal Top 10 rankings on Sunday morning.

Much like the AP and Coaches polls, Klatt’s new Top 10 didn’t change much at the top, with undefeated Oregon, Ohio State and Texas holding it down at 1-2-3, respectively. But with the Buckeyes’ convincing win over previously-undefeated Indiana, and Top 10 upsets to Alabama and Ole Miss, Klatt revealed major movement beyond the Top 3.

Check out Klatt’s full Top-10 below:

1. Oregon Ducks (11-0)

Klatt kept college football’s only remaining undefeated team atop his personal Top 10 even with the Ducks idle in Week 13. It only seems right, especially given the head-to-head victory over Ohio State earlier this season.

But with the Ducks potentially facing a rematch with the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis, should Ohio State lock up a bid with a win in The Game on Saturday, all bets are off moving forward.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1)

If there was any question how talented the Buckeyes are, Ryan Day and company more than answered those questions with a complete and convincing 38-15 win over previously-undefeated Indiana on Saturday.

Ohio State hosts a struggling Michigan squad on Saturday and while a win isn’t necessary to clinch a Big Ten Championship game bid, it would go a long way to helping remove the monkey off Day’s back after three straight loses in the heated rivalry series.

3. Texas Longhorns (10-1)

While other SEC teams continue to suffer inexplicable loses, the Longhorns continue their reign atop the league standings in their first season apart of the conference. Of course, that journey faces its first legitimate test since a mid-season loss to Georgia when Texas travels to College Station for the first time in 13 years.

And don’t expect Texas A&M to be welcoming hosts, not in this rivalry. If the Longhorns are going to put the exclaimation point on their inaugural year in the SEC, they’ll need to do it in hostile territory, with the winner locking up a berth in the upcoming SEC championship game against those Bulldogs.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-1) +1

The Nittany Lions did just enough to leave Minneapolis with all-too-narrow 26-25 win over Minnesota. Because of that, Penn State remains a strong contender to secure a first-round home game in the College Football Playoff. There’s also an outside shot at the Big Ten championship game, but a lot of things would have to fall there way.

In the meantime, the Nittany Lions can rest easy knowing their road to the Playoff is secure so long as they close out the regular season with a home win against Maryland on Saturday.

5. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2) +1

Thanks to the aforementioned losses of Alabama and Ole Miss — the only two teams to beat Georgia this season — the Bulldogs locked up a SEC Championship Game berth.

After struggles to move the ball earlier this season, the UGA offense seems to finally be clicking after producing a combined 1,003 total yards the last two weeks. Georgia will need every bit of that firepower to ultimate win the SEC, whether its against Texas or Texas A&M.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) +4

If the Georgia offense is starting to click, the Fighting Irish are firing on all cylinders while averaging 457.25 total yards and 46.75 points per game over its last four games.

Wnners of nine straight, Notre Dame must still get past a struggling USC on the road. But, should that happen, the Fighting Irish look like a serious threat to do damage as a likely fifth seed in the upcoming the College Football Playoff.

7. Tennessee Volunteers (9-2) +2

The Volunteers reaped the rewards of facing a non-SEC team in Week 13, rocking UTEP 56-0 at home for a nice bounce-back effort following its disappointing 31-17 loss at Georgia two weeks ago.

With only in-state rival Vanderbilt left in the regular season, Tennessee remains in prime position to potentially host a first-round Playoff game without even having to play for the SEC Championship. That’s a win-win scenario given its last meeting vs. the Bulldogs.

8. Miami Hurricanes (10-1) +3

Much like the Vols, the Hurricanes responded well from its Week 12 setback inside the state of Georgia by rolling over Wake Forest 42-14 in Coral Gables.

Heisman Trophy-contending QB Cam Ward returned to form with 280 passing yards and three total touchdowns against the Demon Deacons, and will need an even better showing at Syracuse to lock up the other ACC championship game bid against SMU.

9. Indiana Hoosiers (10-1) -5

The Big Ten’s Cinderella lost her slipper Saturday when Ohio State stymied the Hoosiers’ once-consistent offense, limiting Indiana to a season-low 151 yards of total offense and just 2.56 yards per play.

After rolling through the first 9 weeks or the regular season, the Hoosiers have seemingly been exposed with less-than-impressive showings against Michigan and Ohio State. All’s not lost, of course, as Indiana could be the beneficiaries of the SEC cannablizing itself and still secure a College Football Playoff bid with a win against one-win rival Purdue in Week 14.

10. SMU Mustangs (10-1) NR

The Mustangs are the ACC’s version of The Little Engine That Could, continuing to surprise their new conference — as well as those around college football — by clinching a spot in the ACC championship game with a convincing 33-7 win over Virginia on Saturday.

It’s SMU’s eighth straight win, most coming with a double-digit advantage on the scoreboard. Whether or not that run will last against ACC stalwarts Clemson or Miami, whoever secures the other championship bid, remains to be seen, but Klatt clearly acknowledges the Mustangs are a team to be reckoned with.

Just missed out: Boise State Broncos (10-1), Clemson Tigers (9-2), Tulane Green Wave (9-2)