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Week 12 College Football Rankings, No. 1-128: OU To 2?
The college football rankings are now all about who the best teams really are. Here's where it gets truly fun.
November 15, 2015
Top 25 College Football Rankings
Follow, Contact @PeteFiutak | Facebook.com/PeteFiutakCI
Yes, it’s always a must to go by what actually happened on the field, but at this point in the year, it’s time to let go of some past issues.
It’s time to forgive North Carolina for a Week 1 gaffe against South Carolina that feels like it happened 12 years ago.
It’s time to blow off the Oklahoma loss to Texas – for now. The Sooners are playing far, far better.
The Washington State loss to Portland State? Memorex, along with the problems Arkansas had a few months ago, the Oregon early misfires, and some of the other key losses that shaped the season to this point.
While head-to-head moments count where needed, here’s how good each team appears to be right now.
1. Alabama (9-1)
Let’s cut out the silliness – the Ole Miss loss was a total fluke. The Crimson Tide turned it over five times, and it took one of the dumb-luckiest passes possible for the Rebels to take the game – and it STILL came down to the end. If you’re arguing for anyone else right now as the No. 1 team in college football, you’re not watching what’s going on. This is the most dominant team right now, and it’s not even close.
2. Oklahoma (9-1)
Alabama is playing better, but no team is hotter – if that possibly makes any sense. The Sooners cranked up 52+ points in four straight games, and then it got its statement win over Baylor. That Iowa State team that just gave Oklahoma State fits? OU 52-16. The Texas Tech team that’s going bowling? 63-27. Throw in the 20-point win over a better-than-you-think West Virginia, and the road win over Tennessee, and boom. There’s a good chance that the Sooners have already beaten seven bowl teams with TCU and Oklahoma State up next.
3. Ohio State (10-0)
Enough is enough, Ohio State. You might not be scintillating, and you might be sleepwalking through the miserable schedule, but you got what you wanted. You’re 10-0 going into the Michigan State/Michigan fun. Start being better at playing college football.
4. Clemson (10-0)
Clemson is very good, and it certainly looks like it could be anyone on the right day – except for Alabama at the moment – but it’s just not a be-all-end-all-No. 1. You don’t struggle that much with this Florida State team, and Syracuse, and Louisville. Yeah, yeah, the wins over the Fighting Irish and Seminoles will technically look h3 according to the CFP rankings, but the ACC schedule just plain sucks. Of course, it doesn’t matter – 13-0 means a playoff spot no matter what anyone thinks.
5. Notre Dame (9-1)
To be fair, it would’ve been fun to have seen what this team would’ve looked like had the injuries not kicked in, but as is this is still a h3 team. It’s hard to argue with the resume with wins over a Texas team that beat Oklahoma, a USC team that beat Utah, Navy, and Temple, but there isn’t one win over anyone but maybe USC who’ll be remotely close to competing for a Power Five conference title.
6. Baylor (8-1)
If Notre Dame is going to get the too-high ranking from the CFP committee for the loss at Clemson, then Baylor will get the same treatment for fighting hard against a red-hot and ultra-motivated Oklahoma team. Call this a holding pattern ranking until after the Oklahoma State game.
7. Oklahoma State (10-0)
Does TCU sort of stink or did Oklahoma State make TCU sort of stink? Iowa State might be a little better than everyone believes, and those wins over Texas Tech and TCU are impressive, but it’s time to do it again and beat Baylor. Do that, beat Oklahoma, and it’s off to the playoff.
8. Arkansas (6-4)
It’s okay … relax. We got it. We all know about Toledo, and Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. However, in October and November, the Hogs are 5-1 pushing Alabama hard in a loss, beating Tennessee in Knoxville, Auburn, Ole Miss in Oxford, and now destroying LSU in Death Valley. Even if you think the SEC is overrated, at the moment, good luck coming up with anyone with a better resume over the last six weeks.
9. Iowa (10-0)
Fiiiiiiiine. Iowa is struggling with mediocre teams like Minnesota and Indiana, but so is Michigan. The Northwestern win is terrific, but let’s be brutally honest – Wisconsin didn’t have Corey Clement. On the plus side, winning in two weeks at Nebraska now might be relatively impressive. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Beat the Big Ten East champion and go 13-0, and it’s off to the College Football Playoff.
10. LSU (7-2)
For now, let’s just assume that Arkansas was the Alabama hangover game. The Tigers were always slightly overloved – guilty as charged – for that win over Florida, but after the last two weeks, they really, really need to beat Ole Miss in Oxford.
11. Florida (9-1)
It’s not fair to punish a team for an injury, but this just isn’t the same team with Treon Harris under center. It’s fine – the Gators will roll past Florida Atlantic and they’ll slog by Florida State, and then they’ll play Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and it’ll all be over.
12. Ole Miss (7-3)
Call this the total guess ranking. While Arkansas has to be given credit for actually getting the win two weeks ago, Ole Miss shouldn’t be slammed too hard for losing like that. However, the double-digit losses to Memphis and Florida are still a problem, and while this isn’t Holly Holm to Alabama’s Ronda Rousey, it’s not far off.
13. North Carolina (9-1)
The ACC is bad, the loss to South Carolina is worse, and the best win of the season probably just happened against a Miami team without a head coach. Even so, the offense is absolutely killing it right now and the Gene Chizik defense is doing a nice job. Don’t be so sure that Clemson is going to roll to the ACC championship.
14. Wisconsin (8-2)
There are a few different ways to look at the Badgers. 1) In hindsight, they actually played Alabama tough. 2) The other loss was a mistake-prone gaffe against a still-unbeaten Iowa. 3) They should be h3er now after a week off. 4) If Corey Clement ever gets past his groin injury, and now his cut hand, he’s probably the second-best RB in the Big Ten behind Ezekiel Elliott. 5) It’s prove-it time against Northwestern.
15. Michigan State (9-1)
Michigan State, beat Ohio State. It’s time to stop thinking this team is something it’s just not. However, one win over the Buckeyes, and boom – game back on.
16. Michigan (8-2)
Good teams find a way to get the job done on the road, but the Wolverines were a knee away from losing to Minnesota and a play away from gacking to Indiana for the first time since 1987. Yeah, yeah, yeah, ifs and buts – be careful against a rested Penn State on the road, though.
17. Northwestern (8-2)
Too … many … conflicting … beliefs. The team just isn’t that great, but it isn’t that great and it wins. It took too much to beat Purdue at home, but the Stanford win still matters because it’s indicative of what this team is – it’s not pretty, but it gets the job done. Beat Wisconsin in Madison and it doesn’t matter how the sausage is being made.
18. Washington State (7-3)
This is probably too low – like about five spots too low. The Cougars are 5-1 in their last six games and that one loss came on a missed field goal against Stanford. The gut-check win over UCLA was truly impressive for a team that’s supposed to be built on finesse. Winning at UCLA is good no matter what.
19. Oregon (7-3)
This is a far different team with a healthy Vernon Adams, but the loss at home to Washington State was only a month ago and there’s still that loss to Michigan State – otherwise, this might be one of the ten best teams going right now. Beat USC, and then this really will be the Pac-12’s hottest team.
20. Stanford (8-2)
The Cardinal survived Wazzu on a missed field goal, and it lost to Oregon on a missed two-point conversion. Call it a push.
21. Houston (10-0)
It took a tremendous comeback with a backup quarterback, but the Cougars got it done against Memphis. The 34-0 win over Vanderbilt was sort of a throwaway three weeks ago, but now it looks terrific. At this point in the year, 10-0 is impressive no matter what, but don’t sleep on next week’s road trip against a rested UConn.
22. TCU (9-1)
Injured Heisman-caliber quarterback or not, the first rule of Big 12 football is you do not beat Kansas by just six points. The second rule of Big 12 football? YOU DO NOT BEAT KANSAS BY JUST SIX POINTS. However, a win over Oklahoma next week on the road means a rocket shot right back into the top ten, possibly top five.
23. Navy (8-1)
The win over Memphis two weeks ago is more impressive than it’s probably being given credit for, and the 29-17 win over South Florida on Halloween is now looking a bit better. Throw in the win over Air Force, and the resume isn’t awful. It’s just not special. Beat Houston in two weeks on the road, and then everything changes.
24. West Virginia (5-4)
This really has been a good team, but it suffered from road trips to Oklahoma, Baylor and TCU along with the home date against Oklahoma State. Wins over Texas Tech and Texas have confirmed that this is the fifth-best team in the Big 12 – that’s not that bad.
25. Mississippi State (7-3)
There’s just nothing to really fight for in terms of good wins. Losing by a missed kick to LSU, and losing at Texas A&M – back when the Aggies had their mojo – and losing to Alabama is fine but the best win is over … Auburn? It’s a good team with a great quarterback. Call this a gift ranking until after the road trip to Arkansas.
No. 26-128 College Football Rankings
26. USC (7-3)
27. Memphis (8-2)
28. Texas Tech (6-5)
29. Texas A&M (7-3)
30. Tennessee (6-4)
31. Bowling Green (8-2)
32. Georgia (7-3)
33. Utah (8-2)
34. Arizona State (5-5)
35. UCLA (7-3)
36. Arizona (6-5)
37. Florida State (8-2)
38. Northern Illinois (7-3)
39. Toledo (8-1)
40. South Florida (6-4)
41. California (6-4)
42. Temple (8-2)
43. Auburn (5-5)
44. Louisville (6-4)
45. Washington (4-6)
46. Penn State (7-3)
47. Illinois (5-5)
48. Nebraska (5-6)
49. San Diego State (7-3)
50. Cincinnati (6-4)
51. South Carolina (3-7)
52. Pitt (7-3)
53. Miami (6-4)
54. Duke (6-4)
55. Minnesota (4-6)
56. Vanderbilt (4-6)
57. Kentucky (4-6)
58. Missouri (5-4)
59. BYU (7-3)
60. Virginia (3-7)
61. Iowa State (3-7)
62. Texas (4-6)
63. Kansas State (3-6)
64. Virginia Tech (5-5)
65. NC State (5-4)
66. Indiana (4-6)
67. Georgia Tech (3-7)
68. Marshall (9-2)
69. Purdue (2-8)
70. Rutgers (3-7)
71. WKU (8-2)
72. Air Force (7-3)
73. Louisiana Tech (7-3)
74. Nevada (6-4)
75. Middle Tennessee (5-5)
76. Tulsa (5-5)
77. New Mexico (6-4)
78. Utah State (5-5)
79. Boise State (7-3)
80. Arkansas State (7-3)
81. Appalachian State (8-2)
82. Georgia Southern (7-2)
83. Western Michigan (6-4)
84. Syracuse (3-7)
85. Maryland (2-8)
86. Wake Forest (3-7)
87. Connecticut (5-5)
88. East Carolina (4-6)
89. Boston College (3-7)
90. Central Michigan (5-5)
91. Colorado (4-7)
92. Colorado State (5-5)
93. Oregon State (2-8)
94. San Jose State (4-6)
95. UNLV (3-7)
96. Fresno State (3-7)
97. Buffalo (5-5)
98. Ohio (6-4)
99. Southern Miss (7-3)
100. FIU (5-6)
101. Akron (5-5)
102. South Alabama (5-4)
103. Kent State (3-7)
104. Old Dominion (4-5)
105. Kansas (0-9)
106. Hawaii (2-9)
107. UTEP (4-6)
108. Tulane (3-7)
109. Rice (4-6)
110. Army West Point (2-8)
111. Florida Atlantic (2-8)
112. SMU (1-9)
113. UTSA (2-8)
114. Charlotte (2-8)
115. Louisiana-Lafayette (4-5)
116. Georgia State (3-6)
117. Texas State (2-7)
118. Ball State (3-7)
119. Miami University (2-8)
120. Massachusetts (2-8)
121. Troy (3-7)
122. New Mexico State (2-7)
123. Idaho (3-7)
124. UCF (0-10)
125. North Texas (1-9)
126. Eastern Michigan (1-10)
127. Wyoming (1-10)
128. ULM (1-9)
