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Week 13 College Football Rankings, No. 1-128: Where’s Michigan State?
The college football rankings are now all about who the best teams really are. Where's Michigan State now? What happens to Ohio State?
November 22, 2015
FBS college football rankings for Week 13 of the 2015 season.
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In a few weeks the pretentiously scientific formula will come out with the college football rankings based on which teams had the best seasons – blowing off belief systems and thoughts for proof of what actually happened. For now, though, how do you possibly take into account three months of games and put it all into proper perspective?
How do you balance the resumes with how good the teams actually look? How do you put the puzzle together?
Whatever – just take it all into account and make the best call possible.
The head-to-head moments count where needed, but it’s as simple as this – here’s how good each team appears to be right now.
Top 25 College Football Rankings
1. Alabama (10-1)
Mock Nick Saban’s ornery press conference all you want, and make fun of the idea of playing Charleston Southern this late in the year, but that’s one of the best teams in the FCS Alabama just ripped apart 56-6. While other SEC teams struggled to survive their easy weeks – and South Carolina didn’t – the Crimson Tide took care of business.
2. Clemson (11-0)
Here’s the problem – it’s not like anyone else other than Alabama is setting the world on fire. Clemson has managed to get through a miserable ACC schedule without a hiccup, and that Notre Dame win still looks good, even if it was 19 years ago. No go out and rip apart a horrible South Carolina team 55-3.
3. Oklahoma (10-1)
It’s not time to punish the Sooners for almost completely collapsing – but they probably should be lower after gacking away the second half to TCU. It took a batted play on a two point conversion to survive against a third-string quarterback and a team that struggled against Kansas, but the Sooners still look the part when all the parts are there. Now Baker Mayfield needs to come back.
4. Baylor (9-1)
For all the talk about Baylor’s weak and sad non-conference schedule, and the lack of a really good win, there you go. The Bears were down to their third-string quarterback on the road against an undefeated and fully-functional Oklahoma State, and they got the win. Beat TCU, beat Texas, and there’s a chance they could deserve consideration for a No. 4 spot in the playoff.
5. Michigan State (10-1)
6. Notre Dame (10-1)
Boston College sucks at playing college football this year, and Notre Dame won 19-16 because it couldn’t stop giving away chances to keep the game in Fenway interesting. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Notre Dame beat Texas, but that was in the opener before all the injuries hit. This is still a strong team in a down year for elite playoff-worthy squads, but you don’t do that against BC. All will be forgiven with a win against a well-motivated Stanford on the road.
7. Ohio State (10-1)
Why is it that it seems like Ohio State is still a powder keg waiting to blow up? The Buckeye coaches went so conservative against Michigan State they made Ted Cruz look like Bernie Sanders, but there’s way, way, way too much talent for this team not to be better. Or maybe Michigan State just exposed the Buckeyes for being mediocre. The Michigan game might be the true indicator.
8. Oregon (8-3)
This isn’t the team that lost to Utah 62-20 back in late September, and it’s not even the team that lost at home to Washington State in mid-October. On a five-game winning streak with impressive wins at Stanford and a 48-28 destruction of USC, this is now the Team No One Wants To Face. But at 8-3, no one will face it but Oregon State.
9. Iowa (11-0)
It doesn’t matter who believes in you, Iowa. Get by a rested Nebraska that desperately needs the home win to go bowling and save the season, beat whatever comes out of the East, and go to the playoff. You’re one of two unbeatens left – nothing else matters, including the fact that only three of the 11 wins so far came against teams likely to go to a bowl game.
10. Oklahoma State (10-1)
The Cowboys were outplayed at home by Baylor, but a win over Oklahoma would erase just about everything else – almost. The close calls against Iowa State, West Virginia Kansas State and Texas are still a problem.
11. Florida (10-1)
This is a freaking gift – the 38-10 win over Ole Miss still matters. Now, that loss at LSU isn’t nearly as forgivable, and yes, Will Grier apparently was that good. Considering South Carolina lost to Citadel, and Florida Atlantic is 2-9 on the year, the Gators should probably be hovering around the low 20s.
12. Ole Miss (8-3)
Don’t sleep on the Rebels. They’re a fluky finish against Arkansas away from being rip-roaring hot. Okay, so maybe very warm, but they’re playing well and they’re still in the hunt for the SEC title. They only have four wins over teams going bowling – but that one over Alabama still matters.
13. Michigan (9-2)
The Wolverines are doing just fine. They might have needed a little bit of good fortune and clutch play to survive Minnesota and Indiana, but beating Penn State by 12 on the road is a nice measuring-stick win. They could move into a possible New Year’s Six bowl slot with a win over Ohio State.
14. Northwestern (9-2)
At this point in the year, it doesn’t matter if Wisconsin got hosed, or if it took too much of a fight to get by Purdue, or if the last four wins were all by seven points or fewer. Some teams just find ways to come out alive, and Northwestern has turned into the ultimate survivor.
15. Stanford (9-2)
Sorry … it’s not really fair at this point to keep punishing Stanford for the opening day loss to Northwestern considering it’s going to win the Pac-12 title, but this is punishment for losing to Northwestern on opening day. Would the Cardinal win in a rematch? Probably, but it lost 16-6. Stanford, beat Notre Dame and the massive jump will come.
16. North Carolina (10-1)
When your three best wins are Duke, Miami, and Virginia Tech, there’s a problem. Good team, favorable schedule, fun offense with a clutch quarterback, improved defense. The Tar Heels are in the ACC title game with a chance to knock off Clemson. At this point, it doesn’t matter how they got there.
17. Washington State (8-3)
Losing quarterback Luke Falk was scary, but the team got the win against Colorado, anyway. Wazzu has won six of its last seven with the one loss coming on a missed field goal against Stanford. Even without Falk, the team is red-hot.
18. TCU (9-2)
The horrible performance against Kansas and the great second half against Oklahoma sort of cancel each other out, but the Horned Frogs – injury-riddled or not – had to beat Baylor to stop the nosedive.
19. Mississippi State (8-3)
That was a lot of fun. Dak Prescott’s huge game to get by Arkansas 51-50 on the road was the key moment in the season so far. Winners of five of their last six games – with the one loss coming to Alabama – the Bulldogs can make a true statement by closing out with a win over Ole Miss.
20. Arkansas (6-5)
Oh who cares that the Hogs have five losses. Find a team that plays more fun games than these guys do. The lose to Mississippi State, they beat Ole Miss. They whack around LSU on the road, they lose to Texas Tech at home. They’re must-see no matter what – except, maybe, against Missouri’s bad offense next week.
21. Tennessee (7-4)
Think about it this way. Tennessee’s four losses? Oklahoma, Florida (with Will Grier), Arkansas, at Alabama – that’s not bad. However, beating Kentucky, South Carolina, North Texas and Missouri since losing in Tuscaloosa – that’s not good. Bowling Green and Georgia are the only two wins over likely bowl teams.
22. Navy (9-1)
This is actually turning into one of the best stories of the college football season. Army is a win against Houston away from playing for the American Athletic championship. The Midshipmen aren’t just winning; they’re destroying teams ever since the loss to Notre Dame. Try this out – all nine wins so far this year are by double-digits including a 33-11 win over an Air Force team playing for the Mountain West title.
23. Wisconsin (8-3)
Here’s the insane part about Wisconsin’s season – it’s about two plays away from being 10-1 on the way to the Big Ten championship with a playoff shot. This isn’t remotely close to being one of the four best teams in college football, and shoulda, coulda, woulda doesn’t count – especially when you turn the ball over five times and finish with -26 rushing yards – but it’s still a mystery how the Badgers lost to Northwestern.
24. LSU (7-3)
Way to show up for your embattled coach and school, LSU. There was a comeback, but 38-17 against Ole Miss is a thousand miles from where the team was at three weeks ago.
25. West Virginia (6-4)
It’s hard to get any love as the No. 5 team in the Big 12, but they took apart Kansas and they’re going bowling. Beat Iowa State, ruin Kansas State’s year, and all of a sudden, 8-4 will look pretty sweet.
No. 26-128 College Football Rankings
26. UCLA (8-3)
27. Texas A&M (8-3)
28. Houston (10-1)
29. USC (7-4)
30. Memphis (8-3)
31. Texas Tech (6-5)
32. Bowling Green (8-3)
33. Georgia (8-3)
34. Utah (8-3)
35. Arizona State (6-5)
36. Arizona (6-6)
37. Florida State (9-2)
38. Pitt (8-3)
39. Northern Illinois (8-3)
40. Toledo (9-1)
41. South Florida (7-4)
42. California (6-5)
43. Temple (9-2)
44. Auburn (6-5)
45. Washington (5-6)
46. Penn State (7-4)
47. Nebraska (5-6)
48. Minnesota (5-6)
49. Illinois (5-6)
50. San Diego State (8-3)
51. Cincinnati (6-5)
52. Louisville (6-5)
53. Miami (7-4)
54. Vanderbilt (4-7)
55. Kentucky (5-6)
56. Missouri (5-6)
57. BYU (8-3)
58. Indiana (5-6)
59. WKU (9-2)
60. Virginia (4-7)
61. Connecticut (6-5)
62. Duke (6-5)
63. Texas (4-6)
64. Kansas State (4-6)
65. Virginia Tech (5-6)
66. NC State (7-4)
67. Air Force (8-3)
68. Iowa State (3-8)
69. Georgia Tech (3-8)
70. Marshall (9-2)
71. Purdue (2-9)
72. Rutgers (4-7)
73. Louisiana Tech (8-3)
74. Colorado State (6-5)
75. Nevada (6-5)
76. Middle Tennessee (6-5)
77. Tulsa (5-6)
78. New Mexico (6-5)
79. Utah State (6-5)
80. Boise State (7-4)
81. Arkansas State (7-3)
82. Appalachian State (8-2)
83. Georgia Southern (7-3)
84. Western Michigan (6-5)
85. Syracuse (3-8)
86. Maryland (2-9)
87. Wake Forest (3-8)
88. East Carolina (5-6)
89. Boston College (3-8)
90. Central Michigan (6-5)
91. Colorado (4-8)
92. South Carolina (3-8)
93. Oregon State (2-9)
94. San Jose State (5-6)
95. Southern Miss (8-3)
96. UNLV (3-8)
97. Fresno State (3-8)
98. Akron (6-5)
99. Buffalo (5-6)
100. Ohio (7-4)
101. FIU (5-7)
102. South Alabama (5-5)
103. Kent State (3-8)
104. Old Dominion (4-6)
105. Kansas (0-11)
106. Hawaii (2-10)
107. UTEP (4-7)
108. UTSA (3-8)
109. Rice (4-7)
110. Army West Point (2-9)
111. Florida Atlantic (2-9)
112. SMU (2-9)
113. Tulane (3-8)
114. Charlotte (2-9)
115. Ball State (3-8)
116. Miami University (3-9)
117. Massachusetts (2-9)
118. Troy (3-7)
119. New Mexico State (3-7)
120. Georgia State (4-6)
121. Texas State (3-7)
122. Louisiana-Lafayette (4-6)
123. Idaho (3-8)
124. UCF (0-11)
125. North Texas (1-10)
126. Eastern Michigan (1-10)
127. Wyoming (1-10)
128. ULM (1-10)
