College Football Rankings: Danny Kanell releases penultimate top 12 of regular season after Week 13

One week of college football remains following a pivotal Week 13 slate. In turn, Danny Kanell has updated his top 12 rankings.

The top of Kanell’s list has not changed, with Ohio State occupying his top spot for another week. Notably, there was little movement across the board within Kanell’s top 12. The biggest shake up was Texas Tech and Ole Miss swapping spots from last week

Georgia Tech dropped out of his list entirely after losing to unranked Pitt during Week 13. Who replaced them? See Kanell’s full top 12 below ahead of the final week of the 2025 regular season:

1. Ohio State (-)

Ohio State is 11-0 with one more road block before the postseason: a road trip to Ann Arbor. It’s been well-documented that Michigan has defeated the Buckeyes for four-straight years. Ohio State doesn’t need to be told that, though.

The last time Ohio State lost a football game was to the Wolverines last season. They went on to capture the national championship later in the year and have remained undefeated all year long in 2025.

2. Indiana (-)

Indiana did not play during Week 13. However, they’ll enter the final week of the regular season, like Ohio State, with an 11-0 record.

Wins this coming Saturday for both teams would line Ohio State and Indiana up for a meeting in the Big Ten title game. The winner of that matchup will likely be the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff. Indiana has to get through Purdue on Saturday first.

3. Texas A&M (-)

Texas A&M dominated Samford 48-0 on Saturday during a week where there wasn’t much major competition atop the SEC. The win improved the Aggies to 11-0 on the season as a result.

However, Texas A&M will have to hit the road to play Texas in Austin for the first time since 2010 if it wants to finish the regular season with an undefeated record. A win solidifies the Aggies’ spot in the SEC championship game.

4. Georgia (-)

Georgia was another SEC team that scheduled a non-power conference opponent for Week 13. Defeating Charlotte 35-3, the Bulldogs will now turn their attention toward in-state rival Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets were ranked as high as No. 7 this season but has lost two of its last three games. Georgia might be playing its rival at the best possible time given the latest results.

5. Oregon (-)

Oregon coach Dan Lanning said himself that the Ducks didn’t play a Group of Six team during Week 13. He believes the CFP committee should reward Oregon, and the Big Ten as a whole, for its nine-game conference schedule.

Defeating No. 15 USC 42-27 at home, Oregon is now 10-1 with its only loss coming to Indiana in early October. The matchup at Washington in Week 14 looms, but a win during that matchup likely solidifies Oregon’s spot in the playoffs.

6. Texas Tech (+1)

Texas Tech enjoyed its by week after blowing out UCF at home 48-9 during their last matchup. In the last two games, the Red Raiders have outscored their competition 77-16 and have compiled over 850 yards of total offense during that span.

The Red Raiders improved to 10-1 on the year after the UCF win, Texas Tech’s first 10-win season since 2008. The program has never won less than eight games in a season under fifth-year head coach Joey McGuire.

7. Ole Miss (-1)

Ole Miss has a lot to play for over the next week, and a lot more to lose. While the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes take place behind the scenes, on the surface the Rebels are preparing for the Egg Bowl vs. Mississippi State on Friday.

By this time next week, all those questions will have been answered: where Kiffin will coach and if Ole Miss is in the College Football Playoff.

8. Oklahoma (-)

Oklahoma has played four ranked SEC teams in a row and is 3-1 over that span, including having won its last three games. That includes wins at Tennessee, at Alabama and vs. Missouri.

That may be the most impressive three-week stretch of any CFP contender at the moment, so it’s hard to leave the Sooners out of the field. Still, OU has two losses this season, including one to a three-loss Texas team.

9. Alabama (-)

Alabama took a step back this week to regroup form its 23-21 loss to Oklahoma at home during Week 12. The Crimson Tide eventually took their frustrations out on E Illinois, defeating the program 56-0 in a matchup that saw Alabama’s offense out-gain EIU 539-34.

That sets up an all-important Iron Bowl for Alabama and Auburn. Alabama’s playoff hopes are at stake, while Auburn can qualify for a bowl game by knocking off the Crimson Tide.

10. Miami (-)

With Georgia Tech’s loss, Miami automatically becomes the ACC’s best shot at getting in the CFP. Defeating Virginia Tech 34-17 during Week 13, the Hurricanes improved to 9-2 overall this season as a result.

Miami will match up against Pitt — the team that beat the Yellow Jackets — during the regular season finale. This matchup will also likely determine Miami’s postseason fate.

11. Notre Dame (-)

Notre Dame’s statement 70-7 win over Syracuse was the Irish’s ninth in a row after beginning the season 0-2. They’ll face a 4-7 Stanford team next week to try and improve to 10-2 — which would solidify their spot in the CFP.

The Irish’s slot in the last CFP rankings has been the subject of much debate, however. Notre Dame was ranked several spots ahead of Miami despite the ‘Canes owning a head-to-head win over the Irish. Kanell appears to honor Miami’s win in his rankings.

12. BYU (NR)

BYU replaces Georgia Tech as the No. 12 team in Kanell’s rankings this week. The Cougars defeated Cincinnati on the road 26-14 to improve to 10-1 on the season.

Their lone blemish on the season was a 29-7 road loss to Texas Tech, and if the season ended today the two teams would meet in the Big 12 championship game. It doesn’t, however, and the Cougars will have to hold off a UCF team at home during Week 14 that is one game away from bowl eligibility.