Welcome to the 2018 BSL Deified Dozen rankings. Each week during the season our panel of experts will rank the Top 12 teams in college football. Members of our panel include: CT Schwink, Rob Shields, Mike Lowe, Zack Kiesel, Brian (Pedro Cerrano) McGuire, Chris (Ricker Says) Ricker, Steve Birrer, Mike Randall and Chris Garman.
Week 12 of the college football season featured an upset among the Deified Dozen, a near upset, and a newcomer drop out and replaced by a familiar face. West Virginia was the upset victim losing at Oklahoma State, but they still held on the the last spot in our rankings. Ohio State needed a failed 2-pt conversion in OT to preserve a comeback and narrowly escape Maryland with a victory. But a subpar showing, thanks largely due to a porous defense, cost them votes among our panel. And finally Syracuse had a very short stay as they were manhandled by #3 Notre Dame, and as a result the Orange were replaced by Texas, who knocked off a ranked Iowa State squad.
Week 13 is Rivalry Week, as the regular season comes to a close. Surprisingly there are relatively few spots up for grabs in conference Championship Week games, but there are a couple big matchups that will almost certainly impact both our rankings and the Playoff picture. First, #5 Michigan travels to #10 Ohio State to play for the Big Ten East title. While Michigan is only #5 in the Deified Dozen, they sit at #4 in the CFP rankings, and if they win out should make the Playoff if everything else holds to form. Ohio State, if they beat Michigan and then Northwestern, will likely need some help to move up from #10 (the CFP committee agrees with us on the Buckeyes ranking).
The other major matchup features #6 Oklahoma traveling to #12 West Virginia. Even with a win this week and then in the Big 12 Championship Game, the Sooners probably need a little help to make the Playoff. West Virginia probably has no shot, but can still win the conference title and spoil Oklahoma’s season. Texas still figure into the mix for the CCG as well.
Finally, #7 Washington State plays Washington (ranked #16 in the major polls) in the Apple Cup. The Cougars probably have the least chance of any of the aforementioned teams to move up into a Playoff spot, but a 12-1 season and trip to Pasadena on New Years Day would still culminate a very nice season for Mike Leach & Co.
You can join in the 2018 Deified Dozen discussion here.
College Football Analyst
Mike is a Baltimore native living in Portland, OR since 2007. He currently runs his own business specializing in video production and online marketing. Prior to that he was a legal technology consultant, worked for 9 years at Johns Hopkins University and served 6 years in the Air Force. He also enjoys travel, food, beer, and is a volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society.