College football's Week 1 delivered drama, upsets, and a whole lot of controversy—and Danny Kanell is adding fuel to the fire. The former ESPN analyst dropped his latest Top 12 rankings, and let's just say, they're not exactly conventional.
Kanell's list, released after the opening weekend, puts LSU at No. 1, followed by Ole Miss, Miami, USC, and Notre Dame. But the real shocker? Georgia, the reigning national champion, lands at No. 12. Yes, you read that right—the Bulldogs, who many still consider the team to beat, are barely hanging on in Kanell's eyes.
So what's the logic? Kanell made it clear: he's not looking at preseason hype or past reputations. "I don't care what you were ranked before the weekend. Or the preseason. Who has been the best on the field. Against the best. Pure and simple," he tweeted. In other words, it's all about what you've done lately, and for Kanell, that means rewarding teams that impressed in Week 1.
And Week 1 had plenty of standout performances. Ole Miss rolled over Louisville, LSU dominated Clemson, and Oregon edged out Boise State in a nail-biter. But the most talked-about game was Michigan's controversial win over Western Michigan, which has sparked calls for outside intervention and even demands for a presidential overturn. The Big Ten, however, has upheld the outcome, citing replay evidence.
But Kanell's list isn't just about the top teams—it's about the omissions and surprises. Indiana at No. 6? Auburn at No. 8? Those are bold calls, especially with teams like Texas and Alabama lurking lower. And where's Ohio State? They're at No. 9, which might be generous given their shaky start.
Unsurprisingly, college football fans had a lot to say. One fan tweeted, "This list makes 0 sense. You play who is on your schedule. It determined if it was just a practice game or against a legitimate opponent." Another added, "Clemson almost got Dabo fired last season. Not sure why they are being viewed as the hardest game. Wisconsin or Boise State and even Central Michigan (last season MAC champions) seemed like better coached teams."
The criticism didn't stop there. "Danny, you must admit USC has played two bad football teams and not that impressively," one fan wrote. Another chimed in, "So apparently playing Fresno State and San Jose State is playing the best now. What are we even doing?" Even AP's Ralph D. Russo weighed in, acknowledging the vision but noting the pitfalls: "Appreciate this sentiment but problem is you end up tying yourself in knots for a couple weeks about the quality of some of these teams using maybe a dozen competitive games as a sample size."
Kanell's rankings are a stark departure from the traditional polls, which will be released Tuesday morning. But for now, his Top 12 is the talk of the college football world—and not everyone is a fan.
Whether you agree or not, Kanell's list has sparked a much-needed debate about what really matters in early-season rankings. Is it about beating the best, or just beating anyone? For Kanell, it's clearly the former. And that's exactly why his list is so controversial.
