NCAA football re-rank: Our list from 1-124

The 1-124 re-ranking goes swimmingly through the top four, hits a slight bump at No. 5, encounters another hitch around No. 7 and then runs off the rails around No. 12. Is a two-loss South Carolina team deserving of a higher ranking than a one-loss Boise State team? These thoughts continue until Massachusetts tops the list at No. 124 – but not without a stiff challenge from Southern Mississippi.

Undefeated teams dropped off the radar every Saturday in October. Heading into the month, there were 23 undefeated teams in the FBS. Leaving the month, there are only six still standing: Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Louisville.

And what about Louisville? The Cardinals moved to 8-0 after Cincinnati's offensive line and quarterback fell apart in the fourth quarter of last Friday's loss. What if Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame lose a game in November – could Louisville be ranked No. 2 heading into the postseason?

That the Cardinals are in the national championship picture is a testament to the work done by Charlie Strong, the team's third-year head coach, not to mention a testament to the unpredictable nature of the 2012 season.

A 4-4 team, Washington, has taken out a pair of BCS hopefuls in Oregon State and Stanford. Kent State, Tulsa and Toledo are a combined 22-3. Auburn, California and Virginia are a combined 6-19.

Southern Mississippi went 12-2 in 2011, setting a new program record for wins in a season and bringing home the Conference USA championship. One year later, the Golden Eagles are 0-8. It's been that kind of season.

1. Alabama (8-0, 5-0)
2. Oregon (8-0, 5-0)
3. Kansas State (8-0, 5-0)
4. Notre Dame (8-0, 0-0)
5. Georgia (7-1, 5-1) – UP 8
6. Ohio State (9-0, 5-0)
7. Florida (7-1, 6-1)
8. LSU (7-1, 3-1)
9. Florida State (8-1, 5-1)
10. Clemson (7-1, 4-1)
11. Louisville (8-0, 3-0)
12. South Carolina (7-2, 5-2)
13. Boise State (7-1, 4-0)
14. Oregon State (6-1, 4-1) – DOWN 7
15. Mississippi State (7-1, 3-1)
16. Oklahoma (5-2, 3-1)
17. Stanford (6-2, 4-1)
18. Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2)
19. Louisiana Tech (7-1, 2-0)
20. Southern California (6-2, 4-2)
21. Toledo (8-1, 5-0)
22. Nebraska (6-2, 3-1) – UP 11
23. Arizona (5-3, 2-3) – UP 18
24. Texas Tech (6-2, 2-2)
25. UCLA (6-2, 3-2) – UP 13

26. West Virginia (5-2, 2-2)
27. Oklahoma State (5-2, 3-1) – UP 12
28. Tulsa (7-1, 5-0)
29. Kent State (7-1, 4-0) – UP 16
30. Texas (6-2, 3-2)
31. Northwestern (7-2, 3-2)
32. Michigan (5-3, 3-1) – DOWN 11
33. Utah State (7-2, 3-0)
34. Rutgers (7-1, 4-0) – DOWN 16
35. Wisconsin (6-3, 3-2)
36. Ohio (7-1, 3-1) – DOWN 13
37. Northern Illinois (8-1, 5-0)
38. Central Florida (6-2, 4-0)
39. Arizona State (5-3, 3-2)
40. Penn State (5-3, 3-1) – DOWN 14
41. Cincinnati (5-2, 1-1)
42. Michigan State (5-4, 2-3)
43. Louisiana-Monroe (6-2, 4-0)
44. Brigham Young (5-4, 0-0)
45. North Carolina (6-3, 3-2)
46. North Carolina State (5-3, 2-2)
47. Iowa State (5-3, 2-3)
48. TCU (5-3, 2-3) – DOWN 16
49. Fresno State (6-3, 4-1)

50. Washington (4-4, 2-3) – UP 15
51. San Diego State (6-3, 4-1)
52. Western Kentucky (6-2, 3-1)
53. Ball State (6-3, 3-2)
54. Virginia Tech (4-4, 2-2)
55. Navy (5-3, 0-0)
56. San Jose State (6-2, 2-1)
57. Duke (6-3, 3-2)
58. Vanderbilt (4-4, 2-2)
59. Iowa (4-4, 2-2) – DOWN 12
60. Air Force (5-3, 4-1)
61. Miami (Ohio) (4-4, 3-1)
62. Nevada (6-3, 3-2)
63. Mississippi (5-3, 2-2) – UP 10
64. Bowling Green (6-3, 4-1)
65. Arkansas State (5-3, 3-1)
66. Missouri (4-4, 1-4)
67. Syracuse (4-4, 3-1)
68. Wake Forest (4-4, 2-4)
69. East Carolina (5-4, 4-1)
70. Maryland (4-4, 2-2) – DOWN 8
71. Miami (Fla.) (4-4, 3-2)
72. Pittsburgh (4-4, 1-3)
73. Utah (3-5, 1-4)
74. Baylor (3-4, 0-4) – DOWN 17
75. Middle Tennessee (5-3, 3-1)

76. Louisiana-Lafayette (4-3, 2-2)
77. Minnesota (5-3, 1-3)
78. Southern Methodist (4-4, 3-1)
79. Tennessee (3-5, 0-5)
80. Temple (3-4, 2-2)
81. Georgia Tech (3-5, 2-3)
82. Arkansas (3-5, 2-3) – DOWN 21
83. Purdue (3-5, 0-4) – DOWN 15
84. New Mexico (4-5, 1-3)
85. California (3-6, 2-4) – DOWN 11
86. Indiana (3-5, 1-3)
87. Houston (4-4, 3-1)
88. Western Michigan (3-6, 1-4)
89. Troy (4-4, 3-3) – DOWN 10
90. Washington State (2-6, 0-5)
91. Virginia (2-6, 0-4)
92. Marshall (3-5, 2-2)
93. Central Michigan (3-5, 1-3)
94. Connecticut (3-5, 0-3)
95. North Texas (3-5, 2-2)
96. Rice (3-6, 1-4)
97. South Florida (2-6, 0-4)
98. Texas State (3-4, 1-1)
99. Illinois (2-6, 0-4)

100. Kansas (1-7, 0-5)
101. Boston College (2-6, 1-4) – UP 10
102. UNLV (1-8, 1-3)
103. Kentucky (1-8, 0-6)
104. UTEP (2-7, 1-4)
105. Buffalo (1-7, 0-4)
106. Texas-San Antonio (5-3, 1-2)
107. Eastern Michigan (1-7, 0-4)
108. Wyoming (1-7, 0-4)
109. Army (1-7, 0-0)
110. South Alabama (2-6, 1-3)
111. Auburn (1-7, 0-6) – DOWN 11
112. Florida International (1-8, 0-5)
113. Colorado State (2-6, 1-3)
114. Akron (1-8, 0-5)
115. Tulane (2-6, 2-2)
116. Colorado (1-7, 1-4) – DOWN 15
117. Memphis (1-7, 1-3)
118. Florida Atlantic (2-6, 1-4)
119. Alabama-Birmingham (1-7, 0-4)
120. New Mexico State (1-7, 0-4)
121. Hawaii (1-6, 0-4)
122. Idaho (1-7, 1-2)\
123. Southern Mississippi (0-8, 0-4)
124. Massachusetts (0-8, 0-4)

Five noteworthy jumps

1. Arizona, 18 spots (No. 41 to No. 23). Wins over Toledo,Oklahoma State and USC, losses to Oregon, Oregon State and Stanford.

2. Washington, 15 spots (No. 65 to No. 50). Washington's 2012 season, game by game: average, bad, fine, great, awful, okay, embarrassing, super. It's been that kind of year.

3. Nebraska, 11 spots (No. 33 to No. 22). The Cornhuskers are back among the top 25 after a home win over Michigan.

4. Boston College, 10 spots (No. 111 to No. 101). The Eagles will win at least one game during ACC play.

5. Georgia, 8 spots (No. 13 to No. 5). The Bulldogs stormed back into the mix after beating Florida in Jacksonville.

Five noteworthy drops

1. Arkansas, 21 spots (No. 61 to No. 82). Any hope of a bowl berth took a significant hit with a loss at home to Mississippi.

2. Baylor, 17 spots (No. 57 to No. 74). There are two Big 12 teams still winless in conference play. One is Kansas; the other is Baylor.

3. Rutgers, 16 spots (No. 18 to No. 34). The Scarlet Knights lost at home to Kent State. What year is it, 1999?

4. Ohio, 13 spots (No. 23 to No. 36). In the span of one loss, Ohio went from a BCS contender to third place in the MAC East.

5. Auburn, 11 spots (No. 100 to No. 111). Yes, it can get worse: Auburn still has to play Alabama.