Final College Football Power Rankings for All 124 Teams

The college football season is officially complete, and it is time to release the final college football power rankings.

When the season began over five months ago, it would have been hard to imagine that we would have the season we did.

Before we look ahead to next year, let's review how each team fared in 2012.

Here are the final college football power rankings for all 124 teams from the bottom all the way to the top.

*All stats courtesy of ESPN.com.

124. Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Final 2012 Record: 0-12

Southern Miss starts off the list due to the fact that it did not win a game all season.

The Golden Eagles were the only winless team in the nation, and even though they did have a few close games, they were completely overmatched all year long. 

Hopefully, next year will be better for this group.

123. Akron Zips

Final 2012 Record: 1-11

The Zips only won one game all season, and that was against Morgan State.

The win total was an improvement from last season, as Akron was winless in 2011.

New head coach Terry Bowden might have the team moving in the right direction.

122. Massachusetts Minutemen

Final 2012 Record: 1-11

The resume for UMass is similar to that of Akron. Both teams are from the MAC, but the difference is UMass only had one win this season, and that was against Akron.

The Minutemen defeated the Zips 22-14 toward the end of the season for its only win of the year.

For a team going through its first season at the FBS level, things could have been worse.

121. New Mexico State Aggies

Final 2012 Record: 1-11

After knocking off Sacramento State to begin the season, the New Mexico State Aggies lost their final 11 games of the season.

The Aggies played a few challenging games but had more than a few that were very winnable.

They were not able to do that, which is why they are so low on the list.

120. Idaho Vandals

Final 2012 Record: 1-11

Similar to New Mexico State, the Idaho Vandals are in the WAC and finished the season with a 1-11 record.

The only win for Idaho came over New Mexico State, 26-18. With the exception of that game, this team struggled for most of the season, including a loss to Eastern Washington in the season opener.

Not a good season at all for the Vandals.

119. South Alabama Jaguars

Final 2012 Record: 2-11

This was the first year at the FBS level for South Alabama, and the Jaguars had their fair share of moments.

They beat Nicholls State the second game of the season and Florida Atlantic in overtime.

They still finished last in the Sun Belt, but they will likely improve over the next few years.

118. Kansas Jayhawks

Final 2012 Record: 1-11

Kansas is the first team from one of the AQ conferences to make the list. The Jayhawks finished the year with their only win coming over South Dakota State the first game of the season.

Head coach Charlie Weis could do nothing in his first season in Lawrence.

The Big 12 is a lot more competitive than most conferences, and Kansas is going to have its hands full once again in 2013.

117. Colorado Buffaloes

Final 2012 Record: 1-11

Here is another team that only won one game this season. The Colorado Buffaloes' lone win of the season came against Washington State, 35-34.

They were a play away from going winless in 2012.

With Mike MacIntyre now in the fold, things might be looking up for a Colorado team that has struggled mightily in recent years.

116. Eastern Michigan Eagles

Final 2012 Record: 2-10

Eastern Michigan is the second two-win team on the list. The Eagles picked up wins against Army and Western Michigan during the season.

They were competitive in only two other games and lost eight contests by double digits.

The MAC was very competitive this season, and that did not makes things easy for the Eagles.

115. Tulane Green Wave

Final 2012 Record: 2-10

Tulane is the second team from Conference USA on the list. There is no question that it was a down year for the league, and the Green Wave were near the bottom of the conference.

Tulane picked up wins over SMU and UAB but struggled on the road, going 0-5 away from home.

The main problem was a defense that allowed 38.4 points a game.

114. Illinois Fighting Illini

Final 2012 Record: 2-10

Illinois started out the season strong under new head coach Tim Beckman. The Fighting Illini were 2-1 with wins over Western Michigan and Charleston Southern.

Things quickly turned sour, however, and Illinois lost its final nine games of the year, including an 0-8 mark in Big Ten play.

113. Army Black Knights

Final 2012 Record: 2-10

Army played a few teams tough this year and could have been better than its 2-10 record indicates.

The Black Knights knocked off Boston College and Air Force during the season. They were a point away from defeating Northern Illinois and lost 17-13 to Navy in the season finale.

They did lead the country in rushing, averaging 369.8 yards a game.

112. UNLV Rebels

Final 2012 Record: 2-11

One unique aspect about UNLV is that it ranked 97th in the country in both points scored and points allowed.

The two wins the Rebels came up with this season were victories over Air Force and New Mexico.

They also took Minnesota into triple-overtime in the season opener.

111. Boston College Eagles

Final 2012 Record: 2-10

Boston College is another team that was a huge disappointment in 2012.

The Eagles' only wins came against Maine and a Maryland team without a quarterback.

Things have not gone well for Boston College recently.

110. Kentucky Wildcats

Final 2012 Record: 2-10

Kentucky was not only winless in the SEC, but it only finished the year with two total wins. One of those wins came against Samford.

Head coach Joker Phillips was shown the door, and the Wildcats are now set to move on.

The only game all season long the Wildcats were competitive in during SEC play was a five-point loss to Georgia.

109. Florida Atlantic Owls

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

Florida Atlantic was in a Sun Belt conference that was much more competitive than expected. In league play, the Owls finished 2-6.

The struggles for the Owls were on the offensive side of the ball. The team only averaged 20.5 points a game, ranking 107th in the nation. 

The defense was not much better either, allowing 30.8 points a contest.

108. Florida International Golden Panthers

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

Florida International had a very similar season to conference rival Florida Atlantic.

The Golden Panthers were able to pick up two wins in league play and also defeated Akron in overtime the second game of the season.

There were plenty of close losses for this team, and it was not like it was dominated throughout the season.

107. UAB Blazers

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

In an extremely weak Conference USA, the UAB Blazers did not do too much to impress.

The only wins in league play came against Southern Miss and Marshall. Those two teams combined to finish the season 4-20.

UAB could not run the football and had trouble stopping anybody.

106. UTEP Miners

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

UTEP is another Conference USA team that had a nearly identical season to conference mate UAB.

The Miners' only two wins in league play came against Tulane and Southern Miss. Those two teams combined to finish the season 2-22.

The main problem for UTEP was an offense that only averaged 21.2 points a game.

105. Texas State Bobcats

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

Texas State shocked the college football world, winning its first-ever game as an FBS school 30-13 at Houston.

The game was certainly one of the biggest upsets of the season.

That was not the end for the Bobcats, as they went on to beat SF Austin, Idaho and New Mexico State. Not bad for their first season playing the big boys.

104. North Texas Mean Green

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

North Texas had limited success this season, knocking off Louisiana-Lafayette and Florida Atlantic. But this team struggled for the most part, particularly on offense.

The Mean Green only averaged 20.9 points a game, ranking 105th in the country.

Quarterback Derek Thompson only passed for 14 touchdowns with 14 picks. Not good numbers by any stretch of the imagination.

103. Memphis Tigers

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

Memphis started the season 1-8 but came on strong at the end of the year, winning its final three games.

While that is impressive, those wins came against Tulane, UAB and Southern Miss. Not exactly top-notch competition.

The Tigers did post a .500 mark in league play. That is something positive.

102. Hawaii Warriors

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

Statistically speaking, Hawaii was one of the worst teams in the country, finishing the year 102nd in points scored and 107th in points allowed.

The Warriors endured an eight game losing streak in the middle of the season, before ending strong with two straight wins.

The running game was the main struggle on offense as the team only averaged 108.6 yards a game on the ground.

101. South Florida Bulls

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

South Florida collapsed once again at the end of the season, and that led to the firing of head coach Skip Holtz.

The Bulls only won one Big East game and lost nine of their final 10 games. The final three games were not even close, as the team seemingly gave up.

Things might be a little different next season with Willie Taggart now in charge.

100. Auburn Tigers

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

Auburn was downright awful in 2012 and was only competitive against lower-level competition.

The Tigers' three wins came against Louisiana-Monroe in overtime, New Mexico State and Alabama A&M. Not exactly stiff competition.

Offense was the main problem for an Auburn team that only averaged 18.7 points a game—one of the worst marks in the country. The quarterback play will need to improve in 2013.

99. Washington State Cougars

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

A win by Washington State against rival Washington to close out the season is the only thing keeping it from being way down on this list.

That was the only Pac-12 win for the Cougars, and the other victories came against Eastern Washington and UNLV.

Mike Leach will have his hands full to try to turn this program around.

98. New Mexico Lobos

Final 2012 Record: 4-9

It was another disappointing season for New Mexico, as the Lobos only won four games.

Both the offense and the defense ranked 80th in the country in points scored and points allowed.

The Lobos lost their final six games of the year and had no quality wins to speak of. Not surprising to see another subpar season out of this team.

97. Buffalo Bulls

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

Buffalo is on a steady improvement over the past few seasons and appears to be headed in the right direction.

Four wins overall and three in the MAC is much better than in past years.

The Bulls put together three consecutive wins toward the end of the season against Miami (OH), Western Michigan and UMass. Not a bad turnaround for the program.

96. Wyoming Cowboys

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

Wyoming was downright awful at the beginning of the season, losing to Texas, Toledo and Cal Poly. After a win against Idaho in overtime, the Cowboys then strung together four straight losses.

Similar to Buffalo, they turned it around toward the end of the season, winning three straight against Colorado State, New Mexico and UNLV.

The running game was a huge problem throughout the season, as the team only averaged 124.2 yards a game, ranking 102nd in the nation.

95. Western Michigan Broncos

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

This was somewhat of a disappointing season for Western Michigan, as the Cowboys only won four games during a year where much more was expected.

To its credit, the MAC was much tougher than anticipated, and the Broncos did have an early-season win against Connecticut.

An injury to star senior quarterback Alex Carder midway through the season proved detrimental, as the team only went 2-4 in his absence.

94. Maryland Terrapins

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

The 2012 season was certainly an improvement for the Maryland Terrapins, but the team still has a long way to go.

Winning four games in a season that saw four quarterbacks go down with injuries is somewhat of an accomplishment.

Due to the injuries, the Terrapins lost their final six games of the season when some thought a bowl game was very possible.

93. Miami (OH)

Final 2012 Season: 4-8

Miami started the season playing very well, winning three of its first five games with its only losses coming at Ohio State and at Boise State.

It was a struggle the rest of the way, as the RedHawks lost six of their final seven games to finish the year with only four wins.

Quarterback Zac Dysert is a pro prospect. The senior passed for 3,483 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

92. Colorado State Rams

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

Colorado State is another four-win team, but it might be a little better than its record indicates.

While the victories came against Colorado, Hawaii, UNLV and New Mexico, the losses were to some pretty solid opponents.

The Rams lost to five straight bowl teams at the beginning of the year and could never completely recover from that. 

91. California Golden Bears

Final 2012 Record: 3-9

Even though California only won three games, it was the victim of a very challenging schedule. The Bears played eight bowl teams, including Ohio State out of conference.

The lone wins on the season came against Southern Utah, UCLA and Washington State.

Five straight losses was not a good way to end the season. Too much talent for this team to only win three games.

90. Indiana Hoosiers

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

With only three games remaining in the season, Indiana stood at 4-5 and controlled its own destiny to play in the Rose Bowl.

While that was not likely to happen, it did not come anywhere close, as the Hoosiers lost their final three games of the season.

It was an improvement from the 2011 season, but there is still a long way to go for this program.

89. UTSA Roadrunners

Final 2012 Record: 8-4

Even though UTSA won eight games, it still finds itself down on the list due to a schedule that was a bit of a joke.

The Roadrunners won their first five games to start off the season but only beat two FBS schools in the process, South Alabama and New Mexico State.

After four straight losses, a three-game winning streak to end the season was a good way to close out the year for head coach Larry Coker and his squad.

88. Marshall Thundering Herd

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

Marshall benefited from playing in Conference USA and was able to pick up five wins on the season. The Thundering Herd were not as good as their record indicates, though.

The five wins came against Western Carolina, Rice, Southern Miss, Memphis and Houston. Not exactly quality wins.

Offense was not the problem, as Marshall ranked seventh in the country, averaging 40.9 points a game. The defense was a struggle, allowing 43.1 points a game, ranking 123rd in the country.

87. Troy Trojans

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

Troy is another five-win team that could never put together a good stretch. While the Trojans never lost more than two games in a row, they never won more than two either.

Running back Shawn Southward rushed for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. The junior was the most talented player on offense for the Trojans.

Wide receiver Chip Reeves was also a threat. He caught 65 passes for 1,050 yards and six touchdowns during his junior season.

86. Arkansas Razorbacks

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

The Arkansas Razorbacks had one of the most disappointing seasons of any team in the country. After a tumultuous offseason, the Razorbacks were never able to recover.

They had major issues on both sides of the ball, only averaging 23.5 points, while allowing 30.4. Certainly not a good combination.

The only win against a team of note was a 19-15 victory over Tulsa. Next year should be better for the Razorbacks with Bret Bielema now running the show.

85. Iowa Hawkeyes

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

The Iowa Hawkeyes were the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten. For a team that had high expectations coming into the season, losing its final six games was tough to take.

One of the main reasons for the disappointment was the struggles of senior quarterback James Vandenberg. He only passed for seven touchdowns with eight picks, throwing for 2,249 yards.

Clearly a down year for Vandenberg and the Hawkeyes.

84. Houston Cougars

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

After a disappointing season-opening loss to Texas State followed up by losses to Louisiana Tech and UCLA, Houston recovered to win five of its final nine games.

The Cougars were 4-4 in Conference USA, and a three-point loss at Marshall in the second to-last game of the season prevented them from qualifying for a bowl berth.

As usual, offense was not the issue. The team averaged 32.4 points a game, but it allowed 36.

83. Virginia Cavaliers

Final 2012 Record: 4-8

Virginia had some quality wins on the season, including a victory over Penn State early in the year as well as wins over North Carolina State and Miami toward the end of the season.

A six-game losing streak during the middle of the year proved to be very costly, and two losses to end the season kept Virginia from bowl eligibility.

The Cavaliers lacked a rushing game and also struggled most of the season to score points.

82. Temple Owls

Final 2012 Record: 4-7

Temple was playing its first season in the Big East and did not fare too poorly.

After starting the season 3-2 with two wins in conference play, the Owls lost five of their final six games of the season, with their only win coming against Army.

One of the bright spots on the year was Boston College transfer Montel Harris. The running back had some huge games, including a 351-yard, seven-touchdown performance against Army.

81. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

Wake Forest could not duplicate its season from 2011, and it struggled to a five-win campaign.

Midway through the year, it looked like the Demon Deacons would qualify for a bowl game as they stood at 5-4 with three games remaining.

The challenging part of the schedule proved to be too much, as Wake Forest fell to North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt to close out the regular season.

80. Connecticut Huskies

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

Connecticut is another team that nearly pulled off the improbable by qualifying for a bowl game. The Huskies lost their final game of the year after winning the previous two and were shut out of a bowl.

The Huskies had one of the best defenses in the country when it came to points allowed, giving up 19.8. That was good for 19th in the nation.

Offense was a huge issue. Connecticut only averaged 17.8 points a game, good for 121st in the country.

79. Utah Utes

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

Utah expected a much better year when the 2012 season began but once again was struck with injuries, including one that ended the career of quarterback Jordan Wynn.

The Utes could never put it all together, losing four games in a row in the middle of the season, and they never completely recovered from that.

Running back John White was a bright spot, as he rushed for 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior campaign.

78. Tennessee Volunteers

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

Another year, and another disappointing season for Tennessee. The Vols struggled through a 5-7 campaign and only managed one win in SEC play. 

After starting the season 3-1 with its only loss coming to Florida, Tennessee fell flat on its face, losing six of its final eight games.

There is still plenty of talent, and new head coach Butch Jones will get his chance to put it all together beginning in 2013.

77. Missouri Tigers

Final 2012 Record: 5-7

Missouri had a similar season to Tennessee but suffered through a few major injuries, including one to star quarterback James Franklin.

With Franklin out, the Missouri offense struggled to score and finished the season 82nd in the country, averaging only 25.8 points a game.

There is enough talent coming back to make next season a little more competitive in SEC play, as the Tigers went 2-6 in 2012.

76. Air Force Falcons

Final 2012 Record: 6-7

Air Force definitely had no trouble running the football in 2012, finishing second in the country while averaging 316.2 yards a game.

The Falcons started the season strong, feasting on weaker competition. Halfway through the year, they were 5-3 and did not look bad.

There was not much to speak of after that, as the Falcons lost four of their final five games, including a bowl game against Rice.

75. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Western Kentucky was one of many teams to lose its head coach before bowl season. Unlike some other teams, the Hilltoppers were not able to recover and fell 24-21 to Central Michigan in their bowl game.

After a strong start to the season that saw the Hilltoppers win five of their first six games, it did not end the way they would have liked with five losses in their final seven games.

They key to the season was running back Antonio Andrews. The junior rushed for 1,728 yards with 11 touchdowns on 304 carries this season.

74. Central Michigan Chippewas

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Central Michigan recovered from a slow start to the season and won its final four games to qualify for a bowl game and finish the year with a winning record.

After four straight losses to Northern Illinois, Toledo, Navy and Ball State, the Chippewas feasted on weaker competition, knocking off Akron, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH) and UMass to close out the regular season.

A bowl victory over Western Kentucky capped off quite a year for this squad.

73. Pittsburgh Panthers

Final 2012 Record: 6-7

The Pittsburgh Panthers had quite a unique rhythm to their schedule, losing two games and winning two games three times throughout the season.

That put them at 6-6 before a bowl-game loss to Ole Miss.

Running back Ray Graham was a major bright spot. He came back from an injury to total 1,042 yards and 11 scores on the ground, but he did not play in the bowl game due to injury. That proved to be costly, as the Panthers were dominated 38-17.

72. Duke Blue Devils

Final 2012 Record: 6-7

After a fast start to the season, Duke lost its final five games of the year and seemingly returned to earth.

The Blue Devils at one point in the year sat at 5-1 with their only loss coming at Stanford.

Even though the team struggled to the finish line, it was still quite a remarkable season for a program that had not been to a bowl game since Steve Spurrier was running the show nearly two decades ago.

71. Rice Owls

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Rice is one of the teams that came on very strong at the end of the season, winning its final four regular-season games to become bowl eligible. The Owls then knocked off Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Even though Rice did not have a standout on offense, the team certainly loved to run the football, finishing the year 29th in the country while averaging 201.8 yards rushing a game.

The defense allowed 30 points a game but was able to get the job done at the end of the season when necessary.

70. Iowa State Cyclones

Final 2012 Record: 6-7

It was another bowl season for the Cyclones, but they were not able to get over the hump and grab a bowl victory.

In a very competitive Big 12, Iowa State managed to win three games in the league, including wins over TCU, Baylor and Kansas.

Tulsa pretty much dominated Iowa State, particularly in the second half of the Liberty Bowl en route to a 31-17 victory.

69. Nevada Wolf Pack

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Nevada lost to Arizona 49-48 in the first game of the bowl season. The New Mexico Bowl proved to be one of the most exciting bowl games of the year.

During the regular season, it was a year of runs for Nevada. The Wolf Pack began the year with a win followed by a loss before wining five games in a row.

They followed that up with three straight losses, including five of their final six games.

68. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Final 2012 Record: 6-7

Minnesota benefited from a weak nonconference schedule and a soft Big Ten to qualify for a bowl game.

The Golden Gophers started off the season like a ball of fire, winning four in a row. From that point on, it was just a matter of getting two wins to become bowl eligible.

They did just that with victories over Purdue and Illinois in Big Ten play, before falling to Texas Tech 34-31 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

67. SMU Mustangs

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

SMU might not have had the regular season it was looking for, but it surprised more than a few people with a convincing 43-10 victory over a talented Fresno State team in the Hawaii Bowl.

The game was on Christmas Eve, so many may not have seen it, but the Mustangs played one of the most complete games of any team during bowl season.

They played a tough out-of-conference schedule with three of their losses coming to Baylor, Texas A&M and TCU.

66. Purdue Boilermakers

Final 2012 Record: 6-7

Purdue had high expectations coming into the season, and even though it won its final three games, it was still a disappointing year.

It began with some success. The Boilermakers won three of their first four games. The only loss came by three points at Notre Dame.

Then it went sour with five straight losses to kick off Big Ten play. Three wins to end the regular season allowed the Boilermakers to qualify for the Heart of Dallas Bowl against Oklahoma State.

65. Navy Midshipmen

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Navy had a solid regular season, finishing the year 8-4 before falling 62-28 to Arizona State in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

The wins for Navy did not exactly come against top-notch competition. The Midshipmen defeated the likes of VMI, Air Force, Central Michigan, Indiana, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Texas State and Army.

Only three of those teams qualified for a bowl game. Still a great season for the Midshipmen.

64. USC Trojans

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

When it comes to disappointments, no team in the country fits the category more so than the USC Trojans.

After starting the season as one of the most talked-about teams in the country, the Trojans lost five of their final six games to finish the year only 7-6.

The injury to quarterback Matt Barkley did not help against Notre Dame and virtually gave USC no chance against Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl.

63. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Mississippi State might have posted an 8-5 record and a 4-4 mark in SEC play, but the Bulldogs were not nearly as good as their record indicates.

They began the season 7-0 but did not beat any team that qualified for a bowl game. They then lost five of their final six games, including the Gator Bowl against Northwestern.

The Bulldogs only beat one FBS team all season with a winning record.

62. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

After starting the season with a dramatic overtime victory at Arkansas, many thought ULM was on its way to a remarkable year.

That was not far from the truth, as the Warhawks nearly beat Auburn the following week and almost knocked off Baylor a week later.

They then strung together five straight wins but lost three of their final five games, including a disappointing 45-14 Independence Bowl loss against Ohio.

61. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

Final 2012 Record: 8-4

The Blue Raiders were likely the best team in the country not to qualify for a bowl game. After a season-opening loss to McNeese State, they rebounded with wins over Florida Atlantic, Memphis and Georgia Tech.

They closed out the season by winning four of their final five games with the only loss coming to a very talented Arkansas State team in the season finale.

Not a bad year for a team that not much was expected from.

60. Ole Miss Rebels

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Ole Miss played some very talented teams very tough, losing 20-17 to Texas A&M, 27-26 against Vanderbilt and 41-35 against LSU.

They knocked off Mississippi State 41-24 in the season finale to qualify for a bowl game.

The Rebels certainly took advantage of that opportunity, dominating Pittsburgh 38-17 in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

59. East Carolina Pirates

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

East Carolina lost all five of its games to teams with at least eight wins. The Pirates beat who they were supposed to but could not come up with that big win.

There is no doubt that they were the third-best team in Conference USA, finishing 7-1 in league play.

Quarterback Shane Carden ended the year with 3,116 yards and 23 touchdowns to go along with 10 picks.

58. TCU Horned Frogs

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

TCU suffered through a year of injuries and suspensions to finish only 7-6. It was also a transition period as the Horned Frogs entered the Big 12.

There were certainly some big wins along the way with victories over Texas and Baylor.

But they struggled down the stretch, losing six of their final nine games on the year.

57. Michigan State Spartans

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Michigan State had to scramble to even make a bowl game. The Spartans won their final game of the season at Minnesota to finish 6-6. They then knocked off TCU 17-16 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

While the defense was there all along, the offense struggled mightily while only averaging 20 points a game. That ranked 110th in the nation.

Running back Le'Veon Bell was one of the best in the country. He carried the ball 382 times for 1,793 yards and 12 touchdowns during the season.

56. West Virginia Mountaineers

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Five weeks into the season, West Virginia was one of the most talked-about teams in the country, and quarterback Geno Smith was near the top of the Heisman conversation.

The Mountaineers stood at 5-0, but they proceeded to lose five games straight before knocking off Iowa State and Kansas to close out the regular season.

Syracuse dominated West Virginia 38-14 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl to end a disappointing year for the Mountaineers.

55. Bowling Green Falcons

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Bowling Green was another of the surprising MAC teams, and it was one of seven to qualify for a bowl game.

After starting the year 1-3, the Falcons won six games in a row before losing to Kent State.

The key to all the success was a defense that ranked 10th in the country. They only allowed 16.8 points a game during the season. A 29-20 loss to San Jose State in the Military Bowl did not ruin a successful year.

54. Ohio Bobcats

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Ohio started off the season with seven straight wins and could have conceivably been a BCS buster.

The Bobcats picked up wins over the likes of Penn State but did not defeat anybody else of note. They then proceeded to lose four of five to close out the year. The only victory in that span came against Eastern Michigan. 

In somewhat surprising fashion, the Bobcats knocked off Louisiana-Monroe 45-14 in the Independence Bowl.

53. Virginia Tech Hokies

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

When it comes to disappointments, this is another team near the top of the list. The Hokies were supposed to contend for an ACC title but instead had to win their final two games of the regular season to qualify for a bowl game.

The Hokies showed up in that bowl game, knocking off Rutgers 13-10 in overtime.

Among the major disappointments during the season was quarterback Logan Thomas. He only passed for 2,976 yards and 18 touchdowns with 16 interceptions.

52. Toledo Rockets

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Toledo is another of the very talented MAC teams that started off the season fast.

After a 24-17 road loss to Arizona in overtime, Toledo reeled off eight straight wins, including victories over Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Cincinnati.

The end of the year did not go as planned, but it was still another very successful year for the Rockets.

51. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Final 2012 Record: 7-7

Georgia Tech was one of the lucky teams to qualify for a bowl game this season despite finishing the regular season 6-7 after losing to Florida State in the ACC title game.

The Yellow Jackets certainly took advantage of the bowl game, dismantling a disinterested USC team in the Sun Bowl 21-7.

They lost two overtime games and a six-point game against Florida State in the ACC championship.

50. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

There is no question that this was one of the better teams in the Sun Belt and a team not afraid to take on anybody.

The Ragin' Cajuns nearly knocked off Florida in Gainesville before falling 27-20. After an eight-win regular season, including a 6-2 mark in league play, ULL knocked off East Carolina 43-34 in the New Orleans Bowl.

The offense could put up points at a high rate, averaging 35.5 points a game, good for 24th in the nation.

49. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

North Carolina State just could not put together a good stretch and struggled in conference play with the exception of a 17-16 upset victory against Florida State.

Senior quarterback Mike Glennon had a solid year, passing for 4,031 yards with 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

He did not play his best in the bowl game, throwing three picks during a 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl.

48. Ball State Cardinals

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Unlike some of the other MAC teams mentioned earlier, Ball State finished the season with a bang, winning its final six games of the year to end up with nine wins.

The Cardinals beat everybody they were supposed to and the only losses during the season came against Clemson, Northern Illinois, Kent State and Central Florida in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.

Another solid season from a MAC team.

47. BYU Cougars

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

BYU played one of the more intriguing schedules in the country. The Cougars took on the likes of Boise State, Oregon State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, San Jose State and San Diego State. 

The victories for the Cougars came against much weaker competition.

Defense wins games, and that was the case for BYU. The group ranked third in the country, allowing only 14 points a contest.

46. Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Final 2012 Record: 7-5

Miami was young and talented in 2012. The 2013 season could be even better for this improving squad.

The Hurricanes showed flashes of that talent last season with victories over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech but also struggled against high-level competition.

With so much youth, the 2013 season could see Miami compete for the ACC title.

45. Syracuse Orange

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Syracuse finished the year very strong, winning its final three games of the regular season to force a four-way tie for the Big East crown.

The Orange then went on to knock off West Virginia 38-14 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

Senior quarterback Ryan Nassib showed why NFL scouts are drooling over him. He threw for 3,749 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

44. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Texas Tech played a very weak nonconference schedule, knocking off Northwestern State, Texas State and New Mexico.

A victory over Iowa State the following week gave Texas Tech a fast start to the season.

That did not last long once it got into the meat of Big 12 play. Still, the Red Raiders managed to win eight games, including a 34-31 victory in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Minnesota.

43. Fresno State Bulldogs

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Fresno State was one of three teams in the Mountain West that stood out from the competition.

The Bulldogs finished 7-1 in the league, tied with Boise State and San Diego State for tops in the Mountain West.

The bowl game was a disappointment as Fresno State was dominated by SMU, falling 43-10 in the Hawaii Bowl.

42. Central Florida Knights

Final 2012 Record: 10-4

Central Florida was the class of Conference USA along with Tulsa and surprised a lot of people by knocking off Ball State 38-14 in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.

The win gave Central Florida a 10-win season, making it the first double-digit win team in the rankings.

During the middle of the season, the Knights rolled off six straight wins and finished the year 7-1 in league play.

41. Washington Huskies

Final 2012 Record: 7-6

Washington struggled early in the season against talented competition. It lost to LSU, Oregon, USC and Arizona.

Not many teams had as many big wins as this squad, however. The Huskies beat San Diego State in the season opener and also took down Stanford and Oregon State before losing 21-19 to Boise State in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl.

Too much talent for this to happen again in 2013 to the Huskies.

40. Wisconsin Badgers

Final 2012 Record: 8-6

Wisconsin was fortunate due to the fact that Ohio State and Penn State were ineligible for bowl competition.

The Badgers took advantage of that, knocking off Nebraska in the Big Ten title game on its way to its third consecutive Rose Bowl berth.

Running was the name of the game all season long for the Badgers, as the team ranked 13th in the country, averaging 236.4 yards a game on the ground.

39. Baylor Bears

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Baylor had a strong start to its season and an excellent finish on its way to a successful bowl campaign.

The Bears were led by an offense that was one of the best in the country, averaging 44.5 points a game.

After three straight wins to begin the season, the Bears fell on hard times during the middle of the year, losing four straight and five of six. They finished the season strong, winning the final four games of the year, including a 49-26 domination of UCLA in the Holiday Bowl. 

38. San Diego State Aztecs

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

San Diego State was one of three teams to finish tied atop the Mountain West and was one of the better teams out west.

The Aztecs' strength came in the running game, as they finished 20th in the country, averaging 220.7 yards rushing a game.

Sophomore Adam Muema was excellent filling in for the departed Ronnie Hillman. He finished the year with 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns on 237 carries.

37. Arizona Wildcats

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

The Wildcats had a solid year in their first under new head coach Rich Rodriguez.

As is the case with most teams led by Rodriguez, they excelled on offense. The team averaged 38.2 yards a game, good for 15th in the country.

The star on offense was running back Ka'Deem Carey. He carried the ball 303 times for 1,929 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season.

36. UCLA Bruins

Final 2012 Record: 9-5

UCLA started off the season and quickly became one of the surprise teams in the Pac-12. The Bruins won their first three games of the season and nine out of 11.

Freshman quarterback Brett Hundley was not quite Johnny Manziel, but he was pretty good in his own right.

Three straight losses to end the season do not ruin a solid first year under head coach Jim Mora Jr.

35. Arizona State Sun Devils

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Arizona State finished just ahead of UCLA due to a solid finish to the year. After losing four straight in the middle of the season, the Sun Devils won their final three games of the year to finish 8-5.

They were one of many teams in the Pac-12 with a new head coach. Todd Graham left Pittsburgh after one season and did not do a bad job in Tempe.

Quarterback Taylor Kelly was solid all year, passing for 3,039 yards with 29 touchdowns and only nine picks.

34. North Carolina Tar Heels

Final 2012 Record: 8-4

By the end of the season, North Carolina was a team not a lot of people wanted to play. The Tar Heels won seven of their final nine games to finish the year first in the Coastal Division of the ACC.

Too bad for North Carolina, it was ineligible for postseason play.

The offense was led by running back Giovani Bernard and quarterback Bryn Renner.

33. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes

Final 2012 Record: 11-3

Tulsa feasted on some weak teams in Conference USA and won the league with a victory over Central Florida in the championship game.

The Golden Hurricanes were solid all season but perhaps played their best game of the year against Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl.

Tulsa dominated the second half of that game, winning 31-17. They loved to run the football, and the running game was on full display in that one.

32. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Rutgers started out the season very strong and climbed into the rankings, led by a defense that was one of the best in the country.

The Scarlet Knights only allowed 14.2 points a game, ranking fourth in the nation. But three straight losses to close out the season was not the finish the Scarlet Knights were looking for.

Quarterback Gary Nova and the offense struggled for most of the season. Nova threw 22 touchdowns with 16 interceptions on the year.

31. Kent State Golden Flashes

Final 2012 Record: 11-3

Kent State was a double-overtime loss away from playing in the Orange Bowl, but instead fell to Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

The Golden Flashes were paced all season by a rushing attack that was one of the best in the country.

Dri Archer and Trayion Durham combined for 2,745 yards and 30 touchdowns, helping to lead a group that ranked 18th in the country in averaging 225.8 rushing yards a game.

30. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Final 2012 Record: 9-3

When it comes to offense, no team in the country could put up points like Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs averaged 51.5 points a game, good for tops in the nation.

They only lost three games, and those losses came against Texas A&M, Utah State and San Jose State.

They managed to put up 57 points in a two-point defeat against Texas A&M and scored over 40 points in all but one game on the year.

29. Arkansas State Red Wolves

Final 2012 Record: 10-3

Arkansas State was one of the more underrated teams in the country and as good as any team outside of the big-six conferences.

The Red Wolves started the season 2-3 but came on strong at the end of the year, winning their final eight games, including a 17-13 GoDaddy.com Bowl victory against Kent State.

The three losses for the Red Wolves came against Oregon, Nebraska and Western Kentucky. Not exactly easy competition.

28. Cincinnati Bearcats

Final 2012 Record: 10-3

It was another 10-win season for a Bearcats team that hovered near the Top 25 for most of the year.

For Cincinnati, it was a different recipe in 2012, as the Bearcats did it with defense and a solid running game.

The defense finished the year 14th in the country in allowing only 18.5 points a game—a serious improvement from past years.

27. Northern Illinois Huskies

Final 2012 Record: 12-2

Even though Northern Illinois qualified for the Orange Bowl, this was a team that was completely overmatched against Florida State in the national spotlight.

The Huskies lost their first and last games of the season and won 12 games between those two losses.

Quarterback Jordan Lynch was one of the most dynamic players in the country, doing it with both his feet and arm. He had no answer for a talented Florida State defense in the Orange Bowl, however.

26. Oregon State Beavers

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Oregon State got off to a fast start, winning its first six games of the year. Against the top teams in the Pac-12, however, the Beavers struggled.

Losses to Washington, Oregon, Stanford and Texas over the final seven games of the season was not the way Oregon State wanted to end the year.

The strength of the team was a passing game that averaged 307.1 yards per game.

25. Michigan Wolverines

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

We have finally reached the top 25, and kicking off the list is Michigan out of the Big Ten.

The Wolverines did have five marks in the loss column, but those losses came to some pretty strong competition—Alabama, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State and South Carolina.

The Denard Robinson era is finally over, and it will be time for the Wolverines to move on.

24. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Final 2012 Record: 10-4

After a slow start to the season, Nebraska hit its stride midway through the year, winning six straight, before losses in the Big Ten title game to Wisconsin and the Capital One Bowl against Georgia.

Unlike a lot of other Nebraska teams, this one did it with offense, while the defense struggled for most of the year.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez showed just how talented he was, passing for 2,871 yards and 23 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,019 yards and 10 more scores.

23. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Final 2012 Record: 8-5

Oklahoma State put on quite a show in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, dominating Purdue, 58-14, in one of the most lopsided bowl games of the year.

As usual, offense was the name of the game for the Cowboys, as the team averaged 45.7 points a game, ranking third in the nation.

No matter who was in at quarterback, they loved to throw the ball around, averaging 331.7 yards a game through the air.

22. Texas Longhorns

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Not many teams had two separate four-game winning streaks like Texas did, but that was the case in a somewhat odd season for Mack Brown's Longhorns.

Texas finished the regular season with consecutive losses against TCU and Kansas State but bounced back to knock off Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl.

The problem for Texas was inconsistency, but there was clearly enough talent on the roster to compete with most anybody.

21. Vanderbilt Commodores

Final 2012 Record: 9-4

Not many teams came on as strong at the end of the year as the Vanderbilt Commodores. After starting the season 2-4, Vanderbilt reeled off seven straight wins to close out 2012.

The final of those victories was a 38-24 win against North Carolina State in the Music City Bowl. Even though none of those victories came against a team that finished the year with more than seven wins, it was still impressive for a program like Vanderbilt.

Head coach James Franklin has done quite a job so far with the program.

20. Northwestern Wildcats

Final 2012 Record: 10-3

What a season it was for Northwestern. The program finally got off the hump and won a bowl game, knocking off Mississippi State 34-20 in the Gator Bowl.

The Wildcats picked up some key nonconference victories to begin the season against the likes of Syracuse and Vanderbilt.

Running back Venric Mark had an excellent season, rushing for 1,366 yards with 12 touchdowns.

19. Utah State Aggies

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

Utah State proved just how talented it was when it went on the road and only fell 16-14 at Wisconsin at the beginning of the season.

The only other loss on the year came 6-3 against BYU. Defense was the story as the group ranked seventh in the country, allowing only 15.4 points a game.

Quarterback Chuckie Keeton can do a little bit of everything as he passed for 3,373 yards and 27 touchdowns, while rushing for 619 yards and eight scores.

18. San Jose State Spartans

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

San Jose State showed it could compete with anybody, when it fell 20-17 at Stanford in the season opener.

From that point on, the Spartans won 11 of 12 games with their only loss coming 49-27 against Utah State.

The story for this team was the play of quarterback David Fales. The junior came out of nowhere to pass for 4,193 yards with 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

17. Penn State Nittany Lions

Final 2012 Record: 8-4

Nobody could have imagined Penn State would have the season it did, especially after the Nittany Lions started off the year 0-2.

They rebounded to win eight of their final 10 games and finish the year near the top of the Big Ten.

Quarterback Matt McGloin made a dramatic improvement between his junior and senior seasons. He passed for 3,271 yards with 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

16. Boise State Broncos

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

This was not a typical Boise State team, but it was similar results in 2012 for the Broncos. They somehow managed to win 11 games, including a dramatic 21-19 victory in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl over Washington. 

The offense struggled for parts of the year, and it was the defense that carried the team for most of the season.

That group only allowed 15.8 points a game, ranking eighth in the country.

15. Oklahoma Sooners

Final 2012 Record: 10-3

This was another typical season for an Oklahoma team that lost to three very talented teams, including Kansas State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

Quarterback Landry Jones had another solid season, passing for 4,267 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

While it was a solid year, much more was expected from this squad before the season began.

14. Louisville Cardinals

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

Louisville shocked the entire college football world when it knocked off Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

That was the culmination of an excellent season that featured 11 wins and a share of the Big East title.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater proved that he is a Heisman contender for 2013. He shined in the Sugar Bowl, capping off a season that featured 3,718 yards passing with 27 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

13. LSU Tigers

Final 2012 Record: 10-3

The LSU Tigers had another solid season but certainly did not live up to expectations. They lost three very close games and finished the year in very disappointing fashion, falling 25-24 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Clemson.

The offense struggled at times to scores points, and the defense was solid as usual, ranking 12th in the country while allowing only 17.5 points a game.

Quarterback play will once again be important for this team in 2013.

12. Clemson Tigers

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

Clemson had another outstanding season, winning 11 games with its only two losses coming to Florida State and South Carolina.

Quarterback Tajh Boyd was one of the best in the country. He passed for 3,896 yards with 36 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions.

There was plenty of talent around him at the skill positions, including running back Andre Ellington, and wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins.

11. Florida State Seminoles

Final 2012 Record: 12-2

A lot of people were not sure what to expect when Florida State took on Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl.

After a few series, it was pretty evident that the Seminoles came to play. The win capped off another solid season that featured an ACC title and a 12-win campaign.

Not many teams put up the stats that Florida State did, ranking 10th in the country in points and sixth in points allowed.

10. Florida Gators

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

With the exception of the Sugar Bowl, the Florida defense was dominant all season long, forcing turnovers and throttling SEC opponents.

The group only allowed 14.5 points a game, ranking fifth in the country.

Running back Mike Gillislee had an excellent season, rushing for 1,152 yards and 10 touchdowns. Quarterback Jeff Driskel and the passing game was a different story.

9. Kansas State Wildcats

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

Kansas State appeared to be headed for the national championship midway through the season, but a slip up against Baylor spelled doom for the Wildcats.

While quarterback Collin Klein had a solid season, it was not exactly the senior campaign he was looking for.

The Wildcats were dominant on both sides of the ball, but they excelled on offense. The group averaged 38.8 points a game, ranking 11th in the country.

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Final 2012 Record: 12-1

Notre Dame made it through the entire regular season without a loss, but it all fell apart in the national championship game as Alabama dismantled the Fighting Irish 42-14, and it was not even that close.

The success of the Fighting Irish was almost solely thanks to a defense that ranked second in the country, allowing only 12.8 points a game.

Linebacker Manti Te'o had a solid season and was one of the most dominant players in the country.

7. Texas A&M Aggies

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

Texas A&M was one of the most entertaining teams in the country to watch. Thanks to Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, it had no problem transitioning into the SEC.

The Aggies won 11 of their final 12 games after starting off the year with a home loss against Florida.

While the defense had its moments, offense was what propelled this team. The Aggies averaged 44.5 points a game, ranking fourth in the country.

6. Georgia Bulldogs

Final 2012 Record: 12-2

Georgia was a few seconds away from playing Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship, but it had to settle for an appearance in the Capital One Bowl.

The Bulldogs are one of the most talented teams in the SEC as far as offense is concerned.

The team ranked in the top 20 in the country on both offense and defense. Not many teams can say that. The offense should be even better in 2013.

5. South Carolina Gamecocks

Final 2012 Record: 11-2

South Carolina might have been as talented as any team in the country in 2012, but it stumbled in the middle of the season, losing consecutive games at LSU and Florida.

Other than that, the Gamecocks were perfect and dominated most of their opponents.

There is plenty of talent coming back for South Carolina, and even though running back Marcus Lattimore is moving on to the NFL, there is enough coming back to contend for the SEC title.

4. Stanford Cardinal

Final 2012 Record: 12-2

Even though Stanford struggled at times on offense, the defense picked up the team throughout the season, leading the team to the Pac-12 title and a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

The key to the season was the insertion of freshman quarterback Kevin Hogan midway through the year.

From that point on, Stanford won its final six games, including a few close games on its way to a 12-win season.

3. Oregon Ducks

Final 2012 Record: 12-1

With the exception of Alabama, Oregon is as talented as anybody in the country, and no team has the playmakers on offense that the Ducks do.

An overtime loss to Stanford kept the Ducks out of the national title game, but that did not stop them from dominating Kansas State 35-17 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Next season is going to be a challenge with Chip Kelly having left the program to take over the Philadelphia Eagles job. 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Final 2012 Record: 12-0

Ohio State was not bowl eligible, but that does not take away from the fact that the Buckeyes were the only undefeated team at the FBS level.

They would have played for a national championship but instead had to sit back and watch.

Quarterback Braxton Miller excelled in the system Urban Meyer brought to Columbus, and there are certainly good things to come from this team in 2013 and beyond.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Final 2012 Record: 13-1

There is no question Alabama is the top team on this list.

The Crimson Tide dominated Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game and showed why they are the premier program in college football.

Looking ahead to next year, it is hard to imagine any team beating them out for the top spot in the preseason poll.

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