/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3838563/20120915_lbm_bw1_035.0.jpg)
New this week: Central Florida Knights
Dropped Out: Tulsa Golden Hurricane
EQ Top Ten (Week 13)
- NIU (11-1): The Huskies have won has won 20 of their last 21 games and finished the season a perfect 8-0 in conference play to extend their FBS best 16-game conference winning streak. NIU has won at least 11 games in three consecutive seasons and are set to play another 11-1 (8-0) team in the MAC Championship Game that has BCS implications.
- Kent State (11-1): Kent State ran the table against its conference slate to finish 11-1 (8-0) for the season and earn a first-ever berth to the MAC Championship Game. The winner of that MAC Championship Game will finish 12-1 (9-0) and should get an invitation to a BCS Bowl. Whichever bowl Kent State goes to, will be the first since 1972.
- Utah State (10-2): Utah State finished its breakthrough season with its tenth win of the year to give the Aggies their first ever double-digit win season.
- San Jose State (10-2): The win over Louisiana Tech doubled the Spartans' win total from the previous year and gave San Jose State their most wins since 1987.
- Ball State (9-3): Ball State finished with a strong 9-3 record having only lost to the two 1-loss MAC division winners and a 2-loss Clemson.
- Toledo (9-3): The Rockets' solid season was complicated by playing in a very strong MAC West division. Had all the realignment dominoes fallen a little differently, Toledo may have won the Big East this year.
- Boise State (9-2): Boise State was on a BYE week.
- Louisiana Tech (9-3): The Bulldogs' nine wins is the most since 1992 and the highest as a member of the WAC. Interesting note: Louisiana Tech only beat one bowl eligible team all year (6-6 Rice).
- Fresno State (9-3): The Bulldogs' ninth win of the season was the most ever by a first-year coach at Fresno State.
- Central Florida (9-3): The Knights controlled conference opponents much more impressively than did Tulsa, so despite losing a close head-to-head against the Golden Hurricane, the Knights got the nod this week. The two clubs go at it for a second time next week, with the Conference Title on the line, to settle which team is the best in the conference.
PAST RANKINGS:
Week 12