Danny Kanell’s latest top 12 brought a few familiar names to the front and one eyebrow-raising addition after a wild Week 3 across college football.
By Sunday morning, Kanell had reshuffled things enough to put four SEC teams at the top of his board: the Ole Miss Rebels, Texas Longhorns, Mississippi State Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide. The Georgia Bulldogs landed at No. 7 in the updated ranking.
“It’s the best because it’s no bias. You have to earn it. It’s the #DKtop12 pic.twitter.com/ZBYOLvn34H
- Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) September 20, 2026”
Ole Miss, Texas and Alabama being near the top isn’t exactly a shock to anyone who has been watching the season unfold. Mississippi State, though, is the team that stands out. The Bulldogs have forced their way into the conversation behind quarterback Kamario Taylor and a strong start under head coach Jeff Lebby.
Mississippi State already has two Power 4 road wins, and the most recent came in Week 3 with a 41-34 victory over South Carolina. That one had some real fight in it, too. The Bulldogs trailed 16-0 before ripping off 41-7 over a roughly 30-minute stretch.
Even with that kind of comeback on the résumé, Mississippi State may still be flying a little under the radar because of what else happened around the SEC. Ole Miss’ performance against LSU and Kentucky’s win at Texas A&M could keep the Bulldogs from getting the full spotlight for another week.
If that holds, Missouri might be the team in real danger in Week 4.
In Other News...
Keelon Russell May Have Changed Alabamas Ceiling Faster Than Expected
For a quarterback still finding his footing, Keelon Russell made Alabama look awfully grown up against Florida State. He helped drag the Crimson Tide out of a 21-6 hole, finished 23 of 30 for 320 yards and three touchdowns, added 56 rushing yards and another score, and guided an offense that scored on seven straight possessions in a 50-36 win.
The bigger takeaway for Alabama is not just the comeback itself, but how quickly Russell appears to be raising the programs offensive ceiling. He was careful afterward to describe himself as still developing, which is probably the most intriguing part for the Tide: if this is the early version, the rest of the league has reason to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]
Danny Kanell Takes Another Shot At Alabama Over Weather Delay
The Alabama-Florida State season opener turned into a long night of stops and starts after lightning pushed the game through multiple weather delays, turning what should have been a clean first look at both teams into a test of patience. As the interruptions stacked up, CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell took to social media and questioned whether the second delay was really necessary, adding another layer of scrutiny to a game already shaped by the weather.
Kanells comments quickly drew pushback, with the response centering on the safety standards that guide lightning-related suspensions rather than the feel of the storm from a TV booth or social media feed. Weather professionals then stepped in to explain the rules behind those decisions, a reminder that these delays are not made on instinct, even when they frustrate fans and analysts alike. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets An Early SEC Reality Check In New AP Poll
The first real stretch of SEC play has already started to reshape the AP top 25, and Alabama fans can see how unforgiving that weekly grind can be. Ole Miss win over LSU gave the Rebels another boost in the league race, while Florida moved into the rankings after a road win at Auburn, a reminder that early conference games can swing the national conversation fast.
Texas A&M also took a hit after falling to Kentucky, a result that only added to the sense that the leagues middle tier is still sorting itself out. For Alabama, the early poll movement serves as a useful checkpoint on what the SEC demands week after week, with contenders, sleepers and disappointments all starting to separate a little more clearly. [Read more 🡒]