On College Football: Week 1 Rankings

College football is a great game and it will bring many of us much excitement over the next four months. On the other hand, count me in as one who can’t stand the scheduling antics of the athletic departments. These pompous occupants within the sacred college campus continue to appall me by scheduling games against Oscar State, Rodney A&I, and Bobs from AccountTemps. Plus, as the statistics clearly show, it’s getting worse!

I base this ranking on an old fashion method – they earn it! Hype, tradition, and countless of other drivel don’t matter – it’s who you play and who you beat. Therefore, with many of the teams in the list below venturing next week into the smaller division, this week may be the only time they make their presence known on this list. Heck, this year’s out-of-conference scheduling is so pathetic I wonder if 10 teams exist to earn their way to this list.

They’ve Earned It Rankings: Week 1

1. Boise State (1-0)
2. LSU (1-0)
3. TCU (1-0)
4. Utah (1-0)
5. Maryland (1-0)
6. Michigan (1-0)
7. BYU (1-0)
8. Fresno State (1-0)
9. Notre Dame (1-0)
10. Kansas State (1-0)

They’ve Earned It Rankings Week 11 ’09

Houston’s Cinderella slipper is captured by a Knight. Iowa’s bounce-back attempt didn’t make it out of the Horseshoe, yet the Buckeyes showed that they shouldn’t be forgotten. TCU unveils new uniforms and a stunning result while most of the top teams predictably held serve.

As I look ahead to next week, attention getters are few and far between. As far as I’m concerned, Alabama scheduling a non-D1 game at this point of the season is grounds for firing the AD. That’s pathetic!

Up- TCU, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Pitt
Down- Texas
Out- Houston, Iowa
In: Ohio State, Pitt

They’ve Earned It Top 10

1. Alabama (10-0) Next: Tenn-Chattanooga
2. Florida (10-0) Next: @ Florida International
3. Georgia Tech (10-1) Next: Georgia
4. TCU (10-0) Next: @Wyoming
5. Cincinnati (10-0) Next: Bye
6. Texas (10-0) Next: Kansas
7. Ohio State (9-2) Next: @ Michigan
8. Pitt (9-1) Next: Bye
9. Boise (10-0) Next: @ Utah State
10. Oregon (8-2) Next: @Arizona

Besides games involving the top 10 teams, here are the potential ranking-impact games.

• Minnesota @ Iowa
• LSU @ Mississippi
• Cal @ Stanford

They’ve Earned it Rankings: Week 8 ’09

Although a several teams received a scare, Clemson beating Miami led the way for another week of college football. Then again, next week has set the stage for some sorting.

Movement

• Up: Iowa, USC, Oregon, LSU
• Down: Alabama, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati
• Out: Houston, Miami (FL)
• New: TCU, Oklahoma State, Texas

They’ve Earned It Top 10

1. Iowa (8-0) Next: Indiana
2. Alabama (8-0) Next: Bye
3. USC (6-1) Next: @ Oregon
4. Georgia Tech (6-1) Next: @ Vanderbilt
5. Oregon (6-1) Next: USC
6. Florida (7-0) Next: vs. Georgia (Jacksonville)
7. LSU (6-1) Next: Tulane
8. Cincinnati (7-0) Next: @ Syracuse
9. TCU (7-0) Next: UNLV
10. Oklahoma State (6-1) & Texas (7-0) Next: Each other in Stillwater

Next Week’s Games of Interest

• North Carolina @ Virginia Tech
• West Virginia @ South Florida
• Mississippi @ Auburn
• Central Michigan @ Boston College

On the First BCS 2009

Since we’re around the halfway point of the regular college football season, fans know that the BCS rankings are now in the spotlight – actually posting their first standings of the season yesterday.

Now every sensible fan knows that the BCS system has nothing to do with determining a national champion and everything to do with maximize the bowl dollars to richest programs.

Here’s an interesting ESPN video from 2008 that introduces each of the computer poll gurus who participate in the BCS ranking process.

I also discovered a secret, but authenticated, footage of a recent BCS-committee meeting.

They’ve Earned It Rankings: Week 7 ’09

Week 6 ends by bringing us the first BCS ranking – big deal! But there was something more pathetic than the BCS – and that’s Michigan for playing Delaware State. I frown hosting any nonD1 team anytime, but doing so in midseason is quite sorry. Sorry Wolverine fans, you may have to run the table to earn any respect here.

On a positive note, thought I’d toss out something to ponder. How many BCS teams have won three road games this year against BCS opponents? Sorry, neutral-field games don’t count.

• Certainly not Texas or Penn State as with their one road game.
• Not Florida since they have only played two away games.
• Georgia, Ga. Tech, Miami (FL), and Va. Tech have played interesting schedules, but they haven’t done it.
• Houston has captured the hearts of many, but they have only two.
• Keep thinking as the answer is given below the rating

Week 6 put the big kibosh onto Ohio State, Auburn, and Va. Tech – well, at least for now. Texas and Oklahoma State made pleas to get into these rankings. Florida survived a scare, while Boise won over a notable opponent.

These are the rankings based on results, not speculations and predictions. I know it’s different, but that’s why this is called They’ve Earned It. For those needing more explanation, read this post about PreSeason Rankings.

Up- Georgia Tech. Iowa, Cincinnati, Florida,
Down- Oregon, Miami, LSU, Houston
New – USC,
Out- Va. Tech

They’ve Earned It Top 10

1. Alabama (7-0) Next: Tennessee
2. Georgia Tech (5-1) Next: @ Virginia
3. Iowa (7-0) Next: @ Michigan State
4. Cincinnati (6-0) Next: @ Louisville
5. USC (5-1) Next: Oregon State
6. Florida (6-0) Next: @ Mississippi State
7. Oregon (5-1) Next: @ Washington
8. Miami (5-1) Next: Clemson
9. LSU (5-1) Next: Auburn
10. Houston (5-1) Next: SMU

Besides games involving the top 10 teams, here are the potential ranking-impact games.

• Air Force @ Utah
• Oklahoma State @ Baylor
• Penn State @ Michigan
• South Florida @ Pitt
• TCU @ BYU
• Texas @ Missouri
• UConn @ West Virginia

ANSWER: The 3 BSC teams with 3 road wins against BCS opponents: Cincinnati, Iowa, and USC whose opponents have a collective record of 13-5, 15-6, and 13-6 respectably. Keep in mind where those three teams were responsible for 3 of the losses.