That’s the best approach for the football team. However, fans following college football know it’s a rankings race, and perception matters. Being a Top Ten team early is a huge advantage; you can absorb one loss without free falling out of contention.
Number 10 Virginia Tech hosts number three Boise State on Monday, and the loser falls out of the top ten. In addition, the first weekend featured these unimpressive victories by ranked schools (margin of victory isn’t a ranking factor, but perception is):
(5) Texas 34, Rice 17
(7) Oklahoma 31, Utah State 24
(4) Florida 34 Miami (OH) 12
(12) Wisconsin 41, UNLV 21
(21) LSU 30, UNC 24 (13 North Carolina players ineligible)
Critical voices pooh-poohed the Oregon win, saying New Mexico was not very good. They’re not, but can you say Rice, Utah State, Miami of Ohio, UNLV, or North Carolina (minus 13 players) is much better? Well, maybe UNC, but the rest of these teams are in the same neighborhood as the Lobos, and their ranked opponents struggled to put them away.
Comparative scores don’t mean a lot. But it’s fair to say this: few teams demonstrated the same level of focus and relentless, purposeful execution that the Oregon Ducks did today.
Now they just have to play that way eleven more times. Twelve weeks, twelve Super Bowls, always improving.
That’s the best road map to follow for a return trip to Pasadena.
I think Oklahoma should drop below the Ducks but based on the name alone I think they may stay ahead. If I remember right OKL stayed in the rankings for a long time last year even when they had (3 or 4?) losses. Do you see any of the other teams dropping? I think the voters are just waiting and waiting for BSU to lose so they can send them sliding down the rankings and say I told you so.
ReplyDeleteAndy--
ReplyDeleteCertain big name schools get an automatic five-position boost in the rankings, and Oklahoma is one of those. They're coming off a mediocre year, they had a shaky performance in the opener, and it will probably take a minimum of two losses to get them out of the top 25.
With Boise State it's just the opposite. They're kind of a team the rest of the country loves to hate, and one loss will send them plummeting.
Thanks again for commenting. In this respect I side with Joe Giansante--I'm more of a Rose Bowl guy. The route there is clear cut and unblemished by subjectivity. I follow the polls merely out of curiosity, and because they have such impact on the national college football scene.
Dale