My NCAAF Rankings
September 5, 2004:
Yesterday was an exciting day for college football. No top-ranked team got upset, but
there were some close calls (like LSU and Clemson). The fact that everyone who was supposed
to win won (unless you thought Toledo would upset Minnesota) would lead most people to
believe the rankings shouldn't be changed. But there's where you're wrong. Some teams showed
they were a lot stronger than others, while some showed that they're weaker than many expected.
And so here is my personal new and improved top twenty-five teams list.
#1: Oklahoma (previously 2nd)
Oklahoma, having lost their last two games of the 2003-2004 season, had to come out
and prove they deserved a high rank. They did just that, beating Bowling Green 40-24. Now, I
have to admit it was tough putting them over USC, but they deserve it. Oklahoma's an even
better team that last year, if you can believe that. And the only reason Oklahoma dropped off
last year was because Heisman winner Jason White was playing injured. They will be one of the
best teams in the country--even better than USC.
#2: USC (previously 1st)
It's hard to give last year's co-national champions the number two spot, but you can't
put them above Oklahoma. Although they did have a good 24-13 win over Virginia Tech, a team
that might be ranked before the end of the year, they did struggle early. And the fact that USC
has just lost too many players to be as dominant as Oklahoma makes me put them at number 2.
#3: Georgia (previously 4th)
Just ask any analyst and they'd probably tell you Georgia's they're favorite to win the
championship this year. And they came out strong yesterday, with a 48-24 win over Georgia
Southern. Right now they're probably the second best team in the nation, only to Oklahoma.
#4: Michigan (previously 5th)
I almost feel bad to give Michigan this low a ranking. After all, they had a killer season
last year, only losing three times (once to USC in the Rose Bowl), and they still have most of
last year's players. Plus, they killed a Miami Ohio team who had won 14 in a row by the score
of 43-10 yesterday. However, they still haven't proven themselves better than Oklahoma, USC,
or Georgia. Just give them time, though, and they very well could.
#5: LSU (previously 3rd)
Some might consider me gracious to put LSU this high. After all, they nearly (and should
have, if it weren't for the OSU kicker) got beat by an unranked Oregon State team. This just
shows that people shouldn't expect LSU to be the same team they were last year. They've lost
too many players. And besides, they had the advantage last year as underdogs. Now that they're
supposed to play well, they won't. Still though, I do have to keep LSU in the top 5. No matter
how miserably close they came to defeat yesterday (which was close), they still got the W. And
a win's a win, no matter how dismal.
#6: Texas (previously 8th)
Due to Texas's 65-0 defeat of North Texas yesterday, I have to bump them up two spots.
However, it's not so much for the huge win as the plain fact that they're better than Miami, Florida
State, and others. They have a great team, and can challenge Oklahoma (they won't succeed, but
they can try) for the conference.
#7: Miami (previously 5th)
You may find it odd that I'm bumping a team that didn't even play yesterday down two
spots. But it's for the simple fact that they shouldn't have been 5th in the first place. They've
lost too many players, and have a worse team than they did last year. Last year they didn't
even have a good season, but this season should be worse. In fact, by January, they could be
out of the top ten.
#8: Florida State (previously 6th)
Florida State and Miami should be rivals just because they're so much alike. For
instance, they're both highly overrated, and both will have disappointing seasons this year.
Last year FSU went 8-5, and they shouldn't do much better, if any better, this year.
#9: West Virginia (previously 11th)
West Virginia was able to storm past East Carolina 56-23 yesterday. West Virginia
is a team that first got recognized by almost beating Miami and then knocking Virginia Tech
down. And this year they'll be even better. They should have no trouble winning the not-so-
Big East. And they could be one of the top teams in the nation for the simple fact that they
will always be underdogs.
#10: Ohio State (previously 9th)
Although they did beat Cincinnati 27-6 yesterday, it was close early. This year should
be nothing like 2002-2003, since they've lost their star QB Craig Krenzel. But yesterday's win
will still be able to secure them a temporary top-ten ranking.
#11: Florida (previously 10th)
There's only one reason Florida is eleventh: they didn't play yesterday. If they do win
their first game of the season, which they should, then they can easily overtake OSU for tenth.
They have a great team, and will be underdogs--which is always a plus.
#12: Iowa (previously 13th)
Iowa has a tough schedule this year and so their season is questionable. But at least by
winning their season-opener over Kent State 39-7, they've shown that maybe they shouldn't be
questioned.
#13: California (previously 14th)
California absolutely bombed the Air Force yesterday (no pun intended) 56-14. They
should be a great team, since they only have one big question in their schedule: USC.
#14: Kansas State (previously 12th)
KSU is very close to the calibur of both Iowa and California. However, yesterday's
27-13 win over Western Kentucky wasn't as impressive as Iowa's and Cal's.
#15: Tennessee (no change)
Finally, you say, a team that I didn't change! They've yet to play their first game, and
haven't yet proven that they should move up or down in the rankings.
#16: Missouri (previously 17th)
Missouri's 52-20 win over Arkansas State was impressive enough to move them up a spot.
#17: Utah (previously 19th)
Some expected Utah to struggle in Thursday's game against Texas A & M. But they won
41-21. That win gives them enough to edge past both Clemson and Auburn.
#18: Clemson (previously 16th)
Like LSU, they had a hard time winning yesterday. Not only that, but it was against an
easy Wake Forest team. However, they did get a win. And their ease of schedule puts them
just ahead of Auburn and Virginia.
#19: Virginia (previously 20th)
Virginia had a nice win over Temple 44-14, which allows them to move up one spot.
#20: Auburn (previously 18th)
Despite a decisive 31-0 win over Louisiana Monroe, this team is knocked down for one
simple reason. They have a very tough schedule, including games against three teams--LSU,
Tennessee, and Georgia--who they shouldn't beat.
#21: Minnesota (previously 23rd)
Some analysts thought their game against Toledo yesterday was "an upset in the making."
Yet they managed to win 63-21. This team only has two games they shouldn't win on their
schedule: one at Michigan and one versus Iowa. Other than that, they should have a great season.
#22: Wisconsin (no change)
After a 34-6 win over Central Florida, this team is looking good. They only have two real
games on their schedule they should lose, but they also have two others (versus Minnesota and
Purdue) that are questionable. Still, they shouldn't disappoint this season.
#23: Oregon (previously 24th)
It's always strange when a team moves up despite having not played. However, they are
a good team with only two tough games (one at Oklahoma and another at California).
#24: Oregon State (previously unranked)
This wasn't supposed to be a good team this year, but with a near defeat of LSU, they are
changing peoples' minds. Still, though, LSU seemed to nearly give them the game and they still
couldn't win it. With a very tough schedule still ahead, they'll have to stay low in the rankings
until they prove nonbelievers like me wrong.
#25: Purdue (no change)
Last and least is Purdue. Although they creamed Syracuse 51-0 today, Syracuse
isn't exactly a tough team. With Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, and Wisconsin all ahead in their
schedule, and with a couple possible upset games (like one against Notre Dame and another
at Penn State), things aren't looking all that great for Purdue.
Teams left out:
The biggest team left out is Maryland. Although they narrowly defeated Northern
Illinois 23-20, things still aren't looking good for Maryland. They have games at West Virginia,
at Clemson, at Virginia, and versus Florida State, and they should lose all of them. They could
also drop other games, such as those against Virginia Tech and NC State. Other teams that just
missed the rankings include Nebraska, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma State.
Keep in mind, these are just my rankings. When the new rankings come out, they might
not look like this. In fact, I'd be surprised if they did, since I never seem to go with the pack.
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