| Harris Poll | Coaches Poll | Computer Avg. |
1. Oregon (10-0) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
2. Auburn (11-0) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
3. TCU (11-0) | 4 | 4 | 3 |
4. Boise State (10-0) | 3 | 3 | 5 |
5. LSU (10-1) | 6 | 6 | 4 |
6. Stanford (10-1) | 7 | 8 | 6 |
7. Wisconsin (10-1) | 5 | 5 | 8 |
8. Ohio State (10-1) | 8 | 7 | 9 |
9. Oklahoma St. (10-1) | 9 | 9 | 7 |
10. Michigan St. (10-1) | 10 | 10 | 12 |
11. Alabama (9-2) | 11 | 11 | 11 |
12. Arkansas (9-2) | 12 | 12 | 10 |
13. Oklahoma (9-2) | 13 | 13 | 14 |
14. Missouri (9-2) | 16 | 16 | 12 |
15. Nebraska (9-2) | 15 | 15 | 15 |
16. Virginia Tech (9-2) | 14 | 14 | 18 |
17. Texas A&M (8-3) | 18 | 18 | 16 |
18. South Carolina (8-3) | 17 | 17 | 17 |
19. Nevada (10-1) | 19 | 19 | 19 |
20. Utah (9-2) | 20 | 22 | 19 |
21. Arizona (7-3) | 21 | 20 | 21 |
22. Florida State (8-3) | 22 | 21 | 24 |
23. NC State (8-3) | 23 | 23 | 25 |
24. Iowa (7-4) | 24 | 24 | 23 |
25. Mississippi St. (7-4) | 25 | 25 | 22 |
Fell from poll: Miami (FL)
Voters get it right…? I like the human polls better for a couple of reasons. Right now, Wisconsin feels like the most dominating one loss team at this point in the season. LSU is tough, and Stanford deserves to be in the conversation, but offensively and defensively, there isn’t a better team outside of the four undefeated in the country. Boise State with a No. 3 ranking is the other reason I like the human polls. Boise continues to roll over their schedule, beating a fine Fresno State football team 51-0, the same Fresno team that beat Cincinnati, and placed 38 points on Mississippi. Moving Michigan State into the top 10 feels right as well. They earned it Saturday with a hard fought win, their 10th win of the season. I would have liked to see Virginia Tech move up higher than their No. 14 ranking in the human polls. A spot ahead of the Big 12 three – Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska – would have felt better. The Hokies have won eight straight games and have walked through the conference with a clean slate.
Computer Malfunctions…? Every week the BCS computers bring a certain reaction to outsiders looking in. This week’s reaction is surprise. The first and obvious is still the No. 5 ranking for Boise. I’ve said all I can say about the rankings and the Broncos. I’m going to have to be at peace with them. The BCS computers nearly averaged all top 10 rankings for the top 10 teams, what would have been a first this season. Michigan State was the lone team left out, with a No. 12 rank. The biggest surprise came from Arkansas, who pulled in a No. 10 ranking. The Razorbacks beat a good Mississippi State team Saturday, the part I can’t believe, however, is how the computers got over their crush on Alabama (No.11), especially after the Tide beat the Razorbacks earlier this year. Utah, who had to come from behind for a win against San Diego State, moved up three spots, another surprise.
Biggest Movers…The Cornhuskers took the biggest move of the week, dropping seven spots in the rankings. The loss to the Aggies likely won’t keep Nebraska from the Big 12 Championship game, as a loss to Colorado would have to follow this week. The loss, however, was an embarrassment to both the players, and coaches, who both contributed to 16 penalties Saturday. Both Iowa and Mississippi State fell four spots in the rankings. Iowa lost to Ohio State at home, while the Bulldogs fell to Arkansas. The highest raising team was Utah at three spots. Michigan State and Texas A&M as well as a couple others at two moves up.
Welcome to the Top 25…Rightfully so, only one team was welcomed to the BCS rankings this week. That team is North Carolina State, who has been dipping in and out of the bottom of the poll for the greater half of the season. I look at the Wolfpack as the favorite in the ACC Coastal and they have a good chance to walk away with the ACC title all together.
We were snubbed...! I don’t really think anyone was snubbed this week. It’s odd because I love throwing out the snub card. If I had to send one out, there’d be a card in the mail to Nevada right about now. The Wolf Pack absolutely demolished New Mexico State 52-6 Saturday, then found them fall a place in the rankings from No. 18 to No. 19. Snubbed! Well, not really. If you look at the implications the ranking could have on the Boise State matchup this week, then it begins to look more like a snub for Boise.
There’s always next week…There hasn’t been a week of potential shakeup possible like the approaching weekend in quite some time in college football. There are five top 25 matchups and six in state rivalries sure to give voters headaches come Sunday. No.9 Oklahoma State has an opportunity to make the Big 12 title game for the first time, but will need to get through No. 13 Oklahoma first. No. 17 Texas A&M looks to continue their hot run through the latter half of their schedule but will need to get by a Texas team seeking to become bowl eligible. No. 5 LSU has an opportunity to still bring in a BCS bowl berth but No. 12 Arkansas stands in the way. No. 4 Boise needs to get past No. 19 Nevada on the road in order to walk the season with a clean bill in the loss column. Auburn makes a move closer to the BCS title game with a win over Alabama Saturday in one of the most heated rivalries in the country. Don’t expect the same look from the BCS standings one week from now. It’s about to get a little messy for voters.
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