Here's hoping that 2007 will be the final straw before a playoff. I'm hoping we have Kansas vs USF in the title game. Perhaps the financial hit would cause a shakeup. This season is bizarre. We're on the cusp of the first BCS standings being released, and there's no favorite, no sensable #1 team. I'll just say I think these are the best teams in college football right now (in no particular order):
LSU, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Cal, Ohio St., Florida, USF, and Auburn.
Not S. Carolina, not USC, and not Boston College (the biggest fraud of them all). Ohio St. is on the brink...their best win was Washington.

What a year

Mandel,

Week after week I hear the "Team A beats B and B beats C so A is better than C" argument. By now it should be clear that Winning should be the #1 criteria in voting. After watching the Hawaii game it made me realize that WINNERS ARE CHAMPIONS AND CHAMPIONS ARE WINNERS. PERIOD. If you win, you should move up, if you lose you should move down. Winning against ANY team is tough so who is anyone to say which team is "better", thus vote this: Winners Up, Losers Down. Enough Said.

It's gotta be Boston College. I believe they've beaten more quality opponents than Ohio State and USF's lone big win was against WV.

Agree with tortuga. So what if USF or Kansas or any other NOT TRADITIONAL POWERHOUSE gets in. Parity is GOOD for the game. Maybe now we'll get a REAL CHAMPIONSHIP that's decided ON THE FIELD and NOT via "experts" voting.

And just who are those good teams that BC has beaten? Ohio St. hasn't beaten a soul either. Kansas has just as much merit as those 2. USF has beaten WVA and Auburn. Put them #1 based on merit not reputation.

stewart - vote Ohio St. something other than #1 at your own peril. All season long you've been dogging the Buckeyes (remember dropping them because MICHIGAN lost?? Real smart) All season long the media has been hesitant to praise the team that made them look foolish last year (and lets be honest- that's what it is - the media's ego is bruised), but Ohio State is legit. I don't care that they haven't played anyone. They've destroyed, dominated, controlled, and whipped each team they've played. They've given up 46 points TOTAL. Their defense is lights out. Their offense is serviceable (much more so than the 2002 championship team's). They're number 1 right now, whether you're smart enough to admit it or not.

Oh the irony. You have voted Ohio State as #3, just this last week maybe, now suddenly you wont vote for them when the other two teams (1) and (2), respectively, both fall a weekend later? Talk about consistency. And you guys get paid for all this?

Week after week I look forward to reading your blogs. But in all reality; 2007 has made a mockery of all who proclaim to be "experts" and cast votes.

The system has failed. Go find another job and simply allow the divisions play-offs until one true champion is annointed. To hell with your predictions, speculations, and all that other mambo jambo you and your peers type.

"It's gotta be Boston College. I believe they've beaten more quality opponents than Ohio State and USF's lone big win was against WV."

USF beat Auburn which beat Florida. At least get your facts straight.

Ohio State has only beaten the teams in front of them. IF LSU doesn't have a brain cramp and rough the QB in the 1st OT, it's likely they win the game.

I'm an OSU fan, but were I voting, I would be totally impartial. That said, My top 5 would be as follows
1. USF
2. OSU
3. BC
4. Oklahoma
5. LSU

I'm just not impressed with the way South Carolina has played, and don't think they deserve a top 5 spot. I think I'd also keep USC at #20 where they have not proven they should be moved from.

OK Stewart here is your top ten. And by the way I am a Buckeye fan.
1. USF
2. OSU
3. BC
4. LSU
5. CAL
6. Florida
7. Oklahoma
8. Kentucky
9. West Virginia
10. Oregon

If only I were a voter, then my opinion would actually matter. I would love to submit my top 25 to be considered! And I hate to say it, what with all the obsession over fantasy football already, but there may be some sort of fantasy game there, involving guessing the new top 25. This task would be incredibly difficult this season, given the famous buzzword "parity".

I attended the Cal game. The way Cal lost was heartbreaking, but it evens out if you consider that Cal beat Oregon on Colvin's last-play mistake. And I wouldn't trade Riley's mistake for Colvin's mistake. Oregon State finally had a mistake-free game, and ran the ball down Cal's throats. If the Beavers stop killing themselves, look out for them in the Pac-10.

By the way, to the gloating Buckeye fans: You're next! Be glad the Big 10 is horrific.

Get a grip, some of you. Stewart votes in the AP poll, which is not used the BCS any longer. You'll have to find someone else to blame for your team not making the title game, he has nothing to do with it.

On a related note, I like your writing Stewart, but you're crossing over into serious drama queen territory lately with all this agonizing over your ballot. Or else you just like reminding us what a big deal you are? In either case, enough already.

It's time to stop considering what opposition teams have faced to date, but rather how they have performed against those opponents and what weak links exist. Unfortunately, this requires far more time to do than the average fan--and perhaps even the average AP voter--can manage.

Especially since half the stats used to analyze games are horribly flawed.

The top 10 I wound up submitting:

1) South Florida (6)
2) LSU (1)
3) Ohio State (3)
4) Oregon (4)
5) Oklahoma (5)
6) South Carolina (8)
7) Kentucky (17)
8) Boston College (7)
9) West Virginia (10)
10) Arizona State (13)

Stew, I can't believe those rankings! While Boston College hasn't done a lot to merit being ranked #1, they are undefeated playing in the ACC and deserve a top 5 I would think. And I hate to criticize the rankings, because I know how hard it has been the last couple weeks. However, dropping LSU one spot after a loss? That's saying they deserve a shot at the championship game above all the other teams, which is not really right. However, somehow it would be okay to drop LSU just one spot after a loss to a ranked team if they weren't in the top 10. But because they have that target on them at #1, after a loss, they can't really just be dropped one spot!

1. OSU
2. Oklahoma
3. Kentucky
4. Cal
5. LSU
6. Florida
7. Arizona State
8. Oregon
9. Hawaii
10. Cincinnati
11. Boston College
12. South Carolina
13. Auburn
14. West Virginia
15. Kansas
16. USF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17. Florida State
18. Tennessee
19. Michigan
20. Indiana
21. Connecticut
22. USC Trojans...
23. Illinois
24. Virginia Tech
25. Colorado



Why did Washington get more votes in the AP poll last week than UCLA??????????? Who is at the bottom at the Pac-10 and who is at #2??? Is it just punishment for losing to Notre Dame?

Stewart-

I have been a big fan of yours for awhile, but get a grip, those rankings are ridiculous

STEWART, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! In the same week that South Florida beat a Sunbelt team, and Ohio State beat a MAC team, you jump USF 5 spots to #1 while Ohio State is still ranked below an "unbeatable" LSU team that lost to Kentucky?! That's H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E analysis. I don't have any sympathy for you and your so-called "plight" in trying to rank teams. When you screw up this bad, you're just a moron. Maybe you need a nap every Saturday night before you submit these things.

Being a champion at college football is about showing up every week to beat your opponent, not about what analysts think would happen in some hypothetical universe. LSU didn't show up. OSU, USF, and BC did. What are you thinking?!

stewart, i can tell you as a cal fan, you are totally right. i am brokenhearted, very drunk, and devastated. what a season.

Stu! How can you have Cal drop out of the top ten when it's the ONLY one loss team who's loss can be explained?

Also right after Cal beat Oregon AT Oregon just two weeks ago?

Stew,

Surprised you punished Cal so harshly while only dropping LSU a spot. I can understand the difficulty, but doesn't that seem unreasonable?

Ohio St. has "destroyed, dismantled" etc. a bunch of second tier teams that would probably only be competative on a regular basis in 6A high school football (at best). OSU was overrated last year (OBVIOUSLY... 41-14), and not much has changed. To prove yourself you have to beat somebody of worth! DONT vote them number 1!

PS- can anyone honestly say the SEC isn't the toughest conference in football?

and further...Where's Florida in your top 10?? They lost to the now number 2 team by 4 points a week ago, but they arent top 10 material??? this is why we need a playoff.

Let's look at the NCAA Basketball vs. Football situations. In one we have a tournament which results in a clear winner regardless of a few losses during the regular season, in the other we do not. Is there anyone who can now seriously argue that we should not have a playoff in football after this weekend? Does anyone really think that USF would go undefeated in the SEC or PAC-10? Come on, let's get a playoff involving at least the top 8 and settle it on the field, instead of based on a bunch of media pollsters who will rank an undefeated team from a weak conference ahead of a team like Florida or USC that have had a few close losses. I bet the top 5 we end up with would lose to most of the 10-15 schools. We need a playoff!

Wait, let me get this straight. Following back to back losses, and a bye week, you think Florida should move UP?!?! That is totally irrational! Following your logic, Tulane was only losing to the #2 team by 1 point at halftime, and ended up losing 34-9. Therefore, shouldn't they be in the top 25? See how stupid that sounds when put into perspective? And I can understand if you don't respect Ohio State's opponents, but they're significantly better than high school teams. Washington has a good young program, and will really surprise some teams. They took USC to the wire before losing by just 3 points. Last week, Ohio State shut down an explosive Purdue team ranked #23 in the nation. Not to mention the mighty powerhouse Youngstown State! :)

Not all wins are created equal and not all losses are created equal. The reason for a playoff should never have been due to concerns about having three (or more) deserving undefeated teams. The main reason for a playoff has always been that there are typically several excellent one-loss teams campaigning to get into the title game. Also, there's no reason for all the exaggerated hair-pulling over ballots. Most of the top teams have only played 3 or 4 conference games. Who cares where USF is ranked this week? Let's wait until they've gone on the road at Rutgers and Louisville. Let's wait until BC has won on the road at Blackburg and hosted FSU. A few weeks ago, lots of "experts" talked about how meaningless it was to provide rankings after just a few tune-up games. Today we are not much further down the line and still have lots of questions about OSU, USF or BC.

BTW - shame on the media for not providing more context to the average fan or reporting the details of the games.
LSU squeaks by Fla with 5 4th down conversions. Cal lost - playing behind a redshirt freshman (who finished with a freshman mistake) due to injury. USC lost - with JD playing most of the game with a broken finger and Stanford converting 2 4th downs, including a miracle catch on the winning TD. UCLA lost to ND when their QB went out and their replacement made several costly turnovers. West Va was upset in a game where their star QB was injured before halftime. Some of these teams would have still lost even if they were healthy, but it's a shame that many casual fans only know about the upsets with little background on why they happened.

. . . I forgot the limited reporting on Ted Ginn's injury after the first play against Fla (when he ran by the entire team to return the kickoff for a TD) and the impact on the OSU offense. I'm sure Fla would have still won 41-14 if Harvin, Tebow or Leak had gone out after one play. I'm sure the Fla defense would have gone after Troy Smith with their ears pinned back if Ginn was still in the game.

The problem with all the people wanting a playoff is this. As soon as you limit the playoffs to a certain number of teams, based on the same rankings that you currently complain about, there will be a whole new list of complaints. People will argue that the NFL playoff system works, but the difference is this. They have all sorts of tiebreakers, and set rules that allow you to know for sure which teams are making the postseason, and which are not. In college football, you would not have that same degree of separation, mostly because you cannot know which are the 8 best teams in the country, or the 16 best teams in the country. People would still be crying that you left out (fill in name of beloved school) and let (fill in name of most-hated rival) into the playoffs! How could you justify that decision? And those teams that you are currently crying about, (i.e. BC, Hawaii, and USF) would also have to be included in the playoffs, probably knocking out one of your favorite teams, and then you'd still be unhappy with the system. So let's see how this season plays out before we start begging for a playoff system.

the alcohol intake between baton rouge and berkeley must be record setting tonight

I love the whole "ohio state hasn't played anyone yet" argument. Last time i checked...there was stanford, colorado, app st....just some "cupcake" teams that have knocked off top 5 teams. Ohio state has done nothing but win. i'm not saying OSU is going to the championship game, but until they lose, you have to respect the place they are in. IMHO, they are #2 right now behind USF. USF has played a harder schedule and is still undefeated. BC at number 3. LSU at 4. Oklahoma at 5. Cal at 6. South Carolina at 7. Oregon at 8. UK at 9. Florida at 10.

USF, OSU, and BC keep winnnig. LSU lost. you cant punish OSU and BC for the schedule. Plus seriously, is there any difference between OSU and LSU? I mean seriously, OSU Def v LSU Def. Tossup. LSU off v OSU off...after seeing flynn throw the last couple of weeks, i'll give a slight edge to LSU, but no by much. Kicking game advantage OSU. There's no way LSU is so much better than OSU that they deserve to be higher despite the loss. Incredulous.

Stewart, for you to admonish OSU for not playing "anyone of consequence" when top 5 and top 10 teams are losing to these week in week out is ridiculous. if the other teams in the nation aren't beating these teams, why are you punishing OSU for just winning. Y

Okay. Playoffs here we go. I have the solution and the outcome of going to a play off. Let's decide it now.

Let's take all D1 teams and create a playoff. A real one. No divisions or conferences and no independants. There are something like 116 or so right? (This is just a strategic plan with little detail associated with it). There are no polls and rankings (maybe we should actually make all polls and rankings illegal and punishable by death) with all teams starting at 0-0. The season would start with a round robin tournament of four or five games. After that the brackets would be set up by regions across the country. The tournament would continue to 12,13, 14 games for the NC game. This would ensure that the team that wins the NC game would be the best team on that day. It would also do several other things...
1) It would do away with the things that make university such an integral part of life in our community. This would ultimately serve to give notice to all the other sports that a university runs that they would have to "make money". Conferences would become non-existent because they would serve no need to a university. 2) Bowls would ultimately fade away with all other things in the past because with the regional games and the semi-finals, etc would untimately be bid out by the NCAA and the NC game would become as big - maybe even bigger than a Super Bowl. 3) Sports talk shows on TV, radio and in print would loose out on all sorts of money and advertisement because the blog-o-sphere associated with college football would no longer have the same passion, discontent, that make it the best game in the country.
4) We would have everyone in D1 on the same page and be equal at the beginning of the year, at least.

So, I think that having the SEC fans howling ever single stinking year at how the SEC is the strongest, best, fastest conference in the country would go away. How unfair the rankings are for them...yes I think we should go for it. It is worth it. I get to hear sports analysts talking about the game, the players, the stats and not about their opinions, the SEC bloggers stop their yapping, and conferences would no longer matter and the NCAA could become what it should become - whatever that is I still don't know. So, yes I think it is worth it...NOT!

The NCAA basketball tournament solves nothing in reality, and neither would a playoff tournament in football. The world series ultimately does not either, no championship system is perfect and none is more perfect. Those systems just have benefits and detractions. The thing that makes any one sport championship great is the conversation it causes. That is why college football is the best and no play off system will make it better and in my humble opinion make it worse in the end.

In my prior entry, I made no argument about Florida moving up, folks, simply that a "National Champion" determined by a bunch of poll votes for 1 vs. 2 is silly. Further, how many of you would place a wager on Florida vs. USF (I will be happy to take Florida (or Ohio State) giving 10 points to USF). No system is perfect, and of course we will end up with controversy about who the #8 vs. #9 teams are if we cut it off there. But at least that would be less wrong than this mess. I also wish we would increase the weight on the computer rankings in the BCS and reduce the weight on the polls, once again giving teams with good statistics and tough schedules a better chance.

"As soon as you limit the playoffs to a certain number of teams, based on the same rankings that you currently complain about, there will be a whole new list of complaints."

Yeah, well, sounds a bit like "bubble teams" for March Madness, yes?

There will always be controversy, yes, but I would submit that controversy over who is No. 16 vs No. 17 is at least somewhat less significant than No. 2 vs No. 3. With 16 teams, at least pretty much all the teams that most everyone agrees should have a shot, will -- the controversy will be on the second-tier teams that might have an outside chance.

Though OSU will almost certainly wind up #1 this week, does anyone actually know which of the following teams (disregarding all previous polls) is playing the best: OSU, USF, BC, OU, South Carolina, Oregon, Cal?

Whatever the faults of a playoff system, at least it would let these (and other arguably deserving teams) actually sort it out between themselves instead of walking the catwalk of the polls.

When is Michigan going to make it back into the poll? USC had a bigger upset, but are still in the top 10? Go blue!

When are the pollsters going to realize that University of Michigan belongs back in the top 10? USC had a bigger upset and are still in the top 10? When the Wolverines beat OSU, and get the BCS bowl bid, the nation will realize how good Michigan is.

Stewart,
I highly doubt that Auburn's defense is *that* good. So what if Tuberville insisted that he knew they would slow down McFadden and Jones, that's all a defense has to do. Casey Dick isn't going to hurt anyone, esp w/ Monk out. The only reason the Razorbacks fine RB tandem gets their yards is good blocking and incredible speed and vision and strength.

Any defense they play should *FORCE* Dick to beat them with the pass so I think the jury is still out on Auburn's defense esp in lieu of the Miss State loss. ; )

Stewart Mandel said:

"The top 10 I wound up submitting:

1) South Florida (6)
2) LSU (1)
3) Ohio State (3)
4) Oregon (4)
5) Oklahoma (5)
6) South Carolina (8)
7) Kentucky (17)
8) Boston College (7)
9) West Virginia (10)
10) Arizona State (13)"

Now I know why I did not bother buying your book.

I seem to recall your comments about not wanting to drop Oregon in that close game against Cal. Yet they too dropped several spots in your poll. Any team can beat anyone if one team shows up and plays a bad game. In the Auburn/USF game Auburn played horrible. In the Auburn/Florida game, Florida played horrible. In the WVU/USF game, WVU didn't have their starting QB! Guess what, LSU played horrible last night against KY. If LSU is a #2 team after losing to a #9 team, then why is WVU not at #3 or #4 since they lost to your #1 team? Anyone who takes the logic that losing to a #9 team means you drop one spot clearly is delusional. Did you drop Michigan one spot last year after they lost to Ohio State?


Has anyone considered that perhaps West Virginia isn't that good to begin with? And if I'm not mistaken, didn't WVU play the entire second half without their first string QB?

Stewart, would you finally just admit that for whatever reason you dislike Ohio State and probably have ever since you were a kid? You don't have to say why, just come out and admit it so all the other OSU fans can understand your logic here...

wow--- waht a college football season-- the best Ive ever seen---

TOP TEN---- COME ON PEOPLE--

1--- OHIO ST
2---- BC
3--- S.FL
4-- LSU
5--- OK
6--- S.CAR
7----ORE
8-----CAL
9---FL
10---KY

What does BEST TEAM mean? Stop whining about your key players being injured if you lost because if you are the BEST TEAM you have enough depth to not miss a beat. There are lots of good teams this season just no great ones. Reading inconsistent media excuses for teams that lose so they can justify their preseason rankings is sad (not you Stewart, you have taken the higher road despite the crybabies on this blog) EVERY conference has good teams that have beaten teams in every conference...the field should be the place to decide who is the best...not polls, not the biased "homer" media types

I really am getting sick of people ranting on about how their team is better than this or that team for the sole reason that they have "history".

You cannot judge any team based on what it did or didnt do in years past.
What matters is how they are playing currently. Dont get me wrong... many teams have a storied and wonderful history. This counts for a lot in terms of loyal fans and "feel good" seasons.

However... Just because your team was good for 100 years, and sucks this year, doesnt mean that you should be entitled to any ranking. A good example is Notre Dame. There are few school with that kind of "feel good" history. However, they are terrible this year. They dont deserve anything but what they win THIS season. (Most agree that they should be forced into a conference instead of recieving "special treatment" and automatic BCS berths)

I get sick of the sense of "entitlement". This has been a topsy turvy year and frankly, I am glad for it. It will make the "traditional powers" step to the plate and not just rest on their laurels. These kids are all super talented... Much more so than I or most of you. But just because a team did something great x years ago, doesnt mean that the new players can just come in and play half assed and be automatically "entitled" to this or that ranking because of their predecesors.

USF is a great story. Rock on for Them. So what if they have only been around for 10 years. They are winning... period. They cant rest on past laurels because they have none. Some of the "traditional powers" need to step up their game. For far too long, teams have been resting too comfortably on someone elses accomplishments.

As for the rankings? Base them on the current year... not how great your team has "traditionally been"

Just because your forefathers did something great, doesnt mean that you have done anything yet... its just like the rich kid who thinks hes "all that" because his daddy or grandfather built a company from scratch... Hey sporto... what have YOU done? I know what your family tree is, and what your father did... but what about YOU!?

OK...here's the deal...yes, this is THE season of upsets...i mean, really, LSU losing to UK? What is it? are folks just really allergic to that Number 1 spot?? lol :) on a more serious note...about Ohio State not deserving number one...um...i don't think that's fair to say...the Buckeyes didn't ask for that schedule...in a year where top ranked teams are getting steamrolled by these "lesser" teams that weren't supposed to have a chance...the Buckeyes took that less than exciting schedule and made the best of it...they did what they were SUPPOSED to do...and that was go out and win games...in a year where Cal can't beat Oregon State, USC can't beat Stanford...and, dare I say it, Michigan can't beat Appalachian State, Ohio State is doing pretty good for itself and since they are the only ranked team that has been able to WIN every game they've played, (no matter how one-sided) they deserve to be #1...period.

Stewart -

After reading your column for several years, I'm suspicious that you either (a) attended a college that does not have a football program, or (b) did not attend college at all, and are consequently without affiliation. It's the only possible explanation for your bias against every college football program known to man (and Notre Dame's).

Note that in all this time I haven't seen any actual evidence of a bias, but others seem to feel you have one, so it must be true.

OK, so now who's #1?
In any other year of college football, the regular thinking would be that if #1 AND #2 ranked teams lose, #3 does a George and 'Weezie, and goes moo--oo--ovin on up. But, can we even call -THIS, remotely a regular year??? No way. What started in Ann Arbor at noon on Sept 1st, has gone thro out the college football landscape laying to waste favorites nearly every single weekend and probably isn't done yet.

So, now that every single preseason top 10 team has lost, how do the people that picked THOSE teams, choose who is the newly annointed #1? Old school thinking takes Ohio State up to #1, and I am afraid that is what's going to happen. Oh how I hate Ohio State, but that's only half the problem I have with moving them up, the other half is their paper thin schedule. No quality wins, all just below average at best teams. The two above average "W"s came against Washington 33-14 (just got ripped by ASU 44-20) and Purdue 23-7 (just got ripped by Mich 48-21 with two late garbage TD's). The only argument is that OSU has avoided the upset demon, and credit the sweater vested devil for that. But #1 based on THAT?

Then there is BC next in line...yup, beaten up on Sisters Mary of the Poor and that's about it. Only Uconn has a weaker schedule than BC. BC's biggest wins have come against Wake Forest and Georgia tech, and yes, that's it. That's it folks, another one who hasn't lost to the demon, are they #1???

So next in line is the little darling named USF. Let's look at these guy's. Went on the road to the Mighty SEC, and instead of being in awe of the bigger, stronger, faster Auburn Tigers...they won. Beat em at their own game. Hmm, So next come's Mighty WVU, and no one can stop Slaton, White, Devine and Co. right? Wrong. USF shut em down and sent them home with a loss, thanks - come again. Now come the nations leading rusher, and the I-4 war with UCF, out goes the the rusher with a meager 56 yards (about a buck 30 under his average) to add to his totals, and a 64-12 smashing.

I like USF here as the nations #1 ranked team. Can it happen? Surely, they could not jump The Ohio State University and land on the perch, right? Would you believe that App State would win AT The Big House if I told you that in August?

I think your top 10 is excellent, Stewart (and I don't envy you for having to come up with it). There would be something seriously wrong with putting OSU first, as many of the more sane OSU fans have admitted above. Who knows, maybe their defense is so good that they could at least keep the game close against anyone this year. The problem is, how are we going to find out? Not until the national championship game, I'm afraid...which I bet will turn a lot of people against college football. I'm in Big 10 country myself, rooted for the Buckeyes last January, and would love to see the conference doing better...but here's hoping Michigan (I cannot believe I'm supporting Michigan) finally beats OSU this year, so we don't have to see the latter in the national championship. (I don't even think I'll watch the game if they make it.)

I can't believe how reasonable the "top 5" analysis was on the in-studio College Football Final show on ESPN. While the guys in Norman were trying they're best (with Oregon and Oklahoma and LSU and OSU) to make their top 5s look... not crazy. Meanwhile, Mark May and Reece Davis have acknowledged that this is a crazy year, and as we learned last year and so far this year, you have to rank based on who you've played and who you've beat. And if you are honest and that's you're criteria, it's hard to justify anyone other than USF at #1. It just is. I promise. I know it's crazy, but it's a crazy year.

1. USF (see comments above)
2. OSU (Washington is their best win by far, and USF has beaten 2 teams better than Washington, one on the road)
3. LSU (wins over UF, S Carolina, VaTech)
4. BC
5. Kansas (not much weaker a schedule than the other unbeatens)
6. Oklahoma (starting to rack up quality wins)
7. Arizona State (why the hell not)
8. South Carolina
9. Kentucky
10. Oregon


Anyone who uses a justification for their rankings based on who "looks good" or who "would beat team X on a neutral field" doesn't deserve a ballot. We've learned, from Jan. 8 up until now, that the only defensible way to rank these teams is based on the actual results.

In 1996, Florida got crushed by Nebraska in the title game 62 to 24, but recovered and won the title the following year, something I'm sure all Florida fans have mysteriously forgotten in their bashing of OSU.

In the past 33 games, OSU has lost 3 times: to undefeated national champ Texas, to 1 loss national champ Florida and to one loss orange bowl champ Penn State at night on the road. They have won all the games they are supposed to. LSU, USC, Florida, Oklahoma and Cal all lost in games they were double digit favorites. They didn't loss to rivals or other top ten teams. They lost games they were supposed to win. Does this mean OSU is the best team out there? Probably not, but they have won everygame they were supposed to, something you can't say about other teams. Really, only Oregon and West Virgina have good losses (to other top ten teams).

In march madness, the top team rarely wins. Its the team that wins all the games that is the champion. UConn does not get a pass when it losses to George Mason, it drops out. The football season is a years worth of march madness. Just win baby and then you wouldn't have to complain about the schedule of other teams.

Please don't use the words champion and Hawaii in the same sentence while I'm having breakfast. The weak non-conference schedules we see so much of today are bad enough without encouraging more. The thought of everyone doing their best to schedule a Hawaii-type schedule should make anyone nauseous over breakfast.

How can you move up South Carolina when they almost lost to freakin' North Carolina?

Oh my....the buckeyes are #1 again!!!! We love our buckeyes in columbus, but think #1 may be a bit high for us...i'm thinking more like 6 to 8. Anyway, why we would love another run at a nat'l championship, here is hoping for a future playoff system. No longer should a bone-head play by a Cal QB cost them a shot at the title. When will the college presidents wake up. Go bucks...and just so there is no confusion, my second favorite team is Appl. State!!!! haha..Michigan still stinks!!!!!

Here's hoping the Football Gods throw a little spark into the Trojans, allowing them to run the table on their remaining schedule by wide margins. . . just so I can see Stew's head explode.

No, it's not gonna happen, but a guy can dream.

Sorta funny, but OSU has been playing their 2nd and 3rd teams all year.. they don't run up the score and if they did... you would be shitting your pants in anticipation to watch them in the title game. O and btw its probally a pretty big deal that they " havent gotten upset this year" many predicted that Purdue or Washington would "Expose the Buckeyes"

#1 Playoffs will not be coming to a TV set near you anytime in the near future.

#2 This is why college football is better than the pros.

#3 Anyone can beat anyone on any given Sunday (Or Saturday).

I'll tell you, life is good being a college football fan.

I think voting in the polls has gotten a little out of hand. When you are looking at the #3 team in the country, who is undefeated, and running them in your head with a "If they played soandso on a neutral field...". You have to take the record as is. Quite obviously Stewart, you are punishing OSU still from the Florida blowout. Sorry, new year, new teams. (And no I am not an OSU fan). And BTW can we give Michigan a little credit here? 2 early losses, one to a top10 team and they have looked pretty darn good the last few weeks. So as I see it, here would be my ballot if I had to submit one:

1. OSU
2. USF
3. BC
4. Oklahoma
5. Kentucky
6. LSU
7. Oregon
8. California
9. S. Carolina
10. Kansas
11. Arizona St.
12. Hawaii
13. West Virgina
14. Florida
15. Michigan
16. Missouri
17. Auburn
18. Cincinati
19. Tennessee
20. Georgia
21. Texas
22. Penn St.
23. Virgina Tech
24. Illinois
25. USC

Stewart,

My cat has offered to fill out your AP ballot and here is his top 5:

1. Ohio (Bobcats) – I think he got this pick confused with Ohio State
2. LSU (Tigers)
3. Kentucky (Wildcats)
4. Auburn (Tigers)
5. Missouri (Tigers)

Hey, my cat's logic is probably as good as anything else this season!

I agree with everyone who says that Ohio State hasn't had a tough schedule, but keep in mind that unlike everyone else who started out in the top ten OSU has done what they're supposed to do - WIN!, and they have beaten teams they are not supposed to lose to. Ohio State is now in a tough stretch run of their schedule, and if they should make it through the next five weeks, they will prove that they are a legit No. 1! By the way to everyone who says that the Big Ten is weak this year, please look at its composite non-conference record - 30-7. With the season as crazy as its been, the Big Ten should be at least 3rd in the power rankings.

The majority of COllege Football would be undefeated right now if they playe Hawaii's (or even Ohio State's) schedule.

Kansas is sitting pretty in the Big XII. A&m has little offense and OSU has no defense, so those are two winnable games on the road. Nebraska is awful and they play them at home. Colorado will be a challenge, but that win over OU was a fluke and they're still a year away. The big matchup in Arrowhead against Missouri may not matter if the Tigers lose again.

And yes they avoid OU, Texas, and Texas Tech this year, but they have them on the schedule the next 2 years. (Big Xii has the same North-South rotations). So they have to do it this year

Mandel's rankings are worthless. How do you drop LSU only on place after the loss? Now I know why the BCS doesn't use the AP polls.

Why don't you give Northwestern the #1 ranking. Would use about the same logic you used on this ballot.

1 - Ohio State
2 - South Florida
3 - Oregon
4 - Oklahoma
5 - Boston College
6 - South Carolina
7 - Kentucky
8 - West Virginia
9 - LSU
10 - USC
11 - California
12 - Florida
13 - Virginia Tech
14 - Arizona State
15 - Hawaii
16 - Kansas
17 - Auburn
18 - Texas
19 - Georgia
20 - Tennessee
21 - Penn State
22 - Texas Tech
23 - Maryland
24 - Virginia
25 - Michigan

Well, after seven weeks of football, I'm glad that Ohio State finally got a brief mention. Sure, Ohio State hasn't really played anyone yet this year, but considering all the schools that have lost to no one's, who really is a truly great team this year? I thought it was LSU, but in college football, a wins a win and a loss is a loss.

As for everyone crying for a playoff-I'm still not seeing how this will solve any problems. Sure, in the NFL, with only 32 teams, it's not a big deal. Half go to the playoffs, and most of them deserve it. But there are more than triple that many teams in college football, and with all these upsets, you most likely still will not end up with who everyone thinks is the two most deserving teams.

Asking a bunch of college kids to play an extra three, four, or even five games a year, most likely during Christmas break and what little regrouping time they have spells out disaster as well. That is asking a lot. Beyond that, a playoff would be taking the soul out of what makes college football so great-upsets meaning life or death, and the quest for that perfect season.

Who cares what the rankimhs are anyway? When OSU runs the table in the regular season Mr. Mandel might give them some props. So FL. will never play in the championship game, it won't be allowed. The BCS would lose to my much cash on that scenarion. All this screams for a playoff system and taking votes away from so called "college football experts" who should be held accountable for their votes.

USF also beat UNC, VERY HANDILY. Something USC could not do. USF by far has the best resume of any of these teams, and good job Stewart recognizing it.

How is Kansas 6th? Their schedule is tougher than Hawaii's so far?

Stewart Mandel said:

"The top 10 I wound up submitting:

1) South Florida (6)
2) LSU (1)
3) Ohio State (3)
4) Oregon (4)
5) Oklahoma (5)
6) South Carolina (8)
7) Kentucky (17)
8) Boston College (7)
9) West Virginia (10)
10) Arizona State (13)"

Stew – You are officially an idiot!