With not many upsets -- outside of the Wild, Wild West Conference, better known as the Pac-10 -- the top nine teams in my Associated Press Top 25 ballot remained the same as last week.So unless Alabama loses to Auburn, Florida loses to Florida State or Texas loses to Texas A&M this weekend, the BCS title game seems pretty cut and dried between the SEC champion (Alabama/Florida) against Texas. That is, as long as the Longhorns don't lose to Nebraska in the Big 12 title game next week.
With the BCS title game participants pretty much locked in, college football's favorite pastime has already begun. No, not figuring out who will be Notre Dame's next coach, but lobbying for the best possible bowl berth.
After Saturday's victory at Michigan State, Penn State coach Joe Paterno was asked if the 10-2 Nittany Lions deserved an at-large BCS bowl berth.
"What do you want me to say?" Paterno said. "'Pick us?' Maybe I could get on the phone and call somebody and say, 'you owe me one,' or 'you might find a horse's head in your bed.' "
So for the next two weeks bowl reps across the country will figure out which offer they can't refuse -- i.e., which team will bring the most fans to their city and spend the most money as opposed to which team has actually accomplished more on the field. Who really cares about win-loss records, anyway?
Last week, I included the salary of each coach on my Top 25 ballot. This week, I'm listing the graduation rates, released this week by the NCAA, for the football student-athletes who entered school from 1999-2002 (the most recent data available) and went on to graduate within six years.
Here is my ballot this week with my ranking last week in parenthesis:
- 1. Alabama (1)
Grad rate: 67 percent. The Crimson Tide's 45-0 warmup victory against FCS member Chattanooga was the sixth time this season that Alabama's defense has held an opponent to seven points or less. Now the Crimson Tide visits rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Friday. Alabama is winless at Auburn since 2001 when the respective coaches were Dennis Franchione (Alabama) and Tommy Tuberville (Auburn). - 2. Florida (2)
Grad rate: 69 percent. Tim Tebow's final home game is Saturday in Gainesville against hated rival Florida State. The over-under on the number of Kleenex used at the Swamp: 87,000. While Tebow says farewell to the home crowd, could it also possibly be FSU coach Bobby Bowden's final game against the Gators -- or Urban Meyer's final Gainesville appearance if all the Notre Dame conjecture is accurate? Too bad this game doesn't have any decent storylines. - 3. Texas (3)
Grad rate: 49 percent. With 43 victories, Colt McCoy is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history. However, he'll need one more win Thursday at Texas A&M to keep alive the Longhorns' BCS title game hopes. The Aggies would love nothing more than to spoil UT's season -- especially after Texas' 49-9 victory last season -- UT's largest margin of victory in the UT-A&M series since 1898. That's right: 1898. - 4. TCU (4)
Grad rate: 65 percent. The only thing remaining between TCU and a perfect 12-0 regular season is 1-10 New Mexico that got its first win of the season Saturday against Colorado State. TCU has won the last four meetings against the Lobos by an average margin of 22 points. The Horned Frogs are off to their best start in 71 years and are one win from their first BCS bowl game in school history. - 5. Cincinnati (5)
Grad rate: 75 percent. After an off-week, the Bearcats play host to Illinois on Saturday in the final home game for UC's seniors, including QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard. Pike could make his first start since injuring his left forearm Oct. 15 at South Florida. The Bearcats' last two wins were by a combined five points, but it's doubtful the Illini will be able to keep it that close. - 6. Boise State (6)
Grad rate: 58 percent. The Broncos play host to Nevada on Friday in a matchup of the only two unbeatens in WAC play. Since starting the season with losses against Notre Dame, Colorado State and Missouri, Nevada enters Friday's game on an eight-game winning streak. Like every other WAC opponent, however, Boise State has dominated the series, winning the past nine by an average margin of 31 points. - 7. Georgia Tech (7)
Grad rate: 49 percent. The Yellow Jackets hope home-field advantage works in their favor more than in their recent meetings with Georgia. The Ramblin' Wreck has not defeated the Bulldogs in Atlanta since 1999. Tech is likely looking toward next week's ACC Championship contest against Clemson, but also would love to drop the Bulldogs to 6-6, marking Georgia's first six-loss season since Jim Donnan's 5-6 debut in 1996. - 8. Pittsburgh (8)
Grad rate: 68 percent. The Panthers visit West Virginia on Friday in the Backyard Brawl. Pitt's last visit to Morgantown was in 2007 when No. 2 West Virginia only needed to defeat Pitt to earn a spot in the BCS title game. However, the 29-point underdog Panthers pulled off the 13-9 upset and are 18-5 overall since then. Win or lose against WVU, Pitt plays host to Cincinnati on Dec. 5, with the winner earning the Big East's BCS bowl bid. - 9. Ohio State (9)
Grad rate: 62 percent. The Buckeyes are back in the Rose Bowl for the first time since the 1996 season with their 34th Big Ten championship, shared or outright. For any history buffs out there: Wednesday will mark the 93-year anniversary of the Buckeyes' first Big Ten title in 1916 when Ohio State defeated Northwestern 23-3. - 10. Oregon (11)
Grad rate: 49 percent. The Ducks rallied to knock off Arizona 44-41 in overtime, setting up a Pac-10 championship battle with Oregon State on Dec. 3. The Ducks became only the third team in Pac-10 history to score at least 40 points in five consecutive league games. - 11. Oklahoma State (12)
Grad rate: 61 percent. The Cowboys visit Oklahoma on Saturday in the Bedlam Series, which has been dominated by the Sooners. Oklahoma State is winless in Norman since 2001, losing the past three games at Oklahoma by an average margin of 34 points. This is the first time since 1997 that the Cowboys will enter the Bedlam Series with a better record than the Sooners. - 12. Oregon State (13)
Grad rate: 57 percent. The Beavers whipped Washington State 42-10 for their sixth victory in their last seven games since starting the season 2-2. The Beavers have 12 days to prepare for the Civil War/Pac-10 title game at Oregon. Last year, Oregon State only needed to defeat Oregon to earn the Rose Bowl berth and promptly allowed 694 yards in a 65-38 loss. - 13. Virginia Tech (16)
Grad rate: 71 percent. The Hokies clinched their 12th consecutive season with at least eight victories after beating NC State 38-10. RB Ryan Williams set the school record for most yards rushing in a season (1,355) with his third-consecutive 100-yard rushing day. On Saturday, the Hokies visit Virginia looking to hand Al Groh his 53rd -- and likely final -- loss in nine seasons at Virginia. - 14. Clemson (17)
Grad rate: 67 percent. Never has Saturday's Clemson-South Carolina contest meant so little to the Tigers. That's because on Dec. 5 they'll face Georgia Tech in Tampa, Fla., for the ACC Championship. Expect a close one between the Tigers and Gamecocks. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by four points or less. - 15. LSU (10)
Grad rate: 60 percent. There's a clause in Les Miles' contract that he must be the highest-paid coach in the SEC. Perhaps, then, he could afford to pay someone next year that can figure out how to use a timeout in the waning seconds? I guess a $3.751 million salary doesn't go as far as it used to. Saturday the Tigers play host to Arkansas. The last four meetings have been decided by a total of 10 points, including three by two points or less. - 16. Penn State (18)
Grad rate: 85 percent. The Nittany Lions concluded the regular season by routing Michigan State. Penn State has double-digit wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1993-94. This Saturday will mark the 67-year anniversary of No. 11 Penn State's 48-14 victory against No. 1 Pittsburgh, marking the largest margin of defeat for a No. 1-ranked team against a ranked opponent in NCAA history. - 17. Miami (20)
Grad rate: 75 percent. Saturday, the Hurricanes, who are based in south Florida, visit the University of South Florida, which is based in the middle of the state in Tampa. Confused? This is the second all-time meeting between Miami and USF and the Hurricanes' first trip to Tampa since 1984 when Vinny Testaverde led Miami past Florida in Tampa Stadium. - 18. Iowa (21)
Grad rate: 74 percent. Fittingly when the Hawkeyes played Minnesota Saturday, the winner received the Floyd of Rosedale bronzed pig trophy -- because the game was a stinker. There were more punts (17) than points (12) in Iowa's 12-0 victory. With their 10-2 regular season complete, the Hawkeyes now await their bowl destination. - 20. Cal (NR)
Grad rate: 64 percent. The Golden Bears won't win the Pac-10 title this year, but they made sure rival Stanford wouldn't either after knocking off the Cardinal 34-28 in The Big Game. Cal is off this week before closing the regular season at Washington on Dec. 5. - 21. Stanford (14)
Grad rate: 89 percent. Despite RB Toby Gerhart's fifth consecutive 100-yard game (136 yards rushing, four TDs), the Cardinal fell to Cal in The Big Game Saturday. With their Pac-10 hopes squashed, Stanford looks to take out its frustrations on reeling Notre Dame. The Cardinal has lost seven consecutive games to the Irish, who could be playing their final game under coach Charlie Weis. - 22. USC (22)
Grad rate: 58 percent. With USC's seven-year streak of playing in BCS bowls gone kaput, the Trojans close the regular season with home games against UCLA and Arizona. The Trojans-Bruins series has been about as competitive as the Lakers-Clippers. USC has won nine of the last 10 meetings in the battle of Los Angeles. - 23. North Carolina (24)
Grad rate: 80 percent. The ACC's No. 1 defense and ranked fifth nationally scored two touchdowns on a fumble and an interception return and had another interception return to the 1 in the Tar Heels' 31-13 win at Boston College. Saturday, they try to end a two-game losing skid to rival N.C. State, including last year's 41-10 loss. - 24. Wisconsin (15)
Grad rate: 65 percent. The Badgers have a week off to reflect on their 33-31 loss at Northwestern. It was Wisconsin's fourth loss in the past six meetings with the Wildcats. Don't feel too bad for the Badgers, they'll recover just fine. They're headed to Hawaii to face the Warriors on Dec. 5. - 25. Houston (25)
Grad rate: 53 percent. QB Case Keenum posted his sixth game this season with at least 400 yards in Saturday's 55-14 win against Memphis and lame duck coach Tommy West. Keenum has 36 TD passes and six interceptions this season. Saturday, the Cougars play host to crosstown rival Rice, which ranks as the nation's second-worst scoring defense. Take the over: Houston and Rice combined for 98 points last season and 104 in 2007.
Teams that are close to making my Top 25 (in alphabetical order): Auburn, BYU, Nebraska, Ole Miss.
See you later (teams that fell out of my Top 25 this week): Arizona.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I'm convinced that you are the only one who thinks you know what you are talking about. The second half of your list is just plain crazy talk.
Agreed! The NCAA's assimilation of teams from lots of conferences needs to follow the same guidelines that every other major sport employs. Overall record counts. Head to head counts. Since everyone doesn't play everyone, overall records can't be relied on completely. If two teams play each other and have the same record, obviously the team that won ON THE FIELD gets ranked above the loser. Period. Anyone with a different logic, I'd love to hear it. That said, Oklahoma State lost to Houston and they are both 9-2, therefore Houston should be ranked ahead of Ok. St. Oregon State and USC both have 3 losses; USC won that game, so USC should be ranked ahead of the Beavers (and ahead of Cal for that matter). For the same reason, North Carolina needs to be ahead of both Virginia Tech and Miami; Ole Miss should be ahead of LSU; Iowa ahead of Penn State. All of these teams are reversed on this crazy ballot.
To many teams recognized in the top ten that had easy schedules with no risk. It pays to play it safe. They are happy to take the BCS payout with no intent to win the BCS championship.
I suppose with the NCAA promoting the fact many “student athletes” go pro in careers other than sports, we can conclude that those schools with pathetic (70 percent or below) graduation rates are really not preparing the students for much of a future in, well anything.
I'm sorry but if your a coach on a team with under 50% grad rate, you should be FIRED IMMEDIATELY! I really can't believe that any team has an under of 50% or less. Really any team under 70% should be looked in to. Yes, they truly are stupid guys led by even dumber coaches. What a true waste of schlorships they are giving away for these IDIOTS to play football.It is truly UNbelievable to me they are so bad. All for money, how sad it is, and I am not joking. Does Mack Brown and Texas have ANY PRIDE????? Just shows that the coaches and facalty could give a ratz azz of any of these players OFF the playing field.
the HOGS will teach Les Miles how to pronounce Arkansas this week. It's not arKansas, oh great one!
Must be killing old Joe Pa that Pitt, the team he is afraid to play, is higher in the BCS rankings.
Lion fans would white out the Orange bowl if they got to play Pitt in a BCS game. Pitt can't fill their home stadium.
PENN STATE BEAST OF THE EAST
Pitt least of the East
WE ARE>>
Way too many ACC teams.
there are 5 pac ten teams that can beat ohio state, the big ten/11 all stink and the sec will not come play a pac ten team in nov in the rain and cold, they are pansies
MIles what a dumb azz stupid call i hope they FIRE you and get rid of that stupid Q B also thats the dumbest s--t I ever seen. and Arkansas will kick LSU Butt.Pissed off and Was a LSU fan here you stupid coach Miles
How in the hell do you have LSU @ 17 and Ole Miss not in the top 25? Your excuse I suppose will be the dumbass play in the end. However, that play would not even be in question if it weren't for LSU luck. Ole Miss completely dominated LSU. Check the stats. You must be as dumb as you sound.
I'll mess with JoePa!!... You had a SOFT schedule!... Akron? Syracuse? Temple? Eastern Illinios? You deserve to play Bama!... How bout them Ducks? they lost a close one on the road to #6 Ranked BSC and have played against 7 (and will be 8) Teams that were (or are) Ranked Top 25 Nationally!!! So, people, please tell me, is there another Team in the country that can say that? BCS people take notice! PAC 10 is 3-1 over Big 10, while 3 of 4 were on Big 10 Turf!