College Football Ranking Week 1

There is a reason that I believe that rankings should not begin until October. You truly do not know how teams will look until they have played for a couple of weeks.

Even from my pre-season rankings we have learned that Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, and Oregon were overrated while teams like Houston were underrated. We also know that in regular polls voters only voted week to week and because Notre Dame was expected to be a top ten 10 this year, when Texas beat them (in overtime), voters quickly put them in the top 25 despite a loss to Cal (who lost to San Diego State). Speaking of San Diego State, because of their win against Cal they were seen as a top 25 team until the lost last night to South Alabama.

Here are my rankings (reminder the top 4 teams are not ranked but simply placed as a playoff team):

Week 1 Rankings

PLAYOFF TEAMS

Alabama

They are who we thought they were. Someone along the line in the SEC could catch Alabama on an off day, but even on that off day it may not be enough to beat them.

Clemson

I had my doubts about the Tigers, but taking on a high powered offense like Louisville and beating them at their own game was fairly spectacular.

Ohio State

They look to be the class of a possibly overhyped Big 10. They just keep chugging along.

Washington

I do not think that we will see a conference with two playoff teams. I had thought Oregon would be a dark horse this year but with very questionable coaching (going for twos on every touchdown against Nebraska? Really?) has sunk the team. Coach Petersen looks to have fully installed his type of coaching at Boise State with the Huskies. With their absolute blasting of Stanford it's hard to see where they lose the rest of the way.

5. Houston

Their first test of the season was against Oklahoma and they ran away with the game. Their likely next test in an undefeated season will be Louisville towards the end of the season. If they are undefeated and beat Louisville and run the rest of the table they could very well be the Cinderella in the playoffs.

6. Louisville

They are a good team who came up against a team playing their best game of the year.

7. Michigan

Saturday against Wisconsin was their biggest test of the year and they were able to escape with a win despite missed field goals.

8. Texas A&M

They have, like past years, looked sharp to open the season. Many have said that the Aggies are the true heir apparent to Alabama but as season have gone on the Aggies have disappeared. This could be the year that they get over that hump.

9. Miami

The Hurricanes look to be getting back to their old winning ways with new coach Mark Richt (who should still be at Georgia in my opinion).

10. Arkansas

I know this will surprise some but the Hogs looked impressive in beating TCU in Ft. Worth and stayed with the better team (Aggies) until the 4th quarter. If the Hogs can figure out the 4th quarter they could very well surprise the Tide this Saturday.

11. Wisconsin

They have beaten LSU and Michigan State and lost by 7 to Michigan at their home. Wisconsin is a good team. Will not make the playoffs without some magic later in the season but never say never.

12. Boise State

I am a sucker for non Power 5 conference teams. The Broncos are a good team deserving of being in the Top 15.

13. Colorado

This could be a case of overranking a team but I have been impressed with them this season. They came close to beating Michigan at their house and then destroyed Oregon (yes Oregon is worse than expected but getting blown out is worth noting).

14. Ole Miss

They have struggled this year. They have two losses. They are still better than the rest of the teams in the top 25.

15. Tennessee and Nebraska

I do not know what to make of either team. They are god awful in the first three quarters and then decide to turn it on in the 4th. If either team, or both, can decide to play a full game they will blow out their opponents. Both, interestingly enough are in the weaker divisions of their conferences which will help them. Neither, right now, are even close to making the playoffs.

17. Oklahoma State

They are a horrible, illegal call away from being undefeated this year. They not only beat Texas at home for the first time in the 2010s they trounced them. People are already talking of Texas firing their coach if he loses to Oklahoma next week but for now the Cowboys are the class of the league.

18. Baylor

They are playing well despite all of the off season issues and the coaching change. They will make noise in the Big 12 but probably will no win the conference.

19. Utah

They lost last week to Cal at the end of the game but I sill believe they are the third best team in the conference after Washington and Colorado. After those two there is quite the drop off.

20. Florida

This is the second best team in the SEC East. That says a lot and none of it is good.

21. North Carolina

They beat Florida State on a game winning field goal (why is it always field goals with Florida State in close games). They may be better than this ranking but it's difficult to decide which Florida State they beat. If it was the Florida State team that destroyed Ole Miss then this ranking is underrated, if it's the team that got destroyed by Louisville then it's about the right spot.

22. West Virginia

Still not really sure about this team. With the Big 12 being much weaker than anyone thought it would be this year. They could rise to be the cream of the crop.

23. Michigan State

Probably ranked when they should not be but the Big 10 looks relatively strong this season. Even with the loss they get the ranking.

24. Stanford

They looked absolutely awful against Washington but they still have one of the best running backs in the game right now. They SHOULD recover.

25. Oklahoma

I am not at all convinced about putting Oklahoma in the top 25. They have looked awful this year and probably should have lost against TCU last night. The Red River game against Texas is this week. It used to be game that essentially decided the Big 12, now it's just a painful game to watch.