While Alabama jumped at every chance to make a huge impact on the national stage, the Crimson Tide had to wait patiently in the polls. The team that started the season unranked before blowing away highly touted Clemson and Georgia teams in the first month of the season moved up quickly in the polls but were continually denied the recognition of being number one. The Tide has been ranked number 2 in every poll for a month, but was forced to share the spot twice and had even been leapt. All that waiting was worth it after the release of the first poll of November, as the Tide took advantage of a Texas loss to finally move up to No. 1 in the Southern Fans' College Football Poll, though you won't hear Alabama coach Nick Saban putting much stock in the ranking.
"We appreciate the interest shown to our team," Saban said, "but rankings at this time of the season do not define anything relative to the post-season. Our concern is our prep
aration to play a very good LSU team and these external factors can not affect our planning, schedule or focus on the task at hand."Texas Tech, which opened the door for the Tide to move to number one after defeating previous No. 1 Texas 39-33 in Lubbock, moved up three spots to No. 2. The undefeated Red Raiders jumped out to a big lead before needing a last second touchdown pass from star quarterback Graham Harrell to star receiver Michael Crabtree. Tech garnered just three first place votes (half that of Penn State), but edged the Nittany Lions by seven total points. The Lions have yet to gain hold of the No. 2 ranking.
Florida, which defeated rival Georgia 49-10 in Jacksonville, moved up two spots to No. 4. The Gators received the final two first place votes. Texas fell four spots from it's number one ranking that it held for three weeks.
Oklahoma fell two spots to number six, even though the Sooners defeated rival Nebraska 62-28. Southern Cal, which defeated Washington 56-0, moved up one spot to No. 7. Since the loss to Oregon State, the Trojans have won by an average score of 43-4 and have not allowed more than 10 points in any game. Rounding out the top 10 are Oklahoma State, Utah and Boise State, who all moved up one spot.
Texas Christian moved up to No. 11. The Horned Frogs face No. 9 Utah on Thursday night, with the winner taking a lead in the hunt for a BCS bowl invitation. Georgia fell five spots to No. 12. Missouri, Ohio State and LSU take the next three rankings, as the Tigers move back into the poll at No. 15 after falling out for the first time ever last week.
Unbeaten Ball State moved into the rankings for their first time this week. The 8-0 Cardinals, perhaps best known for being Late Show host Dave Letterman's alma mater, have four games standing between them and an undefeated regular season.
Florida State, which lost to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and Tulsa, 30-23 victims at Arkansas, fell from the rankings.
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ReplyDeleteI would like nothing more than to play Bama on January 8th. The people in Miami would probably crap their pants after realizing how much $$$$$$ that match up would generate. These are two storied programs that have a history that goes way back through the Bryant years. Toss in the two extremely loyal fan bases and you have a profit generating machine. The TV ratings would probably break records as well.
ReplyDeletePaterno never beat the Bear head to head, but damn did they have one hell of a mutual respect for one another. I wasn't alive in 1979 to witness the goal line stand in the Sugar Bowl, and actually I’m kind of glad I wasn’t; but that play is as big a part of the history of Penn State football as Greg Garrity’s diving catch to win the National Championship over Georgia in that same Sugar Bowl in January of 83. It would only be appropriate for Joe to go out with a NC victory over his old nemesis
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ReplyDeleteNothing against PSU (my sister has her masters from there) or JoPa, but nothing would make me happier than to see them shut out of the BCS Championship Game.
ReplyDeleteThe Big10+1 commissioner and their ADs (along w/ the PAC10) have been so opposed to evolving the BCS format that perhaps this is exactly the type of thing that needs to break this log jam.
End the needless and contrived Rose Bowl requirements and add a +1 game to the BCS! Until then, I hope the PAC10 and Big10+1 teams continue to come up just short....
IF we are shut out of the title game it very well may be the first HUGE step towards some sort of a playoff system.
ReplyDeleteTo quote Mark Harrington....
"Penn State has been at the heart of several sport-defining changes in recent history, transforming the landscape of college football, including:
1986: Penn State knocks off Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, still the most watched college football game in history. The game puts the Fiesta Bowl on the map and reveals the big time potential of college bowl games.
1994: The Nittany Lions go 12-0 in impressive fashion. However, it is left out of the national championship picture after undefeated Nebraska knocks off Miami the night before the Rose Bowl. The snubbing of PSU results in a movement toward the present day BCS system.
2002: Joe Paterno chases down an official after PSU drops a 42-35 overtime decision to Iowa. On second-and-eight, Zack Mills threw to Tony Johnson, who caught the ball at the 2-yard line on the left sideline. One official called Johnson in, but a second official overruled the call and ruled that Johnson was out of bounds when he made the catch. Paterno is widely criticized for his erruption. However, it plays an instrumental role in college football eventually introducing instant replay to the sport.
2008: Could another Penn State snub in the title game lead to a step closer to an actual playoff system? The Lions first have to take care of business and win out, and then we'll just have to sit back and see. But it certainly would fit the Penn State trend — a major issue the Lions feel the brunt of that eventually transforms the game."
Just an interesting observation.
Nice Summary Eddie. I dont expect Alabama to finish undefeated, but my real issue is, do you leave PSU out if Florida beats them in the SEC and there is an unbeaten in the Big12? I sure hope not, but with all the love for the SEC and Big12, and deservedly so, and the lack of love for the Big10+1, I think the poll just might let it happen
ReplyDeleteI'm really beginning to think that there are three great teams:
ReplyDeleteFlorida
Texas
Oklahoma
And a few really really good teams:
Penn State
Alabama
Texas Tech
And I'll put Oklahoma State in there with them, but I've only seen them once (we didn't get Texas vs. OklaSt b/c of Michigan State/Michigan... don't get me started on that.)
Now my two-cent worth projection:
SEC
Alabama (regardless of LSU game) plays Florida for the SEC Championship. I don't think that the SEC is the best conference this year, but they get all the respect in the world for the last two years, so even a loss to LSU wouldn't hinder Bama in the national perception.
Prediction: Florida
Big XII
Texas Tech beats Oklahoma State this weekend, but falls to Oklahoma in Norman in three weeks.
Oklahoma runs the table, as does Texas, creating a three-way tie in the BIG XII. Sticking point here is that Oklahoma, not Texas, would go to Big XII title game b/c the Sooners will probably be ranked higher in the BCS poll. Oklahoma will play Missouri in the title game.
Prediction: Oklahoma
Big Ten
Penn State still has Iowa, Indiana and Michigan State. Indiana is perhaps one of the worst teams in football this season (I know they beat N'western). I really think Penn State beats Michigan State at home to close the season, but the big game comes this weekend at Iowa, where I think the 5-4 Hawkeyes are going to push the Lions.
Prediction: Penn State wins the Big Ten after running the table.
Unbeaten Penn State doesn't get left out, so it comes down to Florida and Oklahoma. Florida get the benefit of the doubt after the SEC's run over the past two years coupled with Oklahoma's dismal performance in '03 and '04 (people don't forget those things).
BCS Title Game: Florida vs. Penn State