Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 12:23pm

TAC College Rankings

After a lackluster week in college football (unless you’re Bo Pelini), the Friday after Thanksgiving gives us an excellent slate of college football. Arizona v. Oregon, Auburn v. Alabama, and Boise v. Nevada. The day after, TCU, Stanford, Wisconsin, LSU, and Ohio St. will all be looking to get wins & style points to position themselves for a BCS bid, possibly a title game if a scenario that involves the Second Coming occurs.

We know that Oregon is dreadful in the computers. We know the SEC schools do really well. Can everyone stay undefeated? Can one of the non-AQs impress enough to get in? And throw in the fact that this is rivalry week, which always adds for an extra bit of chaos and unpredictability. The worst teams can and will challenge teams that normally would be far superior to them (like for example when Ole Miss debuts a quasi triple option offense in a failed attempt to beat LSU. Enjoy Hell, you racist rednecks). Weeks like this make college football a lot of fun.

To the rankings!Four rankers this week: Me, Paul, Dave, and MJ.

  1. Oregon (3) – two huge final tests for Oregon: Arizona on Friday and then the Civil War (DH)
  2. Auburn – They have to be careful. While the voters are scared to take out their anger about the Newton saga while they’re willing, if they lose they’ll drop farther than they would normally (perhaps too far to rebound to make it back to the BCS) (MD)
  3. Boise St. (1) – A win against Nevada and an Oregon-Auburn loss could send Boise to the title game (DH)
  4. TCU – Utah’s loss to Notre Dame has all but killed the Horned Frogs (MJ)
  5. LSU – Suddenly, LSU has a quarterback as Jordan Jefferson in his last two SEC games has shined. With a decent offense, LSU can beat anyone in the country. (MD)
  6. Wisconsin – The Badgers brawn and a Pac 10 team’s finese could make for a fascinating Rose Bowl (DH)
  7. Stanford – If Harbaugh stays, could a Top 10 appearance by the norm in the years to come? (DH)
  8. Ohio St. – The Buckeyes wish they could play the first quarter with Wisconsin again! (DH)
  9. Oklahoma St. – All the Cowboys need to do is win and they in the Big 12 Championship (MJ)
  10. Alabama – They’re the most balanced & talented team Auburn will face; with home field advantage, it may be too much for the WarPlainsTigerEagleMen (MD)
  11. Michigan St. – You get the feeling they’re coasting now. A win by Michigan gets them in, but other than that no chance. (MD)
  12. Arkansas – I’m not sure I buy their chances at an at-large bid, but their pass-heavy offense faces a serious test with the excellent secondary of LSU. (MD)
  13. Virginia Tech – They’ve helped Boise so far, and with UVA the last ones in the regular season, that’ll keep going on. You have to wonder if they hadn’t made the mistake of scheduling James Madison on a short week, if they’d been in the discussion for something more than an ACC title. (MD)
  14. Texas A&M – Don’t forget that the Aggies’ three losses have come at the hands of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State, three top-15 BCS teams. Two of those losses were by a touchdown or less. (MJ)
  15. Nebraska – Youngstown’s Bo Pellini was doing his best Woody Hayes imitation on Saturday night (DH)
  16. Missouri – Just crushing the teams they’re supposed in the Big 12 North. (MD)
  17. South Carolina – Does the old ball coach have any tricks up his sleeve for the SEC title game? (DH)
  18. Oklahoma (TIE w/ SCAR) – Knocking their in-state rivals from their lofty perch would be most satfisying (MD)
  19. Nevada – Probably a lot better than their BCS ranking reflects. They certainly have a shot to knock off Boise State (MJ)
  20. Arizona – After two losses, Arizona’s due for a win. But it probably won’t come this weekend (MJ)
  21. Florida St. – If they can’t beat Florida this year, you wonder if they ever will beat Meyer (MD)
  22. Mississippi St. – You have to feel bad for them. A good team, but in the toughest division imaginable they’re only 5th best. Getting closer to joining the SEC elite though. (MD)
  23. Iowa – You had a feeling that Iowa used up all its fourth quarter magic last year (MJ)
  24. Utah – A nice bounce-back against a decent San Diego State team. But getting wrecked by TCU and Notre Dame in back-to-back games showed that the early season rankings reflected the truth after all: Utah is not an elite team (MJ)
  25. NC State – Just has to get past the Terps to get a berth in the ACC title game and the shot to make it to a BCS bid. (MD)

Others receiving votes: West Virginia, N. Illinois, UCF.

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Nicholas Jagneaux
Nicholas Jagneaux
Wednesday, November 24, AD 2010 8:12am

Michael,

The LSU-Ark match-up looks very good for the Tigers. Arkansas is dangerous, of course, but LSU’s defense is built to stop it. Individual play – not schemes – will be the determining factor here. Plus, Arkansas’ defense can give up lots of points – just when the Tigers’ offense is finding confidence.

Boy, I really hope that ‘Bama plays its best ball of the season. I agree that if they lose, they’ll drop further than what would normally happen.

Jay Anderson
Wednesday, November 24, AD 2010 8:58pm

What happened to my rankings? I sent them to you on Monday.

Big Tex
Thursday, November 25, AD 2010 12:49am

Don’t forget that the Aggies’ three losses have come at the hands of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State, three top-15 BCS teams. Two of those losses were by a touchdown or less.

I would love to replay those three games. Okie Lite is good, and I think we could beat them (almost did with a turnover-prone QB). Same with Mizzou… the Aggies are playing much better lately. Arkie is the only one I have doubts on…. the hogs are good.

Bring on the ‘sips! It’s gonna be a hot time in Austin tomorrow night.

Nicholas Jagneaux
Nicholas Jagneaux
Thursday, November 25, AD 2010 7:16am

Big Tex,

The Aggies are playing very well. It’s too bad y’all hit that three game skid in the middle. I’ve got to admit that I haven’t followed Aggie football too closely lately, but I know y’all have a couple of pretty good running backs. Good luck today.

Although I think LSU will get a berth in the Sugar Bowl, with a loss to the Hogs, the Tigers could also end up in the Cotton Bowl. If the Aggies win, they might also end up in the Cotton Bowl. We might see each other in a few weeks.

Nicholas Jagneaux
Nicholas Jagneaux
Friday, November 26, AD 2010 7:40am

Big Tex,

Congratulations on the win over the Longhorns.

Big Tex
Friday, November 26, AD 2010 11:51pm

The Cotton Bowl would be awesome. And I’d love to play LSU.

Nicholas Jagneaux
Nicholas Jagneaux
Saturday, November 27, AD 2010 12:40pm

Wow! Well, I guess it’ll be LSU and TCU in the Sugar Bowl. That’s okay with me.

Of course, LSU has to beat Arkansas today. Geaux Tigers!

As for the national title (I know: Oregon and Auburn still have a game to play; but, does anyone doubt who it will be at this point?), we won’t lack for scoring.

Nicholas Jagneaux
Nicholas Jagneaux
Saturday, November 27, AD 2010 6:21pm

Congratulations to Arkansas. The Hogs simply outplayed LSU in the 4th quarter. LSU missed some terrific opporutunities.

Now, it looks like the Sugar Bowl will get South Carolina, as the #2 SEC team.

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