So, The Mumme Poll doesn't start until Week 3, and the 2010 edition of my ranking program isn't ready yet (stupid dissertation). That said, that doesn't mean I can't engage in some wildly unverifiable speculation, eh?!
A #1 Ranking is a Privilege, Not a Right
Did you see that Boise State game?! Wow! Just watch this video of their two minute drive:
The first and second plays are textbook, TEXTBOOK, examples of how to run a two minute drill. I can't think of a time I saw a team, at any level, execute that well. No panic: when the umpire sets the ball, Boise is ready, lined up, and knows what play they are going to run. There's no reason to call a spike play: they just run a simple out route. If it works, they get five yards and the clock stops. If the throw's not there, Kellen Moore tosses it out of bounds and the clock stops. It's a win-win situation. NFL teams don't execute hurry-up offense this well (except the Colts).
All of that is to say that there's no reason in the world that Boise shouldn't be ranked #1 today. I follow college football religiously and I can't tell you who Alabama even played this weekend (no, seriously. who'd they play? ... oh, San Jose State? didn't their student government vote to dissolve the football team a few years ago? (yes)). Same goes for Ohio State playing Marshall. As far as I'm concerned (until I have some numbers to work off of, at least), if you play a real team opening week and win, you get to be ranked ahead of teams that played schools you can't find on a map (what state is Marshall in, again?). PERIOD.
The same goes for TCU. If the team you play is in the conversation for the national title (Virginia Tech) or the Pac-10 title (Oregon State), that's a quality win.
Style Points Count For Something or 72-0 Ain't Nothing to Sneeze At
Did you see what Oregon did to New Mexico? For a few years, I've been considering ranking lower teams playing bad teams that win by fewer than four touchdowns. That said, this game must have been pretty demoralizing for the Lobos. 56 points in the first half? Yikes. As far as quality points off of a scrub team, Oregon gets the most.
Heisman?
Look, if Jake Locker is a Heisman candidate (and he shouldn't be), how does beating him not get you ranked? BYU is the only other team on this list (other than TCU, Utah and Boise State, that is) to play a meaningful game this weeked, and they won. While they didn't win big, you'd think beating this year's golden child would be enough to get you at least on the "Also Receiving Votes" list of the AP poll. No dice.
I'm confused. How can Jake Locker be the best quarterback in college football if he plays for a team that doesn't matter? (and don't answer "Jay Cutler," because "26 interceptions last season" is all I'll say back).
Anyway, here's my wildly subjective, completely arbitrary rankings for Week 1 of college football. It feels good to be back.
Top 5
- Boise State
- TCU
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Oregon
Other 7
- Utah
- Miami
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- Wisconsin
- Texas
- BYU