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As Adam Rose pointed out on his twitter it was schadenfreude yesterday with losing being the cool thing to do. Losses by Iowa, Notre Dame, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State and LSU made it almost seem trendy.
By looking at the rankings it’s easy to think college football is having a down year, but the rankings are only part of the story. There have been great games all weekend long with teams looking evenly matched. Whether that’s due to parity or mediocrity does not diminish the excitement.
For three quarters, the LSU-Alabama game was up in the air with LSU leading throughout most of the three quarters. But Alabama found their offense that had gone missing in the fourth quarter and scored a touchdown and two field goals to clinch the SEC West and an appointment to face Florida in the SEC Championship game.
Iowa has provided the world with their fourth quarter heroics all season long, however they couldn’t get it done at home over Northwestern.
And let’s not forget the thrilling end to the Navy-Notre Dame game where thanks to a late safety Navy was able to escape with their second consecutive win at Notre Dame Stadium at the feet of Touchdown Jesus.
In the Pac-10 the nation is starting to see the depth of the conference. The excellent showing by Stanford who beat Oregon and Oregon State beating Cal is raising the profile of the conference. Unfortunately it hurts the chances of a BCS champion coming from the conference. However with four of the ten teams ranked in the AP top 25 in USC, Oregon, Arizona and Stanford (with Oregon State merely eight points away from being ranked), the Pac-10 is finally being shown some respect.
Now for the LAist-CS top 16 rankings. Outside of the top three, it was a hard time ranking the other 13 teams. Another complication this week was Andy Sternberg not participating this week. In lieu of his rankings, I used the AP rankings. So here it is.
1. Florida (9-0, 7-0 SEC) - It really doesn’t matter the order of the top three. But here’s Florida.
2. Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC) - In what was essentially a playoff game, the Tide passed LSU to win the SEC East and ensure a much anticipated rematch against the Gators in Atlanta. (Adam Rose)
2. Texas (9-0, 5-0 Big 12) - I hate they scheduled such a cupcake in Central Florida.
4. Cincinnati (9-0, 5-0 Big East) - If you asked me earlier in the season whether a Big East team would be in the top five I would have laughed at you. But I guess this is where we’re at right now.
5. Boise State (9-0, 4-0 WAC) - A ten point victory over Louisiana Tech was much closer than the scoreboard indicated. Oregon should still be a double-digit favorite in a rematch. (Adam Rose)
6. TCU (9-0, 5-0 Mountain West) - Beating nobody special since 2009. Honestly, they're cute, but is this the team to bust the BCS? (Adam Rose)
7. LSU (7-2, 4-2 SEC) - It's hard to dock them for losing to what many consider the best team in America. They haven't always been stellar, but they're solid.
8. Oregon (7-2, 5-1 Pac-10) - Can you really see anyone below them in these rankings beat the Ducks? I think not.
9. USC (7-2, 4-2 Pac-10) - It could always be worse in a rebuilding year. I still have them playing the Fiesta Bowl.
9. Georgia Tech (9-1, 6-1 ACC) - An overtime victory over Wake Forest makes the ACC frontrunner almost as unimpressive as the Big East frontrunner. (Adam Rose)
11. Pittsburgh (8-1, 5-0 Big East) - How did this team lost to NC State?
12. Ohio State (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) - They've outscored opponents 107-14 since the Purdue debacle, and this week they finally beat - nay, crushed - somebody good. A victory over Iowa next week revalidates the Buckeyes. Is revalidates a word? It could be one by next Saturday. (Adam Rose)
13. Miami (FL) (7-2, 4-2 ACC) - The Hurricanes are still hanging around trying to see if they have any chance for a BCS bowl. It’s very unlikely.
14. Houston (8-1, 4-1 Conf. USA) - The only reason they’re still on this list is because of all the losing going on all over the place.
15. Iowa (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) - It’s about damned time they lose. But if they get it together and beat Ohio State next week, they will be facing Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
16. Oklahoma State (7-2, 4-1 Big 12) - They will really be tested with games against Texas Tech, Colorado and Oklahoma.
Also receiving votes: Utah, Arizona.
