I Have been angry - A Biased Reaction to The 2ND Playoff Rankings.
Last week I had a slight freak out after the initial College Football Playoff rankings were released. Here are a few of the texts that I shot out.
“Why is Michigan behind Clemson”
“Also Ohio State over Georgia… What.”
“I hate the playoff”
“LSU AT 10?!?!?!?!”
“IM GOING HOME.”
Needless to say, I have an issue with the college football rankings.
For a lot of reasons, I think it has been largely really bad for the sport. That being said, every single year I find myself getting incredibly worked up over rankings that are designed to push clicks and get me worked up. I hate that I fall into the trap, but nevertheless I do. That’s the beauty of sport.
So here’s my totally biased thoughts on the most recent College Football Rankings.
1. Georgia is rightfully ranked number one.
Something tells me that the team that won the Championship last year should have gotten more respect going into the first rankings… Oh right. It’s the fact that they are really freaking good at football. Tennessee is a wonderful team, but it was apparent very quickly that there is just one team in the nation that totally outmatches everyone else on a talent level. That is the land of Herschel Walker, Athens Georgia. You can argue all that you want about the looks of Stetson Bennet, but somehow that walk-on has turned into a complete stud. What a development for a Georgia team that needed to go up a level.
2. TCU is in a precarious position.
I will never forget that glorious 2014 TCU squad. They were absolutely incredible. They averaged 46.5 points per game while only giving up 19. They were led by Trevone Boykin and were at the peak of the Gary Patterson defensive experience. Going into the last week of the year they were ranked number 4. They proceeded to win their next game by 52… and inexplicably dropped to sixth. I’m not saying history will repeat itself… BUT.
3. How about the Pac-12
For a conference that is dying, they sure are showing up in these rankings. They are tied with the SEC with 4 top 15 teams. Their TV deal is one of the worst of all time, seriously I couldn’t name one person I know with the Pac-12 network, and it’s effecting the future of the conference.
This resurgence could be the thing that re-invigorates the nations love with the West Coast. USC is the ultimate villain, Oregon has Heisman candidate Bo Nix leading the way, UCLA is secretly crushed on by everyone my age because of the Chip Kelly Oregon teams, and Utah just plays solid winning football. It’s a beautiful thing to see relevant football coast to coast again.
4. Notre Dame.
As your resident Notre Dame fan, I am not going to say much here because I don’t have much to say. This is the weirdest season ever and I can’t explain it. Last week was a memory of a lifetime. I have never seen a Notre Dame team play to that level.
5. Florida State has something cooking in Tallahassee
At the beginning of the year I decided that FSU was going to my “side-crush” of the year. The decision came out of realizing my life-long hate for Florida State was not a Florida State issue, it was a Jimbo Fisher issue. Once I realized I could bond with the Talla-nasty fans that way I decided to go all in. They have been a bit up and down, but I could not be more impressed with the cultural turn-around that Mike Norvell is putting in. I had my doubts after his first two seasons, but it seems like it has clicked this year. They have one of the best rushing attacks in the nation and just put it ON the U. That was a statement win that will play dividends for recruiting in the state of Florida. To be a top 25 team again (after dropping out earlier this year) shows that this team is tougher than it has been in years.
There it is, my 5 thoughts for this weeks ranking. What you think? Do you agree? Disagree?