USA Today Poll

RK TEAM RECORD PTS

1 Alabama (58) 1-0 1545

2 Ohio State (3) 1-0 1444

3 Oregon 1-0 1420

4 Stanford 0-0 1292

5 Clemson 1-0 1275

6 South Carolina 1-0 1220

7 Texas A&M (1) 1-0 1181

8 Louisville 1-0 1051

9 Florida 1-0 974

10 Florida State 1-0 946

11 LSU 1-0 926

12 Georgia 0-1 875

13 Notre Dame 1-0 840

14 Oklahoma State 1-0 798

15 Oklahoma 1-0 666

16 Texas 1-0 660

17 Michigan 1-0 623

18 UCLA 1-0 368

19 Nebraska 1-0 357

20 Northwestern 1-0 348

21 Wisconsin 1-0 301

22 USC 1-0 176

23 Washington 1-0 145

24 Miami (FL) 1-0 140

24 TCU 0-1 140

Dropped from rankings: Boise State 19, Oregon State 25

Others receiving votes: Baylor 125, Michigan State 67, Ole Miss 54, Fresno State 46, Northern Illinois 31, Arizona State 28, Cincinnati 19, Arkansas 12, San Jose State 12, Georgia Tech 10, Arizona 7, Boise State 5, Virginia Tech 5, UCF 4, Texas Tech 3, Arkansas State 3, Kansas State 3, East Carolina 1, Bowling Green 1, Utah State 1, Missouri 1, North Carolina 1

South Carolina, Louisville, and possibly Clemson could/should be a little higher.

 

LSU up, Notre Dame down.

Oklahoma up, Texas down.

Baylor, Ole Miss, & Cincinnati up.

Who voted for Texas A&M? :lol2:

Given how bunched up this thing is with a few conferences having all the top teams, there's some serious appointment television this season.

 

Oregon/Stanford is the one that jumps out at me most right now.

 

*****

On a different note, it'll be darn tough for Louisville to move up much higher than they are right now given that we've already seen how much the voters are prepared to give big bumps to teams that win important games by the four-spot lift they gave Clemson. So even if they keep winning, Louisville has none of those big games so it looks like teams will shuffle around them a lot while they stand in place.

Given how bunched up this thing is with a few conferences having all the top teams, there's some serious appointment television this season.

 

Oregon/Stanford is the one that jumps out at me most right now.

 

*****

On a different note, it'll be darn tough for Louisville to move up much higher than they are right now given that we've already seen how much the voters are prepared to give big bumps to teams that win important games by the four-spot lift they gave Clemson. So even if they keep winning, Louisville has none of those big games so it looks like teams will shuffle around them a lot while they stand in place.

Alabama vs Texas A&M

So Carolina vs Clemson

Oregon vs Stanford

 

Almost half of the teams above the Cards have a guaranteed loss coming, I think if the Cards take care of business and Ohio St loses a game that the Cards have a shot at a title game. But Cards fans have got to root against the Bucs each and every week, IMO they are the biggest obstacle for the Cards getting to a title game.

^ I'd like to think so, but the computers are going to kill us all season. The Sagarin ratings have us at No. 27, still behind a Boise State team that got blown out by an unranked opponent.

 

I have no problem rooting against the Buckeyes... four years of living in Ohio with those people makes it almost second nature. My brother-in-law is a Buckeye fan as well and any chance I have to mess with him is great.

My very early look at the BCS possibilities:

 

SEC Champ (if 1 or fewer losses)

vs

Ohio St (if undefeated only)

 

Then: an undefeated Pac 10 Champ (I don't think either will be undefeated though)

 

Then: Clemson (if undefeated)

 

Then: Louisville (if undefeated)

Who voted for Texas A&M? :lol2:

 

 

Nick Saban.

My personal opinion--I'm not sure if I've expressed this yet on BGP or not, so sorry if this is rehashing an earlier post--is that Louisville needs to be the only major undefeated team out there to have a shot at the title game. The computer rankings are going to be such a drag that Louisville needs to occupy the top spot in the human polls to even cling to a title game berth.

 

A likelier scenario is that Louisville is left and out and makes a case for a split title if a one- or two-loss team wins the title game.

I think UL's schedule is going to kill them in the human polls. I'll be shocked if they get a title chance even though they should be undefeated.

Cards wish that the 4 team playoff started this season...undefeated record and (even though it shouldn't matter) last years Sugar Bowl win would be enough to get them in a 4 team playoff.

 

Cards have a hill to climb, they just got to take care of what they have control of and hope the rest falls in their favor.

My personal opinion--I'm not sure if I've expressed this yet on BGP or not, so sorry if this is rehashing an earlier post--is that Louisville needs to be the only major undefeated team out there to have a shot at the title game. The computer rankings are going to be such a drag that Louisville needs to occupy the top spot in the human polls to even cling to a title game berth.

 

A likelier scenario is that Louisville is left and out and makes a case for a split title if a one- or two-loss team wins the title game.

 

I think UL's schedule is going to kill them in the human polls. I'll be shocked if they get a title chance even though they should be undefeated.

The key is they have to roll through opponents, as they should. Many talk about Teddy putting up video game numbers last game, well he should, and he should so every game if they have a shot. UL can't go out and look sloppy multiple times through the course of the season. And I agree Ram they may have to be the lone undefeated to have a shot. The SEC will most likely be given a shot to play in the BCS title game... one can argue they have earned that right no matter how poorly said team may look. The best thing UL has going for them is that they won in last year's Sugar Bowl. Had they lost that game on a Hail Mary or 75 yard FG they would have 0 shot.

Who voted for Texas A&M? :lol2:

 

In fairness many felt A&M was the best team to finish last season. I think at worst they were the #2 team and return the Heisman winner.

Here's one thing I have a hard time figuring. Georgia goes into Clemson and loses by 3. Now Georgia is at #12 and many say Clemson is too low at 5. Seems to be a bit of a disconnect there.

A&M has probably the best shot at knocking Bama off again this year. Bama's O looked pretty weak against Va Tech, they won that game with a decent D and really good special teams execution. A&M looked to be in mid-season form when Manziel came in.

 

Sept 14 is going to be a great day, get my Birthday (chocolate) Pie and UL/UK then Bama/A&M...what more could I ask for?