Pre-season College Polls

College Football, finally, starts next weekend. Much like in the world of politics, college football is ruled by polls. And much like the world of politics, pre election polls can be quickly worthless and mostly for chattering about. The pre-season college polls basically tells us what people think of these teams and what they will accomplish over the year. The only poll that really matters is the BCS rankings poll that decides which two teams will play each other in the Championship game. And the formula for that, is incredibly convoluted and stupid, and you have to wonder who came up with it.

1. Alabama

No real surprise, they are defending champions from last year. Its not been a stroke of luck of recent years to be ranked number 1 at the start of the season, they don't usually stay there.

2. Ohio State

Oh the Buckeyes, the rulers of the Big Ten, are in at second place. The Buckeyes finally won a big out of conference game at the Rose Bowl, so maybe the pattern of constantly losing the game that counts is broken. I don't think the problem will be the big game this year as much as it will be the gimme game that they lose, which usually happens when they play another Big Ten school like Purdue or Illinois.

3. Boise St, possibly.

While the first two teams seem to be unanimously at the top, the polls begin to differ at three. I will stay with Boise St since it is at 3 in the majority of polls. Could this be the year of the BCS Bronco Buster? They only have two real games to win this year and most of the time they show up for those spotlight games. Boise St comes from a non-qualifying conference, so they have to be undefeated just to get mentioned in the BCS conversation. They play a pathetic schedule and its not that hard to run the table, so their problem is the one they have had every year they have gone undefeated. Are they worthy of playing in the Championship game versus a one less team from a major conference like the SEC? Most people say no. What really could be a problem this year is if TCU, another non-qualifying school that is ranked at around 6-8, also goes undefeated. Would you put both schools into a BCS championship over one of the one less powerhouse conference teams?

4. Florida

Even without Tebow and much of their championship starters, Urban Meyer's team is still a contender. Florida has a new quarterback who is much more prototypical than Tebow was, so it will be a different type of offense. I don't think it will be possible for Florida to get the Championship game undefeated as they play Alabama at Alabama, and then possibly rematch them in the SEC championship game. A clean sweep of the Tide seems really unlikely, even for the Tebow ver Gators, so they would need to win the SEC championship game. Even then it would depend on where they are in the standings, the win would have to vault them to number 2.

5. Texas

The pride of Texas, Longhorns, could they repeat the win of the Big 12 and get back to the big game? They have a tough schedule to do it with thats for sure. Really, it will all come down to two games. The Red River Shoot out with Oklahoma, which Texas has taken control of in recent years, and then the Big 12 Championship which will be with Nebraska. They also have a new QB, who got his debut during the BCS Championship game last year when McCoy was knocked out of it. Texas is in the tougher Big 12 Division so its more likely Nebraska will be the winner of the Big 12, as I don't see much in Oklahoma to get excited about. Hook'm horns!

Not doing all 25 teams, but no Notre Dame ranking again, hopefully something happens with Kelly and his team this year. I just be happy for a strong performance and second tier bowl win.