I usually take a quick look at the weekly college football rankings from the sportswriters and broadcast personalities who vote for the Associated Press and the Coaches Poll, which votes from the participating American Football Coaches Association head coaches.
Obviously, I’m checking where Alabama is, although now that the college football playoff selection committee has its weekly rankings, the AP and Coaches polls mean next to nothing. However, I think they might (a.) have some impact on the CFP selectors, or (b.) give a hint as to how these selectors might think.
And when I see something like the one I saw this week, it makes me stop. Or a shudder.
It has nothing to do with Alabama, but think of the Oregon and Oregon State Pac-12 conference. Both have 9-3 records. So what could separate the two? Many people would suggest head-to-head results, although that can change as the season progresses. For example, Utah is no longer penalized for its loss to Florida, Notre Dame forgave its home loss to Marshall in early September. Well, not only did Oregon State beat Oregon in their head-to-head, it happened on Saturday! In both surveys, the ducks are ahead of the beavers.
That’s the situation of voter whim teams.
Back in Alabama, the Crimson Tide overwhelmed their Auburn State rival 49-27 on Saturday, and Bama’s 10-2 record — the all-time college football record for 15 straight years with 10 wins — includes losses in the last game in Tennessee and LSU by a total of four points. Meanwhile, Ohio State, previously ranked second in the nation, was blasted at home by No. 3 Michigan, 45-23, on Saturday. Yes. 45-23. At home.
Quite a few of those commenting on college football thought Alabama would finish fifth and Ohio State sixth. Voters in both polls missed or forgiven 45-23 at home a few hours before voting, and so the Crimson Tide trails the Buckeyes for that fifth spot.
Tennessee is in the top 10 in both polls, seventh in AP, eighth in Coaches, Penn State eighth and seventh.
The top ten of both polls have 9 of the same 10 teams, with Washington ranking ninth in both. The AP has Clemson at #10, the coaches have Kansas State at #10.
Alongside Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee in the top 10, the Southeastern Conference is represented by LSU (11th AP, 13th coaches), South Carolina (both 20th) and the state of Mississippi (both 25th). Ole Miss sits just outside the top 25, among “Others Getting Votes.”
Both the AP and Coaches polls use the same formula, the voting participants rank teams 1-25 with a first place vote good for 25 points, a second place vote 24, etc. Here are the polls of those Week of records and first place votes in brackets:
Associated press survey
- Georgia 12-0 (58) 1570
- Michigan 12-0(5) 1516
- TCU 12-0 1449
- southern cal. 11-1 1382
- State of Ohio 11-1 1313
- Alabama 10-2 1243
- Tennessee 10-2 1195
- Penn State 10-2 1113
- Washington 10-2 1048
- Clemson 10-2 928
- LSU 9-3 874
- Utah 9-3 849
- State of Kansas 9-3 815
- State of Florida 9-3 730
- Oregon 9-3 701
- State of Oregon 9-3 662
- UCLA 9-3 618
- Tulane 10-2 551
- Notre Dame 8-4 384
- South Carolina 8-4 358
- Texas 8-4 316
- Central Florida 9-3 170
- Texas-San Antonio 10-2 145
- North Carolina 9-3 114
- State of Mississippi 8-4 99
Others receiving votes: Troy 80, North Carolina State 62, Cincinnati 43, Boise State 39, Purdue 24, Ole Miss 22, South Alabama 12, Illinois 10, Coastal Carolina 6, Pittsburgh 5, Fresno State 4, James Madison 4, Ohio 2, Minnesota 1
Dropped out of the top 25: 20th Ole Miss, 21st Cincinnati, 23rd Coastal Carolina
COACH SURVEY
- Georgia 12-0 (60) 1572
- Michigan 12-0 )3) 1512
- TCU 12-0 1446
- southern cal. 11-1 1381
- State of Ohio 11-1 1312
- Alabama 10-2 1262
- Penn State 10-2 1153
- Tennessee 10-2 1143
- Washington 10-2 1039
- State of Kansas 9-3 930
- Clemson 10-2 900
- Utah 9-3 872
- LSU 9-3 845
- State of Florida 9-3 739
- Oregon 9-3 681
- State of Oregon 9-3 613
- UCLA 9-3 603
- Tulane 10-2 558
- Notre Dame 8-4 340
- South Carolina 8-4 299
- Texas 8-4 292
- North Carolina 9-3 175
- Central Florida 9-3 141
- Texas-San Antonio 10-2 127
- State of Mississippi 8-4 88
Others receiving votes: Mississippi 83; Troy 58; NC state 58; Cincinnati 49; State of Boise 37; Purdue 36; Pittsburgh 36; Coast Carolina 26; Air Force 19; South Alabama 15; Illinois 10; Minnesota 7; Duke 7; Iowa 6; James Madison2; Fresno State 2; Wachwald 1
Dropped out of the top 25: No. 19 Mississippi; No. 21 Cincinnati; No. 23 Coastal Carolina