Everyone has some opinions on what they would like to see change–both in the sports world and outside of it. For whatever its worth (and it probably is not worth much), there are plenty of changes throughout sports that this author would like to see. Before we touched on the College Football Playoff reporting issues. But the rankings needs work also…as Florida State should be #1. As should ANY team that is the sole undefeated team from a Power 5 conference after 10 games.
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKINGS
OK, with the College Football Playoff Committee’s decision to have Alabama leap over FSU and Oregon based on beating Mississippi State, the Confidential cannot take it any longer. The goal in football has always been to win 100% of your games. Always. Unless you are outside a major conference (see Brigham Young), going undefeated and being the SOLE undefeated team was usually the best way to win a title. Indeed, if this season were to end under the BCS regime or its predecessors, an undefeated Florida State would be the national champion.
But, by the same token, if Tennessee or Wisconsin or Kansas State or Arizona State did the same thing, they too would be the national champion. That is and has always been the way it is done.
In light of same, there is absolutely no reason why any one-loss team from a power conference–a dozen weeks into the season–should ever be behind a one-loss team. None. The system should reward perfection BEFORE it starts analyzing warts for size, shape, and color.
The rankings as of today should be: (1) Florida State; (2) Alabama; (3) Oregon; and (4) Mississippi State. It is perplexing that the committee has undefeated Florida State #3.
The excuse is that Florida State has not played anyone. But Florida State scheduled and beat Oklahoma State and Notre Dame out-of-conference. What else can the Seminoles do? They have also beaten Louisville, Clemson, and Miami within conference. And Florida looms. Again, what else can the Seminoles do?
In fairness, Alabama tested itself with West Virginia opening week. The Mountaineers are 6-4 and Oklahoma State is 5-5, with WVU also having won the head-to-head matchup. Oregon, too, tested itself… beating Michigan State.
The problem is that Oregon lost to Arizona at home. This is the same Arizona team that lost to Southern Cal, which lost to Boston College. Oregon walked onto a football field and walked off the loser. That is something that Florida State has yet to do.
Similarly, Alabama walked off the field at Ole Miss a loser. Not an embarrassing loss by any stretch. But not so significant that a team with a perfect record should bow to it.
At this late juncture of the season, the sole undefeated team from a Power 5 conference should be the #1 team. And this is a change that the Confidential would like to see.
