Kes, The computer rankings are designed to take in to account toughness of schedule and the NCAA ranks schedules as well and the computer rankings do have a direct bearing on the NCAA Football Championship in today's BCS as I am sure they will for the 4 team playoff. I like some subjectivity of pollsters but objective data is good to have also. If I was FSU I would hate the computer rankings but I understand why they exist and they are not some kind of SEC guided magic potion. After Nebraska was waxed by Colorado I believe it was.... a few years ago and yet the humbled Huskers still made the BCS Title game the computers were countered somewhat by the creation of the Harris poll voters. The combination of all at least adds to some form of consistent assessment of teams that are included in the BCS title game selections now and I am sure for the 4 team playoff in a couple of years. Otherwise it's pure anarchy.
I originally posted this here but moved it to another topic. Now conversation is moving to this point so I will repost here. Here is my opinion of how to fix the polls and I throw no bias into this objective opinion: 1) 1st poll should come out at the conclusion of week 5. 2) Rankings should be based upon the following: .....a) 1st level - W/L record .....b) 2nd level - W/L record of your direct opposition .....c) 3rd level - W/L record of your direct opponents' opposition 3) Penalties for scheduling anything other than FBS opponents. 4) There should be no further considerations made Someone could win in week 6 and fall in the rankings if all of their downstream opposition loses. This would encourage scheduling the best competition week in and week out. This would eliminate any subjective bias in rankings and the talk about one conference getting an advantage over another. What it would hurt is the lower tier schools that could not get quality opponents anymore and relegate them to the cellar forever.
Kes, Thank you sir, I am honored indeed. To be frank, I just felt no one was listening and everyone was tired of hearing it. I'm glad someone was paying attention! Another reason is this and it has to do with perception. I've lived here in the South over a decade now. While we have some great fans here and there are a great many around the area, the 'common' fan views there being no difference between Western Carolina and Purdue. (sorry Stu, I'm not kidding). They view the service academies are even being below teams like App St and Jacksonville State. It's laughable. At the same time, it's what they know. They don't travel a lot (not for football). They haven't seen what else is around America. I've clamored for a playoff for so long, (a true playoff) not because I don't love the traditions and all those things that made college football so great. I do and have done so because college football sold what little soul it had left the moment it accepted the Super Conference and the Bowl Alliance/BCS system as 'the way.' It's a god damned Ad Campaign and nothing more. It's the worst of all elements of college football, sold at the highest price and things like facts, on-field results and true history be damned.... I'd love to see a playoff, true playoff just as the other divisions have. Can you imagine Georgia or Florida State playing in Madison, Wisconsin in December? Have you ever been? I have, f*ck that place. Their fans are as rough as any in the country (including LSU), they're all drunk and their style of play is much better suited for such conditions. Why they play that when most of the season is in warm weather? I don't know.. It's a great place to visit for a game though, just don't be the visiting team. That being said, soon enough we'll take another small step toward a playoff..and it will be screwed up because the BCS will have their hands all over it instead of the NCAA (and that's the NCAA's fault)... but it will be better than this..and hopefully we grow a little more from there. As for the FCS issue that you and I are kindred spirits on... I honestly think the only way to slow down this disturbing trend is to punish teams for playing them. Make it a zero... a non-game. I don't know what else to do.. I mean, look at the slate of games and it's just pathetic.. and it's growing.