College Football Rankings Discussion

The final game of the 2010 season has been played, anointing the Auburn Tigers as the 2010 National Champions. Playoff system aside, it is tough to argue with Auburn's title. Yet there are a few glaring mistakes in the final rankings, or at least the guru thinks so.

First and foremost, Oregon fell to #3 in both the AP and USA Today polls. Rose Bowl champion Texas Christian leapfrogged (get it?) the Ducks in both sets of rankings. I understand the enthusiasm for the Horned Frogs, I truly do. But how on Earth can you justify knocking Oregon down a peg? They may have lost a game, but it was to the newly crowned champions. They held Auburn to just 22 points, their lowest total since September 9th. Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton was limited to 46 rushing yards on 22 carries. More importantly, the game was as tight as it could have possibly been. The teams were tied with literally two seconds remaining. The championship was decided on the final play, a game-winning field goal by Auburn kicker Wes Byrum. So Oregon's only loss of the season comes to the national champs by the slimmest of margins on the game's final play...and they get bumped in the rankings. Absolutely ridiculous.

Could someone please explain to me why Central Florida is ranked 20th in USA Today and 21st in the AP poll? Sure, the Knights won eleven games, but against who? Their signature win came against a Georgia team that finished under .500. In fact, none of their victories came against an opponent with a winning record. And they are ranked ahead of teams like South Carolina? Absurd.

Also absurd: UCONN played in a BCS game. I understand that the Big East has one automatic qualifier, but this is beyond ridiculous. The Huskies ended the season unranked in both the USA Today and AP polls. In fact, to find Connecticut in the final rankings, one must view the complete standings, where they can be found at #33 in USA Today and #34 in the AP poll. They never played a game against a ranked opponent in the entire regular season, and when they finally faced off against one in the Fiesta Bowl, they lost by four touchdowns. It is clear that Boise State, #7 in the according to USA Today, was more deserving of a BCS bid than a team that went 5-2 in the Big East.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Is this ranking system a joke? Should a playoff be instituted? Is TCU better than Oregon? Where does Boise State fit in? How awful are the Connecticut Huskies? Let your voice be heard in the comment section by clicking on the link that reads "# comments, (click here to add yours.)"

Image of the Week

As you are all aware, the Auburn Tigers defeated the Oregon Ducks last night to claim the BCS National Championship. It was a fantastic game, showcasing two of the most exciting teams in college football. And in a contest in which there was a safety, a fake punt, a fake extra point, and a last-second, game-winning field goal, the play of the game was clearly Michael Dyer's fourth quarter run.

Taking a handoff from Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, Dyer scampered to the right, where he appeared to be tackled by Oregon safety Eddie Pleasant. But a careful review showed that Dyer managed to keep the play alive by rolling over Pleasant. His body never touched the ground.

The official NCAA rules state that a play is ruled dead when "any part of the ball carrier's body, except his hand or foot, touches the ground." As the replay shows, Dyer's body never came in contact with the turf, enabling him to continue down the sideline and set up Wes Byrum's game-winning field goal.

2010 Bowl Season Preview: Part X: The BCS National Championship

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Finally, the game is here. The moment we have all been waiting will happen tonight. Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton will lead his Auburn Tigers against Lamichael James' Oregon Ducks. These two men last met in New York City one month ago, when Newton captured the award. Tonight they will face off again, battling for the BCS National Championship.

Surely, by now you have heard the hype surrounding these two teams. Between improper benefits scandals, Heisman Finalists, unstoppable offenses, and terrific coaches, the media coverage has not stopped. You have certainly had time to ponder whether Oregon's fast tempo will wear out the Auburn defense, how the Ducks will try to block defensive tackle Nick Fairley, how the Tigers will attempt to contain James, how many highlights Newton will produce, and finally, will these two teams combine for 100 points?

I am not here to expound on these discussions. I have new statistics for you. As great of a team as Oregon is, they will lose tonight. The Ducks offense is among the best in history and their defense is very strong, yet there is no answer for Cam Newton.

Not exactly a radical idea, but consider the following. Despite being known for his running ability, Newton leads the nation with a passer rating of 188.2. His yards per attempt is a ridiculous 10.52, meaning that every time the junior passes, he averages a first down. He has thrown for 28 touchdowns, while tossing only six interceptions. And if you lock down his receivers, you have to tackle a man who stands 6'6" and weighs 250 pounds. This becomes nearly impossible when you factor in his speed and elusiveness. As interesting as the other matchups may be, Auburn will win tonight for one simple reason: Cam Newton cannot be stopped.