Even thought the primary ranking groups of the; CFP Committee, the Amway Coaches Poll, and the AP Media Poll weekly college football rankings, do not have Wisconsin ranked as Number 1, I do. It was said, on an ESPN late night radio show from the Freddie and Fitz show, and I will be paraphasing from Ian Fitzimmons based out of the ESPN-Dallas area and when a caller from Arizona commented about the College Football Playoff ranking of the Top 4. The callers question was “why not just rank the 0-loss programs as the top four seeds because they are un-defeated”. Ian Fitzsimmons commented to the caller ” we are not handing out participation trophies here, its about selecting the best four football programs” (Fitzsimmons, 2017). Interesting that Wisconsin football team is a 0-loss program and on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff. I have them ranked number one in my polls th the last few weeks over the popular 0-loss programs of Georgia and Alabama.
What the sports media “experts” and the CFP Committee, fail to understand is that numbers and data do not lie. The sports media can manipulate the image in what we see and do their best to forget about the numbers and data. I am purely opposite, I use the professional model theory to support my rankings and other variables to account for why and how I rank one (1) through twenty-five (25). Ranking programs is more than just an eye test, and media promotion of what they believe is the best college football programs. Games are played by the players, coaches coach the game, each make cognitive decisions to make the best play and each effort by both coaches and players is only measured by play outcomes both good or bad. The ranking numbers by the media possesses vested interest, where as I rank based upon specific data points, not vested interest. Ranked positions are earned not given. The rankings should not be based upon who you are, which conference you represent or who the sports media supports.
There are so many more great games to be played during the remaining 3+ weeks of the college football season. With many more upsets to occur and more great finishes to watch as the top teams go head to head to create more controversy of who will make the publicized playoffs. I believe we are at the “top of turn four” of the college football season. Its going to be an exciting, remaining, last few weeks as many will root for the upsets and more great games. Here are my weekly rankings for college football.
| A | B | C | D | E |
| 1 | WISCONSIN (9-0) | (.448) 95 | (.482) 100 | (.352) 129 |
| 2 | GEORGIA (9-0) | (.654) 3 | (.598) 21 | (.413) 117 |
| 3 | ALABAMA (9-0) | (.556) 56 | (.566) 46 | (.395) 123 |
| 4 | MIAMI FLA. (8-0) | (.840) 1 | (.568) 44 | (.436) 105 |
| 5 | CENTRAL FLORIDA (8-0) | (.560) 55 | (.552) 59 | (.477) 84 |
| 6 | NOTRE DAME (8-1) | (.540) 67 | (.626) 1 | (.784) 1 |
| 7 | OKLAHOMA (8-1) | (.357) 117 | (.477) 102 | (.472) 94 |
| 8 | TOLEDO (8-1) | (.423) 102 | (.469) 104 | (.525) 47 |
| 9 | CLEMSON (8-1) | (.556) 57 | (.557) 54 | (.489) 76 |
| 10 | TCU (8-1) | (.556) 58 | (.525) 77 | (.472) 93 |
| 11 | WASHINGTON (8-1) | (.556) 59 | (.524) 79 | (.407) 120 |
| 12 | MEMPHIS (8-1) | (.500) 78 | (.495) 96 | (.455) 98 |
| 13 | SOUTH FLORIDA (8-1) | (.179) 129 | (.360) 130 | (.395) 124 |
| 14 | USC (8-2) | (.630) 27 | (.559) 52 | (.448) 100 |
| 15 | SAN DIEGO STATE (8-2) | (.630) 28 | (.460) 111 | (.419) 114 |
| 16 | WASHINGTON STATE (8-2) | (.444) 97 | (.553) 57 | (.475) 92 |
| 17 | BOISE STATE (7-2) | (.605) 43 | (.549) 63 | (.545) 38 |
| 18 | OKLAHOMA STATE (8-2) | (.333) 118 | (.481) 101 | (.491) 74 |
| 19 | MICHIGAN STATE (7-2) | (.630) 29 | (.602) 20 | (.481) 82 |
| 20 | MICHIGAN (7-2) | (.385) 113 | (.551) 61 | (.519) 52 |
| 21 | OHIO STATE (7-2) | (.704) 2 | (.583) 32 | (.444) 101 |
| 22 | PENN STATE (7-2) | (.538) 68 | (.590) 27 | (.537) 42 |
| 23 | ARMY (7-2) | (.464) 90 | (.404) 124 | (.380) 127 |
| 24 | TROY (7-2) | (.556) 60 | (.400) 125 | (.421) 113 |
| 25 | OHIO (7-2) | (.259) 127 | (.384) 129 | (.475) 91 |
Honorable Mentioned: Mississippi State, Auburn and Virginia Tech all are (7-2).
Key: A-Rank Order; B- Team and Current Overall Record; C- Percentage Rate of ranked teams Opponents Cumulative Record from their Non-Conference Schedule and Rank within that Categorical Variable; D- Percentage Rate of ranked teams Opponents Cumulative Record from their Overall Regular Season Schedule and Rank within that Categorical Variable; E- Percentage Rate of the ranked teams Opponents Cumulative Record from their Conference Schedule and Rank.
As of this time of the current college football season there are 50 bowl eligible FBS programs wth six (6) wins or more, and 21 more waiting in the wings with five (5) wins. At the four (4) win level and only 3 or 4 opportunities to become bowl eligible. There are three (3) + weeks remaining in the season; It’s going to be exciting, fun and heart breaking.
If you plan on using any of my ideas, thoughts or rankings to disucss publically in print, web based media postings or on air debates either in television or radio; please adhere to the APA/MLA policies and procedures when citing sources.
My book “College Football In The BCS Era The Untold Truth Facts Evidence and Solutions” (Siggelow, 2016); is the published research, The book is available at lulu.com
Coleman, Freddie and Ian Fitzsimmons (2017). ESPN Radio. Evening Time Slot. “Discussing the current college football playoff rankings, taking listener calls and questions.”. Talk Radio. ESPN-Bristol and ESPN- Dallas. ESPN Studios.