With the fourth poll in my 2016 CFB/FBS weekly rankings, Alabama has finally secured the Number 1 spot for now. Four polls, four new Number 1’s. Of the Number 1’s CFB/FBS programs I have ranked weekly, either have dropped from the Number 1 spot due to loss or Did Not Play (DNP). Both Louisville and Tennessee were dropped from the Number 1 ranked spot due to losses. However, Michigan drops out of the Number 1 spot due to the fact that they were on a bye week and could not increase thier win total, but are still ranked fourth (4th).
There are valid arguments to be made for those CFB/FBS programs I have ranked 1 through 3, to be ranked at the top of my weekly poll. Clemson (ACC) and Western Michigan (MAC) could also be ranked Number 1 this week, but since they already played a FCS schools, I hold that against them in the rankings since FCS schools are not eligible to compete for the $50 Million dollars at stake on the table or are classified as an FBS school for football. It’s like the NY Yankees playing their farm club and receiving credit for automatic wins. Since Alabama does not play their FCS opponent until later, they will stay at Number 1 until that point or loses. However, Clemson possesses a better Opponent Win-Loss percentage and Conference Opponent Win-Loss percentage over both Alabama (SEC) and Western Michigan (MAC). So there are VALID and measurable variables to support Clemson being ranked Number 1 in my poll. With that said; Alabama, Clemson and Western Michigan all (7-0) could be ranked 1 through 3, in three different ways depending on the variables used.
Here is this weeks rankings.
RANK | CONF | TEAM | RECORD | OPP W/L | OPP % | CONF W/L | CONF % |
1 | SEC | ALABAMA | (7-0) | (26-21) | 0.553 | (6-8) | 0.429 |
2 | ACC | CLEMSON | (7-0) | (25-12) | 0.676 | (9-5) | 0.643 |
3 | MWC | WESTERN MICHIGAN | (7-0) | (18-21) | 0.462 | (5-4) | 0.556 |
4 | B10 | MICHIGAN | (6-0) | (21-18) | 0.538 | (3-7) | 0.300 |
5 | B10 | OHIO STATE | (6-0) | (18-20) | 0.474 | (2-8) | 0.200 |
6 | MWC | BOISE STATE | (6-0) | (16-21) | 0.432 | (3-6) | 0.333 |
7 | B10 | NEBRASKA | (6-0) | (15-22) | 0.405 | (4-5) | 0.444 |
8 | SEC | TEXAS A&M | (6-0) | (19-14) | 0.576 | (6-9) | 0.400 |
9 | P12 | WASHINGTON | (6-0) | (18-22) | 0.450 | (2-9) | 0.182 |
10 | B12 | BAYLOR | (6-0) | (8-23) | 0.258 | (2-8) | 0.200 |
11 | AAC | HOUSTON | (6-1) | (20-16) | 0.556 | (5-7) | 0.417 |
12 | AAC | SOUTH FLORIDA | (6-1) | (17-23) | 0.425 | (1-8) | 0.111 |
13 | P12 | UTAH | (6-1) | (16-23) | 0.410 | (5-10) | 0.333 |
14 | B12 | WEST VIRGINIA | (5-0) | (12-13) | 0.480 | (2-4) | 0.333 |
15 | ACC | LOUISVILLE | (5-1) | (22-19) | 0.537 | (7-7) | 0.500 |
16 | SEC | FLORIDA | (5-1) | (17-21) | 0.447 | (5-10) | 0.333 |
17 | SBC | TROY | (5-1) | (18-15) | 0.545 | (4-5) | 0.444 |
18 | MAC | TOLEDO | (5-1) | (13-21) | 0.382 | (2-4) | 0.333 |
19 | AAC | MEMPHIS | (5-1) | (12-20) | 0.375 | (2-3) | 0.400 |
20 | MWC | SAN DIEGO STATE | (5-1) | (10-22) | 0.313 | (2-4) | 0.333 |
21 | SEC | TENNESSEEE | (5-2) | (34-11) | 0.756 | (13-4) | 0.765 |
22 | ACC | FLORIDA STATE | (5-2) | (27-11) | 0.711 | (9-6) | 0.600 |
23 | SEC | ARKANSAS | (5-2) | (26-12) | 0.684 | (9-2) | 0.818 |
24 | ACC | NORTH CAROLINA | (5-2) | (24-15) | 0.615 | (7-6) | 0.538 |
25 | ACC | PITTSBURGH | (5-2) | (21-17) | 0.553 | (5-5) | 0.500 |
My rankings possesses more validity and credibility in ranking FBS programs 1 through 25 because I examine, evaluate and assess variables that the USA Today Coaches, the AP Press Voters, the “expert” ESPN media members and CFP committee fail to review or accept as valid rankings variables. These voters, media members and committee members use the eye test or vested interest to rank CFB/FBS programs 1 through 25. If you review my rankings this week, I have all FBS conferences ranked within my Top 25, except Conference USA (CUSA). I hold no bias or favortism, numbers and data do not lie.
Now the 2016 FBS season starts to get more interesting with many menaingful scheduled games to be played. We are now down to 11 (0) loss programs and 9 (1) loss FBS programs still standing in college football. At the half mile pole of the CFB/FBS 2016 season, I wonder what the next poll will show? Will we lose any more (0) loss teams and will more (1) loss teams become (2) loss teams. Let the remaining games of the 2016 FBS/CFB season be entertaining and un-predictable. I look forward to the outcomes of those games scheduled.
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