BlogPoll Transition Week

My original preseason BlogPoll was based on some talent ranking data I had accumulated because I didn’t have any idea which teams were worthy of ranking in the top 25, much less any sort of order.

Admit it, neither did you.

I’m calling this “Transition Week” as we move from the hybrid talent-results poll of last week to a pure results oriented poll this week. That means if you aren’t 2-0, you aren’t in the top 25.

Including you 1-and-0 USC. Build up that resume if you want to play.

By my count, 35 Division I-A teams are 2-0. So, 10 of those teams are not making the top 25. The ten not to be included are –

Air Force
Arizona State
Hawaii
Indiana
Northwestern
Ohio
Pitt
Purdue
Texas A&M
Texas Tech

It’s nothing personal to these ten, but I’m either not very impressed with who you have played, not very impressed with how you won, or some combination thereof. Go 3-0, and we’ll talk.

Of the remaining teams, I see 4 categories of 2-0 winners –

1. A “good” win and a “patsy” win – this would include LSU, Oklahoma and yes even Washington. These teams will get priority rankings.

2. A “good” win and a “bad” win – this would include teams like Cal and Texas. They get secondary rankings.

3. 2 “pasty” wins – Sure, you are blowing out the little guys. But we don’t really know you yet. This get’s 3rd priority rankings.

4. A “patsy win” and a “bad” win – Nebraska and Ohio State. Bringing them in at 24th & 25th.

Which gives this our Week 2 regular season results-oriented poll –

Rank	Team	Delta
1	LSU	1
2	Oklahoma	2
3	Oregon	20
4	Clemson	5
5	Washington	21
6	Georgia Tech	6
7	Penn State	1
8	South Carolina	18
9	Missouri	17
10	Cincinnati	16
11	UCLA	7
12	Boston College	14
13	Wisconsin	3
14	South Florida	12
15	California	12
16	Texas	5
17	Florida	12
18	West Virginia	3
19	Alabama	8
20	Rutgers	6
21	Michigan State	5
22	Iowa	4
23	Louisville	7
24	Ohio State	17
25	Nebraska	5

Dropped Out: Georgia (#1), Southern Cal (#6), Auburn (#13), Hawaii (#14), Miami (Florida) (#17), Boise State (#19), Texas A&M (#22), Texas Tech (#24), Tennessee (#25).

Mr Manic-Depressive again, I am sure.

I imagine Week 3 will start to see a firming up of our poll, as we are forced to perhaps include teams with a 2-1 record (You can be sure a Gator loss will drop them from my top 25). How USC plays at Nebraska will also be very interesting toward ranking the Trojans.