Well, the battle for Democracy in the free world has passed, with LSU beating Alabama in a 9-6 quasi-yawner. At the same time, Oklahoma State rallied past Kansas State in a game that was as thrilling as useful as exhibits of the Cowboys’ flaws. Meanwhile, Oregon and Stanford took care of business leading into their own battle for world domination this weekend. Oh yeah, the Yellow Jackets have a chance to make some noise in the ACC Coastal against the Hokies. So, how did the action affect the rankings? (as usual a combination of RPI, adjusted scoring margin, performance vs good teams, performance vs common opponents and head to head results)
| Rank | Team | W | L | RPI | Margin | PairWins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LSU | 9 | 0 | 0.795 (2) | 33.344 (1) | 119 |
| 2 | Boise State | 8 | 0 | 0.764 (3) | 28.727 (4) | 118 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 9 | 0 | 0.803 (1) | 28.543 (6) | 117 |
| 4 | Stanford | 9 | 0 | 0.743 (4) | 28.637 (5) | 117 |
| 5 | Houston | 9 | 0 | 0.735 (5) | 18.58 (13) | 116 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 8 | 1 | 0.724 (6) | 30.178 (3) | 115 |
| 7 | Clemson | 8 | 1 | 0.717 (7) | 16.05 (16) | 113 |
| 8 | Alabama | 8 | 1 | 0.712 (10) | 33.146 (2) | 112 |
| 9 | Oregon | 7 | 1 | 0.688 (11) | 25.16 (8) | 112 |
| 10 | Cincinnati | 7 | 1 | 0.686 (12) | 16.034 (17) | 110 |
| 11 | Southern Miss | 8 | 1 | 0.713 (9) | 18.034 (14) | 109 |
| 12 | Virginia Tech | 8 | 1 | 0.683 (13) | 13.913 (26) | 107 |
| 13 | Arkansas | 8 | 1 | 0.716 (8) | 12.718 (33) | 106 |
| 14 | Michigan | 7 | 2 | 0.673 (14) | 22 (9) | 106 |
| 15 | Penn State | 8 | 1 | 0.671 (16) | 14.796 (24) | 106 |
| 16 | Nebraska | 7 | 2 | 0.627 (27) | 15.1 (22) | 103 |
| 17 | Texas | 6 | 2 | 0.643 (24) | 16.527 (15) | 103 |
| 18 | Kansas State | 7 | 2 | 0.665 (17) | 9.995 (39) | 101 |
| 19 | South Carolina | 7 | 2 | 0.672 (15) | 14.819 (23) | 100 |
| 20 | USC | 7 | 2 | 0.647 (22) | 14.433 (25) | 100 |
| 21 | Georgia Tech | 7 | 2 | 0.663 (18) | 13.832 (27) | 99 |
| 22 | Michigan State | 7 | 2 | 0.659 (19) | 13.432 (29) | 98 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 7 | 2 | 0.636 (25) | 26.367 (7) | 98 |
| 24 | Georgia | 7 | 2 | 0.633 (26) | 15.694 (19) | 96 |
| 25 | TCU | 7 | 2 | 0.622 (28) | 15.439 (21) | 96 |
| 26 | Arizona State | 6 | 3 | 0.61 (30) | 15.487 (20) | 93 |
| 27 | Notre Dame | 6 | 3 | 0.598 (32) | 20.234 (10) | 92 |
| 28 | Illinois | 6 | 3 | 0.567 (39) | 11.59 (37) | 89 |
| 29 | Ohio State | 6 | 3 | 0.571 (36) | 13.035 (32) | 88 |
| 30 | Auburn | 6 | 3 | 0.646 (23) | 7.265 (52) | 86 |
| 31 | Northern Illinois | 6 | 3 | 0.569 (37) | 6.363 (58) | 86 |
| 32 | Florida State | 6 | 3 | 0.574 (35) | 20.177 (11) | 85 |
| 33 | Texas A&M | 5 | 4 | 0.557 (44) | 19.52 (12) | 85 |
| 34 | Baylor | 5 | 3 | 0.598 (34) | 8.609 (46) | 84 |
| 35 | Rutgers | 6 | 3 | 0.565 (41) | 12.122 (34) | 83 |
| 36 | North Carolina | 6 | 4 | 0.564 (42) | 9.088 (45) | 82 |
| 37 | Tulsa | 6 | 3 | 0.621 (29) | 10.848 (38) | 80 |
| 38 | West Virginia | 6 | 3 | 0.557 (43) | 11.656 (36) | 80 |
| 39 | Miami-FL | 5 | 4 | 0.511 (64) | 13.309 (31) | 79 |
| 40 | Iowa | 6 | 3 | 0.565 (40) | 9.312 (43) | 78 |
| 41 | Washington | 6 | 3 | 0.569 (38) | 6.975 (54) | 77 |
| 42 | SMU | 6 | 3 | 0.609 (31) | 8 (48) | 75 |
| 43 | Virginia | 6 | 3 | 0.557 (45) | 6.509 (56) | 75 |
| 44 | Ohio | 6 | 3 | 0.547 (49) | 7.086 (53) | 73 |
| 45 | Missouri | 4 | 5 | 0.519 (59) | 13.318 (30) | 71 |
| 46 | South Florida | 4 | 4 | 0.5 (70) | 11.929 (35) | 71 |
| 47 | Toledo | 5 | 4 | 0.518 (61) | 15.835 (18) | 71 |
| 48 | Arkansas State | 7 | 2 | 0.647 (21) | 8.303 (47) | 70 |
| 49 | UCLA | 5 | 4 | 0.54 (51) | 3.682 (67) | 69 |
| 50 | Mississippi State | 5 | 4 | 0.545 (50) | 9.091 (44) | 68 |
| 51 | Louisville | 5 | 4 | 0.53 (54) | 5.295 (63) | 67 |
| 52 | Western Michigan | 5 | 4 | 0.547 (48) | 6.883 (55) | 67 |
| 53 | Temple | 5 | 4 | 0.509 (67) | 13.751 (28) | 64 |
| 54 | Utah | 5 | 4 | 0.531 (53) | 5.775 (59) | 63 |
| 55 | Florida | 5 | 4 | 0.534 (52) | 9.518 (42) | 62 |
| 56 | Ball State | 6 | 4 | 0.553 (46) | -1.562 (89) | 61 |
| 57 | NC State | 5 | 4 | 0.514 (63) | 3.889 (66) | 60 |
| 58 | Wake Forest | 5 | 4 | 0.522 (58) | 3.412 (69) | 58 |
| 59 | Syracuse | 5 | 4 | 0.517 (62) | 3.105 (71) | 57 |
| 60 | Nevada | 5 | 3 | 0.598 (33) | 5.35 (62) | 56 |
| 61 | BYU | 6 | 3 | 0.547 (47) | 5.581 (60) | 55 |
| 62 | California | 5 | 4 | 0.528 (55) | 3.167 (70) | 55 |
| 63 | Texas Tech | 5 | 4 | 0.526 (56) | 1.163 (79) | 55 |
| 64 | Louisiana Tech | 5 | 4 | 0.518 (60) | 9.814 (40) | 54 |
| 65 | Wyoming | 5 | 3 | 0.51 (66) | -1.686 (90) | 53 |
| 66 | Iowa State | 5 | 4 | 0.524 (57) | -3.681 (94) | 52 |
| 67 | Marshall | 4 | 5 | 0.503 (68) | 1.184 (77) | 51 |
| 68 | FIU | 5 | 4 | 0.499 (72) | 2.988 (72) | 50 |
| 69 | Northwestern | 4 | 5 | 0.5 (71) | 5.476 (61) | 50 |
| 70 | Tennessee | 4 | 5 | 0.433 (82) | 9.781 (41) | 49 |
| 71 | San Diego State | 5 | 3 | 0.51 (65) | 7.444 (51) | 48 |
| 72 | Connecticut | 4 | 5 | 0.435 (80) | 1.485 (75) | 47 |
| 73 | Eastern Michigan | 5 | 4 | 0.502 (69) | -6.013 (101) | 47 |
| 74 | Air Force | 5 | 4 | 0.493 (73) | 4.419 (64) | 46 |
| 75 | Purdue | 4 | 5 | 0.452 (79) | 1.831 (73) | 45 |
| 76 | Pittsburgh | 4 | 5 | 0.398 (94) | 7.77 (50) | 43 |
| 77 | UCF | 4 | 5 | 0.409 (86) | 3.545 (68) | 43 |
| 78 | Utah State | 3 | 5 | 0.402 (91) | 6.439 (57) | 43 |
| 79 | Bowling Green | 4 | 5 | 0.454 (78) | 1.254 (76) | 42 |
| 80 | LA-Lafayette | 8 | 2 | 0.649 (20) | 1.17 (78) | 41 |
| 81 | Vanderbilt | 4 | 5 | 0.435 (81) | 7.948 (49) | 40 |
| 82 | Hawaii | 5 | 4 | 0.491 (74) | 0.984 (81) | 37 |
| 83 | UTEP | 4 | 5 | 0.459 (77) | 1.646 (74) | 37 |
| 84 | East Carolina | 4 | 5 | 0.461 (76) | -0.826 (83) | 35 |
| 85 | Navy | 3 | 6 | 0.406 (87) | 4.191 (65) | 34 |
| 86 | Arizona | 2 | 7 | 0.341 (107) | -1.472 (86) | 31 |
| 87 | Miami-OH | 4 | 5 | 0.419 (85) | -0.764 (82) | 30 |
| 88 | Kentucky | 4 | 5 | 0.424 (83) | -3.798 (95) | 29 |
| 89 | Maryland | 2 | 7 | 0.316 (113) | -0.828 (84) | 29 |
| 90 | San Jose State | 3 | 6 | 0.402 (89) | -1.293 (85) | 27 |
| 91 | Washington State | 3 | 6 | 0.402 (90) | -2.73 (92) | 25 |
| 92 | Central Michigan | 3 | 7 | 0.398 (93) | -10.183 (110) | 24 |
| 93 | Oregon State | 3 | 7 | 0.399 (92) | 1.115 (80) | 24 |
| 94 | Rice | 3 | 6 | 0.424 (84) | -5.13 (98) | 22 |
| 95 | North Texas | 3 | 6 | 0.406 (88) | -6.001 (100) | 21 |
| 96 | Western Kentucky | 5 | 4 | 0.469 (75) | -4.535 (97) | 21 |
| 97 | Duke | 3 | 6 | 0.396 (96) | -2.261 (91) | 20 |
| 98 | Fresno State | 3 | 6 | 0.379 (98) | -2.906 (93) | 20 |
| 99 | Army | 3 | 6 | 0.356 (103) | -1.521 (87) | 18 |
| 100 | Kansas | 2 | 7 | 0.371 (100) | -11.228 (112) | 18 |
| 101 | LA-Monroe | 2 | 7 | 0.369 (102) | -1.542 (88) | 17 |
| 102 | Ole Miss | 2 | 7 | 0.37 (101) | -5.545 (99) | 15 |
| 103 | Boston College | 2 | 7 | 0.343 (106) | -4.387 (96) | 14 |
| 104 | Buffalo | 2 | 7 | 0.307 (115) | -8.332 (106) | 14 |
| 105 | Kent State | 3 | 6 | 0.375 (99) | -6.3 (102) | 14 |
| 106 | New Mexico State | 3 | 6 | 0.391 (97) | -7.693 (104) | 14 |
| 107 | Minnesota | 2 | 7 | 0.33 (108) | -8.542 (107) | 12 |
| 108 | Colorado State | 3 | 5 | 0.397 (95) | -12.324 (113) | 9 |
| 109 | Idaho | 2 | 7 | 0.317 (112) | -7.219 (103) | 9 |
| 110 | Troy | 2 | 6 | 0.346 (104) | -10.284 (111) | 9 |
| 111 | MTSU | 2 | 6 | 0.345 (105) | -9.16 (109) | 8 |
| 112 | Colorado | 1 | 9 | 0.318 (111) | -9.147 (108) | 7 |
| 113 | UNLV | 2 | 6 | 0.327 (109) | -15.135 (115) | 7 |
| 114 | Indiana | 1 | 9 | 0.285 (117) | -7.8 (105) | 6 |
| 115 | Akron | 1 | 8 | 0.258 (119) | -14.07 (114) | 4 |
| 116 | Memphis | 2 | 7 | 0.323 (110) | -18.969 (119) | 3 |
| 117 | Tulane | 2 | 8 | 0.302 (116) | -18.517 (117) | 3 |
| 118 | UAB | 1 | 8 | 0.276 (118) | -17.682 (116) | 3 |
| 119 | Non FBS | 6 | 87 | 0.308 (114) | -20.14 (120) | 2 |
| 120 | Florida Atlantic | 0 | 8 | 0.256 (120) | -18.672 (118) | 1 |
| 121 | New Mexico | 0 | 9 | 0.224 (121) | -24.783 (121) | 0 |
Alabama is not the 8th best team in the country by the eye test. Indeed their 2nd ranked adjusted scoring margin is probably a better indicator of overall quality. But they did take the loss, and so the result is what it is. This pairwise comparison is meant to explain how to place the teams in a bracket or whatnot. Houston’s win this week and associated schedule results got it enough games against decent opponents to qualify for that criteria (thus the leap to #5). So, what does this do to the BCS?
Automatic Bids
- SEC: LSU (1)
- Big 12: Oklahoma State (3)
- Pac 12: Stanford (4)
- ACC: Clemson (7)
- Big East: Cincinnati (10)
- Big Ten: Penn State (15) – Michigan is higher ranked but Penn State is at top of the table
- NonAQ: Boise State (2)
Three at-larges this week. Looking at the Top 16, Houston, Oklahoma and Alabama are the choices. If this were the real BCS with voters and stuff and projecting bowls financial interests, Oregon at #9 would come into play. However, at this point we will give Houston its dream.
- BCS Championship: LSU vs Boise State
- Rose Bowl: Penn State vs Stanford
- Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs Oklahoma
- Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs Houston
- Orange Bowl: Clemson vs Cincinnati
The 24 team playoff would look like this. Automatic bids:
- SEC: LSU (1)
- Mountain West: Boise State (2)
- Big 12: Oklahoma State (3)
- Pac 12: Stanford (4)
- Conference USA: Houston (5)
- ACC: Clemson (7)
- Big East: Cincinnati (10)
- Big Ten: Penn State (15)
- MAC: Northern Illinois (31)
- Sun Belt: Arkansas State (48)
- WAC: Nevada (60)
- At Large: Oklahoma (6), Alabama (8), Oregon (9), Southern Miss (11), Virginia Tech (12), Arkansas (13), Michigan (14), Nebraska (16), Texas (17), Kansas State (18), South Carolina (19), USC (20), Georgia Tech (21)
(1) Seed in New Orleans Region: LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nebraska, USC, Nevada
(4) Seed in Miami Region: Stanford, Houston, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Texas, Georgia Tech
(2) Seed in Pasadena Region: Boise State, Clemson, Cincinnati, Penn State, Kansas State, Arkansas State
(3) Seed in Glendale Region: Oklahoma State, Alabama, Southern Miss, Michigan, South Carolina, Northern Illinois
