College football's preseason problem
Bill Welt
Issue date: 8/26/09 Section: Sports
College football is almost underway, and preseason polls are out.
Most major preseason polls in both the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision have been released this past week.
This is where the arguments begin, at least in the FBS.
The preseason polls in the FBS pull a lot more weight and significance during the season than those of the FCS.
The Coaches poll and the Harris poll are the only two polls factored into the Bowl Championship Series ranking system. The AP poll dropped itself from the BCS ranking system and was replaced by the Harris poll in 2005.
Although the Coaches poll is the only one to release a preseason poll, this does not mean the AP poll, among others, is insignificant. They are all still very relevant in college football.
This is because members, or panelists, of the Harris poll are going to be heavily influenced by the media and its polls when they first come out at the end of September.
Panelists contributing to the Harris poll include ex-college football players, coaches, administrators and current media contributors. This committee comprises of 114 members total.
The media's heavy presence in the BCS ranking system means these preseason polls still may determine the eventual national champion and leave another undefeated school out of the championship game, again.
Mid-major schools like Texas Christian University, Utah, and Boise State, who look to climb near the top again this year, cannot reach the BCS national championship game partially because it is too hard for them to climb up to the top of the rankings, even if they go undefeated.
This is because of their low placement in the Top 25 during the preseason. Major-conference schools are too far ahead to drop below them if they lose one or even two games.
Even big name schools may be left out of a title match if they go undefeated, which is why the Harris poll was created in the first place.
Most major preseason polls in both the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision have been released this past week.
This is where the arguments begin, at least in the FBS.
The preseason polls in the FBS pull a lot more weight and significance during the season than those of the FCS.
The Coaches poll and the Harris poll are the only two polls factored into the Bowl Championship Series ranking system. The AP poll dropped itself from the BCS ranking system and was replaced by the Harris poll in 2005.
Although the Coaches poll is the only one to release a preseason poll, this does not mean the AP poll, among others, is insignificant. They are all still very relevant in college football.
This is because members, or panelists, of the Harris poll are going to be heavily influenced by the media and its polls when they first come out at the end of September.
Panelists contributing to the Harris poll include ex-college football players, coaches, administrators and current media contributors. This committee comprises of 114 members total.
The media's heavy presence in the BCS ranking system means these preseason polls still may determine the eventual national champion and leave another undefeated school out of the championship game, again.
Mid-major schools like Texas Christian University, Utah, and Boise State, who look to climb near the top again this year, cannot reach the BCS national championship game partially because it is too hard for them to climb up to the top of the rankings, even if they go undefeated.
This is because of their low placement in the Top 25 during the preseason. Major-conference schools are too far ahead to drop below them if they lose one or even two games.
Even big name schools may be left out of a title match if they go undefeated, which is why the Harris poll was created in the first place.
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College Essay
posted 2/02/10 @ 9:14 AM CST
I must admit, great sports news!
williamsurrenders
Ecommerce Design
posted 2/04/10 @ 4:15 PM CST
Nice article on sports!
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