Preseason Polls

[Jonesy86]

So I'm sure most of you think preseason polls are almost useless. I know I do. But here's my question: Since the inception of the BCS, how often has the previous National Champ gone to the NC game the following year?

I would think it hasn't happened yet. If it hasn't, why do they always get the preseason #1. To me that gives them an unfair edge to get in again. And many voters may think the number 1/2 deserves to be 5-10, but keeps them in the top spot because they keep winning, and other undefeated teams that are playing better won't get their shot.

In my mind that takes the competitiveness out of college football. End the season with 4 undefeated teams, 3 and 4 are playing the best ball, but instead lets give it to 1 and 2 because one of them had it last year. That's BS.

On a side note, I'm not sure I would put Iowa number 6 or 7 preseason. Two of their first three games are tough, so I would probably put them around 12 or so. What do you guys think?


**Okay so I just looked it up, and the previous winner went the following year a couple of times. However, I still think a big reason for that is they're automatically given the best chance preseason.

 

[tm3308]

Just off the top of my head here, I'll look it up to see if there are more.

1999-2000 Florida State
2001-2002 Miami
2004-2005 USC

Also, Georgia was preseason #1 in 2008, and they didn't win the national championship the year before.

 

[HawkKing81]

So I'm sure most of you think preseason polls are almost useless. I know I do. But here's my question: Since the inception of the BCS, how often has the previous National Champ gone to the NC game the following year?

I would think it hasn't happened yet. If it hasn't, why do they always get the preseason #1. To me that gives them an unfair edge to get in again. And many voters may think the number 1/2 deserves to be 5-10, but keeps them in the top spot because they keep winning, and other undefeated teams that are playing better won't get their shot.

In my mind that takes the competitiveness out of college football. End the season with 4 undefeated teams, 3 and 4 are playing the best ball, but instead lets give it to 1 and 2 because one of them had it last year. That's BS.

On a side note, I'm not sure I would put Iowa number 6 or 7 preseason. Two of their first three games are tough, so I would probably put them around 12 or so. What do you guys think?


**Okay so I just looked it up, and the previous winner went the following year a couple of times. However, I still think a big reason for that is they're automatically given the best chance preseason.

On your side note....just curious as to why it matters if two of their first three games are tough? The upcoming schedule doesn't have anything to do with today's rankings.

 

[thefizz]

The preseason rankings are usually based on a combonation of 1)how you finished the previous season 2)who is returning 3)reputation 4)schedule. #1 and #2 are biggies. I don't look for the preseason polls to predict the national champion but it usually sets the bar decently well. Some teams exceed expectations, some will fall short, and almost none will finish where they started.
It certainly helps to start of the season higher ranking when it comes to getting a shot at the national championship, but if you win all of your games and look impressive in doing so, things will sort themselves out most of the time so I don't sweat preseason rankings. It's not unheard of to start the season outside of the top 10 and be in the championship game. 1999 Virginia Tech, 2000 Oklahoma, 2002 Ohio State, 2003 LSU come to mind. Alabama in 2008 was one quarter away from starting well outside the top 10 from going to the national title game.

 

[Jonesy86]

On your side note....just curious as to why it matters if two of their first three games are tough? The upcoming schedule doesn't have anything to do with today's rankings.

Because if I was an outsider that knew a little something about the program, seeing that they have to rebuild the offensive line, I would say they'll have a slow start to the season and lose one of those games, knocking them out of the top ten.

But as a fan, of course I think they'll run the table every year..

 

[oifdeserthawk]

Because if I was an outsider that knew a little something about the program, seeing that they have to rebuild the offensive line, I would say they'll have a slow start to the season and lose one of those games, knocking them out of the top ten.

But as a fan, of course I think they'll run the table every year..

Fair enough, however, rankings have absolutely nothing to do with what anybody THINKS will happen.....and entirely (or should be entirely) everything to do with the quality of your football team at the present moment in time.