Performance Plus Consistency – College Football Polls

Pump The Brakes

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Jim Quist @ACCTheQ –

Let me present a theory that on the surface tends to hold water. If a college football team delivers performance plus consistency week in, week out then in all likelihood they’ll rise in the polls. Seems straightforward and logical but it doesn’t always work that way or does it? There’s been plenty of complaints, and certainly not just recently about how voters are being ‘homers’. If you’re a team on the west coast then you’ve got to wonder if your games are actually being watched prior to the vote by those on the east coast. That’s another issue of concern. Then there’s the recent (well, not so recent) realization that pre-season polls aren’t worth the ‘digital’ paper they’re written on.

After thrashing about among all this muck for a couple of weeks the numbers begin to settle in. It plays itself out. Oh, we’ve still got our rose-colored glasses crowd but that’s up to the editors to weed out to maintain some integrity with their poll.

The most recent issue has been some tech or operator error (read: human) snafu’s with the AP Top 25. Last week was an abomination of one or both of the aforementioned. This week, more excuses following some weird tabulation. Now, we know that everyone makes mistakes. That tech bugs happen. But, we always expect more out of our well established institutions. We expect, performance plus consistency. It’s not too much to ask, really.

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Performance Plus Consistency

If you’re wondering why Clemson seems to be stagnating just out of the top 5 of the two major polls take one look at their schedule and you’ll find your answer. Until the Tigers get into their conference schedule or at the very least meet up with another ranked team voters don’t have much to judge them by. At the moment, the latter is out of the discussion.

One of the more interesting conversations and where we find our first use of the term, ‘overrated’ is with Notre Dame. The Irish continue to move up in the latest polling. Why’ll there certainly may be some cause for concern regarding their first two games keep this in mind. When the top teams pull out late season squeakers aren’t we always talking about how the ‘good teams’ always find a way to win?

We’ll soon find out how good Kelly’s squad is as they start facing tougher challenges. Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, USC and North Carolina are all stacked up ready for their shot over the coming weeks.

The Hokies have moved into the top 15 and I’m not sure anyone would have seen that coming. Next time one of you intrepid reporters are on a call or at a presser with Justin Fuente, ask him if he thought the team would be ranked this high. If he answers yes, he’s blowing smoke. There are questions floating out there wondering if this might be too high. Let me ask, where were the same people when North Carolina and Miami were ranked No.’s 10 and 14 in week 1 of the AP?

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Speaking of which, North Carolina is slowly rising from the dead having almost dropped out of the AP last week. Miami is on the verge of disappearing from the AP and have already dropped out of the USA Today Coaches’ Poll.

The Tar Heels have a solid challenge on their hands this coming week with Virginia. It’s an opportunity for Mack Brown to demonstrate North Carolina is worthy of a poll position.

Manny Diaz’s head on a plate is the call among the football knowledgeable Miami crowd after an inauspicious start to the season. Look, no matter how many times you click your heels together and say, ‘The U’s back’, I can assure you, you’re not. Yet. That day could come. If it weren’t for the insufferable no-nothing fans calling for Diaz’s departure I’d be glad to see it. Unfortunately, they will be the first one’s on the bandwagon when it happens and we’ll have some other meaningless ‘chain-like’ celebration to deal with when they start winning. Stop already and get a grip on reality.

The Canes are going to have a tough run of it starting, flips through schedule, oh yeah, this week you’ve got Michigan State. We’ll give you Central Connecticut but thereafter you’ll have to earn it the old fashioned way.

AP Top 25

RANKTEAM
#1ALABAMA
#2GEORGIA
#3OKLAHOMA
#4OREGON
#5IOWA
#6CLEMSON
#12NOTRE DAME
#15VIRGINIA TECH
#21NORTH CAROLINA
#24MIAMI
RV
#39PITT
#42BOSTON COLLEGE

USA Today Coaches’ Poll

RANKTEAM
#1ALABAMA
#2GEORGIA
#3OKLAHOMA
#4OREGON
#5TEXAS A&M
#6CLEMSON
#10NOTRE DAME
#15VIRGINIA TECH
#19NORTH CAROLINA
RV
#26MIAMI
#32PITT
#39BOSTON COLLEGE
#51NC STATE
#52VIRGINIA

When it comes to the teams in the Receiving Votes (RV) category Pitt and Virginia delivered the kind of wins that get you noticed. Boston College is still dabbling in less than threatening waters but that all changes this week with Missouri and then Clemson. With some question marks around key players being injured this week’s game will give us a much clearer view of what the Eagles are or are not.

Pitt came out slow against Tennessee. If you want to compete at the next level you can’t afford to waste any minutes on the clock. You can’t deny that a win in that kind of environment was a confidence booster for the Panthers. Pitt will get to tweak some of the weak spots over the next few weeks before hitting conference action on the road at Georgia Tech, a bye and then Virginia Tech. Having Clemson and Miami at home the two weeks after the Hokies can be played as an advantage.

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Virginia has more in the tank than imagined. Once the offense is in full rhythm the Hoos could be threatening once again for a division title. They’ve got to get by North Carolina, Wake Forest and Miami in a convincing manner. The end of the season schedule is the stone wall they need to break through. Starting with BYU, a bye, Notre Dame, Pitt and Virginia Tech this team will be put to the test.

Last, but not least NC State fans are not too happy with the latest outcome. The Pack certainly looked like a team exceeding expectations this season so there was plenty of optimism to go around. Nothing like a pin in your balloon to deflate your excitement about what could be. There’s no reason there can’t be a bounce-back for this Dave Doeren led team. A good showing against Furman will lead to a possible brick wall as Clemson comes to Raleigh. We’ll keep checking in to see if their performance plus consistency gets them back in the hunt.

Performance Plus Consistency