It’s no surprise that Alabama is a unanimous #1 among the Tailgater crew (Otero/ AP)
Tailgater Top 25 Rankings, Week 1
Each week we’ll be bringing you our respective Top 25 rankings, along with a little justification for our thoughts. Most fans of college football have, at one time or another, disagreed with the teams and order proffered by the AP and Coaches Polls…we’re no different. Here are our rankings for week 1. Weigh in with comments if you think differently.
Ranking teams with only one game played has limited value, but here we go.
| Zach Bigalke | John Mitchell | Matt Strobl |
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1. Alabama
2. Oregon 3. USC 4. LSU 5. Nebraska 6. Clemson 7. Virginia Tech 8. Michigan State 9. West Virginia 10. BYU 11. Oklahoma State
12. Baylor 13. Georgia 14. Ohio State 15. Oklahoma 16. Louisville 17. Wisconsin 18. Ohio 19. Arkansas 20. Florida State 21. South Carolina  22. UCF
23. Utah 24. USF 25. Notre Dame |
1. Alabama 2. Oregon 3. USC 4. LSU 5. West Virginia 6. Florida State 7. Georgia 8. Oklahoma 9. Clemson 10. Arkansas 11. Michigan State 12. Ohio State 13. Nebraska 14. Oklahoma State 15. South Carolina 16. TCU 17. Texas 18. Virginia Tech 19. Wisconsin 20. Louisville 21. Michigan 22. Notre Dame 23. Kansas State 24. Tennessee 25. Ohio |
1. Alabama 2. USC 3. LSU 4. Florida State 5. Michigan State 6. Oregon 7. West Virginia 8. South Carolina 9. Clemson 10. Ohio State 11. Nebraska 12. Arkansas 13. Oklahoma State 14. Georgia 15. Oklahoma 16. Texas 17. Notre Dame 18. Louisville 19. Ohio 20. Wisconsin 21. Baylor 22. Michigan 23. Virginia Tech 24. Tennessee 25. Florida |
Bigalke:
1-10: Until proven otherwise, the Tide answered any lingering questions about their title defense and worthiness of the top target. Oregon — and specifically new QB Marcus Mariota — answered their own questions. USC & LSU are right there in the thick of it as well. Taylor Martinez looks ready to make a leap as a passer, Clemson proved they’re more than speedy Sammy Watkins, and Virginia Tech won the oft-decisive battle against Georgia Tech in their opener. The Spartans and Mountaineers are toss-ups, Michigan State getting the nod at 8 based on their defensive performance against Boise State. Rounding out the top 10 is BYU, who crushed Mike Leach’s Cougars in his return top coaching and are overlooked at every team’s peril.
11-20: Starting off the second 10 are a pair of Big XII teams that lost starting QBs and didn’t miss a step. Georgia and Ohio State seemed comfortable in victory, and Louisville looked like the class of the Big East against Kentucky. I found myself less impressed with preseason media darlings Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Arkansas, who all won less than comfortably against seemingly overmatched foes. Until Florida State proves themselves against more than just FCS competition, I’m skeptical of ranking them any higher vis-a-vis the rest of the ACC’s contenders.
21-25: Was Vanderbilt that good, or South Carolina that out of sync? UCF seems determined to play for a big season as they await the NCAA’s decision about whether they’ll even have a shot at the postseason this year. Utah looks stout defensively, though Jordan Wynn still needs seasoning. The Bulls are Louisville’s biggest contender for the Big East crown, and Notre Dame rounds out my top 25 after looking sharp in Dublin against a Navy team that’s given them fits in recent years.
Mitchell:
1-10: After the Top 4 of Alabama, Oregon, USC, and LSU, I think there is a significant dropoff to the rest of the teams. I think those four teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the nation right now. West Virginia at #5 may be a little high, but I thought the Mountaineers were the best team in the Big 12 before the season, and I saw nothing to change my mind after the opening weekend. I was tempted to drop Oklahoma from the Top 10 altogether after their performance against UTEP, but I decided against it. I think Clemson at #9 is high, but they did win a neutral site game against a solid BCS opponent on Saturday.
1-10: After the Top 4 of Alabama, Oregon, USC, and LSU, I think there is a significant dropoff to the rest of the teams. I think those four teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the nation right now. West Virginia at #5 may be a little high, but I thought the Mountaineers were the best team in the Big 12 before the season, and I saw nothing to change my mind after the opening weekend. I was tempted to drop Oklahoma from the Top 10 altogether after their performance against UTEP, but I decided against it. I think Clemson at #9 is high, but they did win a neutral site game against a solid BCS opponent on Saturday.
11-20: Three Big Ten teams start the 11-20 rankings, and I think they could be placed in any order right now. Michigan State beat the best team, Nebraska had the most impressive win, and Ohio State lived up to the preseason hype by throttling an overmatched Miami Ohio team. I had South Carolina as a preseason Top 10 team, but they looked downright average against Vanderbilt. Wisconsin also takes a drop after narrowly defeating Northern Iowa.
21-25: The only team with a loss in my poll is Michigan at #21 who took a beating at the hands of #1 Alabama. Notre Dame looked impressive in their 50-10 win over Navy and earned inclusion in my Top 25. Kansas State looked average in their opener until late, but they started last season the same way. Tennessee and Ohio get the last two spots in my poll after impressive opening weekend victories. The Vols looked extremely dangerous in their win over NC State, and Ohio topped a Big Ten opponent in Penn State.
Strobl:
1-10: Though I’m still a victim of my preconceived notions, I try to put limited stock in the preseason polls. While it might lead to more volitility week to week, I attempt to acknowledge actual performances over hype or reputation. So while my colleagues here like the Ducks, I’m remaining wary for the moment based on their defense. Giving up 34 points and more than 500 yards to Arkansas State doesn’t exactly impress me, regardless of the circumstances. Yes, the starters were yanked, but 530 yards allowed still means something. I was also kinder to South Carolina; though the Gamecocks struggled against Vandy, they were contending with an injury to Connor Shaw. I was tempted to drop Oklahoma from the Top 10 altogether after their performance against UTEP, but I decided against it. I think Clemson at #9 is high, but they did win a neutral site game against a solid BCS opponent on Saturday.
1-10: Though I’m still a victim of my preconceived notions, I try to put limited stock in the preseason polls. While it might lead to more volitility week to week, I attempt to acknowledge actual performances over hype or reputation. So while my colleagues here like the Ducks, I’m remaining wary for the moment based on their defense. Giving up 34 points and more than 500 yards to Arkansas State doesn’t exactly impress me, regardless of the circumstances. Yes, the starters were yanked, but 530 yards allowed still means something. I was also kinder to South Carolina; though the Gamecocks struggled against Vandy, they were contending with an injury to Connor Shaw. I was tempted to drop Oklahoma from the Top 10 altogether after their performance against UTEP, but I decided against it. I think Clemson at #9 is high, but they did win a neutral site game against a solid BCS opponent on Saturday.
11-20: I dinged a lot of alleged power programs who gave uninspired performances against lesser competition in week 1. Georgia, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin may prove to be as good as advertised, but each had to labor to beat weak opponents. The Badgers looked particularly rough as they were nearly toppled by an FCS foe. Meanwhile Notre Dame, Louisville, and Ohio looked especially strong.
21-25: Baylor opens the last five and, frankly, an arugment could be made that the Bears should be even higher. Perhaps at Wisconsin’s expense. Michigan fell considerably but stays in the Top 25 despite the loss. There’s no shame in being bested by the best. Virginia Tech played to lose, but survived the Yellow Jackets in overtime. Tennessee and Florida managed to stay in as well, though the Gators didn’t do much of note against Bowling Green.
About Matt Strobl
Garbage time is garbage time…geez give a team a break for calling off the dogs. We are not in the times where a team had to dominate its opponent by 100+ points to matter. 3rd and 4th stringers even walk-ons got to play in the ducks game. It was a learning process for kids who wouldn’t normally play any downs. Sure it could be cleaned up but did you really want to see a 100-10 game.
It’s a fair argument, and I applaud Chip for pulling his guys. But there have been plenty of blowouts that featured backups without resulting in 530 yards allowed. We’ll see how the Ducks do against Fresno. I have little doubt that they’re one of the best teams in the country, and performance will bear that out. A poll after one week has limited utility anyway.