The Cross Poll in no way influences the BCS Poll, making it about as relevant as the AP Poll. And because I watch at least one college football game per week, this makes the Cross Poll about as informed as the Coaches’ Poll. And because I use a combination of other polls and screwy computer formulas, this makes the Cross Poll about as accurate and confusing as the BCS Poll. And because no one cares where I rank these teams, this makes the Cross Poll about as important as the Harris Poll.
The Cross Poll is not an attempt to predict how good teams will be at the end of the season. Instead, it ranks the teams based on how well they’ve played to this point. It takes more than just win-loss record into account when determining teams’ rankings, factoring in who teams beat and who they lost to.
With that preface out of the way, here’s the Cross Poll rankings for Week 8:
It was not a direct shot at USC fans, but I suppose it could be indirectly contrued as one. More so, it was a shot at the media that continues to use the AP poll as its basis, when the AP means very little in the days of the BCS. Still, the AP is a much more informed poll, I believe, than either of the polls that make up the BCS now, unfortunately.
It's funny- I was commenting on a blog just yesterday about how I've come full circle with the BCS. After originally hating the it, I just go with the flow now, and the whole process of being an NCAA FB fan has become a lot more enjoyable.
The AP poll has its merits, but as you indicated in your comment, in this day and age, no crystal football = no national championship.
Hey, I just thought of something- the Buckeyes were the Sagarin Poll kings of the '98 season! Maybe we should claim it as a national championship!
Exactly. No crystal football, no national championship. That was what I was screaming at every media talking head who claimed USC was playing for their third straight national championship before they lost to Texas. So my beef isn't with USC fans, but the media who don't pay attention to things like the system they helped to put in place.
gambitxxx,
Thanks for the comment. I agree, LSU was the (only) national champion in 2003. And I'm not even an LSU fan, so consider me the voice of "objective" perspective.
pete_nice,
I agree -- it's the controversy and relativity of the BCS system that makes college football a hot topic and full of drama.
I assume you're a Buckeye since you approve of my top choice. I'm not a Buckeye, but until someone proves different on the field, they have the best case for the national championship at this point, though Boston College is a very close second.
I don't think OSU is the best team in the country either, and by speculative default, they are currently in that spot. I don't even think that they will complete the season undefeated, but if they do, then they have just as much legitimacy in a title slot as anyone else.
