There’s no shortage of comments out there about how the BCS
system fails to accurately rank college football teams. But, I thought I’d add
my $.02 in anyway.
My specific complaint centers around West Virginia. They
started out the 2012 season at #11 in the first AP poll. I have no idea what this
ranking was based on, other than these polls do exist in the early season, and
somebody has to be #11.
Their first three games were against Marshall, James Madison
and Maryland (who barely beat William & Mary, 7-6). They won these three
games to rise to #9 in the AP poll. I have no idea what this ranking was based
on, other than these polls do exist in the early season, and somebody has to be
#9.
Their next game was against unranked Baylor (#25 at the
time). Baylor had beaten Southern Methodist, Sam Houston St. and
Louisiana-Monroe to “achieve” their Top 25 slot. West Virginia beats Baylor at
home, giving up 63 points in the process, and jumps to #8. Still no wins
against a “good” team, or a team who had beaten anybody good (La. Monroe did
beat (#8 at the time) Arkansas, but the Hogs are terrible.)
Next up for West Virginia was #11 Texas. How did Texas get
this ranking? They beat Wyoming, New Mexico and Mississippi. They also beat unranked Oklahoma St. West Virginia wins a 48-45 shootout. Again, Texas had
not beaten anyone that is now in the Top 25.
Of course, West Virginia gets absolutely thrashed 49-14 by
Texas Tech in their next game. But, not before they had risen to #5 in the AP
poll. So still, none of their wins had come against a good team, and none of
the teams they have beaten had won against anyone good. They drop to #17. What
they were even doing in the Top 25 at this point is a mystery.
Soon after, West Virginia got demolished by Kansas State.
K-State had beaten a Top 15 squad in Oklahoma, and it showed in the game
against West Virginia. WV drops to #25. But they were still in the AP top 25
poll! Not only that, but West Virginia was still #19 in the poll that matters –
the BCS.
My argument is that this team should have been nowhere near the Top
25. In my
opinion, there was no good logical basis for this ranking.
