2008 College Football Season Recap

As always, a college football season promises upsets and this season has been no exception, although some of the "upsets" (Alabama 34, Clemson 10) no longer look like upsets in hindsight. That being said here are the teams I think are the ten best in the nation with a few comments on each:

(1) Texas - obviously the clear cut #1 and is now 3/4 of the way through winning 4 straight games against top 11 teams in a row. I'm not sure if it's unprecedented, but I can't imagine a more rugged stretch of football being heaped upon one team in a row. I think this past Saturday said much more about Oklahoma St. than it did about UT - though UT didn't play their "A" game, they simply had to beat a very, very underrated football team. Anyone who thinks the SEC is the best league in the nation this year is nuts.

(2) Alabama - I have to vote them #2 because they're undefeated, but basically that's because of one half of great football (first half against Georgia en route to a 41-30 win). They beat an overrated Clemson team, eeked by teams like Ole Miss (24-20), Tulane (20-6) and Kentucky (17-14). While Ole Miss has turned out to be decent, my Rice Owls destroyed Tulane 42-17 AT Tulane last week and Florida squeaked by Kentucky 63-5. The Tide are back...but I don't see them getting by Georgia or Florida in the SEC title game.

(3) Oklahoma - Basically they are not #1 because UT got one stop when they needed it and Oklahoma didn't. They've been inconsistent for stretches of games, but their offense is deadly and their second closest game has been their 45-31 win against Kansas in which they never trailed. Still have two HUGE tests against Texas Tech at home and on the road at Okie St. My guess is they lose one of the two and possible end up outside the BCS.

(4) Florida - Ole Miss? Really?? How much of an aberration does that game look like now? The last 3 weeks they've looked as good as any team in the country. Their defense looks much improved and their offense is flat-out first rate. The winner of this weekend's contest at Georgia wins the SEC. Mark it down.

(5) Texas Tech - Tell me how this 8-0 team is ranked below Penn St. Please? They beat up on cupcakes primarily so far...but so has Penn St. But after absolutely pants-ing a solid Kansas team by 42 AT Kansas, they are legit. Of course, they could be 8-3 after the next 3 weeks (hosting UT, hosting Oklahoma St., at Oklahoma), but I think they win 1 maybe 2 of the games. Bottom line...this isn't a gimmick team.

(6) Georgia - Speaking of aberrations, what the hell happened in the Georgia Dome last month? This team is arguably the most talented team in the SEC and has almost gone under the radar since the Alabama game. Again, the winner of this week's game against Florida wins the SEC. Sorry Tide.

(7) USC - I have no idea what to think of this team. One thing their season definitely has shown me is that the Big Ten really, really sucks. They DOMINATED Ohio St., and since then have only dominated arguably the worst team in the country (Washington St.). Nobody has more talent than USC - others may have as much, but nobody has more. That being said, they've struggled at times to put people away (Arizona St.), and struggled to win period (Arizona). They could beat UT or lose to an unranked team and I would be equally unsurprised. Weird team.

(8) Oklahoma St. - I really had this team underrated until this past Saturday. When I would see them earlier in the year I would just yell "I am a man!" at nobody in particular. I hadn't given toolface the credit he deserves for building a heck of a squad. Trips to Texas Tech and a home game against Oklahoma will go a long way towards determining their final ranking, but it doesn't mean they aren't a top 10 team. The Big 12 South is really that good this year.

(9) Penn St. - "But they're undefeated, how can you rank them so low?" Easy, the Big Ten sucks. I think the Mountain West is as tough a conference top to bottom, maybe tougher. That's how lousy the Big Ten is. I know conference strength is cyclical, but it's time for Big Ten backers to realize and admit how mediocre their conference is this year. Ohio St. was bitch slapped at USC, and then proceeded to play possibly the ugliest game ever against Penn St. Beating Ohio St. 13-6 isn't exactly a #3 in the country endorsement. You couldn't pay me to rank this team over Texas Tech. The Spread HD works against crappy teams. If Penn St. played any of the top teams in the Big 12 they lose by 20. Listen, I love JoPa as much as the next guy, but Penn St.'s only decent win was at an Ohio St. ballclub that might be the most pathetic offensively in the Top 25. Yes, they have a good defense, but you still have to score points.

I would have no problems voting a team with one loss ahead of Penn St. into the NCS. We do it with teams like Boise St., and right now they are about the same as Penn St. Sorry Nittany Lions. Right now, if the NCS was UT/Florida/Georgia/Alabama/Oklahoma/Texas Tech vs. Penn St., you're looking at a score around 45-21.

(10) Utah - I think if they play at Michigan right now they win by 20. First game of the year jitters, but this is a darn good ballclub. If they get by TCU and BYU, they deserve a shot at the NCS just as much as Penn St. does. Won't happen mind you, but still.