I have no problem if people want to disagree with the rankings, because that’s half the reason they are there.

College football is so huge for a few key reasons:

1. Football in general is king in America
2. People love to argue and debate their school vs. yours
3. The system is flawed

Ever stop to think that college football execs looking down on us, are eating these poll controversies alive? They are basking in it. People are talking, and they are talking a lot. And nothing draws hype to something, quite like talk.

Let me put it this way. While polls are an extremely inexact science, they do serve a purpose. They give us fodder to go by at the beginning of the year. Case in point: true college football fans will watch no matter what, but how many more people will watch a game because one team has a number 2 by its name and the other a number 15.

This weekend for example, Tennessee and Cal, both top 15 teams, square off in the opener of their season. Could you honestly look me straight in the eye, and say that the allure of having such high ranked teams square off week one doesn’t generate some buzz and excitement?

And again, I want to continue to re-iterate that the polls have issues. Afterall, if USC runs the table, they will be in the national championship game. But isn’t that the case for most BCS Schools? Under the rare case of three teams going undefeated, there is always going to be someone left miserable (see Auburn), but aren’t the polls more for the fans then anything?

I’m a huge sports fan, and I watch the sport religiously, but I won’t lie and persuade you to believe I remember everything about 2006. Cause I don’t. Polls bring us up to speed. They get us back into the mode.

I’ve heard people say, well, could you imagine if the NFL decided its champion that way. No! Two totally different situations. In the NFL, you have eight cut and dry division winners, and four wild cards. The best record gets the job done. Not so in college, where strength of schedule, conference alignment, time of the year you lost, even when you played all come into account. Plus, the NFL has uh, 32 teams, whereas D1 has upwards of 120 and counting. So while I’m far from a fan of the current BCS System, comparing it to pro simply is not fair.

People love to debate, and ranking teams 1-25 (Number 26 just isn’t good enough to make the list), is something our country obsesses over. We are enamored with all sorts of rankings in general. Power Rankings on line, lists of greatest teams, players, movies, coaches, stadiums, uniforms, etc. all rile us up.

So its just important to keep that in mind. Polls are good for college football. People care just that little extra because teams have a number next to their name. In the wacky world of what have you done for me lately, that is college football’s greatest drawing power. That, and well, Notre Dame. Gag.

My Favorate College Football Books
A Civil War: Army Vs. Navy a Year Inside College Football’s Purest Rivalry John Feinstein, who wrote Next Man Up and A Good Walk Ruined, brings the emotions of the Army-Navy game into their purest forms.

ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game Detailed stats and history on every player, team, and conference to ever be part of the game.

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania Alabama football at it’s best. You don’t get much more intense than Bama fans.

College Football Scores, Stats, Stories for Saturday, September 8 Oklahoma asserts their dominance, West Virginia runs, runs, runs, Nebraska holds on over Wake Forest, and Michigan takes on Oregon.

What do you think? Post your opinion in the comment section.

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