Preliminary
As promised, below is the new, restructured Uncle Popov Top 23. Because it is a ranking that measures previous seasons, it is technically NOT a “preseason” poll, but just the first release of the new season. And because it is the first, all 120 teams will be listed. Future rankings for the 2011 season will only include the Top 23.
Also for this release, I will quickly highlight the Top Five. Starting with…
#5. LSU Tigers
Despite a weak 2008 season, LSU has come on strong in each of the past two seasons. They are 26-10 over the past three season with two bowl wins. They were also ninth in the conference measure, and 20th in recruiting.
#4. Utah Utes
The first of what will likely be two surprises in the Top Five. Utah gets a slight boost from its affiliation with the Pac-12, which aids in the recruiting measure. However, Utah has earned it by ranking seventh in the winning percentage measure, tenth in points, and 21st in statistics. That the Utes have an undefeated season during the last three years helps as well.
#3. Florida Gators
Holding the number one ranking in the conference measure and going 3-0 in bowl games helps catapult the Florida Gators into the number three slot. The winning from 2008 and 2009 is enough to overcome the dismal 2010 season. The Gators are top eight across all measures, including recruiting, statistics, and points.
#2. TCU Horned Frogs
The second “surprise” is not Boise State, but TCU. The Horned Frogs are carried by their 34-2 regular season record, second only to Boise State (36-1). Despite a weak conference measure, TCU is helped out by strong showings elsewhere, including tops in stats and points, and third in recruiting.
#1. Alabama Crimson Tide
No bias; just the way the formula worked. But consider that Alabama is 34-4 over the last three seasons, including an undefeated season (2009). Alabama also performs well in the SEC, has solid recruiting (11th), and is second in stats and fourth in points. But, as you will see below, the difference between Alabama, TCU and Florida are miniscule.
THE RANKINGS!!!
|
Rank |
TEAM |
Points |
|
1 |
Alabama |
17.89043 |
|
2 |
TCU |
17.78707 |
|
3 |
Florida |
17.07217 |
|
4 |
Utah |
15.55214 |
|
5 |
LSU |
14.85859 |
|
6 |
Boise State |
14.82636 |
|
7 |
Oklahoma |
14.592 |
|
8 |
Ohio State |
14.4307 |
|
9 |
Oregon |
14.43032 |
|
10 |
Auburn |
13.81816 |
|
11 |
Oklahoma State |
13.57177 |
|
12 |
BYU |
13.24133 |
|
13 |
Penn State |
13.24096 |
|
14 |
Texas |
13.24059 |
|
15 |
West Virginia |
13.194 |
|
16 |
Pittsburgh |
13.06162 |
|
17 |
Georgia |
12.98201 |
|
18 |
Virginia Tech |
12.83015 |
|
19 |
Texas Tech |
12.69613 |
|
20 |
Nebraska |
12.62053 |
|
21 |
Southern California |
12.58605 |
|
22 |
Missouri |
12.4964 |
|
23 |
Cincinnati |
12.48971 |
|
24 |
Arkansas |
12.47013 |
|
25 |
Wisconsin |
12.32671 |
|
26 |
South Carolina |
12.21475 |
|
27 |
Florida State |
12.16305 |
|
28 |
USF |
12.04429 |
|
29 |
Iowa |
11.9862 |
|
30 |
Air Force |
11.8588 |
|
31 |
Georgia Tech |
11.78414 |
|
32 |
Michigan State |
11.71923 |
|
33 |
Connecticut |
11.61153 |
|
34 |
Miami (FL) |
11.51217 |
|
35 |
Mississippi |
11.38115 |
|
36 |
Stanford |
11.37862 |
|
37 |
Nevada |
11.31841 |
|
38 |
North Carolina |
11.26269 |
|
39 |
Navy |
10.86184 |
|
40 |
Boston College |
10.80299 |
|
41 |
Kentucky |
10.68246 |
|
42 |
Arizona |
10.63471 |
|
43 |
Clemson |
10.5661 |
|
44 |
Rutgers |
10.44809 |
|
45 |
Oregon State |
10.40784 |
|
46 |
Northwestern |
10.34275 |
|
47 |
California |
10.23592 |
|
48 |
Tulsa |
10.22405 |
|
49 |
Tennessee |
10.09603 |
|
50 |
Fresno State |
10.08547 |
|
51 |
Notre Dame |
10.08151 |
|
52 |
Mississippi State |
9.958831 |
|
53 |
Troy |
9.912303 |
|
54 |
East Carolina |
9.882497 |
|
55 |
North Carolina State |
9.71354 |
|
56 |
Houston |
9.628767 |
|
57 |
Southern Miss |
9.455657 |
|
58 |
Texas A&M |
9.451425 |
|
59 |
Central Florida |
9.449188 |
|
60 |
Hawai’i |
9.218204 |
|
61 |
Northern Illinois |
9.061393 |
|
62 |
Maryland |
8.797542 |
|
63 |
Central Michigan |
8.758142 |
|
64 |
Temple |
8.705429 |
|
65 |
Louisville |
8.633115 |
|
66 |
Kansas State |
8.553864 |
|
67 |
Ohio |
8.246658 |
|
68 |
Western Michigan |
8.136687 |
|
69 |
Baylor |
8.115785 |
|
70 |
Middle Tennessee State |
8.113156 |
|
71 |
Syracuse |
8.06747 |
|
72 |
Minnesota |
8.066282 |
|
73 |
Michigan |
8.063975 |
|
74 |
Kansas |
7.939731 |
|
75 |
Wake Forest |
7.84697 |
|
76 |
Louisiana Tech |
7.76822 |
|
77 |
Illinois |
7.757467 |
|
78 |
Arizona State |
7.69264 |
|
79 |
California-Los Angeles |
7.67088 |
|
80 |
San Diego State |
7.492249 |
|
81 |
SMU |
7.39699 |
|
82 |
Iowa State |
7.334595 |
|
83 |
Wyoming |
7.241344 |
|
84 |
Marshall |
7.224152 |
|
85 |
Toledo |
7.153301 |
|
86 |
Colorado |
7.110038 |
|
87 |
Rice |
7.086567 |
|
88 |
Ball State |
7.047262 |
|
89 |
Purdue |
7.025077 |
|
90 |
Colorado State |
6.953747 |
|
91 |
Idaho |
6.91076 |
|
92 |
Vanderbilt |
6.898837 |
|
93 |
Bowling Green |
6.809728 |
|
94 |
UTEP |
6.808983 |
|
95 |
Washington |
6.758992 |
|
96 |
Virginia |
6.715944 |
|
97 |
Florida International |
6.706673 |
|
98 |
Florida Atlantic |
6.696029 |
|
99 |
UL-Monroe |
6.569504 |
|
100 |
Buffalo |
6.560032 |
|
101 |
UL-Lafayette |
6.522496 |
|
102 |
Arkansas State |
6.442433 |
|
103 |
Duke |
6.423796 |
|
104 |
Army |
6.377014 |
|
105 |
Kent State |
6.37058 |
|
106 |
UAB |
6.317981 |
|
107 |
UNLV |
6.308696 |
|
108 |
Indiana |
6.270129 |
|
109 |
Utah State |
6.033528 |
|
110 |
Miami (OH) |
6.005618 |
|
111 |
Memphis |
5.321399 |
|
112 |
Tulane |
5.2164 |
|
113 |
San Jose State |
5.165937 |
|
114 |
Akron |
4.781107 |
|
115 |
New Mexico State |
4.696945 |
|
116 |
New Mexico |
4.597747 |
|
117 |
North Texas |
4.222444 |
|
118 |
Washington State |
3.948354 |
|
119 |
Eastern Michigan |
3.936388 |
|
120 |
Western Kentucky |
3.781831 |
