Because of this, I have come up with an intricate mathematical formula to see what programs were the most successful over the last 11 seasons. Why 11? Why the hell not? Because the final polls of the 2000 season came out in January of 2001. So, a decade (10 years for you lazy thinkers and googlers).
The formula: I used the Final AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll over the last 10 years. I didn't include the BCS polls because A) It's the Anti-Christ, and B) They didn't release rankings after the bowl games were played.
Teams that finished in 1st place received 50 points per poll. I.e. Auburn in 2010-2011 finished 1st in the AP and ESPN final Polls so 50 for AP + 50 for ESPN = 100 points that year. The points decreased by 2 for each ranking drop (2nd received 48 per poll). This goes all the way down to 25th who received 2 points per poll.
Yes, I realize this formula is on par with my adoptive father, Sir Isaac Newton, but no, you cannot have the rights to the formula.
I wanted to do it by Final Rankings because A) I would be guy #3,584 to do it by wins on a blog and B) If I did it by wins, Boise would have taken the cake and most of America couldn't name one other school in their former HS District..er.. I mean, conference, the WAC. I didn't want to reward teams that play in mid-major/3A HS conferences. I respect the teams that win, i.e. Boise & TCU, but that doesn't mean they should be celebrated for having 6 guaranteed wins in their conference every year. It's a lot tougher to get 8 wins in the SEC/Big 12/ Pac 12 than it is in the MWC/WAC/ACC.
Alright, enough with the rantfest, lets get to the teams that we love to hate (even more now)....
The best team over the last decade in terms of Final Rankings is....
Final Points: 764
Yes, these guys. Despite not receiving a single point during last years 5-7 debacle, they still finished w/ enough points to average an 8th place finish over the last decade...real mature, Horns.
First, the Longhorn Network (LHN) travesty, then this?
If you find Bevo on a grill in College Station, Stillwater, or Norman you'll know why.
Final Points: 760I'm sure half of you that were reading this blog have now stopped after seeing these two clownshoes at the top of the list, especially within 4 points of each other. I can't blame you, the gayness couldn't be any higher if we were at an Adult Convention hosted by Boy George. (Have I come across as a bitter OSU fan yet?) Without much more to say other than the dominance they have shown over the last 10 years is unfair, I award them no more compliments.
Final Points: 716
The last member of the 700 point club. Ah, don't worry OU and UT, this number will not be going up anytime soon. For the first time in Columbus you're gonna hear the grumblings, "Is it basketball season yet?".
The Trojans. How fascinating is this story? Like, Ohio St., they too are in the "doghouse" of NCAA football, just not without water and food. Lane Kiffin, the reincarnation of "Chucky", passed on from Jon Gruden, is "trying" to right the ship.
Like Texas, the Gators wandered into uncharted territories last year not making the top 25 in either poll. Like Texas, they have an underachieving QB at the helm following each schools wonder-boy (Tim Tebow & Colt McCoy). Oh by the way, did you hear about Jordan Shipley and Colt McCoy being roommates in college? Yeah, we got that Brent. Florida has the benefit and disadvantage of playing in the SEC. They will always have the talent, but it will be interesting to see how Mr. Muschamp does there.
Final Points: 542A reason for those goofy rednecks out on the eastern seaboard to read my blog! VT have always been good and have a great venue in Lane Stadium, but stop with Metallica, nothing jacks up the thugs (Vicks) more than screamo music!
The Bayou Bengals are in a different class when it comes to atmosphere and fans (they're bat shit crazy like every other SEC supporter). Coming in at 7 is great, just not for LSU fans. The weekly march to behead Les Miles in Baton Rouge will be even more intense this week after seeing this.
The Bulldogs have seemed to come out of the shadows a bit cast by Florida and Alabama, but cant quite make the leap. A less than stellar year aided by the absence of Superfreak, AJ Green, for most of the year didn't ease the mind of the Georgia faithful.
When I first started this research, all I saw was Miami through the first few years at #2 in 00-01, #1 in 01-02, and #2 in 02-03, and figured there was no way they were dropping out of the top 3. Well, here we are at 9. Yeah, you really had to suck through the late 2000's, which they did, not making the rank from '06-'09 & '10-'11.
Was it worth it Oregon? Was it really worth it? Well great year as runner-up, look at the positives Eugene, now they can't even strip you of the National Championship Trophy! In my opinion, Oregon finishing this high is very impressive, even if it was with super recruits on Phil Knights dime and with Lyles' "guiding". "If you're not cheating, you're not winning."
The rest of the schools are not big enough winners to deserve their own humorous break-down. I will just give you the top 40.
The rest of the 30 are:
11. Boise State 444 Points
12. Auburn 432 Points
13. Michigan 384 Points
14. TCU 378 Points
15. Florida St. 320 Points
16. Iowa 316 Points
17. Alabama 314 Points
18. Penn St. 284 Points
19. Wisconsin 262 Points
20. Nebraska 260 Points
21. West Virginia 256 Points
22. Utah 236 Points
23. Louisville 220 Points
24. Kansas St. 198 Points
25. Tennessee 196 Points
26. Wash St. 194 Points
27. Notre Dame 174 Points
28. BYU 162 Points
29. Boston College 156 Points
30. Maryland 154 Points
31. Mizzou 152 Points
32. Texas Tech 146 Points
33. Oregon St. 136 Points
34. Stanford 126 Points
35. Ole Miss 118 Points
36. Washington 108 Points
37. Georgia Tech 104 Points
38. Clemson 102 Points
39. Arkansas 98 Points
40. Oklahoma St. 96 Points
No, I did not cut the list off right at 40 because OSU actually made it. Coincidences happen.
I understand the top 10 schools are marginally predictable, but seeing Alabama all the way back at #17 can make all the rabid fans a little more humble and appreciative of their progress (yeah right, like Bama fans would do that).
It's also interesting to see teams like Louisville, Maryland, and Washington St. ahead of teams like Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Stanford, and Clemson. Shows people how quick the tide can turn in college football and makes Washington State fans wonder what in the hell just happened to their football program.
A few teams that did not even make the top 40 cut worth mentioning are:
Texas A&M finished with 24 points. So much for that stellar tradition, 12th man. Colorado State finished with 46 points and Miami (OH) (yes it does exist) finished with 60 points.
Maybe the Ags should reconsider having a football program. They seem to be better suited for a different kind of sport....
Colorado University finished just short at 90 points despite having a more competitive crowd than a football team the past few years.
South Carolina (92 points), Purdue (82), Pitt (76) and Arizona State (72) all finished outside of the top 40 by a close margin, should have accounted for the whorish women for ASU...sorry Sun Devils.
If you made it through this novel of a blog post, I commend you and thank you for wasting the last decade of your life sifting through my post. Post hate or love comments, whichever fits.
Mark
