JTrain
All-Conference
So the most reasonable reason why teams like Boise State never get into the top two of the rankings by seasons end despite undefeated records is that their schedule strength is generally very poor.
Well, "reasonable" is not the best word to use when discussing the polls, and in practice, the bigger reason why Boise State/Utah/TCU doesn't get in the title game is their preseason poll positioning. Whether it's laziness or stupidity, most pollsters work off a bubble system where they take their preseason poll and just move teams up or down from there based on wins and losses (instead of arranging them based only on their on-the-field performances to that point).
Last year, Boise State started the season outside the top 25 (36/33 to be exact) and could only work their way up to 9th by the end of the regular season. This year is very different, as the pollsters are giving them more respect this preseason, ranking them 14/16. With a win over Oregon at home in the game tomorrow, they will already be sniffing the top 10 going into week 2. That means if they continue to win and finish 12-0 again, they could easily work their way up to #3 behind Florida and the Texas-OU winner. That means they would be one CCG upset (SEC West or Big 12 North champ) away from potentially being ranked #2 going into the bowls.
Not saying it should or will happen, but it's a possibility worth thinking about.
Well, "reasonable" is not the best word to use when discussing the polls, and in practice, the bigger reason why Boise State/Utah/TCU doesn't get in the title game is their preseason poll positioning. Whether it's laziness or stupidity, most pollsters work off a bubble system where they take their preseason poll and just move teams up or down from there based on wins and losses (instead of arranging them based only on their on-the-field performances to that point).
Last year, Boise State started the season outside the top 25 (36/33 to be exact) and could only work their way up to 9th by the end of the regular season. This year is very different, as the pollsters are giving them more respect this preseason, ranking them 14/16. With a win over Oregon at home in the game tomorrow, they will already be sniffing the top 10 going into week 2. That means if they continue to win and finish 12-0 again, they could easily work their way up to #3 behind Florida and the Texas-OU winner. That means they would be one CCG upset (SEC West or Big 12 North champ) away from potentially being ranked #2 going into the bowls.
Not saying it should or will happen, but it's a possibility worth thinking about.