College Football Power Rankings

With the NCAA football regular season drawing to a close, it is time to release the humble blogger's own power rankings for the teams going bowling. A few of the lesser bowlers are not included.

1. Oklahoma 142.46
A gigantic win over Texas Tech vaults the Sooners into first place.

2. Florida 140.24
They have been creaming teams for the majority of the season, and that loss doesn't look so bad anymore.

3. USC 132.01
That defense could keep them competitive with just about anybody.

4. Texas 126.74
Still one of the best, even if the Sooners got a little revenge by making their loss to TTech look a bit worse.

5. Penn State 118.73
The Lions never get respect. Joe Pa has four undefeated seasons in which he was not given a share of the national title. When Alabama falls to Florida, what good argument is there for PSU not getting more consideration for the title game?

6. Boise State 118.07
Ever since a BCS bowl win, Boise State has gotten good press. The humble blogger's numbers argue that they deserve it.

7. TCU 117.35
Don't laugh, they have really put a hurting on people, and gave Oklahoma a tougher way to go than a lot of other fine teams. Undefeated Utah needed a last minute score to defeat them. In Utah.

8. Ohio State 109.58
The Buckeyes started slow, despite returning a lot of experience. Nevertheless, they have had some recent blow out wins to rise in the rankings.

9. Alabama 109.53
Alabama has mixed in some less impressive wins along with the ones that everyone talks about. The humble blogger can't help but think that, unless the Tide pull a magic trick, the Gators will be too much for them.

10. Texas Tech 105.29
Still a very strong score, despite a recent embarrassment.

11. Missouri 102.71
That makes four Big 12 teams in the top eleven. Don't count Mizzou out of the Big 12 title hunt.

12. Utah 98.46
Undefeated, but ranked a bit lower, despite their win over TCU.

13. Oregon State 89.42
This is no longer the same team that got demolished by PSU. Is a rematch in the works?

14. Cincinnati 87.57
The Bearcats are quietly having a fine season in a middling conference.

15. Oklahoma State 87.23
That makes five Big 12 squads in the top fifteen. The SEC must bow down to another this year.

16. West Virginia 83.54
Not the same team as last year, but must still be taken seriously.

17. Oregon 83.2
The Ducks are a solid team. Are they solid enough to put USC into the Rose Bowl?

18. North Carolina 79.68
It took a while, but we finally hear from the ACC. The Tarheels would have been higher, but the Wolfpack brought them down several notches.

19. Boston College 79.57
Not the same team of a year ago, but worthy of a decent bowl invite.

20. Georgia Tech 79.48
For all intents and purposes, the ACC has a three-way tie for the top spot in these rankings.

21. Arizona 78.83
When one peruses their resume, one finds some respectable games, not least of which was the 17-10 loss to USC.

22. California 78.05
They have some solid wins this year, and well deserve a bowl game.

23. Iowa 76.0
Let me guess: you wrote them off. After losing several close games, the Hawkeyes have won almost every time they've taken the field recently, and finally realized their powers against the Golden Gophers. Watch out for this team next year!

24. Florida State 72.18
They're not great, but they're decent. Mr. Bowden might want to consider calling it a career; he's unlikely to end on a better note than this.

25. BYU 72.04
The biggest name from the MWC, the Cougars are eclipsed this year by TCU and the Utes.

26. Pittsburgh 71.76
Maybe not as good as they wanted to be, but still respectable.

27. Mississippi 70.71
Where did these guys come from? Congrats to a new coach.

28. Nebraska 69.15
The Huskers have piled up a few losses in a very tough conference, which will likely mean a bowl pairing with a lesser team. A good bowl win is just what Mr. Pelini and the Cornhuskers need for their program.

29. Michigan State 67.63
The Spartans let Saban get away. I advise them to hold onto Dantonio. Things look set to go up from here.

30. Georgia 64.6
Their score is decentish, it's the optimistic preseason ranking that hurts.

31. Virginia Tech 61.84
An average team in a conference full of decent teams but devoid of awful ones.

32. Miami, FL 61.81
Preseason hype had the 'Canes ahead of the 'Noles on the rebuilding track. Not so fast.

33. Air Force 59.16
Not to be forgotten, but not too impressive either.

34. Wisconsin 51.24
A midseason collapse brings this score down. Look for something a touch better in their bowl game.

35. Connecticut 49.14
There is little depth in the Big East. After a few solid teams, the rest look rather weak.

36. South Florida 47.9
The green and gold have had trouble building on last season, which did not end too well.

37. Northwestern 47.49
They have a solid record, but no wins over anyone important. And they didn't have to play Penn State.

38. LSU 45.39
A far fall indeed from the heady heights of a few months ago. Buckeye fans must try not to sneer.

39. South Carolina 45.32
The Gamecocks just can't quite find that breakthrough season. They should hire that coach who won the national title for Florida in 1996.

40. Maryland 38.04
There have been bright spots. The question is, are these inexplicable bright spots from a bad team, or are the dark spots aberrations from a team that really is, or should be, good?

41. Minnesota 18.86
The Big Ten is far better than the pundits give them credit for, but clearly after the top six there is next to nothing there. Remember when the Gophers were 7-1? Well, they finally played a few more of the better teams in their conference and they now sit at 7-5. And they didn't have to play Penn State or Michigan State, either. There are too many bowl games when this team is practically assured of a spot after padding a record with twelve point wins over Montana State.

Stay tuned for updates after the final regular season games and conference championships are played.