What does it all mean? Well, it means everything and nothing at the same time. Being ranked anywhere in this poll on Nov. 3 is a good thing. It means you've done enough to this point in the season to get recognized. It doesn't, however, award you a trophy.
The top 3 are not surprising to me. Clemson, LSU and Ohio State should be the top 3 teams, in any order really. The Committee giving the nod to Clemson as No. 1 is contributed to Clemson's wins to this point as well as the completeness of the offensive and defensive play by the Tigers.
This is the first time Clemson has been ranked No. 1 since following the 1981 season. Clemson finished the year No. 1 after winning the Orange Bowl (ranked No. 1 heading into the OB that year; ranked No. 11 preseason the following season). That means, Saturday will be the first time in Clemson football history that the Tigers will play a regular season game ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. It will also be, of course, their first game as the No. 1 team in Death Valley.
Two one-loss teams, Alabama and Notre Dame, are ahead of undefeated teams Baylor, Michigan State (7), TCU (8), Iowa (9), and Oklahoma State (14) - one-loss Florida rounds out the Top 10.
I am very surprised at how low TCU is ranked. The Horned Frogs are looking more and more like a Playoff team in the last few weeks. However, the Committee has harped on strength of schedule/record and that proved true once again. TCU and Baylor both have a weaker schedule than most of the rest of the Top 10.
The Big 12 will get its chance to put a team in the Top 4 over the next month. Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma all play each other between now and Nov. 28.
Some of the Committee rankings are head-scratchers, but let's all remember this is the first ranking of the season and there is a lot of football to be played. In fact, this weekend will provide even more clarity for these rankings. Next Tuesday will be the one to watch.
-BtW
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