3. How the heck do you rank the Pac-12 teams?
Pac-12ers, I’m warning you now. Do NOT overreact to your teams being ranked very, very, very, very low, or not at all in some cases.
The massive discrepancy in games played will be one of the most unique aspects of the 2020 rankings. How do you fairly rank a 3-0 USC compared to a 9-0 BYU compared to a 7-1 Clemson?
Again – and I can’t stress this enough – these records get thrown out each and every week, and they start over. I wouldn’t be the least bit shocked if Oregon or USC get ranked 21ish-to-23ish to start, and then not move up all that much over the next few weeks no matter what.
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However, if the Ducks, or the Trojans – or Colorado, or Washington – end up going undefeated with a Pac-12 championship, then one of the teams could rocket up from the 11-13ish range to the top four if the committee decides to give preferential treatment to an unbeaten Power Five champion.
The other key to this will be how the Pac-12 dictates the rest of this season. If its teams are ranked hilariously low, watch out for the conference to move heaven and earth to force a non-conference game against something solid – like BYU, or Cincinnati – in a panicky move that could backfire big if the Pac-12er loses.
When then begs the question …
– What will the top 4 be?
– How will we know if the committee is on its game?
– How much will the committee tease Cincinnati and BYU?
– Miami vs. Northwestern vs. Texas A&M