Here at Rotoballer World College Football Headquarters--a place that makes the typical NFL locker room look like the men's room at Penn Station--we've made a bold decision: We are declaring the season over.
That's right, just seven weeks in, if nothing else the most recent slate of games has reinforced our belief that the BCS will be hard pressed to find enough truly elite teams to fill its paltry four playoff spots. Think we're kidding?
Two weeks ago, Tennessee was the apple of everyone's eye. At the beginning of the season, Florida State was seen as the class of the ACC. And out west? Well, in August, people had already engraved the Heisman with Christian McCaffrey's name.
Will Alabama stay atop the polls, and hoist the trophy in January?
We think so. But we're not in charge. So the games will continue.
Here are our CFB rankings after Week 7, from our usual fantasy perspective (won-loss records in parentheses).
NCAA College Football (CBB) Rankings
1. Alabama, 7-0
The Crimson Tide either showed why everyone--including us--was too quick to jump on the Tennessee bandwagon, or merely that they are head and shoulders above every other team in the country. We think the thrashing of the Vols in Knoxville was actually evidence of both. ESPN's Todd McShay has three members of the Tide defense going in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. They're that good.
2. Clemson, 7-0
We're sticking with Clemson--for now. Yes, they struggled against NC State, but they were our preseason No. 1, and we don't like admitting we're wrong. We may have to soon, though. RB Wayne Gillman left the Tigers' OT win on Saturday with an apparent head injury, and though he's not on McShay's big board, we think he should be.
3. Ohio State, 6-0
We keep flipping the Buckeyes and Michigan in our rankings because, well, until they play each other we just don't know which one them is better. As impressive as Ohio State's come-from-behind win at Wisconsin Saturday night was, though, we still don't see either Big Ten team in the class of Alabama. And as a QB J.T. Barrett makes a great tailback.
4. Michigan, 6-0
The Wolverines were idle on Saturday--and somehow Rutgers still couldn't score on them. We don't think Illinois stands much of a chance this week either.
5. Washington, 6-0
The Huskies also took a week off, and with Oregon State coming to town this week they seem the most likely team from out west to break into the BCS picture. That doesn't mean they can beat 'Bama either, though.
6. Texas A&M, 6-0
Another week, another week off for the Aggies. Their time in our Top 10 is likely coming to an end this Saturday, however. They visit Alabama.
7. Baylor, 6-0
The pollsters and McShay agree on one thing: Baylor doesn't rate. ESPN's draft guru doesn't have a single Bear going in the first round next spring, and AP voters tend to ignore the Big 12 in general. They'll have to slip up pretty badly--and we don't see that happening this Saturday at Texas--to not have their showdown with West Virginia in the last week of the season end up being the de facto conference championship game.
8. West Virginia, 5-0
Speaking of West Virginia, welcome to the Top 10, Mountaineers. QB Skyler Howard (1,590 passing yards) can sure chuck it, but we like senior receiver Daniel Shorts, Jr., too.
9. Boise State, 6-0
The Broncos continue to hang around, even though they barely scraped by Colorado State. As just a sophomore, QB Brett Rypien is too young to be on McShay's board, or in the NFL draft next spring. But he's got an NFL pedigree--and an NFL arm.
10. Nebraska, 6-0
The Cornhuskers are 6-0 for the first time in 15 years. The storied program hasn't been this highly touted since it played in the Big 12, when it was still the Big 8. Confused? The Huskers will be, too. They have Purdue this week, but face Wisconsin and Ohio State in back-to-back games in the coming weeks. It was nice while it lasted.
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