There are several preseason rankings that have been out for a little while now. Not that it matters. The amount of stock some people put into preseason rankings never fails to amaze me. It’s like winning a recruiting national championship: it means nothing right now. Taking a quick look at the AP preseason and final rankings from 2003-2007 shows that on average only half of teams that are in the top ten to begin the year finish there:
2003: Preseason top 10 in final top 10: 5
2004: Preseason top 10 in final top 10: 4
2005: Preseason top 10 in final top 10: 5
2006: Preseason top 10 in final top 10: 6
2007: Preseason top 10 in final top 10: 6
And of teams that begin the seaosn in the top 5, even less end up there:
2003: Preseason top 5 in final top 5: 3
2004: Preseason top 5 in final top 5: 2
2005: Preseason top 5 in final top 5: 2
2006: Preseason top 5 in final top 5: 1
2007: Preseason top 5 in final top 5: 2
The most egregious violator of their preseason rankings in the last five years? Michigan, who began the season in the top ten three years (2004, 2005, and 2007), and failed to finish there.
The most likely to be underanked (but not this year)? Georgia, popping into the top 10 by the end of the year after 2003, 2005, and 2007.
What does all this mean? Nothing, really. Auburn, it appears, seems to play much better when they are not ranked high, meaning a low preseaon ranking ssometimes signals a better year than one with a high preseason ranking (think the success of 2004, but the not-so-goodness of 2003). Of course, in 2006 they started out #4 and ended #9. So it’s really quite a crapshoot.
The only reason I bring this up is to show that preseaon rankings most years mean nothing. People can bitch and moan about feeling disrespected when the preseason polls come out, but the cliche fact remains that the game is still played on the field. Clemson in the top 10? Yeah, they’ll probably end up 15th after a few typical leave you wondering how-in-heck-did-they-lose-to-them ACC losses. But there’s no harm in ranking teams too high, and usually none for ranking them too low either. Unless you’re 2004 Auburn, that is, coming from the low teens to an undefeated year but no championship game berth. But that’s been talked about plenty, and there’s no need for it here.