Lawless Republic
Fansided

BYU Football: Yes, preseason polls matter and here’s why

By Adam Gibby

PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 14 : Gunner Romney #18 of the BYU Cougars is tackled by Talon Hufanga #15 and John Houston Jr. #10 of the USC Trojans during their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 14 : Gunner Romney #18 of the BYU Cougars is tackled by Talon Hufanga #15 and John Houston Jr. #10 of the USC Trojans during their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Dec 22, 2020; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier (25) rums the ball around UCF Knights defensive back Jermaine McMillian (26) during the second half at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2020; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier (25) rums the ball around UCF Knights defensive back Jermaine McMillian (26) during the second half at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Get Rid of Preseason Polls

Yes, I know that polls are fun. But they are so damaging. Barring a complete disaster by every team in the top 15, G5 teams have almost no access to the College Football Playoff because they have to overcome so many obstacles to get there. In fact, it goes further than the G5. 75% of P5 teams can only afford to lose one game if they want any chance of making an at large spot in the New Year Six bowls, and have to go undefeated for a chance at the playoff. Teams like Clemson, Alabama and Georgia can lose a game and still have a shot at the playoff and a guaranteed spot at an at-large bid in the NY6.

College Football needs to make a change. Look at what college basketball does with NET rankings. The NET rankings aren’t released until the first weekend after New Year’s when most teams are finished with their nonconference games. What this does is allow teams who are surprisingly good (or bad) to get established before any rankings are released. Suddenly teams like BYU Basketball who weren’t on anyone’s radar are ranked really high and become on peoples’ radar.

If college football were to implement something like this after week four or five, rankings would be much more accurate and fair. The Indiana win against Penn State would look like a win against a bad team. The Illinois loss to Minnesota wouldn’t look like a loss to a terrible team, but rather a top ten team. BYU’s loss to Tulsa would be viewed as an upset, but nothing terribly shocking.

If we really want the best 12 or so teams in the New Year Six bowls and if we want to help clear up the muddy mess of figuring out the top four, preseason polls need to go.

Now I know what you may be thinking, didn’t Lawless Republic just release a poll a few weeks ago? Yes, I did, but honestly I know that my poll isn’t going to represent what the AP or Coaches poll puts out. In fact, a big reason for my poll is to show how wrong I am at the end of the season as proof that polls shouldn’t be a thing until we actually watch teams play. On top of that, I didn’t drop teams who were really good last year to being unranked.

______________________

What do you think? Do polls need to go? Let us know in the comments.

Home/BYU Football