2008
CFN Season Rankings
The End Of The Regular Season
Click on the teams for the recaps
and thoughts on every game or click
here for the team pages.
Here's the CFN belief when it comes to
ranking teams: From the preseason until the end of the bowls, you must
rank teams based on how good you believe they are at that time. However,
once the year is complete, it's only fair to take the subjectivity out
of it and go by what actually happened on the field. To do that, we've
created the CFN Formula used to rank every team in every year in order to properly
compare and contrast seasons from different eras.
Two things to keep in mind. 1) This takes into account the entire
season punishing ugly losses and pumping up good wins. A win at the
beginning of the year counts the same as a win at the end, so there
might be some head-to-head discrepancies; they're unavoidable in any
ranking system. Remember, the formula looks at year from start to finish and not
just which team beat another.
2) This is NOT a
ranking of which teams are the best or most talented. This is a
formula to find out which teams had the best seasons. Anything else is
simply opinion.
Rankings CFN
Preseason | Coaches
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4
Week 5 |
Week 6 |
Week 7 |
Week 8
Week 9 |
Week 10 |
Week 11
Week 12
|
Week 13
|
Week 14 |
Notes of interest:
The CFN Final Regular Season Rankings
By
Pete Fiutak
If you think your team is ranked too low, look at your schedule.
It's all about who you played and how your entire season went. Here are the most interesting
tidbits of note.
1) Boise State at No. 3
The win over Oregon meant everything, while going unbeaten was a
huge help. Yeah, the WAC might not be all that great, but the
Broncos beat a slew of teams that ended up with winning records.
However, a Poinsettia Bowl loss to TCU will send Boise State
plummeting down.
2) Oklahoma at No. 1 ... by a lot
Not only did the Sooners beat Texas overall, according to
the formula, they won by a gigantic margin. Beating Cincinnati
and TCU helped, but it was the sheer point totals that made this
a blowout.
3) Texas Tech at 10th
The Red Raiders always suffer when it comes to the CFN
Formula because of the lousy non-conference schedule.
4) Utah No. 5, Alabama No. 6
It'll be a better Sugar Bowl than people think. |
The Formula's Components:
1. Wins. - If you win, everything else falls into place. Each
win counts as 1.
2. Quality Wins - The number of wins over teams that finished with a
winning record. Each win counts as 1.
3. Elite Wins - The number of wins over teams that finished with two
losses or fewer. Each win counts as 1 with a road win over an Elite team
getting an extra 0.5. Also counting as 1 is a road win over a team that
finished with three losses or fewer (but the extra 0.5 isn't added). A win over a team that finishes with
three losses in a bowl game counts as one.
4. Bad Loss - The number of losses to teams that finished with three
wins or fewer or a loss to a DI-AA team. Each loss counts as
minus-1. Take away an additional 0.5 for a Bad Loss at home.
5. Bad Win - The number of wins to teams that finished with three
wins or fewer, or a win over a D-IAA team. Each win counts as minus 0.25.
6. Elite Loss - The number of losses to teams that finished with two
losses or fewer. Each loss counts as 0.25.
7. Point Differential - Points for minus points against divided by
100.
8. Winning Percentage - To take losses into account, winning
percentage is in the mix. Total wins is the tie-breaker followed by
winning percentage.
1. Oklahoma CFN Ranking Score: 27.50
The key to the ranking: The point differential. Oklahoma was
second in the nation with 702 points scored and has given up just 219.
While the wins over Chattanooga and Washington weren't a plus, beating
Cincinnati and TCU in the non-conference run made up for it. Basically,
if you score 61 points or more in five straight games to end the regular
season, good things will happen.
2. Florida CFN Ranking Score: 24.87
The key to the ranking: The Gators faced 10 bowl bound teams
(Hawaii, Miami, Ole Miss, LSU, Kentucky, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South
Carolina, Florida State, & Alabama). There was a win over Citadel, but
the other two games against non-bowl bound teams, Tennessee and Arkansas,
were on the road against big names. However, there was only one Elite
Win, and that came against Alabama. Not only did Florida play a good
schedule, but it led the nation in the Point Differential Score. So why
not No. 1? OU has four Elite Wins to Florida's one.
3. Boise State CFN Ranking Score: 21.26
The key to the ranking: The Broncos were fifth in Point
Differential behind Florida, Oklahoma USC, and Penn State. They might
have played in the WAC, but they blew everyone away. The win at Oregon
ended up moving Boise from six to three. Go unbeaten against teams that
finished with winning records (Boise State has five Quality Wins) and
good things happen.
4. Texas CFN Ranking Score: 21.21
The key to the ranking: Texas barely missed out on being in the
top three because of the loss to Texas Tech and a slightly worse Point
Differential Score (3.26 to 3.04) than Boise State. The post-bowl
ranking will be higher if the Horns beat Ohio State.
5. Utah CFN Ranking Score: 20.42
The key to the ranking: Going 12-0 with wins over Utah and BYU
means a top five ranking. However, there were four Bad Wins (it's not
quite fair, but Michigan is one of them) to keep the Utes out of the top
four, but a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl will almost
certainly mean a top four finish.
6. Alabama CFN Ranking Score: 20.03
The key to the ranking: Here's the crazy part about going 12-1 in
the SEC and with a win over Clemson ... Alabama didn't really play
anyone. There were only four Quality Wins and the Point Differential
Score, 2.42, wasn't great.
7. USC CFN Ranking Score: 19.99
The key to the ranking: The Trojans gave up just 93 points on the
year leading to a 3.57 Point Differential Score, but there weren't a lot
of big wins ... thanks, Pac 10. This will likely be a top five team with
a win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
8. Penn State CFN Ranking Score: 19.75
The key to
the ranking: Talk about your bad years in the Big Ten, Penn State
blew almost everyone away, had a great win at Ohio State, and went 11-1,
but there were only four wins over teams that finished with a winning
record to go along with four Bad Wins (Coastal Carolina, Syracuse,
Michigan and Indiana). However, a win over USC in the Rose Bowl would do
wonders for the overall score.
9. Ohio State CFN Ranking Score: 19.64
The key to the ranking: The two losses on the year came at USC
and against Penn State. At least 100 other teams would've lost those two
games, too. However, wins at Michigan State and Northwestern count in
the Elite category to offset Bad Wins over Youngstown State and
Michigan.
10. Texas Tech CFN Ranking Score: 19.62
The key to
the ranking: This might seem stunningly low, but the Red Raiders
didn't blow away that many teams and the non-conference schedule turned
out to be a drain. Eastern Washington, UMass and SMU were all Bad Wins,
but the Texas win helped the overall cause.
11. Cincinnati CFN Ranking Score: 17.28
The key to the ranking: Cincinnati won 11 games and will be going
for its 23rd win in two seasons when it faces Virginia Tech in the
Orange Bowl. The Bearcats didn't have any huge, groundbreaking wins, and
they got blown out at Oklahoma, while the three Bad Wins against Eastern
Kentucky, Miami University, and Syracuse were a problem.
12.
Ball State
CFN Ranking Score: 16.76
The key to the ranking: Ball State came up with a ton of wins and
a lot of blowouts against bad, bad teams. A great MAC record and a 12-1
season got the Cardinals this high up, but playing Northeastern,
Indiana, Toledo, Western Kentucky, Eastern Michigan and Miami University
put a cap on overall score.
13.
Pitt
CFN Ranking Score: 16.51
The key to the ranking: Dave Wannstedt's team rallied after a
season-opening loss to Bowling Green and put together a nice season with
only the blips against Rutgers and Cincinnati along the way. The six
Quality Wins (Buffalo, Iowa, South Florida, Navy, West Virginia and
Connecticut) were the most by anyone outside of Oklahoma and Florida.
14. TCU CFN Ranking Score: 16.47
The key to the ranking: TCU gets a bit of a raw deal here. The
two losses came to Oklahoma and Utah, two BCS teams that combined to
finish 23-1, while the blowout over BYU was one of the signature games
of the season. However, there 44-10 regular season-ending win over Air
Force was the only victory outside of the Cougar game against a team
that finished with a winning record.
15.
Georgia Tech CFN Ranking Score: 16.13
The key to the ranking: Virginia Tech might have won the ACC
title, and beat Georgia Tech along the way, but the Yellow Jackets had
the best regular season of anyone in the ACC thanks to a 45-42 win over
Georgia and key wins at Boston College and Clemson.
Playing SECers Georgia and Mississippi State almost forgives scheduling
Jacksonville State and Gardner-Webb ... almost.
16. Virginia Tech CFN Ranking Score: 14.81
The key to the ranking: How is Virginia Tech below Georgia Tech?
The loss to East Carolina was part one, there weren't any Elite Wins,
and there were Bad Wins over Furman and Western Kentucky. The Point
Differential Score of 0.62 was the worst of anyone in the top 29 outside
of ECU.
17. Missouri CFN Ranking Score: 14.72
The key to the ranking: Everything is there except the great
record. Missouri beat some nice teams like Nebraska and Nevada, but it
lost to all the good ones (Oklahoma State, Texas, Oklahoma) and blew it
late against Kansas. The offensive numbers helped edge ahead of Oklahoma
State.
18. Oklahoma State CFN Ranking Score: 14.51
The key to the ranking: The Cowboys beat Missouri in Columbia but
finished just behind in the rankings because of wins over Washington
State and Missouri State. However, admittedly, this is an unfair ranking
considering the three teams the Cowboys lost to combined to go 37-3. On
the flip side, the best win over than the one over the Tigers was
against Troy.
19. Oregon State CFN Ranking Score: 14.36
The key to the ranking: The win over USC meant everything. Had
the Beavers lost that game they would've been ranked in the low 30s. The
opening day loss at Stanford stinks, but OSU lost to Penn State and Utah
teams that are off to the BCS. Of course, the debacle at the end of the
year against Oregon didn't help.
20. Boston College CFN Ranking Score: 14.35
The key to the ranking: The epitome of the rock-solid team with a
decent score. The best win was against Florida State in Tallahassee, but
there was a blowout loss against North Carolina to keep the overall
score close. BC played a decent overall
schedule with only one Bad Win against Rhode Island.
21. North Carolina CFN Ranking Score: 14.28
The key to the ranking: North Carolina might have beaten BC
handily, but it finishes the regular season just behind the Eagles
thanks to a Bad Win over McNeese State and an ever so slight margin of
victory difference.
22.
Michigan State CFN Ranking Score: 14.01
The key to the ranking: The Spartans had three Quality Wins
(Iowa, Northwestern and Wisconsin) and three Bad Wins (Eastern Michigan,
Indiana and Michigan) and didn't have any unacceptable losses. Losing at
California in the opener is nothing to get in a twist over, and losing
to Ohio State and Penn State isn't a problem. This was a great season,
but not an elite one. It'll take a win over Georgia to make it special.
23.
Iowa CFN Ranking Score: 13.96
The key to the ranking: Beating Maine, FlU, and Minnesota by a
combined score of 143-3 did wonders for the massive Point Differential
Score of 2.04. Having a good defense and a win over Penn State helped,
too. However, there three Bad Wins against Maine, Indiana and Iowa
State.
24. Florida State CFN Ranking Score: 13.85
The key to the ranking: A nice season became inconsistent at the
end going loss-win-loss-win-loss to close out. Like all the ACC teams,
this was a good season for FSU with some nice wins, but no elite ones.
Starting the season out against Western Carolina and Chattanooga was a
difference.
25. East Carolina CFN Ranking Score: 13.83
The key to the ranking: The Conference USA champions started out
well, but after beating Virginia Tech and West Virginia to start the
year there was only one other Quality Win, coming against Tulsa in the
title game. There was only only one Bad Win, against Tulane, in what
turned out to be a solid overall championship season.
26.
Georgia CFN Ranking Score: 13.78
27. Ole Miss CFN Ranking Score: 13.74
28.
Oregon CFN Ranking Score: 13.17
29.
Tulsa CFN Ranking Score: 13.15
30.
BYU CFN Ranking Score: 13.03
31. Rutgers CFN Ranking Score:
12.59
32. West Virginia CFN Ranking Score: 12.39
33. Rice CFN Ranking Score: 12.05
34. California CFN Ranking Score: 12.00
35. Navy CFN Ranking Score: 11.94
36. Nebraska CFN Ranking Score: 11.51
37. Clemson CFN Ranking Score: 11.40
38. Maryland CFN Ranking Score: 10.92
39. Northwestern CFN
Ranking Score: 10.87
40. Wake Forest CFN Ranking Score: 10.83
41. Western Michigan CFN Ranking Score: 10.72
42. Buffalo CFN Ranking Score: 10.59
43. Air Force CFN Ranking Score: 10.32
44. Kansas CFN Ranking Score: 10.21
45. South Florida CFN Ranking Score: 10.05
46. Miami CFN Ranking Score: 10.03
T47. NC State CFN Ranking Score: 9.94
T47. Troy CFN Ranking Score: 9.94
49. LSU CFN Ranking Score: 9.86
50. Virginia CFN Ranking Score: 9.75
51. Arizona CFN Ranking Score: 9.72
52. Connecticut CFN Ranking Score: 9.57
53. Vanderbilt CFN Ranking Score: 9.42
54. Central Michigan CFN Ranking Score: 9.11
55. Wisconsin CFN Ranking Score: 8.99
56. Hawaii CFN Ranking Score: 8.98
57. South Carolina CFN Ranking Score: 8.75
58. Nevada CFN Ranking Score: 8.59
59. Southern Miss CFN Ranking Score: 8.32
60. Fresno State CFN Ranking Score: 7.69
61. Colorado State CFN Ranking Score: 7.04
62. Louisiana Tech CFN Ranking Score: 16.88
63. Kentucky CFN Ranking Score: 6.84
64. Illinois CFN Ranking Score: 6.67
65. Arkansas State CFN Ranking Score: 6.64
66. Arkansas CFN Ranking Score: 6.56
67. Northern Illinois CFN Ranking Score: 6.37
68. Stanford CFN Ranking Score: 6.28
69. UL Lafayette CFN Ranking Score: 6.18
70. San Jose State CFN Ranking Score: 6.15
71. Bowling Green CFN Ranking Score: 6.04
72. Memphis CFN Ranking Score: 6.02
73. Tennessee CFN Ranking Score: 5.99
74. Minnesota CFN Ranking Score: 5.84
75. Florida Atlantic CFN Ranking Score: 5.75
76. Marshall CFN Ranking Score: 5.72
77. Middle Tennessee CFN Ranking Score: 5.67
78. Notre Dame CFN Ranking Score: 5.55
79. Houston CFN Ranking Score: 5.53
80. New Mexico CFN Ranking Score: 5.38
81. Auburn CFN Ranking Score: 5.34
82. Colorado CFN Ranking Score: 5.08
83. Kansas State CFN Ranking Score: 5.06
84. Purdue CFN Ranking Score: 5.03
85. Temple CFN
Ranking Score: 4.96
86. Arizona State CFN Ranking Score: 4.94
87. Duke CFN Ranking Score: 4.68
88. Akron CFN Ranking Score: 4.52
89. UTEP CFN Ranking Score: 4.43
90. FIU CFN Ranking Score: 4.23
91. Baylor CFN Ranking Score: 4.17
92. UNLV CFN Ranking Score: 3.83
93. Louisville CFN Ranking Score: 3.80
94. Ohio CFN Ranking Score: 3.45
95. Kent State CFN Ranking Score: 3.36
96. Michigan CFN Ranking Score: 3.21
97. Mississippi State CFN Ranking Score: 3.20
98. UCF CFN Ranking Score: 3.18
99. Texas A&M CFN Ranking Score: 3.09
100. UAB CFN Ranking Score: 3.06
T101. UCLA CFN Ranking Score: 2.97
T101. Utah State CFN Ranking Score: 2.97
103. UL Monroe CFN Ranking Score: 2.93
104. Wyoming CFN Ranking Score: 2.77
105. Indiana CFN Ranking Score: 2.48
106. Syracuse CFN Ranking Score: 1.75
107. Toledo CFN Ranking Score: 1.67
108. Army CFN Ranking Score: 1.18
109. New Mexico State CFN Ranking Score: 0.82
110. Iowa State CFN Ranking Score: 0.66
111. San Diego State CFN Ranking Score: -0.98
112. Tulane CFN Ranking Score: -1.22
113. Eastern Michigan CFN Ranking Score: -1.43
114. SMU CFN Ranking Score: -1.69
115. Washington State CFN Ranking Score: -2.15
116. North Texas CFN Ranking Score: -2.23
117. Miami University CFN Ranking Score: -2.79
118. Idaho CFN Ranking Score: -2.86
119. Washington CFN Ranking Score: -3.29