These issues start in the preseason polls, which are no more than lightly educated guessing based on recruiting rankings, coaches, the transfer portal, success in the previous season and conference affiliation.Even in season, the polls have become so unreliable and inaccurate that there's a case to be made that they might do more harm than good when the season hits crunch time and the selection committee starts their rankings.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.One way to solve for this is to look at rankings that are based not on preseason expectations, stadium size, jersey patches, or recruiting rankings, but actual on-field performance.
Meaning, how efficient have you been on offense and defense, adjusted for the competition you've faced.What is the success rate you've had on offense, and allowed on defense, again adjusted for the competition you've faced.MIAMI HURRICANES COACH COMES OUT IN FAVOR OF ENDING PRESEASON COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLLS, BLASTS SECAlabama head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, Saturday, Aug.
30, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla.(AP Photo/Phelan M.
Ebenhack)The advantage to this? It filters out noise, like individual game results.Believe it or not, head-to-head matchups don't actually determine which team is better than the other, especially when the teams are closely matched.
For example, look at the two games between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs in 2025.In the first matchup, the Tide went into Athens and eked out a 24-21 win.The underlying performance, though, heavily favored Georgia.
The Bulldogs averaged 6.7 yards per play, while allowing just 5.2 to Alabama.Georgia averaged a whopping 6.9 yards per rush, while the Tide could only muster 3.1.
UGA missed opportunities too, only c...