BC returns to the rankings

When BC was ranked earlier in the season, things did not go well. Purdue slapped them around and even Addazio would admit they were looking ahead and lost focus. Well, the coach has a chance to fix that as BC is ranked again.

As for specifics, BC is in the Coaches 25 Poll and 24 in the AP Poll. Let's hope the stay in the rankings last longer than Addazio's last time and that this time around the team keep moving up.

BC enters the polls and other links

BC debuted in the AP Poll at 23. They are just on the outside of the Coaches' Poll.

Sad end to Brian Toal's BC career. If he gets healthy by the combine, I still think he could be drafted.

HD is moving us up in her Power Rankings.

Two Atlanta area prospects had different takes on their recruiting visit. Drew Little seemed excited about the experience. Joel Kight seemed to notice the weather.

Georgia LB Jonathan Davis still plans on visiting BC.

Can BC crack the Top Ten?

A Top Ten finish seemed likely after the Champs win. Things looked even better when all those around us starting losing on New Year's Day. Now Kansas won and West Virginia won and we may be on the outside looking in.

Although it doesn't change our record, the difference between finishing No. 9 or No. 10 versus 11 in the final polls is important. Perception counts in college football. Selling the season and the program as "Top 10" makes a difference with recruits and the media.

There is still a chance. Take a look at the current AP Poll. (I used the AP because the BCS only determines the champion. The AP is the poll of record for all other slots.)

1. Ohio State
2. LSU
3. Oklahoma -- L
4. Georgia -- W
5. Virginia Tech -- L
6. USC -- W
7. Missouri -- W
8. Kansas -- W
9. Florida -- L
10. Hawaii -- L
11. West Virginia -- W
12. Arizona State -- L
13. Illinois -- L
14. Boston College -- W
15. Clemson -- L
16. Tennessee -- W
17. Texas -- W
18. Wisconsin -- L
19. Brigham Young -- W
20. Cincinnati -- W
21. Virginia -- L
22. Auburn -- W
23. South Florida -- L
24. Boise State -- L
25. Arkansas -- L

LSU and Ohio State have yet to play but the loser of their game will not fall out of the Top 10. Other highly ranked losers (Oklahoma and Virginia Tech) are also unlikely to fall out of the Top 10. West Virginia will surely move into the Top 10. Florida and Hawaii will move out. That leaves one spot -- presumably 9 or 10. We will move past Florida, Hawaii, Illinois and Arizona State. While that might seem like enough, there is an outside chance that Texas and/or Tennessee could leap frog us into the Top 10. Both have stronger names and better bowl wins. We're also hurt by the ACC's weak showing in the postseason. Keep your fingers crossed. It would be a nice way to wrap up the season.

Did Rivals forget or overrate BC?

Normally I don’t pay too much attention to preseason polls, but growing intrigue about the Rivals preseason Top 50 had me take a closer look.

Rivals is breaking down the Top 50 teams in college football. They release a new team every day. Wednesday’s team was No. 17 Tennessee. There are 16 spots to be revealed and the following teams have not been included yet (I’ve assigned them numbers not as a ranking but just to illustrate how many slots are left):

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida
6. Auburn
7. Georgia
8. Ohio State
9. West Virginia
10. Louisville
11. Penn State
12. Michigan
13. Cal
14. Virginia Tech
15. Wisconsin

Those 15 teams are not in the current Rivals rankings but have been in nearly every preseason Top 25 lists. I expect them all to be included in Rivals. That leaves one spot unaccounted for in the Rivals list. Is it BC?

Surprised by a potential high ranking yet concerned about a slight, I looked at other preseason polls and tried to see who else might be missing. Going through Phil Steele’s, Athlon Sports and The Sporting News’ preseason magazines, only two other programs appear in anyone’s Top 50 that are not accounted for in Rivals list. Those schools, Southern Miss and Utah, do not appear anywhere near as high as Top 16. In these same publications, BC is ranked 28th in the Sporting News, 27th in Athlon, and 41st** in Phil Steele’s.

It looks like BC is going to be in Rivals Top 16. I’d be encouraged by the enthusiasm but it will certainly draw some criticism from other fan groups. For Rivals sake I hope BC is in their Top 16, because excluding them would be sloppy. Working on the blogpoll and now at the FanHouse, I understand how a (presumably) collaborative list like this could have a mistake or two, but omitting BC would be bad. Sure BC has a new head coach, however, this year’s team returns the majority of its starters and has two veteran, respected coordinators. We are arguably a Top 25 team and a definite Top 50 team.

I’ve had problems with certain Rivals subsites in the past, so nothing would shock me at this point. Since all of these rankings are just about perception and offseason water cooler talk, part of me hopes for exclusion. A slap like that would give Jags some really good bulletin board material for summer practices. Either way, Rivals unorthodox Top 50 has done the one thing their editors wanted – got people talking.

UPDATE: As reader Brian pointed out, Steele did not have BC in his Top 50, however, Steele covers his ass hedges by ranking BC 41 in his Power Ranking.