BC gets votes but remains unranked

It is not where you start but how you finish. At least that is what I am telling myself as BC starts the season outside the Top 25 in the AP. After some high profile people went on a limb for BC this summer, I thought we might start the season ranked. 

In total BC received 18 votes, good for 34th. If the season starts well, it shouldn't take long to move into the official Top 25.

BC's schedule is demanding, we face four ranked teams. Let's hope by the end of the season, we have at least four quality wins and are ranked too.

Preseason Top 25 includes three BC opponents

The AP released their preseason Top 25. Obviously BC didn't make it. BC didn't even get a vote. However, three BC opponents -- Clemson, Florida State and Notre Dame -- earned enough votes to make the rankings.

A few other future foes are outside the Top 25, but still earned votes (Virginia Tech, Louisville, Northern Illinois, and NC State). While some of these teams received votes purely based on reputation, this does speak to the lopsided nature of BC's schedule. We have cupcakes early and then face seven legitimate teams.

I am not particularly concerned about the lack of respect for BC or the ACC among the voters. As long as there is a human element to the Selection Committee, these sorts of polls do matter. But this is probably not going to be our year. If we win the ACC, we will be highly ranked, but winning the ACC will be the only way for BC to even be discussed at the Selection Committee.

No respect part 2 (the AP poll)

The BC news of the day was the release of the AP poll. Like the Coaches edition, BC was unranked and only received one vote. Having voted in a similar poll for many years now, I am unmoved by the lack of respect that BC gets. Not much thought goes into this with many voters and until we break our current ceiling, voters will just view us as a nice team. Fortunately voters don't determine who wins the ACC. That is always in our control and should be our ultimate goal each year.

Top 10

The bowl season shake out put BC in a tie for 10 with Texas in the final AP poll. Congrats to the staff and players. Although it is only a number there is a world of difference between 10 and 11. It was a memorable season and hopefully will serve as a building block for things to come.