Every year Missouri fans talk about being (or not being) ranked. Then, someone always replies, "just win your games." Duh.
The implication is if you win games, the voters will recognize your accomplishments and move you up the list in a system based upon fairness and merit. This is simply not true.
In the current college football system, certain teams will be given the benefit of the doubt because of the name on the front of the jersey. It's also fair to say that your ranking at the end of the regular season is also related to where it was at the beginning of the season. Rarely does a team move more than 10 spots either direction. In the SEC, Mizzou has to win one more game than almost anyone else to be treated fairly, excepting Vanderbilt and maybe Kentucky.
It all comes home to roost during bowl season. Watch where the other 4 loss teams get placed and who their opponent is. Maybe it's our geographic location, maybe it's our reputation, but we get pushed to the bottom of the list. If we were ranked in the top 15 in the media polls, we would be looking at a prime time bowl game against a quality opponent. Rankings DO matter.
I would love to be proven wrong, but I'm not hopeful.
The implication is if you win games, the voters will recognize your accomplishments and move you up the list in a system based upon fairness and merit. This is simply not true.
In the current college football system, certain teams will be given the benefit of the doubt because of the name on the front of the jersey. It's also fair to say that your ranking at the end of the regular season is also related to where it was at the beginning of the season. Rarely does a team move more than 10 spots either direction. In the SEC, Mizzou has to win one more game than almost anyone else to be treated fairly, excepting Vanderbilt and maybe Kentucky.
It all comes home to roost during bowl season. Watch where the other 4 loss teams get placed and who their opponent is. Maybe it's our geographic location, maybe it's our reputation, but we get pushed to the bottom of the list. If we were ranked in the top 15 in the media polls, we would be looking at a prime time bowl game against a quality opponent. Rankings DO matter.
I would love to be proven wrong, but I'm not hopeful.
