Why Is BYU Ranked So High?

People wrote in to ESPN’s sports writer Ted Miller asking what BYU had done to be deserved so high. His response is a classic one, half sarcastic but just to emphasize the point. Here’s exactly as it appears at http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-3-45/Opening-the-mailbag–Ball-State–BYU-and-Bush.html:

Adam from Berkeley writes: Hey Ted, What exactly has BYU done to deserve a top ten spot? I’m looking at the teams that they’ve beaten and their opponents schedules thus far and there is nothing truly impressive other than that they have won games by a huge margin. It seems like the only reason that they’re in the top ten is because of their preseason ranking along with their victory over UCLA (right after they beat Tennessee). Seeing how that is no longer a noteworthy win, why don’t they drop in the polls?

Ted Miller: Know why BYU is ranked really high?

Because folks who do the rankings think the Cougars are really, really good.

Why do they think BYU is really, really good?

Because BYU has really, really good players. And a really, really good head coach.

If you’re looking for accomplishments, well, there are plenty of teams that haven’t done much — Texas Tech, Texas, Penn State, Florida, Oklahoma — that haven’t done a whole lot.

Why are those teams ranked highly?

Because folks think they are really, really good.

Words of wisdom right there! (no pun intended…)

There are some really interesting comments below the quote on ESPN’s site, but the fact of the matter is that this year is BYU’s chance to prove that the MWC is a BCS worthy conference. BCS-busting has been done several times now and it’s no longer real news. It’s actually expected now that at least one non-BCS team gets to compete. The real issue is proving that the MWC is as strong of a conference as any and that means winning out and keeping Utah ranked so BYU can beat a ranked team WHILE they’re still ranked.

Hopefully TCU can break back in after a win this week since they’re only loss is against #1 Oklahoma. Tell me why Wisconsin can lose to unranked Michigan AND Ohio State and yet stay in the top 25 of the coaches poll? Because they beat Fresno State who isn’t even ranked anymore? Just because they’re in the Big 10? Gimme a break…TCU deserves at least their spot in the rankings.