For some time now, college football fans have noted a strange and unhealthy affinity for the University of Southern California in the national media.
It seems that no matter how many times the Trojans lose to their cupcake “competition” in the Pac-10, the media nevertheless lines up in droves to praise USC.
Indeed, notwithstanding the Trojans' loss to unranked Oregon State, media voters in the AP Poll have USC inexplicably ranked at No. 6, directly ahead of three unbeaten teams and a Georgia squad whose only loss was to No. 2 Alabama, and eight spots ahead of unbeaten Utah, whose wins include one over Oregon State.
The media’s unnatural obsession with USC is old news; the problem is that it seems to be a contagious condition. The coaches from the USA Today poll now have USC ranked at No. 4 (4!), ahead of the likes of Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida.
Let’s examine a few of the schools that the coaches have ranked below Southern Cal.
LSU (Ranked No. 14)
Sure, the Tigers were embarrassed by Florida this weekend in The Swamp. But surely losing to the Gators in arguably the toughest environment in the country isn’t half as embarrassing as dropping a game in front of 40,000 Beavers fans in Corvallis.
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Missouri (Ranked No. 12)
The coaches had Missouri at No. 2 going into this past weekend, in which the Tigers lost to undefeated Oklahoma State. Yet, they are somehow leapfrogged by a Southern Cal team who lost to 3-3 Oregon State? Speaking of Oklahoma State…
Oklahoma State (Ranked No. 10)
The Cowboys are undefeated, and, according to the coaches, they just knocked off the No. 2 team in the country. Yet Southern Cal somehow jumps to No. 4 after beating 2-4 Arizona State?
Georgia (Ranked No. 9)
Georgia’s only loss came to No. 2 Alabama… and before anyone starts whining about that first half, don’t forget that USC was down 21-0 to Oregon State at halftime.
Florida (Ranked No. 7)
The Gators trounced the No. 3-ranked, defending National Champions by 30 points. Someone explain to me how beating Arizona State trumps this?
Oklahoma (Ranked No. 6)
The Sooners lost a rivalry shootout to the new No. 1 team in the country, and they somehow fell beneath the Trojans.
I didn't yet mention undefeated BYU and Texas Tech, both of whom could arguably be ranked ahead of USC as well.
Is anyone really going to argue that Texas Tech’s schedule has been that much weaker than Southern Cal? Heck, is anyone really going to argue that playing in the Mountain West is that much easier than playing in the Pac-10 this year?
I have offered theories in the past as to why the coaches poll can't be trusted. Whatever their reasons, it's clear that the coaches have fallen victim to a collective insanity, one that may not be remedied unless Southern Cal drops another game to a weak conference opponent.
Hopefully, the only ramifications for the rest of the country will be yet another uninteresting-yet-overhyped Rose Bowl. Given the way this season has gone, however, the coaches' collective nonsense could have broader implications for teams that actually deserve a chance to play for a title.
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about 1 month ago
Hopefully, the Big 12 and SEC teams will gain ground on USC because of their tougher schedules.
It is kind of ridiculous that USC is even in the top 10. Georgia, as you mentioned, at least lost to a top team. Florida lost to Ole Miss, but their loss was much different than USC's loss to an unranked team. USC got manhandled in their game whereas Florida lost because of fumbles in their own territory and a blocked extra point. Oklahoma behind USC is just a joke.
from about 1 month ago
I totally agree. In my opinion, USC is overrated even in the AP poll. I have no idea what the coaches were thinking.
about 1 month ago
My feeling is that Florida beating LSU 51-21 is more impressive than USC beating Ohio State 35-3. USC is getting too much respect for beating Ohio State. And Ohio State is using Pryor and has Wells back now. If Pryor was more involved and Wells was healthy I don't think USC cruises in that game. So even if Ohio State keeps winning, they're a different team now.
from about 1 month ago
You're absolutely right, USC's win over Ohio State has got to have a big asterisk on it considering Wells was on the sideline. And Florida may have lost to Ole Miss, but I'd take Ole Miss against Oregon State any day. Regardless, I think Florida still controls its own destiny as far as the BCS is concerned. If they win out, they're probably in over a one-loss USC.
about 1 month ago
I disagree with the asterisk comment. Overhyped USC beat another overhyped Ohio State team who has trouble in a pathetic (except for Penn St.) Big 10 conference. The victory means nothing other than USC beat a team who has a historical record of being good, and this year just happens to be reeling from 2 consecutive pastings by far superior SEC teams.
Great article, by the way. Agree 100%.
from about 1 month ago
I don't disagree with you. Even if Wells had played, I wouldn't have been overly impressed with the Ohio State win.
Let's be fair. Anytime a team wins against a top team from another conference, it's an accomplishment. And, for whatever it's worth, it does look like Ohio State is one of the best teams in the Big 10. But, sure, the strength of the conference has to be taken into consideration. If Texas were to knock off BYU, that would be a good win for them, but not nearly as big as knocking off, say, Florida.
All I'm saying is that, whatever level of respect USC might have gained from beating Ohio State, even that has to be tempered by the fact that Ohio State wasn't at their best. Maybe Ohio State just deserves a blanket asterisk, but if that's the case, then USC's win needs an asterisk over the asterisk.
about 1 month ago
In your article's comments for: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/64736-when-will-the-medias-love-affair-with-over-hyped-usc-end, we had talked about the 3 coaches who violated their contracts and voted USC the BCS Champion over LSU. It was Lou Holtz of SC, Ron Turner of Illinois, and Mike Bellotti of Oregon.
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