As everyone else seems to agree, this poll is a huge relief to me.
Moreso than the Coach's, AP, computers, BCS, etc. this one seems to get it right. From 1-25, there's nothing illogical or irrational there. You could quibble here and there about team X should be a spot or two higher or lower, but there's nothing just flat out stupid, and that's a huge improvement to any other poll we've seen so far.
And to answer this:
This committee is supposed to determine who the best four teams are at season's end. What purpose does it serve to release a ranking half way through the season? How useless is it to release this poll when #3 and #4 play this weekend?
It gives us a measuring stick to how they arrive at their final conclusion so it isn't just pulled out of their ass at the end of the year.
I think people are
used to seeing the illogical old system, which I have always raged about and found insanely stupid, where pollsters try to put on their Carnac the Magnificent hats and rank based on where they
think these teams will end up. The goal for sportswriters & commentators was to earn cred by having their final polls match as closely to their preseason polls as possible. In effect, punishing teams for playing tougher schedules before they even play them. That never made sense to me. Polls should be based on what we've seen on the field to this point in the season. Quality wins should be the first criteria. The quality of the opponent you lost to is also important. And conference championships should be extremely important as well. Obviously this committee gets all of this and is ranking the way I've been wishing the AP would have all this time.
Having this ranking now matters, because now we know that whoever wins in the #3 vs. #4 matchup this weekend, should probably leapfrog FSU even if they get past Louisville, or at least come damn close. The loser shouldn't be punished too too much. Probably to about 10 or so where Kansas State, Notre Dame, and Georgia are currently residing.
So another answer to Snags' question: No, this is not how the 4 will end up. It shouldn't be.
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