# Which teams will be in the Rivals Top Ten for 2011? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 22, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987 "2011-07-22T14:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/1 "2011-07-22T14:52:37Z")
Multiple choice: please limit your votes to 10. (poll to follow) This list is based on the teams remaining to be picked for Top X-number from [http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107](http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107) Air Force was #29. Numbers 1-28 are yet to be chosen. If you think Rivals has missed legitimate Top Ten teams, vote “Other” and post your choice(s). The ranking number associated with each team is from [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt10.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt10.htm) **Moderated** : Poll closed at the request of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/2 "2011-07-22T15:12:10Z")
I voted for all the SEC teams on the list, then added a couple ACC and one Big XII and Boise for good measure. No Big 10 or PAC12 schools allowed. (My own internal bias). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/3 "2011-07-22T15:13:27Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I voted for all the SEC teams on the list, then added a couple ACC and one Big XII and Boise for good measure. No Big 10 or PAC12 schools allowed. (My own internal bias). Rave on, my man! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/4 "2011-07-22T20:52:06Z")
I wouldn’t vote for > [@](#): > > 1. Miami if I were you. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/5 "2011-07-23T18:36:29Z")
Too bad, **notfrommensa** , > [@](#): > > 1. Georgia ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/6 "2011-07-23T23:23:43Z")
What are you talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/7 "2011-07-24T04:41:57Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > What are you talking about. You mean the Georgia thing? Rivals has them at #27 so your Top Ten wuill be minus that one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/8 "2011-07-24T05:22:49Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I voted for all the SEC teams on the list, then added a couple ACC and one Big XII and Boise for good measure. No Big 10 or PAC12 schools allowed. (My own internal bias). The point of the poll is not to pick your own personal favorites, but to predict who Rivals will pick in their preseason top ten. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/9 "2011-07-24T13:17:36Z")
My predictions for the teams in Rivals’ poll: Oregon TCU Alabama Boise State LSU Oklahoma Florida State Notre Dame South Carolina Texas ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/10 "2011-07-24T14:13:58Z")
If weight of numbers in this poll is anything to go by (and I’m not saying it may be) then Rivals Top Ten should be near the top of this sorted list: ```auto Which teams will make Rivals Top Ten? 6 Boise State 9 90.00% 8 LSU 9 90.00% 3 Oregon 8 80.00% 5 Alabama 8 80.00% 10 Oklahoma 8 80.00% 2 Stanford 7 70.00% 14 Florida State 6 60.00% 25 South Carolina 5 50.00% 7 Ohio State 4 40.00% 9 Arkansas 4 40.00% 27 Nebraska 4 40.00% 4 TCU 3 30.00% 11 Oklahoma State 3 30.00% 12 Wisconsin 2 20.00% 19 Notre Dame 2 20.00% 20 Texas A&M 2 20.00% 24 Florida 2 20.00% 54 Georgia 2 20.00% 13 Virginia Tech 1 10.00% 26 Utah 1 10.00% 31 Michigan State 1 10.00% 6 West Virginia 1 10.00% 64 Texas 1 10.00% ***OTHER*** 1 10.00% 22 Southern California 0 0% 23 Arizona State 0 0% 40 Miami-Florida 0 0% 45 BYU 0 0% 50 Penn State 0 0% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 10 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/11 "2011-07-24T22:58:25Z")
Here’s another that won’t make the Top Ten at Rivals: > [@](#): > > 1. Utah ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/12 "2011-07-25T16:42:10Z")
As of this post it’s fortunate that nobody had voted for > [@](#): > > 1. BYU ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/13 "2011-07-28T13:27:43Z")
Things appear to be stuck: 1. The Voter count remains at 12 2. The “list” has shown > [@](#): > > 1. West Virginia for a couple days, in spite of > [@](#): > > No. 23 Penn State at [http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1242782](http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1242782) 1. No posts to this thread by other than me The poll closes in 15 days, There are 22 teams left before the Top Ten will be obvious. If you plan to make a guess, why wait? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/14 "2011-07-29T17:40:52Z")
Here’s where things stand after 15 Voters. The numbers on the right in parentheses are the Rivals rankings of those teams after the poll went up. Air Force was #29 and Auburn #30. Obviously, voting for any of those teams to make Top Ten would be counterproductive. 🙂 Odds are good that #21 will be announced today. Has anybody seen anything on the AP or Coaches preseason polls? When will they be out? How different will their Top Ten be from these teams? ```auto Which teams will make Rivals Top Ten? This poll will close on 08-11-2011 at 10:00 AM 6 Boise State 14 93.33% 3 Oregon 13 86.67% 5 Alabama 13 86.67% 8 LSU 13 86.67% 2 Stanford 12 80.00% 10 Oklahoma 12 80.00% 4 TCU 7 46.67% 14 Florida State 7 46.67% 25 South Carolina 6 40.00% 9 Arkansas 5 33.33% 27 Nebraska 5 33.33% 7 Ohio State 4 26.67% 12 Wisconsin 4 26.67% 19 Notre Dame 4 26.67% 11 Oklahoma State 3 20.00% 24 Florida 3 20.00% 36 West Virginia 3 20.00% (24) 20 Texas A&M 2 13.33% 54 Georgia 2 13.33% (27) 64 Texas 2 13.33% (22) 13 Virginia Tech 1 6.67% 22 Southern California 1 6.67% 26 Utah 1 6.67% (26) 31 Michigan State 1 6.67% 40 Miami-Florida 1 6.67% (28) 45 BYU 1 6.67% (25) 23 Arizona State 0 0% 50 Penn State 0 0% (23) ***OTHER*** 1 6.67% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 15 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/15 "2011-07-30T18:04:59Z")
For a little extra fun, and to demonstrate how our collective skills are going, let’s try to predict the next picks by Rivals from this list. I’ve trimmed off the “Top Ten” we had after 17 voters so these are the bottom of the pack at the moment: ```auto 7 Ohio State 6 35.29% 9 Arkansas 6 35.29% 12 Wisconsin 5 29.41% 19 Notre Dame 5 29.41% 11 Oklahoma State 3 17.65% 24 Florida 3 17.65% (21) 36 West Virginia 3 17.65% (24) 64 Texas 3 17.65% (22) 13 Virginia Tech 2 11.76% 20 Texas A&M 2 11.76% 54 Georgia 2 11.76% (27) 22 Southern California 1 5.88% 26 Utah 1 5.88% (26) 31 Michigan State 1 5.88% 40 Miami-Florida 1 5.88% (28) 45 BYU 1 5.88% (25) 23 Arizona State 0 0% (20) 50 Penn State 0 0% (23) ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/16 "2011-08-01T13:50:36Z")
We’re nine more teams from the Top Ten as seen by Rivals. Here’s the tally after 19 Voters: ```auto Which teams will make Rivals Top Ten? This poll will close on 08-11-2011 at 10:00 AM 6 Boise State 17 89.47% 5 Alabama 16 84.21% 3 Oregon 15 78.95% 8 LSU 15 78.95% 10 Oklahoma 14 73.68% 2 Stanford 13 68.42% 14 Florida State 8 42.11% 27 Nebraska 8 42.11% 4 TCU 7 36.84% 7 Ohio State 7 36.84% 25 South Carolina 7 36.84% 9 Arkansas 6 31.58% 12 Wisconsin 6 31.58% 19 Notre Dame 5 26.32% 24 Florida 4 21.05% (21) 11 Oklahoma State 3 15.79% 36 West Virginia 3 15.79% (24) 64 Texas 3 15.79% (22) 13 Virginia Tech 2 10.53% 20 Texas A&M 2 10.53% 22 Southern California 2 10.53% (19) 26 Utah 2 10.53% (26) 31 Michigan State 2 10.53% 45 BYU 2 10.53% (25) 54 Georgia 2 10.53% (27) 40 Miami-Florida 1 5.26% (28) 50 Penn State 1 5.26% (23) 23 Arizona State 0 0% (20) ***OTHER*** 1 5.26% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 19 ``` According to [2011 Preseason College Football Polls](http://www.lsufootball.net/articles/2011-preseason-polls.htm) their most recently added poll’s results were from [http://www.columbiatribune.com/weblogs/behind-the-stripes/2011/jul/22/bts-preseason-countdown-whos-no-1/](http://www.columbiatribune.com/weblogs/behind-the-stripes/2011/jul/22/bts-preseason-countdown-whos-no-1/) which may be fun to compare with our own poll’s results. If you happen to read this post before you vote, please be aware that our poll is to predict how Rivals will arrive at a Top Ten. Those numbers in parentheses on the right have already been chosen by Rivals since our poll went up with numbers higher than ten, so voting for them would be too late to matter. Rivals #18 ought to be announced some time today. Even though the > [@](#): > > This poll will close on 08-11-2011 at 10:00 AM statement was calculated based on Rivals not posting choices over the weekends (which they have been doing) as soon as their #11 is announced I will ask the Mods to close this poll. Voting after that point would be silly. The Doper with the best score of picking Top Ten teams will be announced at that time. So this week’s the time to put your predicting skills to work. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/17 "2011-08-02T17:50:44Z")
Updates: > [@](#): > > 1. South Carolina > 2. Michigan State ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/18 "2011-08-04T16:03:58Z")
I just don’t know how much help to provide to those waiting until it’s almost done to vote. Now that the Coaches Preseason Poll is out, it may help in the decision making process to compare Rivals (so far) with the Coaches. See [http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107](http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1233107) [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm) for source data in: ```auto Aug. 4, 2011 - preseason poll Rank Team (first-place votes) 2010 record Points Final 2010 ranking Rivals Pre-Season 120 1. Oklahoma (42) 12-2 1,454 6 2. Alabama (13) 10-3 1,414 11 3. Oregon (2) 12-1 1,309 3 4. LSU (2) 11-2 1,296 8t 5. Florida State 10-4 1,116 16 6. Stanford 12-1 1,101 4 7. Boise State 12-1 1,065 7 8. Oklahoma State 11-2 933 10 9. Texas A&M 9-4 885 21 10. Wisconsin 11-2 829 8t 11. Nebraska 10-4 814 19 12. South Carolina 9-5 779 22 17 13. Virginia Tech 11-3 767 15 14. Arkansas 10-3 750 12 15. TCU 13-0 687 2 16. Ohio State 12-1 631 5 16 17. Michigan State 11-2 536 14 18 18. Notre Dame 8-5 440 NR 19. Auburn 14-0 329 1 30 20. Mississippi State 9-4 301 17 31 21. Missouri 10-3 266 18 34 22. Georgia 6-7 260 NR 27 23. Florida 8-5 240 NR 21 24. Texas 5-7 162 NR 22 25. Penn State 7-6 161 NR 23 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/19 "2011-08-05T22:33:40Z")
With these updates > [@](#): > > 1. Arkansas > 2. TCU there are only three more to be dropped before the Top Ten Rivals teams are determined. We should know that by Monday, Tuesday at the latest. Last call for votes! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987/20 "2011-08-06T17:26:30Z")
With > [@](#): > > 1. Notre Dame that leaves only two teams to be dropped before the Top Ten are established. To prevent any last-minute voters from stealing the thunder from those who voted early, here are the results as of the Top 12, with as many as two teams to be deducted from the counts shown here: ========================================== The Walking Dude 9 The Walking Dude, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 11 Oklahoma State 12 Wisconsin 14 Florida State Zeldar 9 Zeldar, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 11 Oklahoma State 14 Florida State 20 Texas A&M Fact of the Matter 8 Fact of the Matter, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 14 Florida State 27 Nebraska NoClueBoy 8 NoClueBoy, 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 13 Virginia Tech 14 Florida State 27 Nebraska TheFifthYear 8 TheFifthYear, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 12 Wisconsin 27 Nebraska The Universe Lashes Out 8 The Universe Lashes Out, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 14 Florida State 27 Nebraska garygnu 7 garygnu, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 14 Florida State Oredigger77 7 Oredigger77, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 20 Texas A&M 27 Nebraska buckeyeleafs 6 buckeyeleafs, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma Darth Sensitive 6 Darth Sensitive, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 11 Oklahoma State Gangster Octopus 6 Gangster Octopus, 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 10 Oklahoma 12 Wisconsin 27 Nebraska mkecane 6 mkecane, 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 14 Florida State notfrommensa 6 notfrommensa, 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma 13 Virginia Tech 14 Florida State USCDiver 6 USCDiver, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU 10 Oklahoma zamboniracer 6 zamboniracer, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 10 Oklahoma 12 Wisconsin Frosted Glass 5 Frosted Glass, 2 Stanford 3 Oregon 5 Alabama 6 Boise State 8 LSU imthjckaz 4 imthjckaz, 2 Stanford 6 Boise State 12 Wisconsin 27 Nebraska Duck Quack’s Echo 2 Duck Quack’s Echo, 5 Alabama 8 LSU MadTheSwine 2 MadTheSwine, 12 Wisconsin 27 Nebraska ============================ Thanks to all who had some fun with this exercise. It will be interesting to see how the AP Poll will deviate from Rivals and Coaches and any of the other polls shown at > **[2011 Preseason College Football Polls](http://www.lsufootball.net/articles/2011-preseason-polls.htm)** > > 2011 Preseason College Football Polls > (20 polls), Last updated: 08/21/2011 and > **[College {Football|Basketball|Baseball} Ranking Composite](https://masseyratings.com/cf/compare.htm)** and > **[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_rankings#Preseason_polls)** > > Three human polls and one formula ranking make up the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship title. That title is bestowed by one or more of four different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason: the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Two additional polls are released mid... Come on, September! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-teams-will-be-in-the-rivals-top-ten-for-2011/589987.md?page=2)