Final NCAAF Rankings And How They Could Impact The Preseason Top 25 (And Next Season)

In the final AP polls, Florida State (14-0) finished number one as the only undefeated team in division I football. Just three teams in the top 25 ended the year with one loss (#3 Michigan State, #10 UCF, and #15 Louisville).

Only at the end of the season does the Associated Press rule all. For some reason, the BCS doesn't calculate final rankings (not even for fun!).

South Carolina achieved a surprising jump in the standings, from #9 to #4, jumping past then #8 Missouri in the rankings even though both teams won. Teams ranked #2, #3, and #5-#7 all lost their bowl games, making room for surprise finishers like #6 Oklahoma, #8 Clemson, and #10 UCF.

Final Top 25:

Odd, however, is the relationship between teams, fans, and the ranking system. All year long they (the rankings) are what drive the season, the television ratings, the matchups... but at the end of the season, when, in theory they should count the most, they are merely a footnote. Thus, it's still probably better to be Ohio State, who finished #12 in the polls, but played in a BCS game, than South Carolina, the #4 team even though they didn't qualify for a major bowl (though they most definitely should have).

The silver lining for end of the year rankings may relate to next year's preseason rankings, of which lists have already been compiled. That the AP picked South Carolina over Missouri in the final polls may influence voters to make the same tough call in the preseason rankings, which impact recruiting and can even play a role in next year's postseason decisions.

In ESPN's self-titled, "Way Too Early Top 25," Florida State -- no surprise -- is number one. At number two is Oregon, whose annual recruiting haul always seems to give them a preseason top five ranking. This year, they're also supported by the return of quarterback Marcus Mariota. Few surprises made ESPN's list, though one teams unexpectedly didn't make the list, Missouri.

*Consider a team like Central Florida. Had they been ranked in the preseason top five going into this past season, their close loss (and only loss) to South Carolina after starting the year 3-0 would have probably only dropped them to the teens in the rankings, while their ensuing nine straight wins would have probably put them right back in the top 5 at the end of the year instead of the 10 spot where they finished. At the same time, of course, poll makers might have also taken into consideration UCF's close wins against less than stellar opponents and perhaps perceptions wouldn't have mattered to the degree I'm assuming. At worst case, however, they probably would have meant the difference in a few spots in the rankings. High preseason rankings probably benefit teams from weaker conferences more than teams from strong conferences, which can prove themsleves over the course of the season like Auburn, unranked in this year's preseason polls.

For your reference, the preseason top 25: