2006
College Football
Season Preview

Preseason Rankings Comparison

2006 Preseason Rankings Comparison

Updated 8/18/06

The AP poll, though no longer a part of the BCS, still releases a preseason poll and regular weekly rankings. It could determine a number one team independent of the BCS. The Harris Interactive Poll, which replaced the AP in the BCS in 2005, will continue in that roll this year. Harris does not release its first college football rankings until September 24.

There are often amazing similarities between the preseason "voter polls" (coaches, Harris, AP) and the preseason annuals which would seemingly defy logic. After all, there is an inherent difference between a "poll" and a "preseason magazine prediction". The magazines are picking where they think the teams will be at the end of the year. The polls are determining where the teams should be ranked to begin the year. The Congrove Computer Rankings (CCR) actually release one of each method. The CCR Preseason Rankings are the "projections" of what the rankings will look like at the end of the regular season, and the CCR Current Rankings are how the teams supposedly stack-up on day one of the season.

Here is a sampling of some of the preseason rankings, listed in alphabetical order of the teams that appeared on at least one published Top 25 list.

Only four teams received number one nods with Oklahoma and Ohio State each garnering three mentions to lead Texas and Notre Dame.

Abbreviation descriptions
S&S - Street & Smith's.
CCR Proj - Congrove Computer Rankings - Projected Final Regular Season Rankings.
CCR Wk. 1 - Congrove Computer Rankings - Opening Week Rankings.
Cons. Rank - Consensus rankings exclude both Congrove Computer Rankings to allow for comparison to the CCR.

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