Your analogy doesn't work. You are talking about an Alabama team that was 6-7 last year. Tulsa with Paul Smith was a good team. And Alabama, when they had their head on straight was a good team....not great teams. Its by schedule that USC and Penn St have played OSU. The point is not just that. I don't really care that it was OSU, although it does give voters a strong baseline to think about.
We are talking about great teams, not good teams. And we are talking about great teams, not great talent. USC was horrid the night they played Oregon State. The entire team had a deer in headlights look, and in particular Mark Sanchez. They were DOMINATED in every phase of the game. You get no mulligan in college football if a few others have that magical undefeated season. Great teams come to play day in and day out, every week.....focused mentally, prepared physically, good coaching, and to a large degree fortunate on the injury front.
Teams that put it all together should be rewarded with RESPECT. And teams with great talent who choke in many cases because the 5 star athletes can't get past the "Me Mentality" for 13 games, deserve to watch from the sidelines unless a playoff arises.
My Top 5 would vote with Respect for the Game. It votes the best teams, not the best talent.
