With this year’s college football season winding down, it’s time to start thinking about who has earned their way into college football’s Final Four – also called the Bowl Championship Series. If you listen to the media hype, you’ll hear a never-ending chorus trying to get us to believe that one-loss teams like Clemson (the defending national champion) and Georgia (who was drubbed 2 weeks ago by 9-2 Auburn) deserve a shot. Some enthusiastic Big 10 fans think that a 2-loss Ohio State or Penn State deserve a chance to make the final group.
Your faithful SwampSwami says, “Balderdash“! If you have lost one or more games this season (no matter how close the outcome was or which of your key players was injured, etc.), you must take a back seat to the undefeated teams. And, wouldn’t you know it, we have only four teams remaining with an unblemished record in 2017.
Those teams are Alabama, Wisconsin, Miami (Fl), and the University of Central Florida. There you go. Those teams have lined-up and defeated all comers on their respective schedules this season.
Think UCF is a cream puff? They have scored 40 or more points in seven of their 11 games this season. Wisconsin, you ask? The Badgers’ defense has allowed 24 or less points in every game this season.
Well, what about Miami? Granted, the ‘Canes have been fortunate that Florida State lost its starting quarterback prior to playing their annual game. Miami has also won four contests this season by less than 10 points. But how can you punish a team that has run the table?
Answer: You can’t, and you shouldn’t!
SwampSwami knows that it’s a dogfight for the Final 4 BCS positions, but these Four Horsemen remain unbeaten and shall remain atop my standings until someone vanquishes them.
Now…on with the countdown!
| # | Team | W | L | 2016 Final Rank | Best win this season |
| 1 | Alabama | 11 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 11 | 0 | 9 | |
| 3 | Miami (Fla) | 10 | 0 | 20 | |
| 4 | UCF | 10 | 0 | Beat 9-1 Memphis 40-13 at home | |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 10 | 1 | Beat 9-2 Ohio State 31-16 @ Ohio St | |
| 6 | Georgia | 10 | 1 | Beat 9-2 Notre Dame 20-19 @ ND | |
| 7 | Clemson | 10 | 1 | Beat 7-4 Virginia Tech 31-17 @ VT | |
| 8 | Memphis | 9 | 1 | Beat 6-4 Navy 30-27 at home | |
| 9 | South Florida | 10 | 1 | Beat 5-6 Tulane 34-28 @ Tulane | |
| 10 | Auburn | 9 | 2 | Beat 9-1 Georgia 40-17 at home | |
| 11 | Washington State | 9 | 2 | Beat 10-2 USC 30-27 at home | |
| 12 | TCU | 9 | 2 | Beat 8-3 Okie State 44-31 @ OSU | |
| 13 | Ohio State | 9 | 2 | Beat 9-2 Penn State 39-38 @ home | |
| 14 | Penn State | 9 | 2 | Beat 8-3 Michigan 42-13 at home | |
| 15 | Boise State | 9 | 2 | Beat 9-2 San Diego St. 31-14 @ SD St. | |
| 16 | San Diego State | 9 | 2 | Beat 8-3 Stanford 20-17 at home | |
| 17 | USC | 10 | 2 | Beat 8-3 Stanford 42-24 at home | |
| 18 | Notre Dame | 9 | 2 | Beat 8-3 Michigan St. 38-18 @ MSU | |
| 19 | Troy | 8 | 2 | Beat 8-3 LSU 24-21 @ LSU | |
| 20 | Washington | 9 | 2 | Beat 8-3 Fresno State 48-16 at home | |
| 21 | Toledo | 9 | 2 | Beat 8-3 N. Illinois 27-17 at home | |
| 22 | Michigan State | 8 | 3 | Beat 9-2 Penn State 27-24 at home | |
| 23 | Fresno State | 8 | 3 | Beat 9-2 San Diego St. 27-3 @ SD St. | |
| 24 | Mississippi State | 8 | 3 | Beat 8-3 LSU 37-7 at home | |
| 25 | LSU | 8 | 3 | Beat 9-2 Auburn 27-23 at home |