2009 Week 7 Rankings: Revenge of the Mid-Majors!

I will admit that the ranking system is not egalitarian at all. In fact, it is notoriously mean to the non-BCS schools -- and weak BCS conferences.

Case in point, Boise State. The Broncos are undoubtedly one of the top teams in the nation and have shown with that beating of No. 8 Oregon early in the season that they deserve to have a chance at the national championship if they go undefeated.

But Boise State has struggled in the rankings thanks to the weak schedule that comes with being a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Boise State has bounced all over the place going from 13 to 21 one week and then slowly climbing back up. Last week the Broncos cracked the top 10 going seventh.

Boise State had no drop this week with a No. 6 ranking in the polls. It appears that the Broncos can and should have a chance at playing for the national championship no matter how you break it down.

Going undefeated will not be enough for them though. That schedule is a big hurdle to overcome. They will likely have to be the only undefeated team remaining to reach the top two in the standings. And even then, I am skeptical they can make it.

The loss addition currently sits at a large 7.381 (meaning each loss counts for 7.381 points) and it is going to be about the same since No. 2 Florida's own weak schedule is keeping them from maintaining its top position from No. 1 Alabama.

If one of those two teams were to fall, the loss addition might increase. That would hurt a high-ranking one-loss team like No. 4 USC or No. 5 Virginia Tech. But if both Florida and Alabama fall and things get tight at the top, the Broncos could go tumbling.

A weak schedule certainly hurts a lot. All the Broncos can do is control what they can and let the chips fall.

1. Alabama 49.028
2. Florida +7.356
3. Texas +15.456
4. USC +17.031
5. Virginia Tech +23.154
6. Boise State
7. Cincinnati
8. Oregon
9. South Florida
10. Kansas
11. Oklahoma
12. Nebraska
13. TCU
14. Iowa
15. Ohio State
The rest of the Top 25: 16. Penn State; 17. Miami (Fl.); 18. Brigham Young; 19. Oklahoma State; 20. Auburn; 21. LSU; 22. West Virginia; 23. South Carolina; 24. Georgia Tech; 25. Missouri

Top Offense: 10 Kansas
Top Defense: 2 Florida