This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025. Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.
The first BCS standings came out this week. While the rankings might not be the same as the top 10 of the JFP Top 25 poll, they are close. Clemson is getting a lot of love from the BCS but not from me. South Carolina replaces Clemson in my top 10. The other nine teams are the same but not in the same order.
Every bowl eligible team in college football is in the JFP Top 25 poll. Last week, three previously unbeaten teams went down. Illinois, Michigan, and Georgia Tech all lost, but only Michigan lost to a ranked foe.
Feel free to argue my rankings with other polls or the BCS. I always love to hear how I got it wrong.
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippiโs systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.