Don't let slip in polls bother you

The Bama Nation discovered Sunday their team had suffered a loss. This was especially disturbing news for them because the Crimson Tide enjoyed an open date in its schedule.

In the three major college football polls — Associated Press, coaches and Harris Interactive — Alabama slipped to the No. 3 spot in the national rankings.

There was a fourth poll in which Alabama also slipped, this one the most important of them all: the BCS rankings.

Not even the extra hour of sleep provided by the switch from daylight savings time could have prepared Alabama fans for that bit of information.

So here's another piece of information to ponder: It doesn't matter.

For a fan base eager for its team to return to No. 1 status, a ranking it has held this season, the news their team isn't No. 1 or No. 2 in the country despite its 8-0 record is unwelcome. To some, it's considered a slap in the face.

It doesn't matter. OK, sure, it matters in terms of the pride factor for some and it matters to those who may harbor conspiracy theories as to why the Tide slipped to No. 3. But in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter because the only poll that really matters these days is the BCS poll the day after the conference championship games — the poll that determines which two teams earn the right to play in the BCS national championship game.

Alabama, Florida and Texas are the top three teams in the country by most everyone's estimation.

As such, all Alabama, Florida and Texas have to do the rest of the way is win. That's it. If they win the remainder of their regular season games, then the BCS national championship game matchup is all set: Texas versus the Alabama-Florida SEC championship game winner.

Should the trio continue its current winning ways, there is nothing the contending teams behind them can do to change that scenario. Boise State, Iowa, TCU and Cincinnati, all hoping to be considered for one of the spots in the game, won't leapfrog one of the Big Three into one of the top two spots in the BCS rankings.

There is some hope for other teams, but only if one or more of the Big Three slip. Alabama plays LSU at home this Saturday, then plays at Mississippi State, at home against Chattanooga and at Auburn. Florida faces Vandy at home before a trip to South Carolina and home games against Florida International and Florida State. Texas faces Central Florida, followed by a trip to Baylor, Kansas at home and a trip to Texas A&M.

If those dozen games end in victories for the Big Three, nothing else matters. And the reward would be an opportunity to play for the one thing that matters most.

Contact Tommy Hicks at:

thicks@press-register.com

His columns appears Mondays and Fridays in the Press-Register