Week 15 Computer Rankings…

So, not many people seemed to notice (or care), but there was one more football game this past weekend that impacted the rankings.  It’s unfortunate, really, that Army-Navy doesn’t get more attention.  I know that the game generally features a less exciting brand of football on the field played by players who have just about zero chance of ever playing football for a paycheck, but I make it a habit to watch the game every single year, mostly for these four reasons:

1. The pregame procession – I absolutely love watching the cadets and midshipmen marching into the stadium.  At no other game will you see such pageantry when the fans enter the stadium.
2. The national anthem – Every single year, the game is begun by some ensemble of musicians who know how to play or sing the national anthem.  A quick hint for some of you youngsters out there…  It’s not a death march (it can be played or sung at faster than 60 beats/minute) and it’s not a pop melody (cut the ridiculous flourishes).  This year was no different with the Navy Choir beautifully singing the Star Spangled Banner.
3. The sportsmanship – I know both some Navy and Army personnel and I can tell you that this game means the season to these guys.  They want nothing more than to win this one game and that desire is shown on the field when the ball is in play.  A lot of hard hitting and all-out effort.  And yet, between the whistles, these guys always remember that they’re truly all on the same team.  If there is any game out there that I want my son watching to learn this lesson, it’s the Army-Navy game.
4. The knowledge that some of these guys may die serving the country – I know that most (all?) of these players will serve as officers.  But, they will almost certainly all see some combat conditions.  And, with that comes the very real possibility of death.  These guys chose to put themselves in position pay the ultimate price, something that few other college football players ever do.  I (and the rest of the country) owe them some attention and gratitude at least one Saturday out of the year.

And so, with that, I choose to not leave out the minor updates to the rankings that result from this game in early December each year.  As such, I give you my final computer rankings for the 2011 season (for a link to the general design, you can go here):

1. LSU (13-0)
2. Houston (12-1)
3. Oklahoma State (11-1)
4. Stanford (11-1)
5. Boise State (11-1)
6. Alabama (11-1)
7. Oregon (11-2)
8. Wisconsin (11-2)
9. Southern Mississippi (11-2)
10. Virginia Tech (11-2)
11. Michigan (10-2)
12. Southern California (10-2)
13. Michigan State (10-3)
14. Arkansas (10-2)
15. Georgia (10-3)
16. TCU (10-2)
17. Arkansas State (10-2)
18. South Carolina (10-2)
19. Oklahoma (9-3)
20. Clemson (10-3)
21. Kansas State (10-2)
22. Tulsa (8-4)
23. BYU (9-3)
24. Nebraska (9-3)
25. Penn State (9-3)
26. Northern Illinois (10-3)
27. Baylor (9-3)
28. Ohio (9-4)
29. Cincinnati (9-3)
30. West Virginia (9-3)
31. Notre Dame (8-4)
32. Florida International (8-4)
33. Florida State (8-4)
34. Temple (8-4)
35. Rutgers (8-4)
36. Toledo (8-4)
37. Georgia Tech (8-4)
38. Virginia (8-4)
39. Texas (7-5)
40. Missouri (7-5)
41. Louisiana Tech (8-4)
42. Western Michigan (7-5)
43. Louisiana – Lafayette (8-4)
44. SMU (7-5)
45. North Carolina (7-5)
46. Nevada (7-5)
47. Iowa (7-5)
48. San Diego State (8-4)
49. Texas A&M (6-6)
50. California (7-5)
51. Western Kentucky (7-5)
52. Auburn (7-5)
53. Marshall (6-6)
54. Louisville (7-5)
55. Utah (7-5)
56. UCLA (6-7)
57. Purdue (6-6)
58. Ohio State (6-6)
59. Washington (7-5)
60. Mississippi State (6-6)
61. Wyoming (8-4)
62. Illinois (6-6)
63. Wake Forest (6-6)
64. North Carolina State (7-5)
65. Ball State (6-6)
66. Utah State (7-5)
67. East Carolina (5-7)
68. Vanderbilt (6-6)
69. Miami – FL (6-6)
70. North Texas (5-7)
71. Arizona State (6-6)
72. Northwestern (6-6)
73. Florida (6-6)
74. UCF (5-7)
75. Eastern Michigan (6-6)
76. San Jose State (5-7)
77. Texas Tech (5-7)
78. Air Force (7-5)
79. Navy (5-7)
80. Tennessee (5-7)
81. South Florida (5-7)
82. Bowling Green (5-7)
83. Pittsburgh (6-6)
84. Kentucky (5-7)
85. Iowa State (6-6)
86. Louisiana – Monroe (4-8)
87. Connecticut (5-7)
88. Rice (4-8)
89. Hawaii (6-7)
90. UTEP (5-7)
91. New Mexico State (4-9)
92. Miami – OH (4-8)
93. Arizona (4-8)
94. Kent State (5-7)
95. Colorado (3-10)
96. Boston College (4-8)
97. Syracuse (5-7)
98. UAB (3-9)
99. Washington State (4-8)
100. Minnesota (3-9)
101. Fresno State (4-9)
102. Duke (3-9)
103. Army (3-9)
104. Troy (3-9)
105. Oregon State (3-9)
106. Buffalo (3-9)
107. Central Michigan (3-9)
108. Tulane (2-11)
109. Maryland (2-10)
110. Memphis (2-10)
111. Middle Tennessee State (2-10)
112. Colorado State (2-10)
113. Mississippi (2-10)
114. Idaho (2-10)
115. Kansas (2-10)
116. UNLV (2-10)
117. Florida Atlantic (1-11)
118. New Mexico (1-11)
119. Akron (1-11)
120. Indiana (1-11)

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