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Experts Demand Mid-Season Polls After Preseason Failures

10/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Joel Klatt calls for banning preseason college football polls, arguing they mislead the CFP committee.
Three preseason top-four teams—Texas, Penn State, Clemson—are now unranked with a combined 8-7 record.
The transfer portal makes predictions harder and preseason rankings obsolete, per Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark.
Experts urge mid-season rankings for accuracy and system respect, citing 2025 shortcomings.

History

Historical Context

In 1978, the NCAA revamped its ranking system to improve the integrity of college football, responding to controversies like Alabama's 12-0 season despite losing the Sugar Bowl. This shift aimed to align rankings with postseason outcomes, a change that resonates today as teams like Texas and Clemson face challenges with preseason polls and the evolving transfer portal complicates playoff predictions.

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Story summary

Joel Klatt calls for banning preseason college football polls, arguing they mislead the CFP committee.
Three preseason top-four teams—Texas, Penn State, Clemson—are now unranked with a combined 8-7 record.
The transfer portal makes predictions harder and preseason rankings obsolete, per Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark.
Experts urge mid-season rankings for accuracy and system respect, citing 2025 shortcomings.

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