Unparalleled Parity

There is as much parity in college football this year as there has been in a very long time. Eleven of the top 25 teams weren't ranked when the season started, including five of the top 15.

That's one-third of the highest-ranked teams that weren't ranked at all just two months ago. Below is a look at the current top 25, including where each team was ranked in the preseason, along with a short analysis for all of them, as well.

1. Oregon

Preseason ranking: 11

The Ducks were viewed as a great team with a high ceiling, but coming off a Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State, they weren't thought of as elite. Fast forward to the home-stretch of the season, and they're the favorites to win the national championship.

This is due in no small part to Chip Kelly's quick-strike offense, which seems unstoppable so far. With their Heisman candidate LaMichael James shredding defenses, this team is probably the best bet of any of the automatic qualifiers to finish the season undefeated.

2. Auburn

Preseason ranking: 22

The Tigers have thrived in a very tough SEC, largely due to the efforts of their previously much maligned Head Coach Gene Chizik. His game-plans have simply worked to this point, and with Heisman Trophy favorite Cameron Newton at QB, don't expect that to change anytime soon.

But as good as Chizik and Newton have been for this team, I don't like their chances to finish the season undefeated. Not because I think they'll regress, but because their final game is on the road against the Crimson Tide.

3. TCU

Preseason ranking: 6

The Horned Frogs have had a boring season, but for a team that doesn't automatically qualify for a bowl game, that's a fairly desirable type of season. All they have to do is hang around long enough to edge out some of the bigger BCS schools.

With an average margin of victory of 35 points, I would like their chances of remaining undefeated if they didn't have to play their next game on the road against fifth-ranked Utah.

4. Boise State

Preseason ranking: 3

I would love to be able to point out some reason the Broncos have lost ground in the rankings, so that this didn't turn into a "Bashing the BCS"-type analysis, because that wasn't my intent with this article. But at a certain point, some of a flawed system's many short-comings must be pointed out.

Boise State not only has remained undefeated, but since the initial ranking, they've beaten two top-25 teams. Maybe winning at 23rd-ranked Nevada will propel them into the top two, and a BCS championship chance, but right now, the Broncos and their fans probably feel cheated, and I can't say I blame them.

5. Utah

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The last of three non-automatic qualifying teams in the top five, the Utes may just be the most impressive. They've gone from fringe of the top 25 to legitimate, albeit small, chance at a national title, and they've done it in less than two months.

If they can win their next game at home against TCU, they might just be the third-ranked team in the nation this time next week. With No. 2 Auburn playing at Alabama in the final week, that just might be enough to get them into the national championship game.

6. Alabama

Preseason ranking: 1

The Crimson Tide started as a nearly unanimous number one, and have only faltered with a loss on the road against South Carolina. With an unstoppable running game and a good defensive effort, they find themselves still hanging around in the national title discussion.

If they beat Auburn at home on November 26, they may just be a top-two team when final BCS poll is released. Whether or not they deserve to jump past Boise State, Utah, or TCU with such a win, I think the voters will put them there anyway.

If they end up playing Oregon for the championship game, it would be one of the most interesting matchups in recent memory. With the likely TV rating that game would bring, the BCS will make sure it happens if both teams win the rest of their games.

7. Nebraska

Preseason ranking: 8

The Cornhuskers started the season ranked high mostly due the carryover of their success from last year, which was predicated upon a stout defense. So, after winning seven of eight games so far, they're ranked about where they should be and haven't really surprised anyone to this point.

But I don't think they're as good as they were last year, mostly due to a regressing defense. The loss of Ndamukong Suh has probably been the driving force behind a negative trend that has the team giving up 25 points per game on the road this year. With both of their remaining road games against conference opponents with a better than .500 record, they might just lose again, and drop out of the top 10 in the process.

8. Oklahoma

Preseason ranking: 7

Despite dropping one spot in the rankings, the Sooners have actually played better than some people thought they would. One rain-soaked road game against a top-15 conference opponent is all that stands between them and the top spot right now.

They're doing just fine this year, and Landry Jones is every bit as good as advertised. They probably don't have very legitimate title hopes at this point though, especially given that they have road games against Baylor and Oklahoma State, both of whom have explosive offenses.

9. Wisconsin

Preseason ranking: 12

They've beaten two very good teams (Ohio State and Iowa), and their only loss was on the road against an equally good team (Michigan State). If they had any remaining games against great teams, I might think they could jump up in the rankings, but at best, they'll end up ranked sixth at the end of the year.

10. LSU

Preseason ranking: 21

Having the Tigers here is a bit of a head-scratcher to me, especially given that they've hardly exceeded expectations, but are 11 spots higher than in the preseason. Les Miles escaped the wrath of LSU fans everywhere in the game against Tennessee by dumb luck. They should have lost that game and it would have been his fault.

Still, I realize rankings aren't based on ifs, so I'll admit that they deserve to be in the top 25. I just don't think they're one of the 11 best teams in the nation, and I'd be surprised if they don't lose at least two more games by the end of the year.

11. Ohio State

Preseason ranking: 2

The Buckeyes have been disappointing, and don't have a chance to get back in the championship discussion. On the bright side, Terrelle Pryor has matured as a QB, so if he sticks around for one more year, they might be ranked just as high in next year's preseason poll.

12. Missouri

Preseason ranking: Unranked

Without a terrible defensive performance in the first quarter against Nebraska, the Tigers might be ranked in the top five right now. Blaine Gabbert is a tremendous talent, and he finds a way to make the necessary plays. Hopefully for Tigers fans, he sticks around for another year in Columbia.

13. Stanford

Preseason ranking: Unranked

They dominated the Ducks early in their game on October 2, then they fell apart. They've been very impressive since, and they'll be ranked around No. 10 at the end of the year. Andrew Luck is the best pro prospect in the nation, and he'll be successfully moving the ball against NFL defenses this time next year.

14. Michigan State

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The Spartans didn't even get a vote in the preseason poll, yet they found themselves at No. 5 going into their game last week. They're much better than people thought they were, but they're probably only the third best team in their conference.

15. Arizona

Preseason ranking: Unranked

Rounding out the list of five teams currently in the top 15 that were unranked at the beginning of the season, the Wildcats are one of the most enigmatic teams in the nation. The next three weeks will show where exactly they are talent-wise, and if they win all three games, they may just be a top-10 team.

16. Iowa

Preseason ranking: 9

The Hawkeyes have played the exemplification of an up-and-down season. With great expectations to start, they lost to Arizona, then bounced back with three good wins in a row, and went on to lose a home game by 1 point. Now they're fresh off a 31-point victory over a top-five opponent. All in all, the Hawkeyes have been disappointing, but they're still a good team.

17. Oklahoma State

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The Cowboys have a great offense, and they can score on any defense in the nation. Their defense is suspect, though, and can't really be trusted to stop many teams. It's a simple analysis for a simple team. They're going to lose at least two more games by the end of the year.

18. Arkansas

Preseason ranking: 17

I've said it before, and I'll say it again — Ryan Mallett is not a clutch QB. In the biggest games the Razorbacks have played in this year, Mallett has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. He's got great talent, but the Razorbacks' defense isn't good enough to make up for his big mistakes.

19. South Carolina

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The Steve Spurrier-led Gamecocks have exceeded expectations so far, beating then-top-ranked Alabama, and taking current No. 2 Auburn to the brink on the road. The only thing keeping them from a top 10 spot is an inexplicable loss to Kentucky.

20. Mississippi State

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The Bulldogs have come as close as anyone else to beating Auburn this year, losing 17-14 in their second game. This team is better than their record says they are, and the Crimson Tide could very well lose if they take them too lightly on November 13. Any team that holds Auburn to two touchdowns can play with anybody in the nation.

21. Baylor

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The Bears have been a pleasant surprise to this point, and they've only been held to less than 30 points in a game once this year, and that was on the road against No. 3 TCU. If they win the rest of their games, they might be in the top 15 at the end of the year.

22. Virginia Tech

Preseason ranking: 10

They're far from the most disappointing team in the nation this year, but a home loss to James Madison is just embarrassing for a supposedly elite team. They're not as good as people thought they were in the preseason, but they're not as bad as people thought they were after week two, either.

23. Nevada

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The Wolf Pack should have beaten Hawaii, and if they had, they'd probably be at least five spots higher right now. After starting as strong as they did, their fans will probably be disappointed with the result of this season if they don't beat Boise State at home on November 26. They might just compete in that game, but I don't see them winning it.

24. Florida State

Preseason ranking: 20

The Seminoles and their fans were probably still upset with their 30-point loss to Oklahoma when they beat rival Miami by 28 points. After Thursday's loss to North Carolina State, they're probably looking ahead to their last game of the year against Florida. If the can win that game and the three preceding it, they might be ranked higher than they were in the preseason when the final poll is released.

25. North Carolina State

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The Wolfpack can play well on both sides of the ball, but they have little opportunity to jump in the polls for the rest of the year. Still, they're a lot better than anyone gave them credit for a couple months ago.

***

Teams that were ranked in the preseason, but aren't anymore:

Florida (4)
Texas (5)
Miami (13)
USC (14)
Pittsburgh (15)
Georgia Tech (16)
North Carolina (18)
Penn State (19)
Georgia (23)
Oregon State (24)
West Virginia (25)

Looking at this, I couldn't help but focus on the fact that not only are five of the preseason top 25 no longer ranked, but they've been replaced by teams that weren't ranked at all at the time.

Given this, I can't believe we still rely on a system that factors in preseason polls when deciding the national championship matchup. But that's an entirely different discussion.