Outsports Weekly Dirty Dozen

1. Florida 13-1 (Last week: 2)

This is what’s wrong with college football. Sure the Gators soundly defeated an Ohio State team that failed to show up. But there’s no way I’m convinced that Florida could beat Boise State. This season – more than any other – proved that college football needs a playoff. The national championship game was a resounding dud.

2. Boise State 13-0 (Last week: 4)

If not for the Broncos, the entire bowl season would have been a major disappointment. But it was Boise State that people will remember for years… not Florida. Jared Zabransky, Ian Johnson and company provided a game for the ages, and Chris Peterson made some of the boldest play calls in football history. Boise State not only defeated Big 12 champion Oklahoma, but it won the respect of the nation in the process.

3. USC 11-2 (Last week: 5)

As predicted, the Trojans dispatched of an overrated Michigan team in the Rose Bowl. If not for the UCLA loss, we’d likely be looking at another USC national championship because it’s apparent that the Trojans were probably better than Ohio State.

4. Ohio State 12-1 (Last week: 1)

Florida didn’t win the national title so much as Ohio State lost it. The Buckeyes were woeful following the opening kickoff return for a touchdown in the humiliating blowout loss. After both Ohio State and Michigan lost badly in bowl games, we now know what some of us suspected all along – the Big Ten was overrated. The league went an embarrassing 2-5 in bowl games.

5. LSU 11-2 (Last week: 6)

The Tigers handed Brady Quinn and Notre Dame a lopsided loss in the Sugar Bowl in a game that was interesting for a half. LSU was definitely one of the five best teams in the country at season’s end.

6. Louisville 12-1 (Last week: 7)

Wake Forest was no match for the Cardinals, who turned out to be the Big East’s best team this year.

7. Wisconsin 12-1 (Last week: 8)

The Badgers were playing better than any other Big Ten team at the end of the season. They were probably the nation’s most overlooked team all year long.

8. Michigan 11-2 (Last week: 3)

Losing their final two games of the season again has to be disappointing for a team that was so close to playing for the national title. The Wolverines sputtered big-time in the Rose Bowl.

9. Auburn 11-2 (Last week: NR)

The Tigers hold the distinction of being the only team to defeat Florida this season. If Auburn hadn’t laid a couple of major eggs at home this year, things could have ended differently.

10. California 10-3 (Last week: NR)

The Pac-10 co-champions turned in one of the best all-around performances during bowl season with a 45-10 thrashing of Texas A&M.

11. BYU 11-2 (Last week: NR)

The Cougars will enter the 2007 season on a 10-game winning streak. BYU’s 38-8 pounding of Oregon was a surprise because of the margin and the fact the Cougars hadn’t won a bowl since 1996.

12. Rutgers 11-2 (Last week: 12)

Even though hardly anyone saw the Texas Bowl, Rutgers did manage to win its first bowl game in school history. It was a nice season for Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights, and 11 wins is a huge accomplishment when you play for one of the worst programs in college football history. Rutgers has now been to three bowl games in the last 137 years!

Dropped out: Notre Dame (9), Oklahoma (10), Wake Forest (11).

Just missed: Hawaii, Oregon State, Boston College.