Written by Tom Fornelli at CBS Sports.com
Only three weeks into the season and we’re getting into the nitty-gritty here. Only 11 winless teams remain out of the 130 FBS teams, and one of them is Florida State, so we’re going to be down to 10 pretty soon.
Because it’s still winless and hasn’t played since opening weekend, Florida State remains ranked in the Bottom 25, but the ACC need not worry. Even if the Seminoles win this week, the ACC could still have representation in the Bottom 25.
After all, the Seminoles are one of three ACC teams to be ranked this week. Who are the other two? We’ll get to the rankings soon enough, but first a quick reminder on how it all works.
1. My opinion has absolutely nothing to do with the rankings: They are based on a mathematical formula of my creation. Keep this in mind before you call me an idiot, which I know you will.
2. There is real equality to start. Math doesn’t play favorites: Before the season begins, defending national champion Clemson is just as good as our defending Bottom 25 champion Texas State. The only factor that matters in the rankings is how you’ve performed on the field in 2017.
3. Wins and losses mean more than anything: I have a lot of different statistics involved, and I factor in strength of schedule (remember, everybody begins the season with the same SOS), but at the end of the day whether you won or lost is going to mean more than anything else. Also, my formula doesn’t have much respect for FCS teams.
4. I won’t share the formula: I just don’t want to. I’m not a mathematician. I know my formula isn’t perfect. I don’t think a perfect formula can exist, so I don’t share it because I don’t care what anybody thinks about it. So don’t ask.
| 25 |
 BOSTON COLLEGE
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| Boston College 1-2: On a day when both TCU and Florida completed Hail Marys, Boston College, which practically invented the play, decided to run out the clock at the end of a first-half loss against Notre Dame instead of chucking one up. This is their reward. (Last Week: Not Ranked) | |
| 24 |
 SOUTH ALABAMA
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| South Alabama 1-2: Sorry, Jags, but a win over Alabama A&M isn’t enough to escape The Bottom 25. (2) | |
| 23 |
 IDAHO
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| Idaho 1-2: Idaho nearly pulled off an upset of Western Michigan but couldn’t hold on. (NR) | |
| 22 |
 FIU
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| FIU 1-1: The Panthers game against Indiana this week was canceled in the wake of Hurricane Irma. (22) | |
| 21 |
 MISSOURI
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| Missouri 1-2: Think of all the SEC coaches that entered 2017 on the hot seat. It’ll probably be Barry Odom losing his job first at this rate. (NR) | |
| 20 |
 UTAH ST.
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| Utah State 1-2: The Aggies got crushed by Wake Forest, but hey, who doesn’t? (NR) | |
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