Let's recall why we conduct this futile exercise. The polls are ridiculous and reactionary. They tell us nothing really about the quality of teams. They tell about the sexiness of teams. At least the AP pollsters don't have an apparent special interest, although some others do routinely bring their own personal grudges and favoritism into the poll from time to time.

Anyway, I am sitting on the couch with my son and the Stanford – Cal game was on. He is an astute young man, nearly 18 years old, which is another matter, and he made the observation that there is no way Stanford should be ranked 13. He claimed that Stanford was way better than some of the teams ranked higher, Ohio State especially. I countered with, “We don't really know how good Ohio State really is, but you are right about Stanford being better than teams ahead of them.”

And that, good folks, is why we conduct this futile exercise. It has been missing this season because the teams in B1G have sucked.

This week OHIO STATE, ranked 5th overall, took its undefeated record to Madison and defeated the Badgers in OT. I'll have more on this game in a separate post, but for now, given the losses at the top, this win in ordinary years would put the Buckeyes second behind Notre Dame. This isn't an ordinary year and I would not be surprised if Bama doesn't claim the second spot.

NEBRASKA played a pretty lousy Minnesota team at home, but there is no way that the Huskers should move up. They probably will.

Iowa flat out could be the worst team in B1G this year. MICHIGAN easily dispatched them at home during senior day. I think the Wolverines are a top 25, maybe, but they shouldn't move up much because they spanked a terrible team.

It's now Michigan week. Look for another college football post on coming soon.