Pinkel Ranks Oklahoma State No. 4
While the nationwide debate swirls over whether Alabama or Oklahoma State is the second-best team in the nation, Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel doesn’t even think Oklahoma State is the third-best team in the nation.
He voted to rank Oklahoma State fourth – behind LSU, Alabama and Stanford – in the final USA Today coaches’ poll. Here is his ballot, with each team’s overall ranking in the coaches’ poll in parentheses:
- LSU (1)
- Alabama (2)
- Stanford (4)
- Oklahoma State (3)
- Oregon (5)
- Wisconsin (8)
- Arkansas (7)
- Boise State (6)
- South Carolina (9)
- Virginia Tech (11)
- Kansas State (10)
- Michigan State (13)
- Michigan (12)
- Houston (17)
- TCU (15)
- Baylor (16)
- Georgia (18)
- Clemson (14)
- West Virginia (22)
- Nebraska (20)
- Oklahoma (19)
- Penn State (23)
- Southern Miss. (21)
- Florida State (25)
- Missouri (UR)
Some notes from Pinkel’s votes:
- Keep in mind this entire ballot could have been done by an assistant coach, so the inferences I’m going to make aren’t necessarily an insight into Pinkel’s mind. For clarity’s sake, I’ll continue saying Pinkel, with “(or an unnamed assistant)” implied.
- By the eye test I’d say Oklahoma State is better than Stanford. However, people like to break the tie between one-loss teams based off of the team to which each team lost. Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State. Stanford lost to Oregon. So although I’d disagree with it, I can’t say ranking Oklahoma State No. 4 is unfair.
- I’ve heard speculation from fans that Pinkel voted Oklahoma State No. 4 to keep them out of the championship game after the Big 12 helped Iowa State and Texas get “better” bowls than Missouri. I don’t buy it – I think Missouri wanted to play in Louisiana to draw potential SEC recruits’ attention.
- Pinkel ranked Oklahoma two spots lower than the national consensus. The Tigers were a much worse team than they are now when they played against Oklahoma, and they kept it close against the Sooners. I’m sure Pinkel remembered that when ranking the Sooners lower than other voters did.
- Pinkel voted Wisconsin No. 6 and Boise State No. 8, while the national vote had Wisconsin eighth and Boise State sixth. Looks like Pinkel is a fan of Montee Ball.