Another Week, Another Upset, Another Reason Why Preseason Rankings Mean Squat

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Last night the South Carolina Gamecocks "upset" the Ole Miss Rebels. It was a great win for the Gamecocks and a horrific outing for Ole Miss and Jevan Snead.

However, anyone who follows the Southeastern Conference (SEC) should not have been surprised by the Gamecock win. Personally, it would have been more of a surprise had Ole Miss gone in there and actually handled South Carolina the way some thought they would.

The problem with the rankings system in college football is that is gives too much credence to teams based on what they have done in the past. Football is played on a yearly basis—whatever any team did the prior year shouldn't hold water.

For example, the 2008 Georgia Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the nation last season based on a strong end to the 2007 season and the return of running back Knowshon Moreno and future first overall pick, quarterback Matthew Stafford.

However, based on the brutal schedule the Dawgs were facing the first half of the year, should they really have been ranked that highly?

The BCS has one thing right in that it doesn't release its official rankings until after week eight of the season. By that time, the contenders are likely known and the pretenders have been weeded out.

So, using last night's "upset" as a launching pad, let's take a closer look at a few of the upsets so far this season and see why they should not have been a surprise to anyone.

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