College Football Rankings: Who Is Overrated in Week 15 Coaches' and AP Polls?

The final set of regular season Coaches' and AP Polls have been released, officially wrapping up 14 weeks of jockeying for position in advance of the all-important bowl selection process.

Now the teams are positioned for the final time in the voters' minds, and this is our last chance to look over the rankings and see if there are any teams that were shafted in the national standings.

So of the Top 25 teams, who deserved a better fate after this week's action? Were any teams unfairly pushed down in the standings because of inactivity? How will the rankings affect bowl bids for teams still looking for invitations to come their way?

All these questions, and more, will be covered as we take a closer look at the Week 15 polls. I'll make the case for 10 teams that I think deserved a better ranking in one or both of the polls, but as always, be sure to weigh in in the comments if you either disagree with my take or have any gripes of your own.

Oregon Ducks: No. 2 AP, No. 1 Coaches' Poll

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 04: Kenjon Barner #24 of the Oregon Ducks runs for a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the 114th Civil War on December 4, 2010 at the Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

It's irrelevant to the most-important BCS standings, but I would argue that the AP dropping Oregon to No. 2 in their ranking is a definite injustice.

Yes, they remain No. 1 in the more-important USA Today Coaches' Poll, which is actually weighted by the BCS ranking system. But to me, Oregon did nothing to warrant a change in their position atop both national polls. Auburn can point to the strength of the SEC and the fact that they had to play a conference title game against a tough South Carolina team, but I still don't see the justice in them jumping Oregon in the final week of action before the BCS National Championship Game.

Ultimately the order of these two teams will be decided in Glendale, Arizona, in January. But for now, I think it's a point worth contesting among Oregon fans that their team should be on top of both the AP and Coaches' Polls.

Oklahoma Sooners: No. 9 AP, No. 8 (Tied) Coaches' Poll

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after the Sooners beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23-20 at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Oklahoma had a huge comeback victory over Nebraska in the Big 12 Title Game, after being down 17-0 early on.

They played their way to the automatic BCS bowl berth given to the Big 12 champion, thanks to a strong late-season run in the Big 12. They parlayed their big win over Oklahoma State in the Bedlam rivalry game to this week's huge win over Nebraska.

Yet I see them as deserving of clear standing in the No. 8 spot in both rankings, not the outright No. 9 spot they're in in the AP, nor the tie with Arkansas in the Coaches' Poll.

Arkansas has had a strong late-season run of their own, specifically knocking off LSU a few weeks ago, but I think Oklahoma deserves a spot one notch above the Razorbacks.

Virginia Tech Hokies: No. 12 AP, No. 11 Coaches' Poll

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 04: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs with the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty

I see the Virginia Tech Hokies as the No. 10 team in the nation, not a few notches below Boise State in both polls.

I can see and somewhat understand ranking LSU above Virginia Tech, but at this point, despite their rough opening 0-2 stretch, Virginia Tech has accomplished a ton in the ACC. They've posted an 11-game winning streak and looked very strong in doing so.

They're clearly the class of the ACC, as evidenced by their championship-game win this weekend.

I think Virginia Tech, despite losing head-to-head to Boise in Week 1, should be ahead of the Broncos at this point in the season.

Missouri Tigers: No. 14 AP and Coaches' Polls

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Kendial Lawrence #4 of the Missouri Tigers is congratulated after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/G

Missouri is one of the Big 12 teams that seems to get lost in the shuffle thanks to finishing below the top two spots in the conference, and they're planted at No. 14 in both polls.

The AP has Nevada above Mizzou, which I find extremely surprising, considering the teams that Missouri has faced in comparison to the Wolfpack. Equally surprising, to me, is Oklahoma State being above Missouri in the Coaches' Poll, a full three spots higher than where the AP has them pegged.

Overall, I think Missouri stands out as a team that should be ranked higher than both Nevada and Oklahoma State, which is not the case in separate instances in the two polls.

Nevada Wolfpack: No. 13 AP, No. 15 Coaches' Poll

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COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack rolls out during the first half of the game against the Missouri Tigers on September 13, 2008 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty I

Nevada belongs at the No. 14 spot in both polls, and according to the Coaches' Poll, their ranking is off by a spot.

My particular beef regarding Nevada is how they aren't above at least one of the two-loss teams (specifically Oklahoma State, not so much LSU) near them that happen to come from powerful conferences. If Boise State remains ranked at No. 10 in both polls, then surely Nevada's stock could be a bit higher, considering the head-to-head outcome. After all, head-to-head seems to be what's keeping Virginia Tech behind Boise in the polls.

Nevada at 14 makes the most sense, but it's still a testament to the Wolfpack that they're this high in the two national polls come Week 15.

Texas A&M Aggies: No. 18 AP, No. 17 Coaches' Poll

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill #17 of Texas A&M passes against the University of Texas during the second half at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

Texas A&M is one spot behind Nebraska in both national polls after the Cornhuskers tumbled thanks to their crippling loss in the Big 12 title game.

Both the Aggies and Big Red have three losses, but the head-to-head meeting was won by Texas A&M. As a result, I find it a slight to A&M that they aren't the team one spot ahead in the rankings, specifically ranked over Nebraska. Nebraska had a good year in the Big 12, but A&M was equally impressive.

And when so much weight is placed on head-to-head performance, I am surprised that the rankings shook out as they did in this instance.

Utah Utes: No. 20 AP, No. 19 Coaches' Poll

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Jordan Wynn #3 of the Utah Utes throws a pass against the San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium on November 20, 2010 in San Diego, California. Utah won 38-34. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Utah took a major hit with their brutal losses to TCU and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks, but they handled the rest of their schedule admirably, and I am surprised they aren't placed above at least one of the nine-win SEC teams in the AP poll.

They come in at No. 19, a spot above South Carolina in the Coaches' Poll, and I think they should certainly also be above the Gamecocks in the AP poll.

Voters weigh the nine wins of Alabama and South Carolina a lot differently than Utah's 10 wins, which I can understand, but at this point of the year, when South Carolina has just lost in a blowout, I think Utah should be above them in both instances.

West Virginia Mountaineers: No. 22 AP, No. 21 Coaches' Poll

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Noel Devine #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo b

West Virginia blew it in the Big East, but they finished the season strong, and I think they should be a few spots higher in the polls, at least coming in at No. 20.

I would certainly rate them higher than Mississippi State at this point, given that MSU has mostly racked up wins against the bottom of the SEC and still absorbed four losses. West Virginia, at 9-3, deserves to be above the Bulldogs, and it also might be worth arguing if West Virginia has done a better job in recent weeks than Utah, who barely survived BYU and San Diego State late in the season.

Either way, it seems like No. 20 in the polls is where the Mountaineers belong.

Hawaii Warriors: No. 24 AP, No. 25 Coaches' Poll

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HONOLULU - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Bryant Moniz #17 of the University of Hawaii Warriors is chased by Chris Galippo #54 of the University of Southern California Trojans as he carries the ball during first half action against the University of Southern C

Hawaii, at 10-3 and finishing the year in a three-way tie for the WAC championship, deserves to be a few spots higher in the rankings.

It's a big step for Hawaii to break into the rankings, period, but I think they should be up a little higher, especially over UCF and Florida State. Florida State lost pretty handily in the ACC Championship Game, and I understand keeping them ranked, but Hawaii should be a spot above them. UCF convincingly won their conference, but I think Hawaii played tougher teams in Nevada and Boise State, and the Warriors actually beat Nevada.

I see Hawaii as a team deserving of a bit higher ranking.

Connecticut Huskies: No. 25 AP, Unranked Coaches' Poll

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EAST HARTFORD, CT - NOVEMBER 27: Jordan Todman #23 of the Connecticut Huskies carries the ball as Camerron Cheatham #21 of the Cincinnati Bearcats defends on November 27, 2010 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Huskies defeated the Be

I think the much-maligned Big East deserves a little love despite their absolute mediocrity, and I think the Connecticut Huskies, as the conference's champion, should be in the Top 25 in both polls.

Yes, they barely squeaked in to a BCS bowl by winning a heart-stopping final regular season game on the road against South Florida. But I think it should be enough to get them into the national polls, especially considering they've clinched an all-important BCS bowl thanks to circumstances totally beyond their control, such as the Big East's deal with the BCS.

Give the Huskies some love, voters.