Poll Problems: Arkansas Outranks Oklahoma 5:2:1 In Polls Yet OU Jumps UA In BCS

I should start by saying this article is not unbiased.

Growing up in Fort Smith, Arkansas brings with it a deep-seated dislike (more like seething hatred) of the Oklahoma Sooners. Fort Smith lies on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border but more importantly one hour away from the campus of the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville). We are born and bred Razorbacks.

Folks in eastern Oklahoma, however, have always felt the need to shout from the rooftops that the Sooners are hands down the greatest program in the history of sports. We in Arkansas need not even bother showing up.

Well, they do have a right to root for their own team and University of Oklahoma is one of a handful of schools that can boast multiple and consecutive national championships. However, the arrogance to which their coach stoops (pun intended), accompanied by a complete disregard for other programs and fans engenders a lot of resentment from those of us to the east.

What’s more, Arkansas and Oklahoma rarely play each other and have not been in the same conference since the early days of the SWC (Southwest Conference). Historically, the Razorbacks have not been on an even keel with the Sooners in football. On the other hand, the 1978 Orange Bowl sticks out in that Arkansas crushed Oklahoma 31-6. The University of Arkansas has more than held it’s own in other sports and our track and field program has completely dominated over-the-years. Arkansas was a state long before Oklahoma and in fact, what is now Oklahoma used to be part of the Arkansas Territory. Furthermore—guess I’d better get on to the point.

Last week, after the victory over then #5 LSU, Arkansas rose to #7 in the BCS rankings. Oklahoma was 9^th after having survived Bedlam with OSU. Well, lo and behold, this week the Sooners jumped the Hogs in the BCS standings to #7 while pushing the Hogs back to #8. While I hate it, I can see the validity in such in that the Sooners played an extra game (the Big 12 Championship) where they beat nationally ranked Nebraska and won the conference title. Oklahoma is 11-2 and Arkansas 10-2.

That is understandable. I am not comfortable, however, with the way the other polls and formulas fit in to the BCS rankings.

The Harris and USA Today Coaches polls carry the most weight. This week, the Harris Poll has Arkansas ranked 8^th and Oklahoma ranked 9^th (advantage Arkansas) at 1992 and 1926 points respectively. The USA Today Coaches Poll has Arkansas and Oklahoma tied at #8 with 1008 points each.

The computer ranking polls have significant variation.

Anderson & Hester has Oklahoma at #4 and Arkansas at #9 (Advantage Oklahoma). Richard Billingsley has Arkansas at #8 and Oklahoma at #11 (Advantage Arkansas). Oklahoma is #3 in the Colley Matrix Poll while Arkansas is #11 (Advantage Oklahoma). If keeping count, so far that’s two for Arkansas, two for Oklahoma and one tie.

The Kenneth Massey Poll has Arkansas at #3 while Oklahoma is #6 (Advantage Arkansas). Arkansas is also #3 in the Jeff Sagarin Poll while Oklahoma is #5 (Advantage Arkansas). Peter Wolfe’s Poll has Arkansas at #4 and Oklahoma at #6 (Advantage Arkansas).

So when it’s boiled down, Arkansas is ahead of Oklahoma in 5 polls, tied in one, and behind only in two polls. Yet the way the computer ranking are done calls for the omission of the best and worst rankings and in so doing, places the Sooners ahead of the Razorbacks in the BCS rankings. Unbelievable, but true. 

Never hurts to remind folks that the term “Sooner” by definition means one who jumped the gun or “cheated.” Looks as if the polls are enabling the continuation of such a fine tradition. The Sooners will play in the Fiesta Bowl vs the Big East tri-champion Connecticut Huskies who are at 8-4.

The Razorbacks, however, are very happy to have been invited to the Sugar Bowl this year where they will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Big 10 tri-champions are 11-1 and have a tradition and history that is as storied as any. In any event, Go Hogs (and Huskies)!