College Football Rankings: 5 Teams We Wouldn't Vote in the Polls Right Now

Now six weeks into the 2011 college football season, the sculpting continues as we are getting a clearer view of who is deserving of a spot in the polls, and who definitely does not.

With the BCS rankings looming just around the corner, teams will be pressing to gain every inch possible in the polls that mean the most.

If you are on the fringe, it means you have done enough to get some spotlight, but hardly enough to merit a place on stage.

Here are five programs that do not warrant a spot in the polls.

Florida State

Perhaps the most obvious case of a high-profile team undeserving of a place in the polls is 2-3 Florida State.

For an optimist, one could say that the Seminoles are 10 points away from 4-1 with their only loss coming against a top-three opponent in Oklahoma.

The bad news is that Jimbo Fisher's team is coming off a three-game losing streak to the Sooners, Clemson and Wake Forest.

The good news is that Florida State gets Duke on the road, Maryland and NC State at home, and Boston College on the road in its next four matchups; all of which are very winnable football games.

To be fair, the 'Noles have battled injuries at key positions, including quarterback, where E.J. Manuel has missed significant time.

But injuries are a part of the game, and for Florida State, they definitely got the harsh end of the deal.

Penn State

The Nittany Lions, while respectfully 5-1, have done little to impress in the polls.

Sure, their single loss came against a very good Alabama team, but Penn State has a couple of marginal wins against a couple of marginal opponents.

Against Temple and Indiana on the road, Joe Paterno's team won by just a combined 10 points.

Temple, a respectable opponent in its own right in the MAC, should have been no match for the much more stabilized Nittany Lions program. Indiana, meanwhile, is no doubt the worst team in the Big Ten.

Penn State can only boast a mediocre offense with an equally mediocre scoring prowess. And while its defense is ranked fifth in the FBS, the Nittany Lions simply do not jump out in the media's eye.

Michigan State

Staying in the Big Ten, Michigan State has also compiled a flat resumé.

Despite its 5-1 mark, the Spartans have wins over Youngstown State, Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan and Ohio State. Their loss came against Notre Dame in South Bend.

Much like Penn State, Michigan State has not compiled the quality production that warrants a place in the Top 25. It is on the fringe, no doubt, and is capable of jumping into the picture with three quality contests upcoming.

But until the Spartans prove otherwise, on the fence they will remain.

TCU

During Gary Patterson's tenure at TCU, the Horned Frogs have consistently been a relevant program in the college football landscape.

The Frogs kicked off the 2011 season with an exhilarating contest against Baylor, but came up just short in a 50-48 loss.

Overall, TCU has compiled a 4-2 mark, picking up pretty convincing wins against Air Force, Louisiana-Monroe, Portland State and San Diego State. Its second loss came in overtime against SMU.

The unfortunate reality for the Frogs is that they do not have the schedule that is conducive to meriting a ton of Top-25 respect. A win over SMU would have completely changed the situation, given how impressive Baylor has been.

Come back in mid-November after TCU plays Boise State on the road.

Washington

The Washington Huskies might be the biggest dog on the fence.

Steve Sarkisian's program might be 4-1 so far with its only loss coming in a 51-38 loss in Lincoln to Nebraska, but the feeling is that "U-Dub" has not done quite enough to warrant that coveted place in the Top 25.

The Huskies smell of average, and this is before they go through the meat of the Pac-12. With contests against Stanford, Oregon and USC still on the schedule, there are definitely chances for Washington to prove it is legitimate.