“This team could have been 8-4 or 7-5…We were very, very competitive. The cupboard isn’t bare. But at some point it is performance. You have to be able to win. You have to be able to sell the business side of it.”

New Mexico State Athletics Director McKinley Boston commenting on the firing of Hal Mumme as Head Football Coach

Just Desserts!  The Mumme Poll survives its namesake, at least for this year.  This last Mumme Poll should be interesting.  As for me, mine is the same as last week.

The first five:

Alabama
Florida
Oklahoma
Texas
Southern Cal

The next seven:

Boise State
Cincinnati
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
Penn State
Texas Tech
Utah

Last one in: Cincinnati
First one out: TCU

I’d say that there is a clear breakpoint between the top 5 and the rest, as I don’t think you can yet place Utah or Penn State in the top 5 at the expense of Alabama or Southern Cal.  Somehow the BCS bowl selections ended up great with respect to these 4 teams.  And Texas vs. Ohio State.

So, do any of the second seven stay in the top 12 if they lose their bowl game?  I’d say Penn State would survive, and then only if they play USC close.  The same goes for Ohio State.  And Utah.  Can any of the second 7 other than Utah, Penn State and Ohio State get into the top 5 with a bowl victory?  I’d say absolutely not.  Even a blowout loss in the MNC will not drop UF or OU out of the 5, and any of Texas, USC or Bama will be replaced by the victor in their bowl game.