Thanks for the contributions you make here. I think it is remarkable how much the rankings changed for the teams from 2-13 over the course of the year. For example, Maryland started out as Maryland and then shot up like a lightening bolt, and is back to being Maryland, now. This is not intended to be a criticism of Maryland, and I have done no comparison to prior years, but it appears there has been a lot of movement in the middle which makes for an interesting season. Of course, it would be more interesting if there were movement at the top. It is the Big Ten, and we've had that in the past and then we don't have a representative in the playoff.
I like doing the analysis so it is fun, I'm glad you appreciate it.
On the subject of movement, here is a chart that I keep but do not normally share. It shows each team's highest and lowest ranking and the variance between those. I have sorted it by variance so the team with the biggest variance (Maryland as you pointed out above) is first while the team with the least (Rutgers) is last:
Maryland's best average ranking of 4.47 came in week 2. At that point they were tied with Penn State and only behind Ohio State and Wisconsin. Their worst average ranking of 12.57 was last week.
Minnesota's best ranking was right before the Iowa loss while their worst was after their opener.
Northwestern started out at 7.24 in the preseason and now they are down to where they have spent the last four weeks at 12.29-12.53.
Illinois' average ranking was 13 in the preseason and their best was last week.
Indiana's worst rank was right after their opener, their best rank was last week.
Nebraska's best ranking was their preseason ranking. Their worst was a few weeks ago.
Michigan State's best ranking was their preseason ranking. Their worst is the current one.
Michigan's best ranking was their preseason ranking. Their worst was after week 4.
Wisconsin's worst ranking was their preseason ranking. Their best was after week 4.
Purdue's best ranking was their preseason ranking. Their worst was after week 6.
Penn State's worst ranking was their preseason ranking, their best was a few weeks ago before they lost to Minnesota.
Iowa's best was after week 4, their worst was last week.
Ohio State hasn't changed much. Their worst ranking was their preseason ranking while their best is the seven weeks that they have gotten at least all but one of the #1 votes.
Rutgers has changed even less than Ohio State. Their best ranking was right after the opener and their worst is every other week.
