My emotions have definitely calmed over the the years as they relate to college football (and probably most other things, too), but I'm not yet at the nirvana-like state that CD has reached. I like seeing the little guys win. And I take perverse pleasure in watching the biggest kids lose. Except ND. I wouldn't mind ND getting another one (happy wife, happy life and all that). But one would be enough for a while. I know Ohio State is really, really good, and has a really well-oiled program. And it remains my favorite Big Ten team to cheer against...except for USC. Now that USC is a conference mate, I guess it takes the top position, which is nice since USC doesn't appear to be that good right now.
From the position of a "prince" or whatever the second/third tier helmet teams are considered (can we please get back to that soon), there's a decent amount of jealously baked into my views. I love me a good Michigan loss; I'm sick of the SEC in general, and Alabama in particular, although for a variety of random happenstance, I don't mind Georgia or Auburn. I shouldn't mind LSU, but...I don't know. Brian Kelly being there isn't helping.
The rest of my views stem very much from the late 80s and the 90s.
If Florida State and Miami never won another game it wouldn't bother me. I was kind of happy for Clemson at the beginning of their recent run, but feel no sadness for them that they seem to have slipped a little. I won't believe VaTech or K-State are very good until after they have actually won a championship. Even if everything else points to them being very good. I've never cared that much about Texas and Oklahoma, except that I wished they couldn't recruit quite as easily as they do. And Bob Stoops was a hell of a CFB coach, even if I didn't like seeing the Sooners near the top of the polls all the time.
I don't know how to feel about Oregon. On the one hand, it has never won a national championship, so does it really count? On the other hand, Phil Knight money and all those obnoxious unis.
For some reason, I have never felt as much hostility towards Penn State as Ohio State or Michigan. Neither of the latter two had a major scandal implicating their legendary head coach. But that's how I feel.
But this is a stupid rankings thread, so why let the pros have all the fun? Top teams that I love to see not quite live up to the hype (post-realignment update):
1) USC
2) Alabama
3) Miami
4) Florida State
5) Ohio State
6) Michigan
7) Oregon
8-10) Whatever SEC team is getting the love
