Three Harris Voters Put Oklahoma State No. 6

Oklahoma State's 44-10 faceplanting of rival Oklahoma impressed a lot of people, but three voters in the Harris Interactive Poll didn't think much of it.

Former Notre Dame player Derrick Mayes (top left), former Hawaii coach Bob Wagner (center) and former Iowa sports information director George Wine (right) ranked the Cowboys No. 6 on their ballots. All ballots of the 115 voters in the poll were made public Monday, one day after it was determined that Louisiana State and Alabama would play in the Bowl Championship Series title game on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.

Mayes and Wagner had the same top six — LSU, Alabama, Stanford, Boise State, Oregon and Oklahoma State. Wine's ballot was even more of a head-scratcher. He had the same top four — LSU, Alabama, Stanford and Boise State — but put Houston at No. 5, one spot ahead of the Cowboys.

"I think the BCS is just a mess," Wine said. "I think college football is crying for a playoff system. This voting is highly subjective. I realize that voting is subjective and often arbitrary. I probably don't do as much research ... but who the hell knows whether Oregon is better than Wisconsin?"

Wine defended his voting Houston, which lost at home by 28 points to Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA title game, one spot ahead of Oklahoma State, whose only loss came by six points in overtime in a road game at Iowa State.

"Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State, which I think is a very bad loss," he said. "I think Southern Miss is a very good football team."

Houston, which finished 17th in the Harris voting, was not ranked higher than eighth on any other ballot.

There are 115 voters in the Harris poll, which is "comprised of former players, coaches, administrators and current and former members of the media who have committed to submit rankings for the top 25 college football teams each week." The poll accounts for one-third of the formula used to select the participants in the BCS title game.

There were several other questionable votes. Former Southern Methodist quarterback Lance McIlhenny voted Virginia Tech No. 8 and Clemson No. 20. Former Troy Trojan Eric Mizell had Virginia Tech at No. 7 and Clemson at No. 19. Clemson, of course, beat Virginia Tech twice this season, and neither score was close. The Hokies were No. 11 in the Harris poll and the Tigers were No. 14.

And there was the usual case of regional bias. Former Southeastern Conference commissioner Roy Kramer had five SEC teams ranked in his top 13.

View the Harris top 25 by clicking here.

Comments

[T-Bone]

This story is so interesting, lets come up with a lame media name for it! BCSGate, College Football VotingGate, Who gives a crapgate.