(Troy Babbit – USA TODAY Sports)
There was a message that was sent by the College Football Playoff selection committee when Colorado State was not ranked in this week’s rankings. The message was playing in the Mountain West Conference does not qualify them or any MWC team in the rankings.
That’s the harsh reality the Colorado State Rams are learning despite being ranked #23 in the AP Poll Top 25. It will not change anytime soon. Being ranked in the AP poll Top 25 means nothing anymore. It makes one wonder what’s the point of the AP poll if the college football rankings matter anymore.
Let’s also be clear. Being ranked 25th by the College Football Playoff selection committee should not be validation for CSU’s emergence.
Let’s face it. The only time these rankings matter is it Colorado State is in the top 10. Being ranked 25th means nothing in the grand scheme of things. No one cares the Minnesota Golden Gophers are ranked 25th by the College Football Playoff selection committee. Not when they are likely playing in a fringe bowl game like Colorado State will be.
Sure, it would have meant something for Colorado State if they were in the playoff rankings. It would have meant everyone is noticing the program has arrived. That does not have to be the case. Not being ranked should not diminish what the Rams have accomplished this year.
The Rams have arrived as it is by their winning season and their improvements year after year under third-year coach Jim McElwain. They have developed players well. They are tougher in the trenches now.
They are getting quality players through recruiting. They know how to win. This should be an indication they arrived, not being ranked 25th in the playoff rankings.
What we are learning about the Rams is they are sustaining this good play. That’s the key to a good program. They have done that, and there’s no reason to think they won’t continue as long as McElwain is coaching.
The Rams are building a foundation of a good program. They have showed they have come along, which should be expected now that McElwain has been at Colorado State for three years.
The next step is winning their division and winning the MW Title Game. That also means beating Boise State consistently. It’s about being a powerhouse in the division.
By then, these things will come for Colorado State when it comes to being ranked.
Besides, the Rams need to focus on the big picture. That is being in a position to play in the Cotton, Fiesta or Peach Bowl. They can get there by being in the MW Title Game. For that to happen, they have to win their final two remaining regular season games and Boise State to lose at least once in their final three games.
That scenario could be feasible for the Rams. If they can get to the MW Title Game and win a big bowl game, maybe then they will get ranked.
Playing in a big game is what the Rams should strive for, not being ranked. The rankings and respect by the committee will come in due time.
Eventually, Colorado State has to be in a power conference if they want to be taken seriously by the College Football Playoff selection committee. There has been talk about Colorado State having aspirations of joining the Big 12. For that to happen, they are going to have to win consistently in football along with getting a new football stadium.
Getting a new football stadium is going to be a tough task for Colorado State. They struggled in fundraising for this to happen, and that cost Jack Graham his job as Colorado State’s athletic director.
The Rams will have to make do at playing at Hughes Stadium for the unforeseeable future.
They also have to make do of playing through a conference that the College Football Playoff selection committee deemed irrelevant.
To Colorado State’s credit, they haven’t whined about their ranking status. They get it. They know it’s about the prize, which is being in the MW Title Game and winning it.
Colorado State has something to play for this month. Maybe in January, too.
Maybe then they can get ranked by the committee when the college football season is over.
Contact or Follow Leslie Monteiro: @LightRodWriter
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Leslie Monteiro
Leslie is a contributor for Lightning Rod Sports. He covered high school sports in Bergen County out in North Jersey, and has written op-ed columns on sports such as Bleacher Report and NY Sports Digest.
