It is college football season, if you haven’t noticed.
Everyone is wearing their Alma Mater colors’ and talking up their team’s successes and being quiet after losses. There have been some real differences this season as opposed to many from the last 10+ years. Namely, the teams that were expected to be dominating on the field have come up short in the win column. The playing field seems to be more level and we all have heard the old adage “any given Sunday” (or Saturday for college football). What this means is that any team on any given day can show up to play and dominate or squeak out a victory over any other team.
So, what does this have to do with search engine results (SERPs)?
Here is a breakdown of the top 5 polls that are used in college football rankings:
| BCS | AP | USA Today | Harris Poll | Master Coaches Poll | Unique Teams |
| 1. Ohio State | 1. Ohio State | 1. Ohio State | 1. Ohio State | 1. Ohio State | 1 |
| 2. South Florida | 2. South Florida | 2. Boston College | 2. Boston College | 2. Oklahoma | 3 |
| 3. Boston College | 3. Boston College | 3. South Florida | 3. South Florida | 3. Boston College | 2 |
| 4. LSU | 4. Oklahoma | 4. Oklahoma | 4. Oklahoma | 4. LSU | 2 |
| 5. Oklahoma | 5. LSU | 5. LSU | 5. LSU | 5. South Florida | 3 |
| 6. South Carolina | 6. South Carolina | 6. Oregon | 6. South Carolina | 6. USC | 3 |
| 7. Kentucky | 7. Oregon | 7. West Virginia | 7. Oregon | 7. Oregon | 3 |
| 8. Arizona State | 8. Kentucky | 8. South Carolina | 8. West Virginia | 8. California | 5 |
| 9. West Virginia | 9. West Virginia | 9. California | 9. USC | 9. South Carolina | 4 |
| 10. Oregon | 10. California | 10. USC | 10. California | 10. Florida | 4 |
| 11. Virginia Tech | 11. Virginia Tech | 11. Virginia Tech | 11. Kentucky | 11. West Virginia | 3 |
| 12. California | 12. Arizona State | 12. Arizona State | 12. Arizona State | 12. Kentucky | 3 |
| 13. Kansas | 13. USC | 13. Kentucky | 13. Virginia Tech | 13. Virginia Tech | 4 |
| 14. USC | 14. Florida | 14. Florida | 14. Florida | 14. Arizona State | 3 |
| 15. Florida | 15. Kansas | 15. Kansas | 15. Kansas | 15. Kansas | 2 |
| 16. Missouri | 16. Missouri | 16. Hawaii | 16. Hawaii | 16. Missouri | 2 |
| 17. Auburn | 17. Hawaii | 17. Missouri | 17. Missouri | 17. Hawaii | 3 |
| 18. Hawaii | 18. Auburn | 18. Texas | 18. Texas | 18. Texas | 3 |
| 19. Virginia | 19. Texas | 19. Auburn | 19. Auburn | 19. Auburn | 3 |
| 20. Georgia | 20. Tennessee | 20. Georgia | 20. Georgia | 20. Tennessee | 2 |
| 21. Tennessee | 21. Georgia | 21. Texas Tech | 21. Texas Tech | 21. Michigan | 4 |
| 22. Texas | 22. Texas Tech | 22. Tennessee | 22. Tennessee | 22. Texas Tech | 3 |
| 23. Cincinnati | 23. Cincinnati | 23. Cincinnati | 23. Cincinnati | 23. Penn State | 2 |
| 24. Texas Tech | 24. Michigan | 24. Virginia | 24. Virginia | 24. Illinois | 4 |
| 25. Michigan | 25. Kansas State | 25. Penn State | 25. Michigan | 25. Cincinnati | 4 |
| Avg difference per position | 3.00 | ||||
As you can see, there is no consensus among the polls just like there is little to no consensus with search engine results for the same keyword query across multiple search engines.
Some of these polls are based upon human components like what sports writers or coaches think, others are based upon computer models (algorithms) and some bring both human and algorithmic factors into considerations.
What does it come down to?
Just like in SERPs, the definition of who should be in the top spot is in the eyes of the poll (I know that, for bowls, it is based purely on the BCS standings, but go with me here). Some fans will look to see what they think is the best, and this can change from season to season, others are hard liners and stick with the same one regardless and others really don’t care, they just want to see their team beat up on another team.
There is one proven thing though, if you keep on winning and doing what it takes to win, you will end up on top, regardless of poll or search engine!
Here is another idea, if you have the best offense (SEM), defense (SEO) or special teams (SMO), you may be able to win today but unless you are committed to all of the different aspects of how to play the game, you’ll end up falling.
What do you think?
Do you have a favorite analogy about online marketing?
What do you think about the college football season so far?
Let everyone know you opinion.
