Updated: August 11, 2009, 1:12 PM ET
Reading the rankings
Preseason polls just tell us who'll be punished least for mistakes
According to ESPN Stats & Information, only one team has ever climbed farther than the No. 16 (per last week's coaches poll) Boise State Broncos must if they hope to play in the BCS Championship Game this season. The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners started their season ranked 19th in the AP Poll, yet finished with a BCS title when they beat Florida State. But it was early in the Bob Stoops era, and pollsters didn't know yet what to make of OU. They haven't made that mistake since.
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Will Florida repeat as BCS champion? Which teams will surprise? Who'll walk away with the major awards? ESPN.com's 2009 
