Oregon Coach Bellotti Is Mystified by Ranking System

Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti doesn’t understand how the Ducks can be undefeated in the Pacific 10 Conference and still be ranked below Washington in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll.

The Ducks beat the Huskies, 23-16, on Sept. 30 in Eugene, Ore., and are seventh in the coaches’ poll. Washington is fifth.

In the bowl championship standings, Oregon is No. 7 and Washington is No. 5.

“When you beat a team head-to-head, and you have the same record [9-1], there’s no way in the world they should be ranked ahead of you,” Bellotti said.

One reason is strength of schedule, a category that favors Washington because the Huskies defeated Miami on Sept. 9. The Ducks lost to Wisconsin on the same day.

*

Florida State running back Travis Minor, who has been hobbled because of a sprained left ankle, returned to practice. His status for the Florida game remains in doubt. His backups, Jeff Chaney and Davy Ford, were injured in Saturday’s victory against Wake Forest and they will miss the remainder of the season. Greg Jones, another reserve running back, practiced despite a sprained right ankle. . . . Iowa offensive lineman Ben Sobieski was arrested early Sunday on a charge of public intoxication after he was spotted hanging on people exiting a bar. Sobieski, a junior who is sitting out the season because of shoulder surgery, could face suspension from the team, Coach Kirk Ferentz said. . . . Minnesota junior Ron Johnson, nearing several school records for receiving, said he is considering giving up his final season of eligibility in order to make himself available for the NFL draft. . . . Ohio State Coach John Cooper got poetic when he was asked if the Buckeyes could be too fired up for Saturday’s game against Michigan. “What more can you ask a man, than give it all within his span? To give it all, it seems to me, is not too far from victory.” . . . Don Powers resigned as coach at The Citadel after a second consecutive 2-9 season. . . . In a deal that is expected to be finalized in the next few weeks, Lenny and Marcia Klompus are selling rights to the Aloha and Oahu Bowls to attorney Fritz Rohlfing.