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The Disassociated Press Poll (DPP)-actually, a ranking system-was created three years ago as an alternative to the normal, flawed system for deciding the best teams in the country. The idea was born from the notion that there was too much bias and subjectivity in the Associated Press poll based upon suppositions and speculation as opposed to actually earning the rankings by what happens between the white lines.

The main goal of the DPP was to determine the best team in the country at the end of the season, not at the beginning or even as the season progressed. To rank a team No. 1 in the country at the beginning of the season based upon projections or what some deemed the best team in the country on paper seemed too subjective.

And so the DPP was created with a few hard and fast rules.

1. You start where you ended. Kansas was the only one-loss team among BCS schools when the '07 finally ended. Thus, they begin '08 as the No. 1-ranked team. That's not to say they are the best team in the country. Remember, the goal of the DPP is not to name the top team in the country at the start of the season. The goal is to determine the best at the end, and although Kansas quite likely wasn't the best team in '07-nor '08-they did fall just one time, which no other BCS school could claim. So they start at the top. If they're not worthy, they'll tumble quickly and precipitously in the DPP.

2. Winning and losing are the most important statistics. Now that may seem simplistic and obvious. Yet how often do we see a two- or even three-loss Florida State ranked ahead of a one-loss Wake Forest? Both are in the ACC and both are members of a BCS conference. Yet the Seminoles are often given the benefit of the doubt because they are, well, Florida State. That doesn't seem right.

3. A loss dumps you to the back of the pack. If you finished .500 or less in '07, you're not in the pre-season DPP. If you are 0-1 after the first week of the '08 season, you're not in this week's DPP. But you can quickly move up in the polls by stringing some victories together. If you lose, lose early in the season. A loss later in the year is more damaging than an early-season loss-regardless who you are.

For example, LSU's late-season, triple-overtime home loss to Arkansas-their second of the season after falling to Kentucky earlier-should have dropped the Tigers down considerably in the "real" polls. Instead, LSU got a shot at the national title, which they took advantage of. One could argue that the Tigers were indeed the best team in the country, and they proved it in the BCS Championship game against LSU. But their late-season setback to five-loss Arkansas ended their title hopes in the DPP.

4. If you don't lose, you can't drop in the ratings. Winning is rewarded; losing is penalized. If the team in front of you loses and you don't, you move up...unless you are a non-BCS school (see below). If you lose, you fall behind teams with an equal number of losses that hasn't lost as recently as you...unless you already defeated that team with the same number of losses.

5. The six BCS conferences have an advantage over the schools in the non-BCS conferences. This is where a bit more subjectivity comes into play. But you have to draw the line somewhere. If you're Hawaii or Brigham Young or TCU or Fresno State, you simply don't have the rights of the schools in the BCS. Sorry, but your losses are more damaging than a team's from the Big Ten, Pac 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC and Big East.

6. The DPP doesn't care what your name is, as long as you are in a BCS conference. You have no more of an advantage being Notre Dame or Michigan than you do Kansas or Iowa State. You might as well be listed as Teams A, B and C. If you're winning, you're ahead of the teams that are not. That is the point of the DPP: it's objective instead of subjective. The DPP has no bias toward a team's history or tradition. Thus, if Notre Dame is ranked, the Irish have earned it based upon wins and losses on the field; if Notre Dame is unranked, it's because they've lost.

Obviously, there are some inherent problems with the DPP, just like any poll. Strength of schedule is a problem. Kansas' non-conference schedule in '07 included Central Michigan, Southeast Louisiana, Toledo and Florida International. Three of the four are Division 1-A schools, and pretty decent ones at that. But they're not Oklahoma, Brigham Young and Notre Dame, like Washington plays this year. By defeating those four schools, Kansas remained highly ranked because they were a BCS conference school.

Okay, that's enough explaining. You get the gist, particularly if you've followed the DPP the first two years. It's not a perfect system because there is no such thing as a perfect system. It's just for fun, and it's simply a way for Irish Illustrated fans to read updates on the top teams in the country-or at least the ones that are winning most often-while having some fun and seeing whether the formula for ranking teams works.

So here we go. Heading into the '08 season, this is the first DPP.

1. Kansas (12-1)-This year, the Jayhawks must play Oklahoma and Texas. No undefeated visions in '08.
2. Georgia (11-2)-Bulldogs won last seven, including a convincing 31-point victory vs. Hawaii in Sugar Bowl.
3. Southern California (11-2)-Trojans must replace half of star-studded lineup; simply a matter of reloading.
4. Louisiana State (12-2)-Top three tacklers, including DT Dorsey, are gone; QB Flynn will be missed too.
5. Missouri (12-2)-Tigers formidable again with QB Daniel; schedule break without Oklahoma, Texas Tech.
6. West Virginia (11-2)-New HC Stewart inherits a legitimate national title-contending team from Rich Rod.
7. Ohio State (11-2)-No surprise if the Buckeyes find themselves in 3rd straight BCS Championship game.
8. Oklahoma (11-3)-Youth on defense could be only roadblock for Sooners, who have lost 4 of last 5 bowls.
9. Boston College (11-3)-Ultra veteran team of '07, led by QB Ryan, gone as Eagles will tumble in DPP poll.
10. Texas (10-3)-Eleven new starters, several land mines in Big 12 schedule make this a tough year for title run.
11. Virginia Tech (11-3)-Significant losses on both sides of ball, tough slate will test the Hokies mettle in '08.
12. Arizona State (11-3)-Texas hammered Sun Devils in bowl; Georgia could do the same on Sept. 20 in desert.
13. Brigham Young (11-2)-Cougars' high ranking tested early with trip to Washington, home game vs. UCLA.
14. Hawaii (12-1)-No HC Jones + no QB Brennan + 13 starters gone = a big dip for last year's Cinderella.
15. Florida (9-4)- Time for another national title run for HC Meyer, QB Tebow, who could win Heisman No. 2.
16. Tennessee (10-4)-Vols slipped into SEC championship game in '07; won't get past Florida, Georgia in '08.
17. Michigan (9-4)-HC Rodriguez faces incredible rebuilding without offensive weaponry, top four tacklers.
18. Illinois (9-4)-Will have tough time reaching nine wins again; open with trip to St. Louis vs. Missouri.
19. Wisconsin (9-4)-HC Bielema living charmed life with 21-5 mark in two seasons; play Ohio State at home.
20. Clemson (9-4)-Trips to Wake, Florida State will dictate whether Tigers make ACC Championship game.
21. Cincinnati (10-3)-Bearcats lost three games by 16 points total in '07; must visit Oklahoma Sept. 6.
22. Oregon State (10-4)-Beavers will have tough time matching nine wins with all 7 on defensive front gone.
23. Auburn (9-4)-Breaking in a new QB, but young OL gained valuable experience; could play for SEC title.
24. Penn State (9-4)-Capable of winning the Big Ten, but trips to Ohio State, Wisconsin major road blocks.
25. Wake Forest (9-4)-HC Grobe has done masterful job with 20-7 mark last two seasons; is best yet to come?
26. Texas Tech (9-4), 27. Oregon (9-4), 28. Boise State (10-2), 29. Fresno State (9-4), 30. Virginia (9-4), 31. South Florida (9-4), 32. Central Florida (10-4), 33. Connecticut (9-4), 34. Air Force (9-4), 35. Utah (9-4), 36. Mississippi State (8-5), 37. Purdue (8-5), 38. Kentucky (8-5), 39. Rutgers (8-5), 40. Tulsa (10-4), 41. New Mexico (9-4), 42. East Carolina (8-5), 43. Texas Christian (8-5), 44. Florida Atlantic (8-5), 45. Arkansas (8-5), 46. Navy (8-5), 47. Houston (8-5), 48. Bowling Green (8-5), 49. Troy (8-4), 50. Michigan State (7-6), 51. Indiana (7-6), 52. Georgia Tech (7-6), 53. Florida State (7-6), 54. Texas A&M (7-6), 55. Memphis (7-6), 56. Southern Mississippi (7-6), 57. Central Michigan (8-6), 58. Ball State (7-6).

Understanding the Disassociated Press Poll What is the Disassociated Press Poll (DPP)? It starts with one man's opinion of how the teams should be ranked when the season begins: this season's first poll should have been the same as last season's final poll. Defending national champs Texas deserved to start the season ranked No. 1, and right on down the line.

Teams can fall dramatically in the DPP following a defeat, but they move up very deliberately. The DPP is intended to determine an accurate ranking of the teams at the end of the season. Thus, it is a gradual process. A team must earn its ranking over the course of a season. A top 25 team in the DPP never drops if it wins, and only moves up based upon the number of teams in front of it that lost that weekend.

Of course, there is subjectivity in the DPP, just like all the other human polls. Teams in the BCS conferences have an advantage in the DPP, but other conferences are rewarded for winning records.

You should know a couple more things about the DPP. It is experimental this season to see if it will live up to the theory upon the conclusion of the regular season. You should also know that it is not intended to be taken too seriously. It's just another football poll based upon a slightly altered way of thinking.