Top 25 Watch (real thread)

[WVAPPeer]

"but I could see LSU or Bama still getting in over ND with a loss on their record"

and they should !!!

[AppStFan1]

This game should make any lingering questions about ND moot. They are down 17-0 and have been completely inept on offense.

I never thought Notre Dame was any good. I thought they would win this game but it would be very close. Believe it or not if Arizona State loses that helps us because several voters had them ahead of us. We should pick up at least 100 points this week and be a unanimous vote.

[EastHallApp]

This game should make any lingering questions about ND moot. They are down 17-0 and have been completely inept on offense.

I never thought Notre Dame was any good. I thought they would win this game but it would be very close. Believe it or not if Arizona State loses that helps us because several voters had them ahead of us. We should pick up at least 100 points this week and be a unanimous vote.

Helps us a bit in the rankings, but I’d rather them win so Cincy’s win (and San Diego State’s) over UCLA is further devalued.

[AppStFan1]

This game should make any lingering questions about ND moot. They are down 17-0 and have been completely inept on offense.

I never thought Notre Dame was any good. I thought they would win this game but it would be very close. Believe it or not if Arizona State loses that helps us because several voters had them ahead of us. We should pick up at least 100 points this week and be a unanimous vote.

Helps us a bit in the rankings, but I’d rather them win so Cincy’s win (and San Diego State’s) over UCLA is further devalued.

Possibly. Only problem is those games were a long time ago so voters will leave them where they have them. What we need is to roll the next two games and hope South Carolina upsets A&M and plays Clemson close. That would help us as much as that other stuff.

Our schedule is very weak so what we need most is for Ciny, SDSU, Boise State, and SMU to lose one more game. If those things happen then that helps us more than anything else.

[EastHallApp]

Oh yes, AP and coaches won’t care about those past games. But when the CFP starts their rankings, they’ll look at the full body of work.

Anyway UCLA up big at the half.

[AppStFan1]

Oh yes, AP and coaches won’t care about those past games. But when the CFP starts their rankings, they’ll look at the full body of work.

Anyway UCLA up big at the half.

Arizona State, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, and Texas losing will all give us a lot more votes now.

I was indeed talking about polls. The CFP is all that matters and they do look at body of work.

With that said, if 9-0 we will be ranked in the top 25 but I don't think we will like our spot. I doubt we are top 20 or even higher than 21-22 if we are 9-0 despite if we are ranked 16-19 range in the AP and Coaches Polls. Out SOS is the worst of anyone in the top 25.

We need Memphis to lose to SMU, SMU to lose the AAC title game and another game, Cincy to lose one more, Boise to lose one more, and SDSU to lose one more for me to feel we are safely going to be highest G5 team in CFP.

[AppInDC]

Oh yes, AP and coaches won’t care about those past games. But when the CFP starts their rankings, they’ll look at the full body of work.

Anyway UCLA up big at the half.

Arizona State, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, and Texas losing will all give us a lot more votes now.

I was indeed talking about polls. The CFP is all that matters and they do look at body of work.

With that said, if 9-0 we will be ranked in the top 25 but I don't think we will like our spot. I doubt we are top 20 or even higher than 21-22 if we are 9-0 despite if we are ranked 16-19 range in the AP and Coaches Polls. Out SOS is the worst of anyone in the top 25.

We need Memphis to lose to SMU, SMU to lose the AAC title game and another game, Cincy to lose one more, Boise to lose one more, and SDSU to lose one more for me to feel we are safely going to be highest G5 team in CFP.

I think as long as SMU is losing AAC title game, a Sun Belt champion App is automatically ahead. My understanding is the NY6 bowl goes to highest ranked conference champion. Even if SMU is unbeaten, if they lose that last game, they are out of consideration.

I do get the point. My personal opinion is that SMU/Cincy are ahead of us. I would like to see both suffer at least one more loss. App is probably ahead of Boise and the rest of the MWC/AAC contenders right now but I worry we could be passed even if we win out with our schedule if one of them does as well.

[bigdaddyg]

Does anyone really think that the voters are looking at past games and saying, well team A beat team B but they beat so and so and they lost to team C...? Doubt it. I think we are still fine. Solid top 25

[t4pizza]

Memphis survives a last second missed field goal by Tulsa to win 42-41. Tulsa is a 2 win team. Conference games are tough and anything can happen. I feel confident the AAC will not have a champ that is undefeated and most likely could have 2 losses.

[AppStFan1]

Does anyone really think that the voters are looking at past games and saying, well team A beat team B but they beat so and so and they lost to team C...? Doubt it. I think we are still fine. Solid top 25

The CFP committee goes back and looks at every week and really pours over a complete resume. AP and Coaches Poll voters won't do it as much as they weight what you are doing in the last couple weeks plus your overall record and quality wins. The CFP looks much harder and while I know we will be top 25 in it, if we beat South Carolina and Georgia Southern, I am pretty sure we will be lower. We really need a decisive win in Columbia for me to think we have a shot at being 16-19 range in the CFP like we might be in the AP/Coaches.

If you want a good listen or read then go search what committee members said on TV and in print about the ratings. They put way more time into their top 25 than the AP and Coaches Poll voters do.

[AppStFan1]

Looks like the media thinks the same as we do. #20.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... -rankings/

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/A ... 137570586/

[appstatealum]

I tend to lean the same way, we may break #20 by end of season, finish in the teens with a bowl win. Regardless of an NY6 game or not, my goal for this season was to get ranked by mid-season and stay there until the end. I'll worry more about being the highest ranked G5 another year. I'd love for it to happen, but we have achieved so much each year, I'm OK with the benchmarks we have currently reached. Let's win the Sunbelt and win our Bowl Game, wherever that may be.

[hotrod2001]

Looks like the media thinks the same as we do. #20.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... -rankings/

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/A ... 137570586/

The media's really hyping up this USC game over the last couple of weeks...I hope our guys aren't looking that far ahead seeing it's just our arch rival we play next week.

[AppStFan1]

I tend to lean the same way, we may break #20 by end of season, finish in the teens with a bowl win. Regardless of an NY6 game or not, my goal for this season was to get ranked by mid-season and stay there until the end. I'll worry more about being the highest ranked G5 another year. I'd love for it to happen, but we have achieved so much each year, I'm OK with the benchmarks we have currently reached. Let's win the Sunbelt and win our Bowl Game, wherever that may be.

I'm with you. Bottom line is we can win big the next 6 weeks and still be left out of a NY6. We need help to get in. If we end up 13-1 or 14-0 and finish ranked we will have done what we needed to in order to give us a very likely spot in the NY6 next year.

Just keep winning. #BeatGSU #1-0

[AppStFan1]

Looks like the media thinks the same as we do. #20.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... -rankings/

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/A ... 137570586/

The media's really hyping up this USC game over the last couple of weeks...I hope our guys aren't looking that far ahead seeing it's just our arch rival we play next week.

I don't see the team overlooking it. I agree with others that beating them is not really the biggest P5 win for a G5 in contention but the perception is that it will be.

But first we have to #BeatGSU

[AppStFan1]

I did a mock AP top 25 but listed 26. I could see UCF or Memphis at 25. Memphis is the most likely normally but they needed a missed FG to win and UCF had a very impressive day so I could see either team in there.

Rank Team Record This Week Last Rating
1 Alabama (8-0) 48-7 W vs Arkansas 1
2 LSU (8-0) 23-20 W vs #9 Auburn 2
3 Ohio State (8-0) 38-7 W vs #13 Wisconsin 3
4 Clemson (8-0) 59-7 W vs Boston College 4
5 Penn State (8-0) 28-7 W at Michigan State 6
6 Florida (7-1) Bye 7
7 Georgia (6-1) Bye 10
8 Utah (7-1) 35-0 W vs California 12
9 Oklahoma (7-1) 48-41 L at Kansas State 5
11 Oregon (7-1) 37-35 W vs Washington State 11
10 Auburn (6-2) 23-20 L at #2 LSU 9
12 Michigan (6-2) 45-14 W vs #8 Notre Dame 19
13 Baylor (7-0) Bye 14
14 SMU (8-0) 34-31 W at Houston 16
15 Minnesota (8-0) 52-10 W vs Maryland 17
16 Cincinnati (6-1) Bye 18
17 Notre Dame (5-2) 45-14 L at #19 Michigan 8
18 Iowa (6-2) 20-0 W at Northwestern 20
19 Wisconsin (6-2) 38-7 L at #3 Ohio State 13
20 Appalachian State (7-0) 30-3 W at South Alabama 21
21 Boise State (6-1) Bye 22
22 Kansas State (5-2) 48-41 W vs. #5 Oklahoma
23 Texas (5-3) 37-27 L at TCU 15
24 Wake Forest (6-1) Bye 25
25 Memphis (7-1) 42-41 W at Tulsa 26
26 UCF (6-2) 63-21 W at Temple 34T

[The Rock]

I tend to lean the same way, we may break #20 by end of season, finish in the teens with a bowl win. Regardless of an NY6 game or not, my goal for this season was to get ranked by mid-season and stay there until the end. I'll worry more about being the highest ranked G5 another year. I'd love for it to happen, but we have achieved so much each year, I'm OK with the benchmarks we have currently reached. Let's win the Sunbelt and win our Bowl Game, wherever that may be.

I agree. Too much out of our control to worry about. Plus, it gives us another goal to aim for next year.
Satterfield said he left because he thought we had accomplished everything we could at this level. Drink is showing us that wasn’t the case, but i think it would be difficult to keep the team focused next season if we went to the cotton bowl this year (not that I wouldn’t be perfectly fine with going). I also wonder if Drink would think seriously about leaving after that, as his stock would have nowhere to go but down.

[Appster99]

I tend to lean the same way, we may break #20 by end of season, finish in the teens with a bowl win. Regardless of an NY6 game or not, my goal for this season was to get ranked by mid-season and stay there until the end. I'll worry more about being the highest ranked G5 another year. I'd love for it to happen, but we have achieved so much each year, I'm OK with the benchmarks we have currently reached. Let's win the Sunbelt and win our Bowl Game, wherever that may be.

Rankings area based on opinions of other people. We just need to win and the cards will fall where they will. I'm with you on goals for this year. We are ranked at half way. And that is a fan's goal, not the Team's goal. Keep winning and stay ranked. That helps us recruit the best athletes we can get. That's how we stay relevant. I don't want to be on this stage for a couple years. I want to be here permanently. Win the Belt. Win the Bowl. We are still very young in this FBS thing and are doing things no other school has ever accomplished. I'll not get too greedy too soon.

[appstatealum]

I did a mock AP top 25 but listed 26. I could see UCF or Memphis at 25. Memphis is the most likely normally but they needed a missed FG to win and UCF had a very impressive day so I could see either team in there.

Rank Team Record This Week Last Rating
1 Alabama (8-0) 48-7 W vs Arkansas 1
2 LSU (8-0) 23-20 W vs #9 Auburn 2
3 Ohio State (8-0) 38-7 W vs #13 Wisconsin 3
4 Clemson (8-0) 59-7 W vs Boston College 4
5 Penn State (8-0) 28-7 W at Michigan State 6
6 Florida (7-1) Bye 7
7 Georgia (6-1) Bye 10
8 Utah (7-1) 35-0 W vs California 12
9 Oklahoma (7-1) 48-41 L at Kansas State 5
11 Oregon (7-1) 37-35 W vs Washington State 11
10 Auburn (6-2) 23-20 L at #2 LSU 9
12 Michigan (6-2) 45-14 W vs #8 Notre Dame 19
13 Baylor (7-0) Bye 14
14 SMU (8-0) 34-31 W at Houston 16
15 Minnesota (8-0) 52-10 W vs Maryland 17
16 Cincinnati (6-1) Bye 18
17 Notre Dame (5-2) 45-14 L at #19 Michigan 8
18 Iowa (6-2) 20-0 W at Northwestern 20
19 Wisconsin (6-2) 38-7 L at #3 Ohio State 13
20 Appalachian State (7-0) 30-3 W at South Alabama 21
21 Boise State (6-1) Bye 22
22 Kansas State (5-2) 48-41 W vs. #5 Oklahoma
23 Texas (5-3) 37-27 L at TCU 15
24 Wake Forest (6-1) Bye 25
25 Memphis (7-1) 42-41 W at Tulsa 26
26 UCF (6-2) 63-21 W at Temple 34T

Looks about right. This is exactly what I was thinking for 15 thru 25.

[bigdaddyg]

Does anyone really think that the voters are looking at past games and saying, well team A beat team B but they beat so and so and they lost to team C...? Doubt it. I think we are still fine. Solid top 25

The CFP committee goes back and looks at every week and really pours over a complete resume. AP and Coaches Poll voters won't do it as much as they weight what you are doing in the last couple weeks plus your overall record and quality wins. The CFP looks much harder and while I know we will be top 25 in it, if we beat South Carolina and Georgia Southern, I am pretty sure we will be lower. We really need a decisive win in Columbia for me to think we have a shot at being 16-19 range in the CFP like we might be in the AP/Coaches.

If you want a good listen or read then go search what committee members said on TV and in print about the ratings. They put way more time into their top 25 than the AP and Coaches Poll voters do.

So the committee puts in all of that effort for the teams ranked, say 15-25? Really? For as long as we have had the CFP who has climbed into the top 4 after starting the lowest in the ranking? Has a team ever been below about 12th or so the first week of any year’s CFP list and actually moved up to the top 4?