Top 25 Watch (real thread)

[EastHallApp]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

UCF vs Cincinnati is probably lose-lose for us, but we should be cheering for the Bearcats.

Need Tulsa and ULM to pull off miracles. ULM is tricky, I wouldn’t be shocked if they sneak up on Memphis.

Dream scenario for this weekend for me is:

Cincy - though I think a W would get them ranked

Texas Tech
Iowa
Ohio State
Tulsa
Oregon
ULM

I was surprised to see that Cincy got zero votes in either poll this week. They'd certainly get some if they beat UCF, but I can't see that vaulting them all the way into the top 25.

Obviously the more teams directly ahead of us who lose the better, but the ones where I think we have the best chance to get help are:

Cincy upsets UCF
Iowa beats Michigan soundly
Ohio State blows out MSU
Oregon blows out Cal
K-State beats Baylor (though this is another sort of lose-lose)
Tulane beats Army (though for NY6 purposes an Army win would be better)

[Black Saturday]

Ohio State stomped a mud hole in the Bearcats, but I'm rooting for them to beat UCF. Don't discount Army and the bone they run.

[appgrad95&97]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

[HkyMtneer]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

But if Iowa thumps Michigan soundly then UM will likely fall out, creating another Top-25 spot for someone to move into...which helps us one way or the other in our quest for T25.

[appgrad95&97]

I think the Michigan voters are more like to shift for a Minnesota or Missouri than to App.

[EastHallApp]

I think the Michigan voters are more like to shift for a Minnesota or Missouri than to App.

I suspect there's some truth to that, but still any time a team relatively close ahead of us loses, it's a good thing. We'd likely get at least some of their votes. (Plus surely at least some of the people already voting for App have Michigan ahead of us).

The Minnesotas and Missouris will take their lumps eventually.

[ah59396]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

My worst fear is we go undefeated and a 1 loss AAC or Boise gets in over us. Toppling two P5’s and winning the Sunbelt, only to be “rewarded” with a 3 loss La Tech in New Orleans would be tough to take. I guess we’d at least have a sound body of work moving into next season. Ugh.

Side note: I’m specifically worried about a one loss SMU. Money matters. Cotton bowl is in SMU’s backyard and they’d have no problem putting 20-30k fans there.

Obviously if we lose a game somewhere along the line I’ll be happy to go back to New Orleans and play a 3 loss La Tech. Just not in the scenario described above.

[HkyMtneer]

I think the Michigan voters are more like to shift for a Minnesota or Missouri than to App.

I suspect there's some truth to that, but still any time a team relatively close ahead of us loses, it's a good thing. We'd likely get at least some of their votes. (Plus surely at least some of the people already voting for App have Michigan ahead of us).

The Minnesotas and Missouris will take their lumps eventually.

Exactly! We very well might not get any of those Michigan voters to move us in but that's another loss for a P5 team in a strong conference that had high hopes for the season...and that can only help down the road. In other words, we have a better shot of getting in and staying in/ahead of a 2/3-loss Michigan team as the season progresses. Whereas, someone like Iowa will probably lose only a game or two and even if we go undefeated our odds of surpassing them in the rankings is slim.

[appgrad95&97]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

My worst fear is we go undefeated and a 1 loss AAC or Boise gets in over us. Toppling two P5’s and winning the Sunbelt, only to be “rewarded” with a 3 loss La Tech in New Orleans would be tough to take. I guess we’d at least have a sound body of work moving into next season. Ugh.

Side note: I’m specifically worried about a one loss SMU. Money matters. Cotton bowl is in SMU’s backyard and they’d have no problem putting 20-30k fans there.

Obviously if we lose a game somewhere along the line I’ll be happy to go back to New Orleans and play a 3 loss La Tech. Just not in the scenario described above.

I don't think that's a fear. I think it's a fact. A one loss AAC or MW team will get in ahead of an undefeated App. We ARE NOT going to a NY6 game. I am not saying that is fair, but the P6 AAC exists to keep a Central Michigan from ever happening again.

[EastHallApp]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

My worst fear is we go undefeated and a 1 loss AAC or Boise gets in over us. Toppling two P5’s and winning the Sunbelt, only to be “rewarded” with a 3 loss La Tech in New Orleans would be tough to take. I guess we’d at least have a sound body of work moving into next season. Ugh.

Side note: I’m specifically worried about a one loss SMU. Money matters. Cotton bowl is in SMU’s backyard and they’d have no problem putting 20-30k fans there.

Obviously if we lose a game somewhere along the line I’ll be happy to go back to New Orleans and play a 3 loss La Tech. Just not in the scenario described above.

I don't think that's a fear. I think it's a fact. A one loss AAC or MW team will get in ahead of an undefeated App. We ARE NOT going to a NY6 game. I am not saying that is fair, but the P6 AAC exists to keep a Central Michigan from ever happening again.

You can't state it that unequivocally. "P6" is an AAC marketing campaign, nothing more, nothing less. Do we need some help? Yes. How much help is unclear. I'll admit NY6 is a long shot as things stand now, but it's certainly not implausible.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

We go undefeated, then go to New Orleans and win, we likely begin the following year in the Top 25 with 9 of 11 offensive starters returning. Then you can talk about NY6 after we beat Wisconsin.

[BallantyneApp]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

My worst fear is we go undefeated and a 1 loss AAC or Boise gets in over us. Toppling two P5’s and winning the Sunbelt, only to be “rewarded” with a 3 loss La Tech in New Orleans would be tough to take. I guess we’d at least have a sound body of work moving into next season. Ugh.

Side note: I’m specifically worried about a one loss SMU. Money matters. Cotton bowl is in SMU’s backyard and they’d have no problem putting 20-30k fans there.

Obviously if we lose a game somewhere along the line I’ll be happy to go back to New Orleans and play a 3 loss La Tech. Just not in the scenario described above.

I don't think that's a fear. I think it's a fact. A one loss AAC or MW team will get in ahead of an undefeated App. We ARE NOT going to a NY6 game. I am not saying that is fair, but the P6 AAC exists to keep a Central Michigan from ever happening again.

I don't think its necessarily a given. We do certainly need some help. UNC upsetting Clemson would have helped. Hopefully USC can get hot at some point in the SEC.

And of course, as everyone else has mentioned, we have to be undefeated.

[ah59396]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

My worst fear is we go undefeated and a 1 loss AAC or Boise gets in over us. Toppling two P5’s and winning the Sunbelt, only to be “rewarded” with a 3 loss La Tech in New Orleans would be tough to take. I guess we’d at least have a sound body of work moving into next season. Ugh.

Side note: I’m specifically worried about a one loss SMU. Money matters. Cotton bowl is in SMU’s backyard and they’d have no problem putting 20-30k fans there.

Obviously if we lose a game somewhere along the line I’ll be happy to go back to New Orleans and play a 3 loss La Tech. Just not in the scenario described above.

I don't think that's a fear. I think it's a fact. A one loss AAC or MW team will get in ahead of an undefeated App. We ARE NOT going to a NY6 game. I am not saying that is fair, but the P6 AAC exists to keep a Central Michigan from ever happening again.

I would challenge you on your certainty there. But ultimately it doesn’t matter yet. I hope it’s a problem we get to debate the outcome of in December.

Also it was Western Michigan and they played well against Wisconsin, losing 24-16. The P6 is as real as Pinocchio.

[EastHallApp]

I'll also say that while missing the NY6 at 13-0 would obviously be disappointing, that would be an amazing season that might end with us in the top 10 after we smashed whoever CUSA sends to New Orleans.

Then again there were also reports that ESPN might look to place Western Michigan in a higher-profile bowl had they missed the NY6 that year (aka the fantasy scenario that people here bring up for App every year), so who knows...

[appstatealum]

I'd say the AAC has more relevant teams than any other G5 conference, but that is their defining attribute. I'd love to get in the AAC, no doubt, but it is not a Power 5 conference. Money, Power, Influence, marketable games more often than not ....that is the P5.

[appgrad95&97]

I don't think Cincinnati received any votes in either poll this week; it'll be interesting to see if they are actually ranked in next week's polls.

[appvette]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

My worst fear is we go undefeated and a 1 loss AAC or Boise gets in over us. Toppling two P5’s and winning the Sunbelt, only to be “rewarded” with a 3 loss La Tech in New Orleans would be tough to take. I guess we’d at least have a sound body of work moving into next season. Ugh.

Side note: I’m specifically worried about a one loss SMU. Money matters. Cotton bowl is in SMU’s backyard and they’d have no problem putting 20-30k fans there.

Obviously if we lose a game somewhere along the line I’ll be happy to go back to New Orleans and play a 3 loss La Tech. Just not in the scenario described above.

I don't think that's a fear. I think it's a fact. A one loss AAC or MW team will get in ahead of an undefeated App. We ARE NOT going to a NY6 game. I am not saying that is fair, but the P6 AAC exists to keep a Central Michigan from ever happening again.

It's simply not true to say we have no chance of going to a NY6 game. An undefeated season with 2 P5 wins would give us strong consideration over a MWC or AAC champ with a loss. Especially if we blow out most of our opponents and UNC continues to look strong. The Sun Belt has clearly risen above the MAC and CUSA and is no longer considered a bottom feeder.

What if Temple wins AAC with a loss to Buffalo and Utah State wins MW with two losses?

[AppStFan1]

Week 6 games of note:
#18 UCF at Cincinnati
#21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
#14 Iowa at #19 Michigan
#25 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State
Tulsa at #24 SMU
California at #13 Oregon
Memphis at ULM

I don't think the Iowa game really matters. I don't see App picking up voters from the looser of that game.

I would also note that this ranking conversation shouldn't turn into a NY6 discussion. I really don't see any way App gets to the NY6. I wish the Sunbelt would work on it's bowl matchups. Oh, never mind that's ESPN's call.

My worst fear is we go undefeated and a 1 loss AAC or Boise gets in over us. Toppling two P5’s and winning the Sunbelt, only to be “rewarded” with a 3 loss La Tech in New Orleans would be tough to take. I guess we’d at least have a sound body of work moving into next season. Ugh.

Side note: I’m specifically worried about a one loss SMU. Money matters. Cotton bowl is in SMU’s backyard and they’d have no problem putting 20-30k fans there.

Obviously if we lose a game somewhere along the line I’ll be happy to go back to New Orleans and play a 3 loss La Tech. Just not in the scenario described above.

I don't think that's a fear. I think it's a fact. A one loss AAC or MW team will get in ahead of an undefeated App. We ARE NOT going to a NY6 game. I am not saying that is fair, but the P6 AAC exists to keep a Central Michigan from ever happening again.

It's simply not true to say we have no chance of going to a NY6 game. An undefeated season with 2 P5 wins would give us strong consideration over a MWC or AAC champ with a loss. Especially if we blow out most of our opponents and UNC continues to look strong. The Sun Belt has clearly risen above the MAC and CUSA and is no longer considered a bottom feeder.

What if Temple wins AAC with a loss to Buffalo and Utah State wins MW with two losses?

I agree we can and that should be our goal but there are still a lot of "what ifs" that have to happen. First we just have to go 1-0 each week and finish undefeated.

[EastHallApp]

Good news with Ok. State getting blown out and Army losing (though Tulane winning isn’t great for the NY6 race). Michigan trying to hold on in the last minute.

[AppSt12]

I'm not one of the losers who pretends being ranked isnt vitally important. It is. But I would hate to get ranked on a by week. Hope we crush Louisiana then get ranked.