Post-Spring Way-Too-Early Top 25

[Saunders]

By the way, "we" are not "back". Not by a long shot.

Thanks Nostradamus.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

And you wander why the SEC finishes with every team but Kentucky in the Top 25 at the end of the year. Its bc of preseason polls like this. Georgia and us were identical going into the Gator Bowl last year. Both with some injuries and young athletic defenses. We beat them in their backyard and they are a preseason top 10 and we will probably be unranked. That means they can lose a game and still be ranked higher than us. When UGA and USC play each other early in the year then one of them has to have a quality win bc they will both be top 10. Even if it really isnt the case. It is complete B.S. I know I am beating a dead horse but the only people that seem absolutely blind to this whole concept is SEC fans and ESPN.

That is a solid point...

UGA can start out 5-1 and still be in the top 10...NU can start off 5-1 and not be ranked,.

 

[Saunders]

My Thoughts:

1. FSU

Ok.

2. Alabama

3. OU

'Bama doesn't have a QB, and didn't they just lose to OU... ok then

4. Auburn

5. Oregon

6. MSU

No real complaints. MSU plays at UO in week 2/3.

7. Ohio State

I mean, I guess. They won 20 something regular season games. Their defense was worse than ours and they just graduated their entire OL. Miller is best QB in conference, but can't stay healthy.

8. Georgia

9. Baylor

10. South Carolina

11. Stanford

12. UCLA

13. LSU

Sure, OK. I think you could mix these in any order.

14. Texas A&M

15. Wisconsin

16. North Carolina Tar Heels

At least 2 of 3, and like all of them, will finish unranked

17. Notre Dame

It's ND, of course they're ranked top 20.

18. Iowa

Only reason they have a shot of finishing ranked is due to their absolutely creampuff schedule.

19. Florida

They lost, at home, to a bottom feeder that threw less than ten passes, and completed zero. $EC indeed... Finished 4-8 and produced gems such as:

20. USC

Sure, ok. Don't think Sark is great tho.

21. Texas Tech

Um, they lost 6 of their last 7 games. WTH.

22. Clemson

Too low. Sure they lost Boyd and Watkins and aren't settled on a QB (like half the top 25) but they've only lost to SC and FSU the last 2 years.

23. Kansas State

Based on what? Beating a terrible Michigan team in the BWW Bowl?

24. Nebraska

Eh, ok. Need to replace majority of OL. Needs QB to step up, and like many teams, "young and athletic."

25. Michigan

This is a joke right? Oh, yeah, I forgot. Gotta have Michigan and Notre Dame ranked for their early season matchup because TV ratings.

 

[killer cacti]

UNC? I don't get that one at all. They come to Death Valley in the first few weeks of the season. We'll see about that.

 

[NUinID]

And you wander why the SEC finishes with every team but Kentucky in the Top 25 at the end of the year. Its bc of preseason polls like this. Georgia and us were identical going into the Gator Bowl last year. Both with some injuries and young athletic defenses. We beat them in their backyard and they are a preseason top 10 and we will probably be unranked. That means they can lose a game and still be ranked higher than us. When UGA and USC play each other early in the year then one of them has to have a quality win bc they will both be top 10. Even if it really isnt the case. It is complete B.S. I know I am beating a dead horse but the only people that seem absolutely blind to this whole concept is SEC fans and ESPN.

You are exactly right. If you look critically at what NU and UGA have back they are close to mirror images of each other in terms of returning starters. NU beat them in the Gator Bowl. It wasn't a fluke they won the game, yet UGA is still thought of as preseason top 10 team.

I have little problem with NU's 24 spot but UGA, Iowa, NC, TT are all ranked to high. TT only gets ranked because Kingsbury is considered some hot new coach. Yet he lost what 6 games in a row last year after feasting on cream puffs.

 

[killer cacti]

I can see UGA ranked up there. Their top two running backs are sick and one was out pretty much the whole year, the other was out a good bit of the year. Plus all the ACL tears they had last year and everyone being back. Clemson goes to UGA the first game of the year, so we'll see who's legit.

 

[Redux]

UNC? I don't get that one at all. They come to Death Valley in the first few weeks of the season. We'll see about that.

No way the Tar Heels win that one.

 

[papersun87]

UNC and Texas Tech are in there as a direct result of the bowl game effect. Texas Tech lost five regular season games in a row . . . but throttled a superior Arizona State team in the Holiday Bowl. UNC won six of their last seven and throttled Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl. Both will be better this year, regardless, but not preseason top 21 better.

And Florida . . . lol. The chinks in the armor showed in 2012 but they were so lucky they scraped together an 11-2 season. 2013 showed who they really were, and installing a no-huddle offense means they're only going to suck faster.

 

[deedsker]

1. FSU, cuz you kinda have to.

2. Auburn, same thing.

3. Oregon

4. Michigan State

5. Oklahoma

6. Clemson

7. Alabama

8. Ohio State

9. Baylor

10. Stanford

11. UCLA

12. South Carolina

13. Wisconsin

14. Nebraska

15. Georgia

16. Central Florida, they have been good for a while

17. Louisville, team was more than Bridgewater

18. LSU

19. Southern Cal

20. Duke

21. Virginia Tech

22. Washington

23. Iowa

24. Missouri

25. Northern Illinois, a nod to last year

 

[sd'sker]

I said Id ALMOST rather not be. And the reason I say that is because of what you alluded to. Id rather our players be pissed about it and work that much harder going into the season.

why do they need extra motivation. isn't winning and not losing motivation enough?

Theres no such thing as too much motivation. Weak try at poking holes.

i do not think it takes much effort to poke holes in an argument that tries to sugarcoat the fact that we struggle to start the year in the top 20 and are unable to finish the year in the top 20.

 

[hskrfan4life]

I can see UGA ranked up there. Their top two running backs are sick and one was out pretty much the whole year, the other was out a good bit of the year. Plus all the ACL tears they had last year and everyone being back. Clemson goes to UGA the first game of the year, so we'll see who's legit.

Please beat the hell out of them! I cant stand Georgia/SEC!

 

[Creighton Duke]

I can see UGA ranked up there. Their top two running backs are sick and one was out pretty much the whole year, the other was out a good bit of the year. Plus all the ACL tears they had last year and everyone being back. Clemson goes to UGA the first game of the year, so we'll see who's legit.

I'm seeing shades of 2003...but what do I know??!!

 

[Redux]

I said Id ALMOST rather not be. And the reason I say that is because of what you alluded to. Id rather our players be pissed about it and work that much harder going into the season.

why do they need extra motivation. isn't winning and not losing motivation enough?

Theres no such thing as too much motivation. Weak try at poking holes.

i do not think it takes much effort to poke holes in an argument that tries to sugarcoat the fact that we struggle to start the year in the top 20 and are unable to finish the year in the top 20.

Do you actually plan on following Nebraska this year or are you just assuming the year is shot and planning "witty" retorts about how the staff isnt getting it done going into 2015?

 

[sd'sker]

Do you actually plan on following Nebraska this year or are you just assuming the year is shot and planning "witty" retorts about how the staff isnt getting it done going into 2015?

seriously? sorry i find it hard to see the silver lining in not being a top 20 team. frankly, i do not care about rankings and really do not believe this team needs any more motivation. but i refuse to feed a delusion that every negative will actually somehow benefit this team. it is what it is. nebraska will either rise to the occasion or not. but if they do, i doubt it will be because they felt slighted by a preseason ranking.

 

[Redux]

Do you actually plan on following Nebraska this year or are you just assuming the year is shot and planning "witty" retorts about how the staff isnt getting it done going into 2015?

seriously? sorry i find it hard to see the silver lining in not being a top 20 team. frankly, i do not care about rankings and really do not believe this team needs any more motivation. but i refuse to feed a delusion that every negative will actually somehow benefit this team. it is what it is. nebraska will either rise to the occasion or not. but if they do, i doubt it will be because they felt slighted by a preseason ranking.

The preseason rankings come fall Ill take a little more seriously. Its only spring. I suppose win or lose COULD be all the motivation a team would need. I guess thats why captains dont push their team mates & coaches dont give inspiring locker room speeches.

Again, whats a little extra motivation going to hurt? And youre kidding yourself if you dont think 18-20somethings dont get upset if they arent perceived in the best way possible.