2025 Polls and Rankings
- Thread starter Mavric
- Start date
Toe
All-American
1) Ohio St
2) Penn St
3) Oregon
4) Michigan
5) Indiana
6) Illinois
7) Nebraska
8) USC
9) Iowa
10) Washington
11) Minnesota
12) Rutgers
13) Wisconsin
14) UCLA
15) Michigan St
16) Maryland
17) Northwestern
18) Purdue
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admo
Heisman Trophy Winner
I don't think PSU is a dominant team, but it looks like a down year in the B1G. If they are going to win a conf title, this is the only year to do it. If they can get past Dan Lanning.
But, for this year PSU has everything to win the conference.
Currently I have the top looking like this:
1. Oregon
2. PSU
3. OSU
4. Illinois
5. tie: USC, Indiana, Huskers
The Huskers have an easy schedule and good talent/coaching returning. As long as they don't turn the ball over and **** it up like usual - 7-2 in conference as a ceiling is a real thing, but most likely 6-3. Same with USC, Indiana & Michigan. I don't think Iowa or Wisconsin will win more than 5 of 9 in conference play. But, they could prove me wrong (and all of us). Have to see it happen this year though.
But, for this year PSU has everything to win the conference.
Currently I have the top looking like this:
1. Oregon
2. PSU
3. OSU
4. Illinois
5. tie: USC, Indiana, Huskers
The Huskers have an easy schedule and good talent/coaching returning. As long as they don't turn the ball over and **** it up like usual - 7-2 in conference as a ceiling is a real thing, but most likely 6-3. Same with USC, Indiana & Michigan. I don't think Iowa or Wisconsin will win more than 5 of 9 in conference play. But, they could prove me wrong (and all of us). Have to see it happen this year though.
admo
Heisman Trophy Winner
YetiJR
Five-Star Recruit
They lost like 17 starters from their ship team, including their entire DL, 3 OL members, both star backs, their QB and a few DBs. They're also with a brand new OC, DC, OL & DL coaches.
I guess will see how Sayin plays and the new coaches transitions, but that's sounding like it could be a down year for what they're used to.
deedsker
All-Conference
Honestly this is the year, if it will ever be a year, for PSU. tOSU got hit both in players and coordinators (didn't realize Chip was gone until I heard it again a couple weeks ago). Lanning has built a good program, but this is the first reload and we will see how well he has done that. My estimation is:
1.PSU (Most returning production and added Knowles)
2. Oregon (Still think Lanning has it, but fewer question marks compared to tSOU)
3. tOSU (This is blind trust in Day, any other coach in the conference and they would mu lower)
4. USC (Riley has gotten so many qb's to work I would assume he keeps that going)
5. Illinois (Returning production and overachieving by Brett)
6. Michigan (Who knows, they probably look similar to Nebraska last year with Dylan)
7. Nebraska (Don't have the same talent as Michigan, but more seasoned QB, we would be higher if we weren't Nebraska)
8. Iowa (I will believe the offense when I see it)
9. Indiana (Doesn't have his whole roster from JMU and they aren't an unknown anymore)
10. Wisconsin (Still could be a great team, but schedule works against them showing that they could be better)
11. Minnesota (Row the boat and plug the hole or sink)
12. Washington (Shrug)
13. UCLA (Mixed bag in first year but not a complete washout)
14. Rutgers (Schiano has done well with little)
15. Michigan State (Can be good in time, not sure on talent)
16. Maryland (Shrug)
17. Purdue (Shrug)
18. Northwestern (Shrug)
1.PSU (Most returning production and added Knowles)
2. Oregon (Still think Lanning has it, but fewer question marks compared to tSOU)
3. tOSU (This is blind trust in Day, any other coach in the conference and they would mu lower)
4. USC (Riley has gotten so many qb's to work I would assume he keeps that going)
5. Illinois (Returning production and overachieving by Brett)
6. Michigan (Who knows, they probably look similar to Nebraska last year with Dylan)
7. Nebraska (Don't have the same talent as Michigan, but more seasoned QB, we would be higher if we weren't Nebraska)
8. Iowa (I will believe the offense when I see it)
9. Indiana (Doesn't have his whole roster from JMU and they aren't an unknown anymore)
10. Wisconsin (Still could be a great team, but schedule works against them showing that they could be better)
11. Minnesota (Row the boat and plug the hole or sink)
12. Washington (Shrug)
13. UCLA (Mixed bag in first year but not a complete washout)
14. Rutgers (Schiano has done well with little)
15. Michigan State (Can be good in time, not sure on talent)
16. Maryland (Shrug)
17. Purdue (Shrug)
18. Northwestern (Shrug)
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SuperBigFan69
Head Coach
I like this.
Indiana is going to be lame.
I would put Washington ahead of Wisky. Wisky is going to miss a lame bowl game again.
PJ wanted out of Minny badly but also realizes he is at a place with no expectations and a nice paycheck. I think he and that lame AD will be content with 6 win seasons.
deedsker
All-Conference
I put mine in order of if everyone played each other and where you would slot. Wisconsin at 4-8 or 5-7 could still be better than a 7-5 or 6-6 Washington. I think Fickell has a better chance at righting the ship than Washington looking very soft in a lot of games and scraping wins from the bottom of the league.
Minnesota is just solid. PJ seems to get all the orange juice out of his squeezes, he just is very annoying while he does it. Personality aside, he is a good coach who puts together solid teams. I don't think his personality unlocks the next level of talent to stay around to get him to the elite level, but the floor is pretty high.
SuperBigFan69
Head Coach
I think Minny is stuck, similar to Iowa. PJ is basically a young Kirk/Kurt (No one knows what his name is).
So now the AD at Minny has to answer the question that the Iowa AD said "Yes" to years ago...Are the fans cool with lame bowl games and 7 wins, 8 wins if the schedule is really soft and 9 wins if the schedule is a total joke.
The issue for Minny is that they are not fake-tied into a game with ISU each year, like Iowa claims to be and there are no more divisions, which means Minny (or Iowa) could end up with that schedule of OSU, PSU and Oregon.
Like you said and just like Kirk/Kurt, PJ won't get to that next level. But the AD needs to see if the gopher fans are okay with that or not. The Iowa fans are totally fine with it.
Husker_In_WI
Guest
I can't stand either coach, but I think our fanbase underrates both of them based on how annoying they are. I don't think they're super comparable though - Ferentz's years 4-6 at Iowa were all top-10 finishes. Despite frequently being used as the model of consistency he's actually had more ups and downs than PJ (although time will tell whether that holds long term), but he's shown the ability to build top 10-15 teams since then as well. PJ has been pretty darn consistent, but his 2019 looks more like a perfect storm than something you can expect them to repeat.
So I agree with you to some degree on PJ - he's probably an 8 win coach, and they have to ask if they are ok with that. Iowa has as many 10+ win seasons as they do 8 win seasons in the last 10 years (not counting a 6-2 2020 where non-con games certainly would have gotten them to 9 wins), so you're selling them short as much as I hate to admit that. And 10 wins in the Big Ten will get you into the playoff some years.
SuperBigFan69
Head Coach
I get what you are saying but Iowa (and minny) are only winning more than 8 games in those seasons where they don't play anyone,
Iowa will probably never have another 10 win season in their history.
Winning will fix everything. I am beating a proverbial dead horse, but am tired of winning the pre-season. Just win baby. We look great on paper. Capable of being a top tier team. Although rated #7 isn't bad and shows some respect with a dash of hope. My biggest fear, going into year 3, is the "Rhule's team turnaround in year 3". I hope it's true, but our top talent looks more stout than what Temple or Baylor faced, but NU wasn't as rough as though 2 programs either. This is a great schedule to have a coming out season in for sure.
admo
Heisman Trophy Winner
Disagree about Indiana.
They have 3 tough games - Oregon, Illinois, PSU. Toss in Iowa & Wisconsin if you will, but those 2 games are winnable.
Fernando Mendoza will get teh job done at QB within the scheme. Cuban/Miami transfer QB from Cal.
I don't like Cignetti. Husker fans and College football fans don't like his arrogance. But he wins and his players take on his personality, which is a winner-mentality.
I have Indiana equal with USC & Huskers (6-3 conference). Indiana's non-con is a cupcake 3 win practice session. That's 9 wins. Even if just 8 wins - that's not lame. See Purdue for that title.
SuperBigFan69
Head Coach
My guess is that Indiana will drop 5+ games this year. I just can't see them being a consistent 9 win team.Disagree about Indiana.
They have 3 tough games - Oregon, Illinois, PSU. Toss in Iowa & Wisconsin if you will, but those 2 games are winnable.
Fernando Mendoza will get teh job done at QB within the scheme. Cuban/Miami transfer QB from Cal.
I don't like Cignetti. Husker fans and College football fans don't like his arrogance. But he wins and his players take on his personality, which is a winner-mentality.
I have Indiana equal with USC & Huskers (6-3 conference). Indiana's non-con is a cupcake 3 win practice session. That's 9 wins. Even if just 8 wins - that's not lame. See Purdue for that title.