JTrain

Will my unborn child need to redshirt in 2027? Still too early to say...

I think he'll start right away. I've heard some really good things about him (her?). As long as the birth goes smoothly I expect we'll have a four-year starter type.

I know it's a bit early, but I figured I'd throw it out there. I'll bump it in August.

SUUUUUUUUUUUH

Damn, didn't realize that. The page I was looking at hadn't linked it yet. I guess ND suffered from not being in a conference.

It hurts to see OU #1.

Since NCs are worth 25 points, it's probably safe to say that the top three will be Notre Dame, Alabama and Michigan (not necessarily in that order). Texas, Ohio State, USC, Nebraska and Oklahoma will follow. If I had to guess the order, I would say:

 

1. Notre Dame

2. Michigan

3. Alabama

4. USC

5. Ohio State

6. Oklahoma

7. Nebraska

8. Texas

9. Miami

10. Florida State

 

Of all the rankings and lists that ESPN does, this is one of the more interesting ones.

Wow I was far off. I was going by all-time national title lists, while I didn't read the article closely enough to see they are only including 1936 and beyond. That's pretty genius we're in the top five. I still think ND will end up #1 because of national titles. We'll probably be 4 or 5.

Since NCs are worth 25 points, it's probably safe to say that the top three will be Notre Dame, Alabama and Michigan (not necessarily in that order). Texas, Ohio State, USC, Nebraska and Oklahoma will follow. If I had to guess the order, I would say:

1. Notre Dame

2. Michigan

3. Alabama

4. USC

5. Ohio State

6. Oklahoma

7. Nebraska

8. Texas

9. Miami

10. Florida State

Of all the rankings and lists that ESPN does, this is one of the more interesting ones.

Why does everyone think we will lose at Va Tech? I predict 11-1 - OU is going to be tough with Bradford back.

Where should I start? Virginia Tech beat us last year in Lincoln. They won the ACC Championship and won a BCS bowl. They'll be ranked in the top 15 to start the season, and in the top 5 if they beat Bama. Most importantly, they return their starting QB (who is 13-2, second in VT history to Michael Vick) while we do not. The game is in Blacksburg, where they don't lose too many.

I'm not saying we don't have a chance. A win would be HUGE for us. But any moderately objective outlook should favor VT.

Wow, very detailed stuff, especially for nine months in advance! I think it's safe to say based on those numbers, and the fact that we will be breaking in a new starting QB, we'll have about 50 rushing attempts in that game.

I feel confident about us beating Mizzou now. Daniel, Maclin, Coffman all gone. And their defense takes a big hit, too (only four returning starters).

Time to start a new winning streak in Columbia

Excuse my ignorance, but what was he to begin with? Receiver? Tight end? Safety?

Rothman (FACT), a computer ranking used in the initial BCS, has us ranked #19. So far all the computer rankings I've seen has us in the top 25. We should make it in Billingsley and definitely in Anderson-Hester (we were already #23).

Looks like the humans were too tough on us.

Harris doesn't have a final poll I guess. Billingsley will be out at noon today and AH probably later on in the day.

I'll start:

Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma State

For anyone interested:

Polls

AP Poll: 29

Coaches' Poll: 30

Harris Poll: No post-bowl poll

Computer Rankings

Anderson Hester: 19

Billingsley: 25

Colley: 22

Massey (BCS): 19

Massey (MOV): 18

Sagarin: 23

Sagarin (BCS): 21

Wolfe: 22

Computer average (100 rankings, not just those above): 23

Highest computer ranking - Annar yardage-based rankings: 12

Lowest computer ranking - DKC Sonas Ratings: 59

This game was so frustrating. Oklahoma left at least 10 points on the field in the first half. Then they pissed away most of the second half. Horrible offensive playcalling for most of the game. After the first quarter they stopped trying to test Florida deep. The running game was good, but at some point you have to test the secondary. By the time they tried they were down 10 and Florida was able to play it safe defensively.

To top it off, effing Tim Tebow gets all the credit. Tebow didn't make a 4th and Goal stop from the one. Tebow didn't intercept a pass at the two at the end of the half. Tebow didn't block a field goal. Tebow didn't make a great interception to halt an OU drive in Florida territory. Tebow didn't slip stupid pills in Kevin Wilson's drink (did he?).

Tebow had a good game. Good. Nothing more. Made a few nice throws but overall he didn't have to do anything heroic. Oklahoma did a good enough job of hurting themselves.

Then the announcer says he's one of the top five CFB players of all-time??? Oh my god, please. Amazing competitor, good passer, good runner. Maybe in the top 50. Maybe.

I forgot Bill Jennings.

It's a real close call between Dan Alexander and Jammal Lord.

top 10 will be a stretch. I dont see Mu or NE being ranked to start the year and if they are it wont be higher than #20. Almost every top 25 team will go 4-0 in noncon so even if you are ranked the only way to climb is too absolutly kill the teams you play. The only way NE is top ten after their first 6 is if they start in the low teens and atleast 1 of MU/TT/VT have a top 25 team or higher.

Well, there tons of variables that will come into play of course, but if VT beats Bama (a possibility considering the quarterback situations), the Hokies will be ranked in the top ten for sure. I imagine Missouri will be ranked between 20 and 25 to start the season as you predict. Nebraska will be right around 25. If you beat a top ten team and a top 20 team (both on the road) and you start right around the end up the poll, you will almost certainly be in the top ten at 6-0. Bama is the perfect example this year. They start out at #24, beat #9 Clemson and jump all the way to #13 immediately! By the time they were 6-0 they were up to #2. So I'd be willing to bet you if Nebraska is 6-0, they'll be in the top ten. Of course, in all likelihood we won't be 6-0. But if we are, no doubt we'll be top ten. Probably even top five if VT beats Bama and Mizzou beats Illinois.

Don't forget we will have beaten 5-0 Texas Tech too, who at the point will probably have been ranked in the top 15.

I just realized Virginia Tech is part of the NCAA's plan to bring back exciting games at neutral fields to kick off the season (sort of like the old Kickoff Classic, except these will be worked into the 12-game schedule instead of added on). I think it's pretty sweet. The two that I'm aware of for next season are BYU vs. Oklahoma at the new Cowboys stadium, and Alabama vs. Virginia Tech in the Georgia Dome. That should be a great game, and if the Hokies win, they'll be ranked pretty high when we come to Blacksburg.

For being in the Big 12, our schedule's actually very favorable next year. No Texas or Okie St. (both should be legitimate top ten teams), while OU and Texas Tech are both at home. The worst part about our schedule is the order of it. Witt won't be able to ease into the role with road trips to VT and Mizzou in the first five games.

If by some modern day miracle we end up 6-0 after the first half of the season, we will be ranked in the top ten, and suddenly the Oklahoma game becomes monumental.

I know, I know, it's never been in a pressure-packed situation (except for the Gator Bowl... and we won't talk about that) and he has probably run the simplest plays in the book, but just considering the basics (taking the snap, making hand-offs, running in the open field, etc.) he looks promising to me

 

Witt's looked promising taking the snap?

 

He'll be better, I'm sure. Just needed to get those out of his system. It'll be an interesting QB battle for sure.

Well that's embarrassing. I guess my memory is getting worse.

Thats a BIG if. I love you guys, but you can't spend the last year telling everyone just how great Ganz is. Going on and on about if he was in a different conference he would be one of the top QB's in the country. Then turn around and pretend like someone who has never seen the field, or a true freshman for that matter will pick up where he left off.

Yes we can. As long as we admit to doing just that: pretending.

If Suh comes back (Where's the praying smiley?) our defense is going to be top 20 material. Our D-line should be absolutely awesome with Turner back and (hopefully) the Young Monster Steinkuhler contributing. Our linebacker corp will be improved from post-Glenn '08, with Dillard hopefully back to pre-injury status. Can someone fill me in on Latravis Washington? Think he will grab the starting position at OLB?

Our secondary has a ton of potential. Three returning starters. Rickey T and Asante can be excellent safeties with a little more off-season work on the fundamentals. Physically they have all the right tools. Anthony West was, IMO, the most improved player on our team over the course of the '08 season. Prince and Hagg are both getting better as well. We might even see a true freshman contributing since we hit that area pretty hard in recruiting.

I'm optimistic about Witt. He's looked fluent and under control running the offense when he's gotten the chance. I know, I know, it's never been in a pressure-packed situation (except for the Gator Bowl... and we won't talk about that) and he has probably run the simplest plays in the book, but just considering the basics (taking the snap, making hand-offs, running in the open field, etc.) he looks promising to me. I don't expect him to be as good as Joey, or certainly not in the first 6-7 games, but he should be adequate. The real test will be in avoiding costly interceptions. If he can do that our defense will keep us in a lot of games.

Junior and a revived Castille return in the backfield, so no worries there. And our O-line is supposed to be a strength, according to the experts (but they've been wrong plenty of times before). Receiver is the biggest question mark position on either side of the ball. We're gonna need somebody to step up. Now on to the predictions:

FAU - Solid team, won a bowl game against CMU. Witt would have to go all Joe Dailey on us to give them a chance. I think we win comfortably, although it might not be pretty. W 34-17

Arkansas St. - I don't know anything about them, so I won't pretend to. They're Arkansas State, though... they can't be that good. But they did beat the aforementioned FAU, and Texas A&M this season. W 38-14

@ Virginia Tech - Uh-oh. This one will be tough. T-Mobile is back and Blacksburg will be rockin'. Let's hope Witt is in the Accelerated Learning Program. L 17-20

ULL - W 35-21

@ Missouri - I don't think Maclin has decided yet. Maybe I should wait on this. But I have a good feeling about it. I'll go ahead and be a homer... W 37-31

Texas Tech - We've lost three straight against these bastards. Two absolute HEARTBREAKERS, and one absolute BLOWOUT. I expect a real close game. Hopefully they're QB will actually have a down year for once. W 31-28

Iowa State - How many more coaches will have passed through Ames by this point? Who knows? Who cares? W 31-6

@ Baylor - Griffin will hurt us, but if we at least contain him for the majority of the game, we should be golden. Who knows, though... could be another close one. W 28-21

Oklahoma - Even two-inch thick rose-colored glasses couldn't make me predict a Husker win. Oklahoma is the king until somebody shows me otherwise. That being said, I will be sure to wear my three-inch thick rose-colored glasses to the game and scream my head off. L 30-21

@ Kansas - This is gonna be a great game. Hopefully I can get tickets... never been there. It's a toss-up really. W 27-26

Kansas St. - Snyder's back but he's got a real mess to deal with. Freeman is gone. They're in trouble. W 39-14

@ Colorado - These games are usually way too close for comfort. I'd love to stomp them but I think it'll be close. Henery kicks the game winning FG as time expires... W 30-28

Yup, I predict us to go 10-2.

Can you post your video of the video?

Do we deserve to be in the Top 25? Who knows? The computers are your best bet at finding an accurate answer, and most of them will stick us between 20 and 28, generally towards the latter if they consider margin of victory (none of the BCS computers are allowed to).

Will we be in the Top 25? No. Not unless a whole bunch of pollsters suddenly reevaluate us. We are 33rd at the moment. The majority of the teams directly above us won. We'll jump ahead of ECU and BC. We probably jump #23 Ball St., but Northwestern is uncertain. Even with Northwestern that puts us as 29. You'd have to hope to get by #19 Michigan St., #18 Pitt, #17 BYU, AND #14 Georgia Tech. Those teams all lost, but that's a LONG way for us to jump (or them to drop), and considering we only slipped by unranked Clemson, you have to assume we aren't going to leapfrog that much. I would expect to see us at #28.

All that said, pollsters are pretty dumb, and you never know what type of nonsense logic will be used to calculate their votes. So I suppose there is still hope.