2015 FBS Polls

[wizards8507]

I don't see a signature win on the schedule that would impress many people. USC and Stanford are guaranteed at least 2 losses if we beat them both, and each will more than likely finish with 3-4 losses and a very low ranking.

Most importantly, us beating them would be a nonconference loss, meaning they still compete for the Pac 12. Our path to the playoff is much more realistic if either of them is the conference champion.

 

[shalom]

Kinda seems like the best case scenario

Yeah as far as the rankings they were fair. You have all undefeateds ahead of ND except 'Bama and an Ole Miss team that was ahead of ND in last week's standings. You could argue ND in front of Ole Miss and in front or behind Northwestern the very worst undefeated team, but ND is right where I predicted after the loss, including being bracketed by NW.

If they had to drop one of these games, this is probably the best spot for them to have dropped one... before the BCS rankings come around and the politics & fudging trying to classify a bunch of 1 loss teams. Slip ND in behind the undefeateds and let them work back up. There's no denying of course you just put yourself in a tough spot losing one you coulda shoulda won...

bcoz as far as ND controlling anything, they do not. They certainly have a chance, and have a lot to play for but it's going to depend a lot on circumstance.

- MSU or OSU will almost certainly take 1 spot.
- SEC winner will take 1 spot (regardless of 1 or 2 losses)
- someone from the Big 12 will be in, whether TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma etc

for the last spot if someone like Utah wins out and ND wins out, Utah is in. It could actually come down to Clemson taking ND's spot if they run the rest of that weak schedule, or possibly FSU the team that beat the team that beat ND.

The kicker is that IMO Clemson really didn't look like that good a team. It looked like a team inferior to ND that got off to a quick start (to their credit) at home in horrible conditions and survived. I really respect the ability to come out and just punch a team in the mouth and seize the initiative but that Clemson team is not better than ND.

But the real question is if Clemson loses the only difficult game they have left, and ND runs the table. Who do you put in? To me, putting in a team that lost head to head is total bullshit, even with the mitigating circumstances. Keep in mind that what the Chinese call "Fortune" or fate is very much part of the game. I mean ND itself was 1 catch away from a horrible loss to Virginia, I definitely think ND should have won last night but you only get a certain number of those.

 

[drayer54]

- MSU or OSU will almost certainly take 1 spot.
- SEC winner will take 1 spot (regardless of 1 or 2 losses)
- someone from the Big 12 will be in, whether TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma etc

I agree with all, but this.

I think Northwestern or Michigan pick off the two crowned Big Ten teams and push all 4 teams into being one loss teams.

I'm not certain a two loss SEC team jumps a one loss team either, even if it is Nick the Chosen One.

Yes, TCU v Baylor winner (likely the Frog) will be in.

 

[IrishinSyria]

I don't think so...

We need help now.

I can see the SEC beating each other up and having a two loss champ. That would be good.

Same with the PAC.

Between um/NW/MSU/OSU, I think the Big 10 becomes a mess too.

all is not lost, but we need help.

We'll get help. I don't thin there are 4 undefeated teams this year...

I like an 11-1 ND to make the playoffs.

I think our odds of finishing 11-1 are about 50/50.

 

[GoIrish41]

We'll get help. I don't thin there are 4 undefeated teams this year...

I like an 11-1 ND to make the playoffs.

I think our odds of finishing 11-1 are about 50/50.

I think there a dozen teams above us who lose one before the season ends. We just need to win. We can still make the playoffs if we don't lose anymore games. Hope these kids learn from this game and apply the lessons to compete with the better teams we have left .... And take care of business against everyone else.

 

[wizards8507]

AP Top 25

1 Ohio State(38) 5-0 1444 —
2 TCU(5) 5-0 1371 2
3 Baylor(10) 4-0 1364 2
4 Michigan State 5-0 1291 2
5 Utah(7) 4-0 1254 5
6 Clemson 4-0 1217 6
7 LSU 4-0 1212 2
8 Alabama 4-1 1026 5
9 Texas A&M(1) 5-0 1009 5
10 Oklahoma 4-0 976 5
11 Florida 5-0 935 14
12 Florida State 4-0 922 1
13 Northwestern 5-0 753 3
14 Ole Miss 4-1 731 11
15 Notre Dame 4-1 721 9

Ole Miss drops 11, Florida rise 14! Overall positive 3 trend.

ND drops 9, Clemson rises 6. (We lost on a bad 2 pt conversion call.) Overall negative 3 trend in movement between the two teams.

"No SEC slant." My fucking ass.

I'd respectfully ask you to consider the Alabama - Georgia game. I believe the net change there was -6, more than offsetting the +3 of the Florida - Ole Miss game.

Further, our drop was only half due to the loss to Clemson. We're also seeing some consequences of the continued failure of Texas, Georgia Tech, and Virginia.

 

[GATTACA!]

I think there a dozen teams above us who lose one before the season ends. We just need to win. We can still make the playoffs if we don't lose anymore games. Hope these kids learn from this game and apply the lessons to compete with the better teams we have left .... And take care of business against everyone else.

Agreed. The important thing was staying in front of the majority of the other 1 loss teams. The teams ahead of us will drop behind us with their first loss, but you don't wanna get in a situation where you have to try and pass teams just based on quality of wins if everyone continues to win.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Complaining about being at #15 right now with the SPS schedule we've played is just sour grapes. Yeah, it looked hard going into the season but Texas/UVA/G Tech/UMASS have all been garbage. I don't think Clemson's all that great.

 

[ThePiombino]

Not sure why you guys are bitching about two polls that don't mean shit anymore lol

 

[MNIrishman]

Not sure why you guys are bitching about two polls that don't mean shit anymore lol

Because they directly influence the people calling the real shots.

 

[phgreek]

I'd respectfully ask you to consider the Alabama - Georgia game. I believe the net change there was -6, more than offsetting the +3 of the Florida - Ole Miss game.

Further, our drop was only half due to the loss to Clemson. We're also seeing some consequences of the continued failure of Texas, Georgia Tech, and Virginia.

ND needs Clemson to win the ACC at this point. Clemson is going to lose to Ga tech...just watch.

 

[ThePiombino]

Because they directly influence the people calling the real shots.

Then that's a whole other issue. These polls should have no bearing on the CFP committee.

 

[BGIF]

Then that's a whole other issue. These polls should have no bearing on the CFP committee.

"The jury will disregard those comments"

They don't all do that, do they?

 

[wizards8507]

ND needs Clemson to win the ACC at this point. Clemson is going to lose to Ga tech...just watch.

We don't NEED Clemson to win the ACC, but it would be nice. Let's say FSU and Ohio State go undefeated. Then Alabama as the 12-1 SEC champion. That's three playoff spots. We beat both Stanford and USC, but one of them wins the Pac 12 with two losses. If we're 11-1, it comes down to us or a likely 11-1 Big 12 champion. Considering their wins against the likes of Lamar, I think the committee goes with us.

 

[drayer54]

I bet Alabama doesn't clear A&M or LSU.

I think LSU is the team to beat, but even they may fall.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Let's be realistic. ND won't win out. But I'll be ecstatic to go 10-2 and go to a New Years six bowl and get a win.


Sent via tapatalk

 

[phork]

Let's be realistic. ND won't win out. But I'll be ecstatic to go 10-2 and go to a New Years six bowl and get a win.


Sent via tapatalk

Why do you say that? Frankly on any field minus te torrential down pour we can just about beat anyone.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Complaining about being at #15 right now with the SPS schedule we've played is just sour grapes. Yeah, it looked hard going into the season but Texas/UVA/G Tech/UMASS have all been garbage. I don't think Clemson's all that great.

Spot on.

 

[nsisk157]

Complaining about being at #15 right now with the SPS schedule we've played is just sour grapes. Yeah, it looked hard going into the season but Texas/UVA/G Tech/UMASS have all been garbage. I don't think Clemson's all that great.

this

 

[Old Man Mike]

It will be the BIG12 champ + the B1G champ + the SEC champ because that is how all the irrational sentiment is going this year and there are not enough good data points cross conferences to stop that. The only thing which would change that emotion would be if one conference had no team with less than two losses. I'm betting against that.

Then comes the fourth spot. We can eliminate the PAC12 by beating the team who ultimately wins it, but not if Utah runs the table. We need Utah to lose and probably Stanford to win. Then it's down to us and the ACC. I cannot see the committee picking us over Clemson. I believe that we need a [at least] one-loss champ who is not Clemson. Our 11-1 then might look better than their 11-1 [or worse].

Frankly, if we go 11-1 and do not get into the play-off, but win a very good bowl game [preferably against an SEC team again] I will be VERY happy with the season. But we have a very hard road yet to go. Every one of our future opponents has shown that they have at least some toughness to them. [even Wake put up a fight]. Given our body blow schedule I'll be surprised if we don't get several more injuries --- praying against it, but............

 

[wizards8507]

It will be the BIG12 champ + the B1G champ + the SEC champ because that is how all the irrational sentiment is going this year and there are not enough good data points cross conferences to stop that. The only thing which would change that emotion would be if one conference had no team with less than two losses. I'm betting against that.

Then comes the fourth spot. We can eliminate the PAC12 by beating the team who ultimately wins it, but not if Utah runs the table. We need Utah to lose and probably Stanford to win. Then it's down to us and the ACC. I cannot see the committee picking us over Clemson. I believe that we need a [at least] one-loss champ who is not Clemson. Our 11-1 then might look better than their 11-1 [or worse].

Frankly, if we go 11-1 and do not get into the play-off, but win a very good bowl game [preferably against an SEC team again] I will be VERY happy with the season. But we have a very hard road yet to go. Every one of our future opponents has shown that they have at least some toughness to them. [even Wake put up a fight]. Given our body blow schedule I'll be surprised if we don't get several more injuries --- praying against it, but............

The Big 12 you think, really? They're garbage.

 

[IrishCat]

Why do you say that? Frankly on any field minus te torrential down pour we can just about beat anyone.

Well, should the Irish get there... the good news is that 2 of the 3 college football playoff games this season will be indoors (or can be, the way stadiums can open/close nowadays)... bad news is the one that isn't is a return to the scene of the crime (January 2013).

2015-2016 college football playoff schedule, bowl schedule

College Football Playoff schedule

College Football Playoff at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Semifinal No. 1
Dec. 31
Arlington, Texas | AT&T Stadium
4 or 8 p.m. on ESPN

College Football Playoff at the Capital One Orange Bowl: Semifinal No. 2
Dec. 31
Miami Gardens, Florida | Sun Life Stadium
4 or 8 p.m. on ESPN

College Football Playoff National Championship
Jan. 11
Glendale, Arizona | University of Phoenix Stadium
8:30 p.m. on ESPN

 

[drayer54]

The Big 12 you think, really? They're garbage.

They can't shut down TCU/Baylor two years in a row. I'm sure the Frogs doing awful and unnatural things to Ole Miss last year earned them some sort of pass too.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

They can't shut down TCU/Baylor two years in a row. I'm sure the Frogs doing awful and unnatural things to Ole Miss last year earned them some sort of pass too.

The PAC looks like they are going to cannibalize themselves, and the champ will probably have 3 losses, they are out IMO.

CFP will be SEC, B1G, B12, and ACC champ. ND will be in the Fiesta Bowl against some crappy team that runs the table, like Memphis.

 

[ickythump1225]

...Florida is really well coached, but they'd get slammed by UGA, and Ole Miss is a complete fraud.

You serious bro? UGA is a mess right now at QB. Their two QBs make the blessed St. Tommy (the) Rees(us) look like a hall of famer. Florida's defense is freaking legit, probably top 3 or 4 in the country and if Grier ends up being the truth they're a team that can play with anybody.

 

[ickythump1225]

The PAC looks like they are going to cannibalize themselves, and the champ will probably have 3 losses, they are out IMO.

CFP will be SEC, B1G, B12, and ACC champ. ND will be in the Fiesta Bowl against some crappy team that runs the table, like Memphis.

You know what...I would definitely take that in a heartbeat. I'd take some group of 5 team in a big bowl game and wax them all day long. Yeah if we're left out of the playoff at 11-1 I'd be a bit upset, but at this point I just want to win at the very least 10-11 games and get a big bowl win. I don't want drama, I don't want a late season meltdown, I don't want to buttsecksed in the postseason, I just want a big bowl win and some positive vibes going into the off season.

 

[phgreek]

You serious bro? UGA is a mess right now at QB. Their two QBs make the blessed St. Tommy (the) Rees(us) look like a hall of famer. Florida's defense is freaking legit, probably top 3 or 4 in the country and if Grier ends up being the truth they're a team that can play with anybody.

Lambert is good. If UGA doesn't go mental, and melt down, they will smack Florida around on Halloween night...Don't measure UGA based on BAMA-Ole MIss...That BAMA team isn't the same team that lost to Ole Miss...Bama is playing angry/focused...they are going to hurt people here on out.

Don't get me wrong...I think Mcelwain is awesome, but that Florida team isn't ready for a top tier SEC team (Ole Miss ain't it either)...much less two in a row (LSU then UGA). They will leave October with 2 Ls....maybe 3 if Missouri plays well.

 

[ulukinatme]

I don't think Clemson's all that great.

I honestly don't think they are. People can call that sour grapes, and Clemson can certainly beat their chest, but lets be realistic here. We were in their house in a night game. They took every opportunity to twist player's words, no matter how small, to manufacture bulletin board material. They had over 2 weeks to prepare and rest after a soft start. They were hyped for this game, much in the way Arizona State was last year (Sun Devils had people camped out several days before the game). Not going to use the weather as an excuse as both teams had to deal with it. All that, and they nearly had to play us in overtime while we fielded what was our 3rd string QB in the spring, 3rd string RB, and a handful of other 2nd teamers from other injuries.

On top of that they got pretty damn lucky on basically all 3 of their TDs. They got that fast start on the 1st drive as they were feeding off the tempo and the crowd insanity to catch us with our pants down. 2nd drive was one that came off the botched kick, so they started at our 40 and were still riding high at the beginning of the game. After that things settled down in a big way and they basically were shut down until halftime when they came out of the gate with that QB keeper after the turnover in our own territory. So, we gifted them 2 of the 3 TDs. They didn't really have a bunch of impressive drives. We came back from being down 21-3 and made it a game despite 4 turnovers. That's impressive. Our own mistakes cost us the game between the turnovers, dumb penalties, and drops. Clemson won, but they certainly didn't look that great doing it. We just looked sloppy.

 

[ickythump1225]

Lambert is good. If UGA doesn't go mental, and melt down, they will smack Florida around on Halloween night...Don't measure UGA based on BAMA-Ole MIss...That BAMA team isn't the same team that lost to Ole Miss...Bama is playing angry/focused...they are going to hurt people here on out.

Don't get me wrong...I think Mcelwain is awesome, but that Florida team isn't ready for a top tier SEC team (Ole Miss ain't it either)...much less two in a row (LSU then UGA). They will leave October with 2 Ls....maybe 3 if Missouri plays well.

Lambert isn't good, he looked serviceable against some bad competition. He looked downright bad against Vandy and then looked decent against USCe and Georgia Southern...excuse me if I'm not blown away.

I'll never understand the UGA hype around the country. I lived an hour away from that campus for years and I've seen plenty of that program. They're the biggest choke artists in the country save maybe Tennessee. This year's UGA team is a less good version of last year's team that got smoked by Florida at the Cocktail Party (and this is a better version of last year's Florida team this year). UGA still, after a decade and a half of Richt, cannot stop the run. UF should be able to run the ball down their throats.

I'm not saying it is impossible or even improbable for UGA to beat Florida, just that it's silly to say that UF "isn't ready" for UGA. That is laughable. Ole Piss is better than UGA. I don't care if OM "got lucky" in beating Alabama or Alabama "beat themselves," all the luck in the world wasn't going to let UGA leave Sanford Stadium with a "W" against 'Bama.

But I know the UGA script: 1) come into the season with absurdly high, overinflated expectations and rankings.
2) UGA fans commence s**t talking like they're the 1985 Bears defense combined with the 2007 Patriots offense. Talk about Mark Richt like he's second only to Jesus.
3) wet themselves over how awesome whatever RB they have that year, talk about how he is definitely the second coming of Herschel Walker
4) blow out some FCS schools and bottom tier SEC schools to get the hype to pandemonium levels
5) get blown out by first good SEC school you face
6) firing Richt becomes a heated debate in Georgia diving families in a way no conflict has in the south since the Civil War. Richt backers talk about how down he is with Jesus and what a "clean program" he runs to defend him, despite UGA leading the arrest report every season.
7) temper expectations
8) who we kidding? We're talking about UGA fans, they never temper expectations
9) blow out some more scrub teams, revive talk of impending National Championship
10) lose second game of the season in some choke artist fashion
11) lose faith in Richt again until you win your bowl game against some mid-level B1G team.
12) repeat steps 1-11 annually

 

[wizards8507]

They can't shut down TCU/Baylor two years in a row.

OSU winning the whole thing last year completely validated that decision. TCU and Baylor did this to themselves by opening with Lamar, SMU, Rice, and Stephen F. Austin.