2015 FBS Polls

[KPENN]

Iowa is not terrible. They have a very good offensive line, running game, and defense. They aren't explosive, but Bethard is taking care of the ball and is deceptively mobile.

Are they actually a top 10 team? I don't think so. Strength of schedule is 37, which is not nearly as low as people want to make it out to be. And if Northwestern is bad, what happened to Stanford?

12est kick. I'm 100% convinced that if that game is at 3:30 est or later Stanford wins, easily.

 

[koonja]

Last year at this time, OSU was ranked #16. We're 9th. Just win baby.

 

[NDRock]

I didn't realize Bama and LSU play basically no one other than each other. Pretty sure the winner of that game is going to the playoffs.

Ideally, Old Miss wins out and takes the SEC West.

 

[BGIF]

12est kick. I'm 100% convinced that if that game is at 3:30 est or later Stanford wins, easily.

Zeitgebers!

 

[philipm31]

12est kick. I'm 100% convinced that if that game is at 3:30 est or later Stanford wins, easily.

Utter BS that kickoff had anything to do with that outcome. That is a mental crutch and has literally no bearing on team performance. Let us please stop saying that.

Because everyone on here will stay say that should keep STAN out of the CFP even if they win their conference.

You have to just give Northwestern credit for beating Stanford, and credit Stanford for improving since then.

 

[KPENN]

Utter BS that kickoff had anything to do with that outcome. That is a mental crutch and has literally no bearing on team performance. Let us please stop saying that.

Because everyone on here will stay say that should keep STAN out of the CFP even if they win their conference.

You have to just give Northwestern credit for beating Stanford, and credit Stanford for improving since then.

I'm not even going to bother arguing with you on this. It absolutely was a factor. It's been proven in the nfl with west coast teams coming east and kicking at 1est.

 

[IrishinSyria]

eh, playing NU early in the year is a bigger x-factor than time of kick-off.

 

[stlnd01]

Yeah. I don't think losing to Northwestern on the road in the first game of the year costs Stanford anything. If that's their only loss, they should be in. Same for 'Bama losing to Ole Miss.

Sucks, but we will need some help here, because we win out and all favorites hold serve, the playoffs sure look like:
Undefeated OSU/Sparty winner
Undefeated Baylor/TCU winner
One-loss/undefeated Bama/LSU winner
Undefeated Clemson (or FSU if they win that game)

It would be hard to argue against any of them. And we'd on the outside wishing we hadn't turned the ball over four times in the rain on the road.

The good news is favorites never always hold serve in college football. So biggest thing for us is taking care of our own business, ideally in impressive fashion.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Yeah. I don't think losing to Northwestern on the road in the first game of the year costs Stanford anything. If that's their only loss, they should be in. Same for 'Bama losing to Ole Miss.

Sucks, but we will need some help here, because we win out and all favorites hold serve, the playoffs sure look like:
Undefeated OSU/Sparty winner
Undefeated Baylor/TCU winner
One-loss/undefeated Bama/LSU winner
Undefeated Clemson (or FSU if they win that game)

It would be hard to argue against any of them. And we'd on the outside wishing we hadn't turned the ball over four times in the rain on the road.

The good news is favorites never always hold serve in college football. So biggest thing for us is taking care of our own business, ideally in impressive fashion.

And/or (1) that we were in the ACC and had another shot at Clemson, or (2) that the playoff had eight teams. One of those is going to have to happen eventually, I think (preferably the latter).

 

[phork]

Yeah. I don't think losing to Northwestern on the road in the first game of the year costs Stanford anything. If that's their only loss, they should be in. Same for 'Bama losing to Ole Miss.

Sucks, but we will need some help here, because we win out and all favorites hold serve, the playoffs sure look like:
Undefeated OSU/Sparty winner
Undefeated Baylor/TCU winner
One-loss/undefeated Bama/LSU winner
Undefeated Clemson (or FSU if they win that game)

It would be hard to argue against any of them. And we'd on the outside wishing we hadn't turned the ball over four times in the rain on the road.

The good news is favorites never always hold serve in college football. So biggest thing for us is taking care of our own business, ideally in impressive fashion.

With Barrett at QB I expect OSU to ass hammer the rest of the teams on their schedule. I see TCU beating Baylor and Oklahoma beating both. I think LSU beats Bama but loses the rematch with Florida in the SEC championship.
I also want Clemson to run the table.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Yeah. I don't think losing to Northwestern on the road in the first game of the year costs Stanford anything. If that's their only loss, they should be in. Same for 'Bama losing to Ole Miss.

Sucks, but we will need some help here, because we win out and all favorites hold serve, the playoffs sure look like:
Undefeated OSU/Sparty winner
Undefeated Baylor/TCU winner
One-loss/undefeated Bama/LSU winner
Undefeated Clemson (or FSU if they win that game)

It would be hard to argue against any of them. And we'd on the outside wishing we hadn't turned the ball over four times in the rain on the road.

The good news is favorites never always hold serve in college football. So biggest thing for us is taking care of our own business, ideally in impressive fashion.

I can't imagine a one loss ACC Champ FSU gets in ahead of a one loss ND. We beat GT, who they lost to and they'd have beat Clemson, who we lost to. But the whole rest of our respective schedules favors us considerably. And FSU went last year and got embarrassed, which is maybe not an official criteria but I do think would weigh with some committee members.

 

[wizards8507]

I can't imagine a one loss ACC Champ FSU gets in ahead of a one loss ND. We beat GT, who they lost to and they'd have beat Clemson, who we lost to. But the whole rest of our respective schedules favors us considerably. And FSU went last year and got embarrassed, which is maybe not an official criteria but I do think would weigh with some committee members.

There's a good chance we'd have a third common opponent in Pitt.

 

[Blaise]

With Barrett at QB I expect OSU to ass hammer the rest of the teams on their schedule. I see TCU beating Baylor and Oklahoma beating both. I think LSU beats Bama but loses the rematch with Florida in the SEC championship.
I also want Clemson to run the table.

you are hoping this is going to happen or you expect it to? I see OSU winning out, I am hoping the injury is a couple week injury for Baylor.. Have them drop the Oklahoma game but be healthy for TCU and beat them..

 

[Rhode Irish]

There's a good chance we'd have a third common opponent in Pitt.

True, but in my hypothetical we'd both have beaten Pitt so that isn't likely to tell much.

 

[ACamp1900]

With Stanford on our schedule and the remaining match ups ahead of us the worst ND can finish is 5th if they win out, correct?... and that's with no major upsets... yeah, if they win out I'm pretty confident they're in.

 

[Irish Insanity]

With Stanford on our schedule and the remaining match ups ahead of us the worst ND can finish is 5th if they win out, correct?... and that's with no major upsets... yeah, if they win out I'm pretty confident they're in.

What do the other current 1 loss teams remaining schedules look like. Is there a possibility any of them jump us? Do any have a potential good W left on their schedule?

 

[gkIrish]

What do the other current 1 loss teams remaining schedules look like. Is there a possibility any of them jump us? Do any have a potential good W left on their schedule?

FSU and Oklahoma are the only teams I could see jumping us with one loss. FSU would have to crush Clemson. I've outlined my Oklahoma hypothetical in another thread but if they win out and beat Baylor and TCU while they are both in the top 4 I think they jump us.

 

[Irish Insanity]

FSU and Oklahoma are the only teams I could see jumping us with one loss. FSU would have to crush Clemson. I've outlined my Oklahoma hypothetical in another thread but if they win out and beat Baylor and TCU while they are both in the top 4 I think they jump us.

Also what about a 1 loss Iowa if it's only to the B1G champ. Or Memphis. Or Oklahoma State? All currently undefeated.

 

[Blaise]

Also what about a 1 loss Iowa if it's only to the B1G champ. Or Memphis. Or Oklahoma State? All currently undefeated.

I don't believe a 1 loss non conference champ is going to hop ND... Memphis has zero shot

 

[RDU Irish]

PAC12 is in our hands, win out and we easily pinch them out now that Utah was smoked. The rest we only need one conference to deliver a turd - has to be about 1/3rd probability each which averages out a good chance TWO of them deliver.

What are the odds of all three favored teams winning their championship game? This year worse than the last five I think.

LSU/Bama vs. SEC East champ
undefeated OSU/MSU vs. Iowa
Clemson/FSU vs. Pitt/Duke

If Iowa stays undefeated, that winner is in no doubt. That championship will be the highest profile one on the calendar. One loss B1G winner is a different story, especially if Iowa craps the bed against their easy finish.

For my money, I would love a Clemson rematch. However, I see them losing to FSU or Duke/Pitt as our clearest path to playoffs. They are a perennial WTF game producer and fully expect them to crap the bed before year end.

So much better to lose early than to lose late. We want Stanford ranked as high as possible before we play them.

 

[irishff1014]

PAC12 is in our hands, win out and we easily pinch them out now that Utah was smoked. The rest we only need one conference to deliver a turd - has to be about 1/3rd probability each which averages out a good chance TWO of them deliver.

What are the odds of all three favored teams winning their championship game? This year worse than the last five I think.

LSU/Bama vs. SEC East champ
undefeated OSU/MSU vs. Iowa
Clemson/FSU vs. Pitt/Duke

If Iowa stays undefeated, that winner is in no doubt. That championship will be the highest profile one on the calendar. One loss B1G winner is a different story, especially if Iowa craps the bed against their easy finish.

For my money, I would love a Clemson rematch. However, I see them losing to FSU or Duke/Pitt as our clearest path to playoffs. They are a perennial WTF game producer and fully expect them to crap the bed before year end.

So much better to lose early than to lose late. We want Stanford ranked as high as possible before we play them.

That's correct.

 

[ACamp1900]

Clemson losing could be make things interesting... if they win the ACC with one loss and we win out......

 

[gkIrish]

Also what about a 1 loss Iowa if it's only to the B1G champ. Or Memphis. Or Oklahoma State? All currently undefeated.

I would be shocked if any of those teams jumped us. As someone mentioned, timing of your loss matter a lot. If Oklahoma St. had lost in week 1 then run the table I'd put them in the same boat as Oklahoma. But in this scenario they lose too late in the season. Iowa has no shot if they lose a game.

 

[BobbyMac]

I didn't realize Bama and LSU play basically no one other than each other. Pretty sure the winner of that game is going to the playoffs.

What's YiaYia putting in your Yemista?

This Bama team could lose to any of the 3 SEC teams on their remaining schedule and I'd bet it all that they lose at least one. I'd rather play @Temple, @Pitt, @Stanford over LSU, @MSSt, @Auburn anyday.

Who wouldn't?

 

[gkIrish]

What's YiaYia putting in your Yemista?

This Bama team could lose to any of the 3 SEC teams on their remaining schedule and I'd bet it all that they lose at least one. I'd rather play @Temple, @Pitt, @Stanford over LSU, @MSSt, @Auburn anyday.

Who wouldn't?

I'll bet you any amount of vbucks you want Alabama does not lose to anyone besides LSU.

 

[BobbyMac]

I'll bet you any amount of vbucks you want Alabama does not lose to anyone besides LSU.

Ok. I'll bet everything I have as long as if they lose two you pay me everything you have.

 

[gkIrish]

Ok. I'll bet everything I have as long as if they lose two you pay me everything you have.

I'll pay you 10,000,000,000 in exchange for your 1,000,000,000. Deal?

 

[ThePiombino]

I'll pay you 10,000,000,000 in exchange for your 1,000,000,000. Deal?

Didn't we make a wager over whether or not ND would lose another game this season? Or am I mistaking you with someone else?

 

[gkIrish]

Didn't we make a wager over whether or not ND would lose another game this season? Or am I mistaking you with someone else?

I honestly don't recall. Sounds like something I would agree to.

 

[ThePiombino]

I honestly don't recall. Sounds like something I would agree to.

Pretty sure you bet me your entire bankroll (at the time) that ND would not drop another game this year. Don't go double-dipping with my money now

EDIT: I can't remember which threat it was in, but I'm assuming Clemson