2015 FBS Polls

[Blaise]

Baylor is not running the table with a new QB...

 

[ulukinatme]

Not necessarily.

What if Pitt loses to us and then wins out, beating Clemson in the title game. That gives us a win over the ACC champ and Clemson still looks like a reasonable loss as the ACC runner up. It pushes us past two conference champs (assuming Stanford takes care of business) and all but ensures a spot for ND. Assuming, of course, they beat the snot out of everyone else on the schedule.

True, I've been operating on the belief that the ACC will probably get into the playoff, which is why I want Clemson to win out for our sake. The PAC-12 is pretty much a mess this year, and Big 12 schedules suck, so as long as the Big 12 all drop at least one game and we win out, we should be fine. If Clemson loses late they probably are out of it (And with it likely the ACC's bid) especially if Pitt loses to us, but I don't see Pitt beating either team to be honest. Pitt's schedule has been pretty damn soft, their toughest test has been Iowa I guess who hasn't played anyone other than Wisconsin. I think FSU is probably the only real test Clemson has left, and they did a pretty decent job bottling up Prosise. Cook will give them a lot to handle either way.

I still think it's more likely that the Big 12 cannibalizes each other, PAC-12 doesn't get in, and if we win out it becomes Clemson, SEC champ, B1G champ, and us.

 

[Wild Bill]

I'm operating on the belief that the ACC will probably get into the playoff, which is why I want Clemson to win out for our sake. The PAC-12 is pretty much a mess this year, and Big 12 schedules suck, so as long as the Big 12 all drop at least one game and we win out, we should be fine. All that changes though if the ACC somehow doesn't make it into the playoff, as mentioned.

I look at it like this: A two loss Pitt that wins the ACC is not a lock to make the playoffs. An undefeated Clemson team is a lock. The less "locks" the better for ND.

 

[IrishLion]

The Big XII is gonna cannibalize itself for sure, now that Russell is out for the season.

Best case: Baylor loses to KSU this weekend while Stidham adjusts.

Baylor then beats Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU later on.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Guy built a spreadsheet using the new S&P+ ratings to show ND's odds of winning x number of games. I think it's a little pessimistic, but interesting to see anyway...

 

[nsisk157]

The Big XII is gonna cannibalize itself for sure, now that Russell is out for the season.

Best case: Baylor loses to KSU this weekend while Stidham adjusts.

Baylor then beats Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU later on.

I disagree. OU, OSU, TCU are all highly regarded and these wins would outweigh our Stan (presumed), SC, Temple, Pitt...

assuming a head to head choice between us and them..

 

[GoIrish41]

The Big XII is gonna cannibalize itself for sure, now that Russell is out for the season.

Best case: Baylor loses to KSU this weekend while Stidham adjusts.

Baylor then beats Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU later on.

A 1-loss Baylor with those three wins might still squeak by ND in the polls -- or at least the committee. Granted KSU would be a much worse loss than Clemson, but two of those teams are currently undefeated and would still technically be "in play"

 

[greyhammer90]

I know you guys are just having fun. But it's worthy again to note that OSU was #16 this time last year. November is a crazy month every year and teams with "a paved road" invariably find a way to lose a game down the stretch.

I'm pretty confident if we win out we are likely in. Don't know if we will though... like I said, November is crazy.

 

[ulukinatme]

A 1-loss Baylor with those three wins might still squeak by ND in the polls -- or at least the committee. Granted KSU would be a much worse loss than Clemson, but two of those teams are currently undefeated and would still technically be "in play"

Those three teams are only undefeated because they haven't played anyone. All three of their schedules have been absolute garbage. If you average the whole season, and we have 1 loss along with all three of those teams, I think we're the better team on paper. This is especially true if Clemson runs the table, which is part of the reason I'm hoping that happens. TCU/Baylor were left out in the cold last year, and if each have a loss I see no reason they don't get passed over again unless the other P5 champs have 2+ losses. I'd give kudos to Oklahoma at this point if I had to pick a Big 12 team to represent in the playoff. They have a good win at Tennessee, their lone loss is a rivalry game against an improving Texas squad, and they've crushed their other competitors.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Baylor is not running the table with a new QB...

Will be difficult but I would not count them out just yet. Their offense is a system offense. And Stidham has shown he can make plays. TCU has an horrendous defense, Oklahoma still has Big Game Bob and he is worth at least 1-2 losses a year by himself. Okie State are a bunch of men but play like boys too much. The loss of Russell is huge no doubt. But in the Big 12 it can be overcome.

Clemson has a trap game IMO this week on the road at NC State. Maybe they get caught looking towards FSU the next week.

Stanford still has the Irish and Cal. Even though Cal has been a disappointment the last few games, they do have a QB that can hurt you when he gets hot.

The winners of LSU/Bama and Ga/Florida will probably set the SEC CG up. Or at least one would think. Gotta think Ole Miss drops one somewhere in the next month.

tOSU has MSU and UM left. While I think they beat MSU the UM game will be a tough one for them, especially on the road.

It's soon to be November. And November will separate the contenders and the pretenders.

 

[Legacy]

There are still scenarios in which Tennessee plays Ole Miss play for the SEC championship. Bama needs to win out and an Ole Miss loss. A Georgia win pulls Florida back with the pack in the East.

Texas Tech, NC State, West Virginia and Washington State could pull upsets this weekend. Then we begin the Big 12 elimination games. One thought on the Big 10 - will an undefeated Iowa rise up the polls with their only challenge in the B 10 championship game?

Lots of football to be played.

 

[gkIrish]

Why does everyone think Baylor will lose without the QB?

We've done just fine without our starter and Baylor is taking every team they play to the woodshed. Don't they have the second best rushing offense in the country?

All I'm saying is don't count them out.

 

[Blaise]

Why does everyone think Baylor will lose without the QB?

We've done just fine without our starter and Baylor is taking every team they play to the woodshed. Don't they have the second best rushing offense in the country?

All I'm saying is don't count them out.

Kizer wasn't a true fresh, and didn't have the gauntlet of Oklahoma, Okla St, TCU to play in a row

 

[IrishLion]

Why does everyone think Baylor will lose without the QB?

We've done just fine without our starter and Baylor is taking every team they play to the woodshed. Don't they have the second best rushing offense in the country?

All I'm saying is don't count them out.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if they barely skip a beat.

Even if they go down a peg in efficiency, they would still be the best vertical offense in the country. And that would be enough for them to win the rest of their games.

I'm just hoping that it takes a game or two for them to adjust, that way the chaos above ND gets started ASAP.

 

[gkIrish]

Kizer wasn't a true fresh, and didn't have the gauntlet of Oklahoma, Okla St, TCU to play in a row

Their QB has had more practice snaps as the #2 QB than Kizer did before he was thrust into the spotlight.

 

[RDU Irish]

There are still scenarios in which Tennessee plays Ole Miss play for the SEC championship. Bama needs to win out and an Ole Miss loss. A Georgia win pulls Florida back with the pack in the East.

Texas Tech, NC State, West Virginia and Washington State could pull upsets this weekend. Then we begin the Big 12 elimination games. One thought on the Big 10 - will an undefeated Iowa rise up the polls with their only challenge in the B 10 championship game?

Lots of football to be played.

An undefeated Iowa would end the season with a premier win over MSU/OSU in the CCG, I have a hard time seeing them left at the altar if they run the table.

Ole Miss will lose at least one more game - I'm really not impressed with them at all. Getting a 2 loss East team in the CCG will probably be our best shot at knocking out the SEC if they beat zero or one loss west champ.

I agree that NC State could easily play spoiler this weekend.... or get blown out by 35 points. That program is so unreliable but they are definitely more than capable of giving anyone a run for their money on a good day.

 

[Blaise]

Their QB has had more practice snaps as the #2 QB than Kizer did before he was thrust into the spotlight.

So that's going to make him ready to beat T@CU, @Okla St and Oklahoma? Half a year in a system with #2 snaps?

 

[IrishLion]

So that's going to make him ready to beat T@CU, @Okla St and Oklahoma? Half a year in a system with #2 snaps?

I think that's the key right there.

You don't need to be a veteran or a super-computer to run their offense.

Take three steps back and throw it deep.

Sit in the pocket and wait for the middle to open.

Read the defensive end.

That's Baylor's system in a nutshell lol.

 

[gkIrish]

So that's going to make him ready to beat T@CU, @Okla St and Oklahoma? Half a year in a system with #2 snaps?

I'm not saying he will be successful. Just that we should hold off on dismissing Baylor. There are plenty of reasons to think a backup QB can be very successful in their system.

Heck, they had Bryce Petty last year and the new guy didn't skip a beat.

 

[Cackalacky]

I think that's the key right there.

You don't need to be a veteran or a super-computer to run their offense.

Take three steps back and throw it deep.

Sit in the pocket and wait for the middle to open.

Read the defensive end.

That's Baylor's system in a nutshell lol.

Right. I think Baylor struggles against a team with a good to great defense. Take way 1-2 things and they become 1-dimensional quickly.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Right. I think Baylor struggles against a team with a good to great defense. Take way 1-2 things and they become 1-dimensional quickly.

Lucky for them they're in the Big 12 and won't play a good defense until bowl season.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Also, if there's one fan base in the country that knows better than to dismiss a team because it's back-up QB is playing it should be us...

 

[Irish Insanity]

Their QB has had more practice snaps as the #2 QB than Kizer did before he was thrust into the spotlight.

IIRC he was very highly rated coming in too. But ultimately it's up to his coach to put him in the best position to succeed. They have enough speed and playmakers around him, as long as he doesn't lose games, they should be fine.

 

[BGIF]

Projected AP TOP 25 based on 10/31 Results

1. OSU
2. BU
3. Clem
4. LSU
5. TCU
6. MSU
7. UA

No Change in Top 7

8. ND moves to #8 ahead of SU by beating a ranked opponent
9. SU drops to #9 ND winning on WSU "Wide Right"

10. UF moves ahead of Undefeated IA because they whipped Jawja, an SEC team and get the SEC bounce.
11. IA might hold at 10.

12. OKS
13. Utah
14. OU

15. Memp
16. FSU
17. UH
18. MISS
19. Mich drops a couple over the near loss to Minniesota and several jump over
20. Toledo
21. UCLA

22. Miss St idle
23. Temple 7-1
24. UNC 7-1
25. A&M 6-2 cause they're in the SEC and USC isn't
USC 5-3
Duke drops out with 8 lateral loss on last play
BYU 6-2
WIS 7-2
NW 7-2
Pitt drops out with loss to UNC

 

[GoIrish41]

Projected AP TOP 25 based on 10/31 Results

1. OSU
2. BU
3. Clem
4. LSU
5. TCU
6. MSU
7. UA

No Change in Top 7

8. ND moves to #8 ahead of SU by beating a ranked opponent
9. SU drops to #9 ND winning on WSU "Wide Right"

10. UF moves ahead of Undefeated IA because they whipped Jawja, an SEC team and get the SEC bounce.
11. IA might hold at 10.

12. OKS
13. Utah
14. OU

15. Memp
16. FSU
17. UH
18. MISS
19. Mich drops a couple over the near loss to Minniesota and several jump over
20. Toledo
21. UCLA

22. Miss St idle
23. Temple 7-1
24. UNC 7-1
25. A&M 6-2 cause they're in the SEC and USC isn't
USC 5-3
Duke drops out with 8 lateral loss on last play
BYU 6-2
WIS 7-2
NW 7-2
Pitt drops out with loss to UNC

I have to believe there will be 4 teams ahead of us lose a game - TCU and Baylor; LSU and Bama; and OSUand MSU play head to head. That is3 for sure. We need one more team to falter--my pick is OSU falling to Michigan and beating MSU. OU can help by knocking off Baylor and Baylor downing TCU, but OU is one to watch coming from behind and jumping ND. We just have to keep winning.

 

[Cackalacky]

way Coaches Poll Top 25 for Nov. 1
1. Ohio State (49 first-place votes)
2. Baylor (10)
3. TCU (2)
4. LSU (1)
5. Michigan State
6. Clemson (1)
7. Alabama
8. Stanford
9. Notre Dame
10. Oklahoma State
11. Iowa
12. Florida
13. Oklahoma
14. Utah
15. Florida State
16. Memphis
17. Michigan
18. Duke
19. Houston
20. Toledo
21. Ole Miss
22. Temple
23. Georgia
24. Pittsburgh
25. UCLA

Coaches Poll

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Coaches Poll

Man i think we shouldve jumped Stanford. If Temple had played the game under the name "Ole Miss" we would be ranked 7/8

 

[Irish Insanity]

Coaches Poll

I don't get why Clemson is still behind MSU. They would destroy them.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Man i think we shouldve jumped Stanford. If Temple had played the game under the name "Ole Miss" we would be ranked 7/8

I'm sure most voters view which one of Stanford/ND deserves to be ranked higher as so unimportant to be not worth changing their ballots for. The only thing that matters is that we stay in the top tier of one loss teams.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I'm sure most voters view which one of Stanford/ND deserves to be ranked higher as so unimportant to be not worth changing their ballots for. The only thing that matters is that we stay in the top tier of one loss teams.

You're right.