College Football Playoff Rankings 2015 (ND #8...)

[yankeeND]

Anal zone never gets old.

It really doesn't. It's probably better he never made it here. Everyone would of gotten tired of our childish garage of fart jokes.

 

[phgreek]

Right. I'm stunned (and thrilled) to be ranked as highly as we are, but the conspiracy theorist in me is thinking the following: we are 'in gracefully' to be 'out gracefully.' We will stay at #5 even if we win out and other teams will just jump over us as needed: so Bama or LSU will fall behind to #6, but Baylor will leap us. This is just a scenario, not a prediction, and obviously I hope it doesn't happen. But style points are going to matter, and we need to start winning big.

I'd agree here...need to speed boat Pitt (ND never does) and Wake, and win in commanding fashion against BC. The D needs to show up big time against Stanford, and any W works.

I think ND still needs some toe stubbing by other teams to be assured a spot. But Holy Hell I didn't see this coming. I figured 9. Woohoo.

 

[aubeirish]

Our Temple win isn't impressive. At all. USC is down. Navy is Navy. GTech sucks. Virginia is garbage. Texas is a disgrace. UMass - enough said. If that reads like a top 5-15 schedule, you may be illiterate. Don't get me wrong, I'm fucking thrilled that we're where we are, but let's not kid ourselves... our brand name has helped a lot. Our best win is our loss to Clemson, and even their schedule isn't impressive.

Temple is a lot better than you give them credit for.

Both Navy and Temple will easily end up with more than 8-10 wins against FBS opponents each. In this time of parity, that means quality in my book.

USC might end up winning the pac-12 or at least get into the championship game. I have watched them play the last 3 weeks. They are a good team with a wealth of talent. Not only that, but they seem to really want to play for the interim HC. I think they have a good shot at running their table, which would be really good for us.

 

[ulukinatme]

Temple is a lot better than you give them credit for.

They deserve some credit, but they're not great, they're somewhere in the middle. Despite Temple playing into the hype of the game Saturday night it's still the same team that escaped both UMass and ECU (Who was just demolished by the Fighting Diacos).

 

[koonja]

I feel like USC is about to go on a run up to the ucla game and do us a shit load of favors. And stanford shouldn't lose. Win and we're in.

 

[Irish YJ]

Our perfect storm is"

AAC
Temple or Navy win out, we have W over AAC champ

ACC
Clemson wins out, stays number 1
Pitt wins Costal
GT, UVA, WF, and BC make noise going out

Big12
OKSt, TCU, BAY, and OKLA canabilize each other, and all end with at least one loss.
No conf championship, so they are sitting around like us with nothing to propel them past ND

BIG10
More cannibalization. scum beats OSU, OSU beat MSt, The East Champ beats Iowa. Takes the 4 spot.

MAC
Toledo loses to WMU or BG, or in MAC Championship

SEC
LSU wins out, gets #2 spot, or
Bama wins out and gets a spot with LSU losing also to Ole Miss

PAC12
Stanford wins out in-conference, loses to us, gets left out of the dance.
USC wins out and takes the South

 

[Irish_Passion]

Just win out. Chips will fall where they lay...

 

[ulukinatme]

Irish YJ gets it, and he's much less verbose than I.

 

[aubeirish]

Would be really cool to get another crack at Clemson if both teams end up in the playoffs somehow.

 

[ulukinatme]

Would be really cool to get another crack at Clemson if both teams end up in the playoffs somehow.

Yeah, that's the other added benefit of facing Clemson again if we both make the playoffs. We know their game, and yeah they know ours, but even with 4 turnovers we still could have won that game in their house. I like our chances against them on a neutral field with better weather.

I wouldn't mind facing LSU again either. We know Fournette is ridiculous, but we'll hopefully be healthier on defense this time around should we face them again, and offensively I think we're as good or better than last year. It would still be a tough game, but BK outcoached the Mad Hatter who had to dip into a bag of tricks to stay with us in that bowl.

 

[IrishLax]

Our Temple win isn't impressive. At all. USC is down. Navy is Navy. GTech sucks. Virginia is garbage. Texas is a disgrace. UMass - enough said. If that reads like a top 5-15 schedule, you may be illiterate. Don't get me wrong, I'm fucking thrilled that we're where we are, but let's not kid ourselves... our brand name has helped a lot. Our best win is our loss to Clemson, and even their schedule isn't impressive.

Holy fuck your posts in this thread are beyond redemption. It doesn't matter what our schedule "reads" like.

The objective facts are that it has been MUCH harder than what most teams have played to this point. If you can't Google this up from one of any dozen or so sources, you might be illiterate.

 

[aubeirish]

Yeah, that's the other added benefit of facing Clemson again if we both make the playoffs. We know their game, and yeah they know ours, but even with 4 turnovers we still could have won that game in their house. I like our chances against them on a neutral field with better weather.

I wouldn't mind facing LSU again either. We know Fournette is ridiculous, but we'll hopefully be healthier on defense this time around should we face them again, and offensively I think we're as good or better than last year. It would still be a tough game, but BK outcoached the Mad Hatter who had to dip into a bag of tricks to stay with us in that bowl.

Yea, these turnovers still hurt my gut...

LSU would be cool too. Love Les Miles, purely for entertainment purposes. Not certain if they can beat Alabama on the road this week-end. Big week-end in college football. Lot of gambling to be done around here hehe. Only sports fan perk of living in Canada is that I can do online gambling haha...(Not to worry I only bet pocket money) Makes my Saturdays real interesting though.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Admitting I have not read much of this thread, so I have no idea what has been said on these topics, but here are my thoughts:

I'm really surprised that ND came it at #5 in these initial rankings, just because I'm so used to what ND does from a SOS perspective being ignored or overlooked. But I do think we are deserving - one loss with a strong SOS, with the one loss coming to who it did (the team the committee considers #1), how it did, and where it did.

Having said that, I am not as convinced as some people that this locks us in if we run the table. I obviously do think this is as good of a place as we could be at and it certainly helps. If we do run the table, I like our chances. But, the committee doesn't work like the AP poll, where teams are essentially in line based on their record, and if you lose you drop back to the next group but if you win you basically maintain your spot relative to the other teams around you. The Big-12 teams, specifically Baylor, are being punished (rightfully so) for playing a joke of a schedule. But if ND and Baylor both win out, it is certainly possible (if not likely) Baylor will jump us because their schedule is backloaded and their SOS with shoot up down the stretch. The committee will not keep us ahead of Baylor (or TCU) just because we started ahead in the initial rankings. MSU (and even Iowa, as unlikely as that is) could also jump us, although that would probably knock OSU out.

Ideally, Oklahoma will beat either TCU or Baylor (or both), and whichever one loses to Oklahoma beats the other, and whoever wins the Bama-LSU game wins the SEC championship game, because if that teams loses to Florida I would be worried.

 

[ulukinatme]

Rhode Irish also gets it. Well said on the AP analogy. Pitt, BC, and Wake aren't going to help us in the coming weeks, only Stanford will. One or more teams will likely move ahead of us in the coming weeks, but we are in a great position if we win out.

 

[ThePiombino]

This is such a pleasant surprise! But we have to remember that this is a VERY dynamic situation. A lot of teams below us have a chance to significantly improve their SoS (B12 for starters). Obviously Bama/LSU will work itself out, but unless ND blows away Pitt, Wake, BC, and convincingly beats Stanford, I'm not convinced this is a simple "win and in" situation. In any event, I am VERY happy to see the committee showing ND a lot of respect for current body of work.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

The chance of multiple undefeated teams: Very slim. Next to 0, problably.

The chance of committee valuing conf. champs greatly: Very high.

The chance of 2-loss conf. champ getting in: Wait and see.

The above is what I think about with the remainder of the season. The committee values 1) Conference Champs 2) SOS 3) Head-to-Head. The Big12 SOS is pretty bad so if any of them have one loss, they're done. Anyone else (sans ND) will still have a conference championship game to make a case. Any two-loss conference champ (if applicable) will be a total toss up based on other criteria, but I'm not convinced a two-loss champ gets in over a one loss team like ND who will have a great SOS and "quality loss."

There's a ton of games left and this will eventually work itself out. But people need to remember 1) the criteria 2) it's fluid 3) it's not based on previous weeks/rankings 4) each team will individually researched and the criteria (see #1) may not be the same, making it harder to predict.

 

[Cackalacky]

This is such a pleasant surprise! But we have to remember that this is a VERY dynamic situation. A lot of teams below us have a chance to significantly improve their SoS (B12 for starters). Obviously Bama/LSU will work itself out, but unless ND blows away Pitt, Wake, BC, and convincingly beats Stanford, I'm not convinced this is a simple "win and in" situation. In any event, I am VERY happy to see the committee showing ND a lot of respect for current body of work.

This is exactly where I am at.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

This is such a pleasant surprise! But we have to remember that this is a VERY dynamic situation. A lot of teams below us have a chance to significantly improve their SoS (B12 for starters). Obviously Bama/LSU will work itself out, but unless ND blows away Pitt, Wake, BC, and convincingly beats Stanford, I'm not convinced this is a simple "win and in" situation. In any event, I am VERY happy to see the committee showing ND a lot of respect for current body of work.

Agreed.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Damn you and your research.

Sagarin has Iowa at #47, if I'm reading this right.

College Football Ratings Page

I'm an Iowa fan. I've watched nearly every snap this year. It's a good team. I don't think they're a top 5 team, but they're very good and curb stomped a 6-2 Northwestern team in Evanston. It's a team built on defense and the running game. They won't generally put up crooked scoreboard numbers, but they're very sound on defense.

If Iowa wins out, they'll have several good (but no great) wins and will play MSU or tOSU in the B1G title game. If they win that game (not likely, but possible...especially if it's MSU), they should be one of the four. Until then, I think they're in the right place.

 

[nd_fan]

So glad to see ND ranked #5. Way better than I expected.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

TCU was #3 initially last year, remained undefeated and dropped to #5.. So as nice as it is to see us there, it means nothing.

With Pitt, Wake and BC before Stanford we're capable of being jumped, most likely by a BigXII team..

Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, LSU, Bama, OSU, MSU... We all have huge games coming.

As much as we might try, there's no wrapping our heads around this yet. There's just too many possible outcomes left.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

If anyone needs any Defense Fuel for the haters today, here are some stats to throw at them:

#4 Alabama: SOS #9, 4-1 against Top 30, one loss against OleMiss (#18)
#5 ND: SOS #16, 1-1 against Top 30, one loss against Clemson (#1)
#6 Baylor: SOS #104, 0 games against Top 30
#7 MSU: SOS#59, 1-0 against Top 30
#8 TCU: SOS #53, 0 games against Top 30
#9 Iowa: SOS #47, 1-0 against Top 30
#10 Florida: SOS #15, 3-1 against Top 30, one loss against LSU (#2)
#13 Memphis: SOS #84, 1-0 against Top 30
#14 OkSt: SOS #70, 0 games against Top 30

Obviously there are many other factors at play. Florida fans probably have the biggest reason to be upset. The rest will all work itself out. But bottom line, SOS is a big deal to the committee early in the rankings.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Sagarin has Iowa at #47, if I'm reading this right.

College Football Ratings Page

I'm an Iowa fan. I've watched nearly every snap this year. It's a good team. I don't think they're a top 5 team, but they're very good and curb stomped a 6-2 Northwestern team in Evanston. It's a team built on defense and the running game. They won't generally put up crooked scoreboard numbers, but they're very sound on defense.

If Iowa wins out, they'll have several good (but no great) wins and will play MSU or tOSU in the B1G title game. If they win that game (not likely, but possible...especially if it's MSU), they should be one of the four. Until then, I think they're in the right place.

In all honesty, even at their current ranking I think they have an easier road than we do. Their schedule is not terrible but not great. Beat Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue and you will be undefeated with a respectable list of wins.. No big win but now you run into Ohio St. (I believe). If you pull off that win I don't see how they can keep you out.

 

[ulukinatme]

In all honesty, even at their current ranking I think they have an easier road than we do. Their schedule is not terrible but not great. Beat Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue and you will be undefeated with a respectable list of wins.. No big win but now you run into Ohio St. (I believe). If you pull off that win I don't see how they can keep you out.

Yeah, if Iowa were to run the table they would jump us, but they would likely be taking the B1G playoff spot currently occupied by Ohio St so it wouldn't be a big deal. Certainly the least likely B1G team to make the playoff among the 3 leaders right now I would think.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

In all honesty, even at their current ranking I think they have an easier road than we do. Their schedule is not terrible but not great. Beat Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue and you will be undefeated with a respectable list of wins.. No big win but now you run into Ohio St. (I believe). If you pull off that win I don't see how they can keep you out.

Agreed. I don't think it'll happen, but an undefeated Iowa deserves to be in. A 1-loss Iowa does not.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Yeah, if Iowa State were to run the table they would jump us, but they would likely be taking the B1G playoff spot currently occupied by Ohio St so it wouldn't be a big deal. Certainly the least likely B1G team to make the playoff among the 3 leaders right now I would think.

Woah, woah, woah...Iowa, not Iowa State. That one stings...

 

[ulukinatme]

Woah, woah, woah...Iowa, not Iowa State. That one stings...

Damn, good catch, I think I had "State" on the mind as I was reviewing Ohio State, Michigan State, and Iowa in my head. No one would confuse Iowa State with a good team...except Allen Lazard.

 

[Bugzly21]

You would think EVERYONE would want Clemson to win out. Not only would it help ND's case but it would give ND the rematch EVERYONE was calling for on a neutral field. I swear after that game I saw 100 posts saying ND would win 9/10 times on a neutral field

 

[NDRock]

If anyone needs any Defense Fuel for the haters today, here are some stats to throw at them:

#4 Alabama: SOS #9, 4-1 against Top 30, one loss against OleMiss (#18)
#5 ND: SOS #16, 1-1 against Top 30, one loss against Clemson (#1)
#6 Baylor: SOS #104, 0 games against Top 30
#7 MSU: SOS#59, 1-0 against Top 30
#8 TCU: SOS #53, 0 games against Top 30
#9 Iowa: SOS #47, 1-0 against Top 30
#10 Florida: SOS #15, 3-1 against Top 30, one loss against LSU (#2)
#13 Memphis: SOS #84, 1-0 against Top 30
#14 OkSt: SOS #70, 0 games against Top 30

Obviously there are many other factors at play. Florida fans probably have the biggest reason to be upset. The rest will all work itself out. But bottom line, SOS is a big deal to the committee early in the rankings.

I thought I saw an earlier tweet that we were 3-1 against top 30. Must have been top 30 in the FEI index. Which top 30 are you using?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I thought I saw an earlier tweet that we were 3-1 against top 30. Must have been top 30 in the FEI index. Which top 30 are you using?

I grabbed Jayhawk's Sagarin link. I really don't know which is better or if I even read Jeff's page correctly. ND is 3-1 against the Top 30 in FEI (with potential to be 4-1 after this weekend).