2015 FBS Polls

[RDU Irish]

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.

I am having a hard time seeing us jump any of these champs. FSU or Clemson most likely take the ACC with one loss somewhere along the way, having lost to Clemson I don't see us jumping a one loss FSU or Clemson (plus I see us as an ACC proxy). SEC would need a three loss champion to even consider losing a spot. TCU/Baylor both need to lose two games to get snubbed, highly unlikely both drop two games. B1G - getting some love with Iowa and Northwestern moving up the polls, helps MSU/OSU SOS which tells me the B1G champ needs to have 2 losses for us to have a chance of unseating them.

Short of a couple conference title game upsets by three loss dogs I don't see us jumping two conferences. Clemson was key to cock-blocking the ACC now that Ga Tech looks like a pretender.

 

[RDU Irish]

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.

Because OSU's schedule was so strong with a loss to out of conference .500 Va Tech? I still don't think they belonged in there. Don't care how good they were playing at the end of the year, the entire schedule should count for something. But I guess they followed up that 14 point LOSS AT HOME with a 66-0 smashing of Kent State so it balances out. Kent State is obviously a superior powerhouse to Lamar and SFA.

 

[RDU Irish]

But I know the SEC script: 1) come into the season with absurdly high, overinflated expectations and rankings.
2) SEC fans commence s**t talking like they're the 1985 Bears defense combined with the 2007 Patriots offense. Talk about their coach 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 Coach becomes a heated debate in the South dividing families in a way no conflict has in the south since the Civil War. Coach backers talk about how down he is with Jesus and what a "clean program" he runs to defend him, despite SEC leading the arrest report every season.
7) temper expectations
8) who we kidding? We're talking about SEC 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 Coach again when you lose your bowl game to some team ranked 20+ spots lower than you in the polls.
12) repeat steps 1-11 annually

FIFY

 

[wizards8507]

Because OSU's schedule was so strong with a loss to out of conference .500 Va Tech? I still don't think they belonged in there.

Baylor and TCU each had losses as well.

Don't care how good they were playing at the end of the year, the entire schedule should count for something.

I'm not one to say "conference championship games are everything," but they're at least a tiebreaker. 59-0 over Wisconsin is a better win than anything TCU or Baylor did last year, so I don't especially care that Ohio State's loss was slightly "worse."

But I guess they followed up that 14 point LOSS AT HOME with a 66-0 smashing of Kent State so it balances out. Kent State is obviously a superior powerhouse to Lamar and SFA.

If we're talking 2014, then we're talking about Navy, Kent State, and Cincinnati for Ohio State and SMU, Northwestern State, and Buffalo for Baylor. Throw TCU out because they lost to Baylor head-to-head so they have no right to cry. In a world where you're being compared to SMU, Northwestern State, and Buffalo, then yeah Kent State, Navy, and Cincinnati are powerhouses.

 

[wizards8507]

The way I see the committee ranking Power 5 teams:

Group 1: 13-0 Conference Champions
1. 13-0 SEC champion
2. 13-0 Pac 12 champion
3. 13-0 Big 12 champion
4. 13-0 ACC champion

Group 2: 12-0 Undefeateds
5. 12-0 Notre Dame
6. 12-0 Big 12 champion

Group 3: 12-1 Conference Champions
7. 12-1 SEC champion
8. 12-1 Pac 12 champion
9. 12-1 Big 10 champion
10. 12-1 ACC champion

Group 4: 12-1 conference runners-up
11. 12-1 SEC runner-up (only loss in the championship game)
12. 12-1 Pac 12 runner-up (only loss in the championship game)
13. 12-1 Big 10 runner-up (only loss in the championship game)
14. 12-1 ACC runner-up (only loss in the championship game)

Group 5: 11-1 teams without a conference championship game
15. 11-1 Notre Dame
16. 11-1 Big 12 champion

Group 6: 11-2 conference champions
17. 11-2 SEC champion
18. 11-2 Pac 12 champion
19. 11-2 Big 10 champion
20. 11-2 ACC champion

Group 7: 11-1 teams that missed championship game
21. 11-1 SEC team that did not make the championship game
22. 11-1 Pac 12 team that did not make the championship game
23. 11-1 Big 10 team that did not make the championship game
24. 11-1 ACC team that did not make the championship game

 

[phgreek]

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

I have no love for UGA...or hate for anyone else in the SEC...well other than they are the SEC. We'll see. I'm impressed with Florida so far, but they aren't even a year removed from being a bit of a tire fire. That impacts a team...we'll see what they have in the tank when they get punched in the mouth by grown men...I'm saying UGA and LSU field grown men...despite how you think they perform.

 

[koonja]

I think USC wipes the floor with us, as they have a far better offense and better athletes on defense. But as is, losing by 2 points with a chance to tie as time expires, on the road in a 4 turnover game in the first half of the year, as far as playoffs go, the loss doesn't really get any better than that. So I think we completely control our own destiny and I'll bet anyone that if we win out, we're in.... but I still see USC beating us by double digits.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I think USC wipes the floor with us, as they have a far better offense and better athletes on defense. But as is, losing by 2 points with a chance to tie as time expires, on the road in a 4 turnover game in the first half of the year, as far as playoffs go, the loss doesn't really get any better than that. So I think we completely control our own destiny and I'll bet anyone that if we win out, we're in.... but I still see USC beating us by double digits.

Disagree koon. Stanford was able to muscle the USC front lines and run the ball effectively. When you do that those passing lanes open up and no matter how athletic a team is, the offense can be successful against them. I agree it will take a big effort and a better one than the Clemson game, but I like the Irish's chances... given they come out of the Navy game with no major injuries.

 

[irish4ever]

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

It's the flavor of the month (or this years thus far anyway). An undefeated team coming out of that conference is in, especially over a 1 loss Irish team.

 

[wizards8507]

It's the flavor of the month (or this years thus far anyway). An undefeated team coming out of that conference is in, especially over a 1 loss Irish team.

Oh undefeated for sure. I just don't see that happening.

 

[koonja]

Disagree koon. Stanford was able to muscle the USC front lines and run the ball effectively. When you do that those passing lanes open up and no matter how athletic a team is, the offense can be successful against them. I agree it will take a big effort and a better one than the Clemson game, but I like the Irish's chances... given they come out of the Navy game with no major injuries.

From what I saw last week, I don't think we have the rushing OL Stanford does. So I'm not expecting to be able to run the ball on them. And if we're forced to air it out, it's going to be a lot more dangerous against the USC secondary/LBs than it was Clemson.

I'm in chicken little mode for this USC game after seeing we can't run the ball against a completely new front 7 of Clemson.

 

[T Town Tommy]

From what I saw last week, I don't think we have the rushing OL Stanford does. So I'm not expecting to be able to run the ball on them. And if we're forced to air it out, it's going to be a lot more dangerous against the USC secondary/LBs than it was Clemson.

I'm in full chicken little mode for this USC game after seeing we can't run the ball against a completely new front 7 of Clemson.

I didn't see anything with the Trojan DL that really makes me think the Irish can't run the ball. The OL did really well at times against the Clemson front seven and then not so well at other times. A more consistent effort will be needed but one I don't think is out of the realm of possibility. In your scenario, I would agree the advantage would go to USC. But I am sure that BK and the coaching staff knows it starts up front with being able to run the ball. If the Irish can't run, then yes, I think it could be a much more difficult task.

 

[koonja]

And USC (like Clemson) will be enjoying an extended vacation going into our game, which is of course, against Navy. No one will be more shocked and pleased that I if we get by USC, but IMO, there's not much reason to be expecting a win in that game IMO.

 

[T Town Tommy]

And USC (like Clemson) will be enjoying an extended vacation going into our game, which is of course, against Navy. No one will be more shocked and pleased that I if we get by USC, but IMO, there's not much reason to be expecting a win in that game IMO.

Well I hope the team doesn't have your mentality koon. Keep the faith bro.

 

[RDU Irish]

Biggest negative against USC is that we are one week off of Navy. See OSU vs. Va Tech last year, post Navy hangover is a thing.

That said - USC is flash and dash, we punch them in the mouth we will be fine. Home game helps a lot too. Their athleticism scares me less than years past, largely because we have more than we have had in some time and Kizer looks like a gamer to get it to our speedsters. USC is mentally weak and I think our mental toughness wins the day.

 

[ACamp1900]

Biggest negative against USC is that we are one week off of Navy.

This, I'm very pessimistic about SC for this reason alone... I really wish we would open or close the season against Navy every year or as often as possible... opening the season shouldn't be that hard to make happen.

 

[RDU Irish]

Finish or have a bye week after them at least. Either way you negate the nicked up element you get after playing them. One week before USC may not be suicidal but it sure is sadistic.

 

[Circa]

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.

This! Good on point post.

 

[NDohio]

This, I'm very pessimistic about SC for this reason alone... I really wish we would open or close the season against Navy every year or as often as possible... opening the season shouldn't be that hard to make happen.

How about we just blow the doors off them and reserves are in by third quarter. Please?

 

[phork]

I can't get on board the headed to Shittsville train. Sorry. This team has too much talent for that to happen. We all need to get our heads out of our collective ass and realize that we lost by 2 points on the road in a down pour. In a game we really should have won handily. Future so bright, I gotta wear shades.

 

[wizards8507]

I can't get on board the headed to Shittsville train. Sorry. This team has too much talent for that to happen. We all need to get our heads out of our collective ass and realize that we lost by 2 points on the road in a down pour. In a game we really should have won handily. Future so bright, I gotta wear shades.

The fact that we "should have won" makes me feel worse about the loss, not better. I'd rather lack talent than have talent and still fail to perform.

 

[phork]

The fact that we "should have won" makes me feel worse about the loss, not better. I'd rather lack talent than have talent and still fail to perform.

Then go cry off in the corner and get the hell out of our way.

 

[gkIrish]

Then go cry off in the corner and get the hell out of our way.

Ah the old "can't be an ND fan if you don't think ND is the best team ever" theory.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

The fact that we "should have won" makes me feel worse about the loss, not better. I'd rather lack talent than have talent and still fail to perform.

We had some borderline South Florida string of misfortune (how much you can blame that on the players/coaches is debatable, sh*t happens to even the best teams), yet we were still in it up to literally the last play. Not only that, they fought even when it looked loosing was a foregone conclusion. This is against a top 15 team in the country.

Even the best ND team since I've been alive in '93 lost to BOSTON FU*KING COLLEGE. Not that any of this makes the loss OK, it's hard to be too down.

 

[phork]

Ah the old "can't be an ND fan if you don't think ND is the best team ever" theory.

Nah. The old we are headed to 11-1 and possible going to the playoffs with our second stringers. CAN'T RAIN ON OUR PARADE

 

[koonja]

Just beat Navy and USC and I'm already over the Clemson loss.

 

[gkIrish]

Nah. The old we are headed to 11-1 and possible going to the playoffs with our second stringers. CAN'T RAIN ON OUR PARADE

Hope you're right...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Just beat Navy and USC and I'm already over the Clemson loss.

If we've got to take one this season, we could do a lot worse than barely losing to Clemson in Death Valley during a hurricane.

 

[ACamp1900]

If we've got to take one this season, we could do a lot worse than barely losing to Clemson in Death Valley during a hurricane.

If we only took one every season we'd all be a lot happier...

 

[MNIrishman]

Ah the old "can't be an ND fan if you don't think ND is the best team ever" theory.

It's more fun to be optimistic. Having negative opinions doesn't really help us enjoy the team, since we can't do anything to fix it. It's more fun to speculate about what's out there for us, than speculate how many points we'll give up and how badly we'll lose. If I wanted negative opinions, I'd go to NDNation. I come here because I'd rather err on the side of having smoke blown up my ass. So yeah, you can pout in a corner about how much our coach sucks or whatever, but I'd rather talk about the fact that we have a realistic chance of beating SC. Don't act like this team lacks talent or has never surprised anyone. If we lose, that's all the negativity I want from this, and you can rub your "I told you so" all over this board. I won't be reading it, I'll be speculating about what our bowl opportunities are. It's just more fun that way.