Lots of losses in top 25, how high do we go?
#20 TCU loses
#16 South Florida crushed by Pitt
#15 Baylor loses
#14 Texas A&M picks up second loss
#10 South Carolina loses
1 of #11 VT vs #13 Clemson loses
possible (likely) #12 Florida loses to #3 Alabama
edit: also one of #7 Wisconsin vs #8 Nebraska
I think for sure we jump South Florida, Baylor, Texas A&M and end up in the #15 range. I also think we probably should be considered one of the top 15 teams. If Nebraska loses bad, we could jump them as well.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
I learned to not care about rankings in September and October the past couple years. Just keep winning.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:42 PM ^
#1 obviously.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
But EASILY 4 or 5.....let's be realistic here.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:42 PM ^
After the whooping we just placed on Minny...we may low-teens...
October 1st, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^
...IMO still too high, but it's hard to argue against after today's showing and the fact that people keep on losing.
Personally, I think we're playing like we should be #20 +/- 1 spot.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
we came into the game ranked 19, right?
edit: I understand you aren't saying about the rankings, moreso just your thoughts, but do you really think there are 19 teams with a better resume, or better teams (however you think they should be ranked).
October 1st, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^
there are probably at least 19 better teams. I don't think there are even 15 teams with better resumes. And I have just enough doubt in my own brilliance to go with resume over my assumptions about team quality.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
Until today I saw a lot of holes in both our offense and defense. Today came and I want to believe...but Minnesota was HORRIBLE. If we can play that efficiently and effectively next week I'll have us in the top 10.
But right now, I'm still skeptical. Denard's passing had been horrible. For the first 3 games we couldn't score early. We struggled to have a running game outside of Denard. Defensively we couldn't get a rush without blitzing.
I think the last 2 weeks have been VERY impressive. And today was incredible. Today was something you see in video games. That's why I started the "perfect" thread...not because I thought it was literally perfect. But for a football game, could you have asked for more? I don't think so. That was dominant.
My only hesitation was it was a BAAAAAD Minnesota team. A team that is probably a middle of the road 1-AA team. So I just want to see a little more. I want to feel like the only "toss-up" games on the schedule that we have left are MSU, Neb and OSU.
That's the Michigan of old. Michigan of old was never worried about Illinois, N'Western, etc. Only now do we look at say "well maybe if we do this" or "maybe if we do that" we can win. Before it was always MSU, OSU, and either Iowa or Wisky...whichever one of those two were good in that particular year.
Right now outside of Purdue...I can't feel really good about another W this season. Of course I think we'll win, hell, maybe win the all. But I don't see a game where it's like "meh...if we don't kill ourselves, we should win."
I know that doesn't have a ton to do with rankings. But a 7-5 team isn't top 15. I want to be confident we're playing above a 7-5 level before I assume we should be ranked that high.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
I don't want to believe that Minnesota was horrible. But yeah, you're probably (definitely) right.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^
We have holes. But so does almost every team in the country. Being ranked in the top 15 does not mean being an unstoppable juggernaut. At season's end, the #15 team will be around 9-3.
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
But that's what I'm saying...I don't feel comfortable just YET saying we're at least a 9-3 type team.
For every arguement that I could make to say we are...I could make one that says we aren't. Like I said, I want to feel like we have all W's except for MSU, Neb and OSU before I say we're top 15.
MSU and OSU because they're rivalry games...and Neb, because despite last night, they're pretty good.
If we can handle N'Western and control the game...and then just beat MSU, no matter how we do it. I will then call us a top 15 team. Depending on how those games go, I may say top 10.
I'm sorry, I just don't think we've truly played anyone yet this year. IMO N'Western on the road will be as big of a test as ND was. MSU will be the first BIG GAME we have. If we win those two...combined with this 58-0 throttling, a big night game emotional win over ND. I'll say we're tested.
Can you honestly say last year's team wouldn't be 5-0 at this point in this season? I don't think so. But they likely lose 4-5 games in the last 7. Like they did last year.
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:02 AM ^
Regarding your assumption about Purdue and the stated 7-5 record. That (obviously) makes us 1-5 in the remaining non-Purdue games. That's a lot worse than lacking overwhelming confidence that we'll win or even that those games are in the tossup range.
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^
we started the game with our "manball" offense which just doesn't work. Then against Minny, Borges started giving Denard some easy throws and also threw on first down when it is easier to pass. I like that the staff isn't being as stubborn as the first three games when it comes to offensive play calling.
This team has a ton of potential especially if the D keeps on improving week to week as it seems to be doing. I'm going to guess we are at #14 one spot ahead of Nebraska.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
October 1st, 2011 at 9:00 PM ^
I don't get why everyone is sleeping on Nebraska. Wisconsin isn't nearly as good as advertised.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:08 PM ^
There's a very good chance neither of them are as good as advertised.
Nebraska has struggled against some not so great teams this year, and Wisconsin's best win is over Washington.
October 1st, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
Well so far I stand corrected on Wisconsin. I didn't expect them to be up by 20 at any point in the game.
October 1st, 2011 at 11:32 PM ^
But I didn't expect it. Welcome to the Big Ten, Nebraska.
Wisconsin looks legitimately good, imo, even if they haven't faced any killer opponents yet. They played smart, fast, tough ball. And jeez o petes their QB can play.
So yeah, Wisky should move up. Don't know if it will, but it should. Michigan will go up a bit, I'm guessing, but we're still not going to get major respect.
October 1st, 2011 at 11:07 PM ^
Nebraska's best win is over Washington. Wisconsin hasn't played anyone, especially with Oregon St. looking like they'll be lucky to win 4.
I don't think I've ever felt like I've known so little about every team in the Big 10 after 5 games, well except for a couple teams being horrible.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
Yes they are. They are better than their current ranking.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:45 PM ^
To paraphrase, "Always Be Winning"
OK, concern yourself with rankings as bowl time nears.....
October 1st, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
Higher than we should be in a vacuum, but given the other resumes out there I'm not sure how much lower we could be.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
The rankings don't change how good this team is. Whether Michigan is #2 or #25 only changes whether the team will be considered an underdog the rest of the way- though it is hard for me to imagine the MSM ever considering Michigan the underdog. Let's not get hung up on misguiding rankings.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
I think 15, but would not be surprised by a 13/14 rank either.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^
Sometimes fans are dumb.*
*Referring to the people complaining about rankings talk.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
#1 in my heart
October 1st, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
Moreso concern about how this year edition will play in the month of October. This month,in recent years,has not been kind to us.
I hope are recent play carries on deep into B1G play and beyond.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
ornery MIchigan fans are going to have to admit that we are a pretty good team. We may not emanate depth from beginning of the season until the end. But we have a bunch of talented kids playing their asses off for an incredible staff of coaches.
I wouldn't be surprised if we start off 10-0. If we do, we finish 11-1 or better and that means we all get to buy a bunch of gaudy bowl paraphernalia. I call "shotgun" on the hoodie!
October 1st, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
I would be surprised if we start 10-0. Very surprised. Every team except purdue scares me before that.
October 1st, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
Meh, the rest of the B1G is just not that good. Nebraska is getting thrashed right now, and every other team on the schedule looks beatable. I'm not really "scared" of any of the remaining games, but I do think we will lose a few just because things won't go our way all year. But getting to Indianapolis looks a million times more doable now than it did before the season.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^
is playing and improving each week, they could do it, but I would be very surprised. We are 5-0 after playing 5 home games. Next week we go to NW and if we lose there (it has happened before) we would likely drop out of the Top 25.
So stop worrying about rankings and enjoy the moment.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
and obviously it's a big if, but if we take care of business next week and manage to beat MSU, we'll be top 10 for the first time in what seems like forever.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
Dude, you're already getting ahead of yourself. We play a scrappy Northwestern team that has its star QB back next week, not MSU.
THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS....
EDIT: Unless you're saying manage to take care of [Northwestern] next week and then beat MSU.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
got hurt at the end of the game. Definitely not a certainty he plays. And their defense is bad. We will be favored and should win. Not saying an auto-win, but if we take care of business, we will win. And yeah taht's what I meant. Ambiguously worded.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:26 PM ^
I did not see that he was hurt at the end of the game. If he doesn't play next week things could, and hopefully will, get ugly.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:57 PM ^
Yeah, Persa was sacked with a few minutes left and their backup played for the rest of the game. Not sure if it's anything serious, but even if he plays, he'll be in trouble if we can get constant pressure. He looked fragile at times. But he also threw 4 TD's, so who knows.
October 2nd, 2011 at 2:01 AM ^
This is obviously what you'd want to hear from your quarterback, I honestly hope the kid plays, it'd be a good test to see if our defense really has improved.
<br>http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/story/_/id/7045448/northwestern-wildcats…
October 1st, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
I'm thinking around the 15 range and I really don't want to be higher than that. I am looking forward to next week @ NW because this team has not been on the road yet. If we can win and look good doing it, I may start believing that this team is pretty good. However, I'm not ready to break out the popcorn just yet!!!
October 1st, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
speaking for myself... I am not being ornery. This team is better then last year. No doubt about it. However, there are still unknowns with Michigan. Win the next 2, especially beating Sparty in E. Lansing, and I'll be right there with you.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
Probably higher than we should be, or at least where most people think we should be. They have reason to believe we shouldn't be there, and we need to prove them wrong.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
We should pass Baylor, USF, A&M. If Clemson and Florida lose, we may jump them depending on how close of a game it is. I see us anywhere from 13-16.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:32 PM ^
October 1st, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
Wiscy.
October 1st, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
As of 8:30PM eastern time, I put Michigan at #15. Plenty of games left tonight, with teams ranked ahead of Michigan.
My best guess, in the morning Michigan will be ranked #13. Good times, good times.
- I write about Michigan football, along with other topics at my website:
October 1st, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Though I still don't think we deserve it. If we win next week I'll be sold. If we win the next two weeks I'll start thinking b10 championship game.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:13 PM ^
Most excited is that we beat a team that we should beat the way we should have. We didn't dick around at all and made very little mistakes. We pitched a shut out, held them to little yards and all around dominated. Very different than even the eastern game... Proud of our boys, they look better and better every game.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^
October 1st, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
The difference between this team and the teams past is that a bottom-dwelling big 10 team was crushed, even with our 2nd string players on offense for the majority of the 2nd half and 2nd string players on defense for the majority of the 4th quarter. This is all with a flat crowd who didn't give a shit and with players who knew that they had an easy game and still tried to pitch a shutout.
I think Hoke motivates the team for the 2nd true test of the season and we take care of business handily.
October 2nd, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
I couldn't agree more. We FINALLY made a bad B1G team look bad, as opposed to narrowly winning on the game's last drive. Or, you know, losing.
October 1st, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^