September 18th, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^
must be good right?
September 18th, 2017 at 7:08 PM ^
Don't know about TCU but Oregon heroically prevailed at home against a juggernaut of a Nebraska team.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:10 PM ^
Oregon might be ok thanks to the Harbaugh coaching tree effect
September 18th, 2017 at 7:11 PM ^
Oh yes, the same juggernaut that derped its way into realizing that MACtion is indeed magic after all sometimes. I remember it well now.
It's one of those moments that makes college football the wondrous thing that it is sometimes.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^
That MAC team did the unthinkable: intercept Tanner Lee multiple times.
September 19th, 2017 at 9:08 AM ^
3 times to be exact
September 18th, 2017 at 7:10 PM ^
Because they're playing well and people watch the games and feel like it's a better team.
No one thought we played anyone last year until we played Wisconsin (people hadn't realized Colorado was realy good and UCF was a bowl team). But if you watched us play in those games...you realized, damn this team is legit. The polls reflected this even before we played the Badgers.
I'm not saying either team is 2016 Michigan. I'm saying it is possible to watch teams, even against weak competition, and go "okay, we may have something here."
Why is it such a big deal? They'll have to prove it on the field versus Washington, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., etc.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:14 PM ^
Yes, but we finished 10-3 the year before and had many returning starters. You are right though, it really doesnt matter.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:31 PM ^
I understand, and great point.
In the end, I just think it's the "eye test" - TCU looks legit, like a darkhorse to win or make serious noise in the Big XII. Oregon is likely some of the "brand" and the "brand" of beating Nebraska...but they do look much improved from last year.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:51 PM ^
Agreed. It's 3 games in. No one knows who's legit yet except Clemson and Alabama. As if the top 25 is loaded with teams who have quality wins.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:13 PM ^
How they finished in prior seasons would have no bearing on this year. Regardless, getting to 3-0 or 4-0 as a P5 team with a win over another P5 team that's not a dumpster fire has been enough to break into the top 25 for a long tine.
September 19th, 2017 at 6:39 AM ^
Really? Performance in past seasons has absolutely NO BEARING on how you think a team will do in the future? So, like, you're just as high on Alabama as you are on everyone else?
Obviously past performance is not everything, but I think most people just assume Alabama is going to be a top 5 team precisely because of what they have done in recent past seasons. And so far, they wouldn't be wrong...
September 18th, 2017 at 7:14 PM ^
Who would you put in above them?
September 18th, 2017 at 7:16 PM ^
They have to put 25 teams in, right? Who would you put in over them?
Here are the others receiving votes: West Virginia 114, Colorado 93, Maryland 84, Vanderbilt 83, Notre Dame 57, Memphis 21, California 19, Stanford 16, Kentucky 11, Duke 10, Kansas State 10, Tennessee 6, Texas Tech 4, Iowa 2, Wake Forest 2, Michigan State 1, Houston 1.
Seriously, who in that group merits a top 25 spot more than Oregon or TCU? At least they won their games. If you want to complain about anyone, complain that Louisville barely beat Purdue, then got hamblasted at home by Clemson and is still in the top 20.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:23 PM ^
Haha, I was gonna complain about Louisville too but was afraid that was too much complaining. If I were making the rankings, Maryland and Notre dame would be in instead of those two teams. I think TCU was bumped way up to try and increase TV ratings for their game vs OKST on ESPN.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:25 PM ^
WTF, who has ND beaten to garner a ranking? At least Oregon and TCU are still undefeated.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^
You have changed my view. I negged myself for complimenting ND.
September 18th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
is a quality loss considered better or worse than "losing with dignity"?
September 18th, 2017 at 8:35 PM ^
Why would a bunch of writers that don't work for ESPN care about propping up a game for ESPN?
September 18th, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^
They are there by default.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:33 PM ^
You could make a good argument for Maryland, which blew out the same Texas team, at home, that took USC into OT, and has otherwise looked explosive taking care of overmatched competition.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:41 PM ^
But the first team out of the current top 25 has to be LSU, not Oregon, and certainly not TCU. Maryland is probably the only one of the teams left out right now that has earned their way in.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:17 PM ^
Somebody has to fill the tail end of the top 25. With teams like lsu and tn losing they just move up the next teams. If you really look at 25th ranked teams, they often have 4 losses by the end of the year.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:19 PM ^
They are undefeated, historically good/decent, are bigger names than some, have good players, and need to be in Top 25 in order to make sure TV revenue keeps coming in.
So over others, who lack some of the above, yea there in.
About as senseless as us being 7-8 right now. Doesn't mean we aren't but others have a case.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:21 PM ^
The one I'm trying to figure out is LSU being ranked after losing 37-7.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:23 PM ^
Pollster rationale is that Miss State must be really, really good.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^
Classic case of poll inertia.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:23 PM ^
TCU has looked really good this year, especially their defense. I would say they look like one of the 25 best teams at this point
September 18th, 2017 at 7:27 PM ^
Their run offense has been great as well. If Hill can get his shit figured out they will be competitive with Oklahoma State this weekend.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:33 PM ^
then they gave up 36 to SMU and now I'm thinking they're just another Big 12 defense
September 18th, 2017 at 7:28 PM ^
Us in Harbaughs first year. You can tell they have decent coaching again.
Id take their offense over ours any day. That being said I think our defense is a monster so we can survive any game.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:33 PM ^
whatever. As long as they keep Notre Dame out of the Top 25, they are good with me.
September 18th, 2017 at 7:51 PM ^
TCU is #16 there, and Oregon is #24.
The advanced analytics --- with the usual caveat that preseason numbers are still baked in to some degree until early October --- view both teams as Top 25 clubs.
I know it was Wyoming, but I was in Laramie Saturday night and thought Oregon looked pretty good.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:06 PM ^
I guess someone has to fill out the to 25.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:20 PM ^
the "they need to put some there" team anymore
September 18th, 2017 at 8:24 PM ^
I watched some of Oregon's game. They are improved, especially on defense. The Ducks destroyed Wyoming's Josh Allen, who many consider to be a late-round draft pick (it was hard to tell anything, with the Ducks knocking him around).
September 18th, 2017 at 8:30 PM ^
That guy may go in the first round, some consider him the best pro QB prospect this year. He played horrible vs Oregon. Oregon w be back on top sooner then later once the Defense can catch up w there offense. Taggert is a Harbaugh type coach w ties to big Jim, there in great hands and yes both deserve to be in the top 25!
September 18th, 2017 at 10:07 PM ^
It was hard to tell how good he is. His best passes were dropped. He had 200 yards against Iowa. The Ducks beat him up.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:36 PM ^
Iowa dominated him too, still not too 25. Although I don't care if these teams are ranked, meaningless for now.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:38 PM ^
being in the top 25 basically means you're a top 23-24 P5 team which equates to being slightly above average in your league. Not a very high threshold
September 18th, 2017 at 8:47 PM ^
Who gives a shit, it will even itself out.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:49 PM ^
Oregon's head coach is the 3rd Harbaugh brother and he has immediately changed the culture of the program.
September 18th, 2017 at 8:58 PM ^
Because you touch yourself at night.
September 19th, 2017 at 8:18 AM ^
+1, hahahaha
September 18th, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
who watches usc bumblefuck through two tight games against wmu and hapless texas and thinks they are a top 5 team?
September 18th, 2017 at 10:11 PM ^
This fellow's ratings: http://collegepolltracker.com/football/pollster/jon-wilner/2017/week-4.
There are all sorts of Bozos out there creating these rankings. Michigan #4??
September 18th, 2017 at 10:56 PM ^
I've seen TCU twice. they're legit
September 19th, 2017 at 1:25 AM ^
They will both be in the top 25 at the end of the season. What is your problem?