maize-blue

August 1st, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^

This will set up a decent top 20 matchup in week 2 vs. Notre Dame, at least in the media.

When I first looked at the 2013 schedule a loooong time ago I thought the ND would be a question mark/toss up. The more it gets closer I feel pretty confident that we will win. I don't think they are any better than last year, if anything they took a step backwards after losing their QB.

We will actually be better, IMO, and will be at home. Without a crazy amount of turnovers we would of topped them in 2012 as well.

LSAClassOf2000

August 1st, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^

If there is interest in the entire poll listing all who managed to get points, it is here at Pollspeak.com  - LINK

In the expanded listing, Michigan State is the last ranked Big Ten team at #28, and all but 3 teams in the SEC managed to get at least a few points in the comprehensive voting. Some of the more "exotic" votes, if you will, went to San Jose State (#40, 8 points), East Carolina (in a five-way tie for #43, 3 points) and Arkansas, Rutgers and Toledo (among a few others) sit at the very bottom with one point. 

Wolverine Devotee

August 1st, 2013 at 1:29 PM ^

History of preseason rankings

                              AP                 Coaches            Final Record
1950                      3 (3)                   7                             6-3-1
1951                     17                       9                             4-5-0
1952                     NR                     NR                           5-4-0
1953                     NR                     NR                           6-3-0
1954                     NR                     20                            6-3-0
1955                     NR                     NR                           7-2-0
1956                      8 (2)                  12                            7-2-0
1957                      6 (3)                   7                             5-3-1
1958                     NR                     NR                           2-6-1
1959                     NR                     NR                           4-5-0
1960                     NR                     NR                           5-4-0
1961                     NR                     NR                           6-3-0
1962                     NR                     NR                           2-7-0
1963                     NR                     NR                           3-4-2
1964                     NR                     NR                           9-1-0
1965                      4 (5)                   4                             4-6-0
1966                     NR                     NR                           6-4-0
1967                     NR                     NR                           4-6-0
1968                     NR                     NR                           8-2-0
1969                     NR                     12                            8-3-0
1970                      8                        9                             9-1-0
1971                      4 (1)                   9                           11-1-0
1972                      6                        8                          10-1-0
1973                      5 (2)                   6                         10-0-1
1974                      6 (1)                   6                           10-1-0
1975                      3 (1)                   3                            8-2-2
1976                      2 (10)                 8                           10-2-0
1977                      2 (19)                 3                           10-2-0
1978                      6                        9                           10-2-0
1979                      7                        5                             8-4-0
1980                     12                      18                          10-2-0
1981                      1 (38)                 4                            9-3-0
1982                     12                      12                           8-4-0
1983                     10 (1)                 NR                          9-3-0
1984                     14 (1)                  8                            6-6-0
1985                     NR                     NR                        10-1-1
1986                      2 (6)                   2                          11-2-0
1987                      7                        8                            8-4-0
1988                     11 (1)                 19                           9-2-1
1989                      1 (23)                 4                          10-2-0
1990                      6                        7                            9-3-0
1991                      2 (5)                   7                          10-2-0
1992                      6 (1)                   6                            9-0-3
1993                      3 (3)                   5                            8-4-0
1994                      5 (2)                  21                           8-4-0
1995                     14                      12                            9-4
1996                     14                      17                            8-4
1997                     14                      20                           12-0
1998                      5 (4)                   1                            10-3
1999                      8                       12                           10-2
2000                      6                        5                             9-3
2001                     12                      11                            8-4
2002                     12                      20                           10-3
2003                      4 (2)                   9                           10-3
2004                      8                        6                             9-3
2005                      4                       14                            7-5
2006                     14                      NR                         11-2
2007                      5                        8                             9-4
2008                     NR                     18                            3-9
2009                     NR                     NR                           5-7
2010                     NR                     NR                           7-6
2011                     NR                     NR                         11-2
2012                      8 (1)                  8                            8-5     

2013                                              17    

steve sharik

August 1st, 2013 at 1:26 PM ^

I guess the voters are the ones scared of Clowney.

So, if we don't bust a coverage and give up a long ball at the end of the bowl game, are we ranked #7 right now, and  them #17?

God, these polls are stupid.

Logan88

August 1st, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^

Because the rankings are not only based on how a team did last year but how voters think they will do this year?

I've looked at USC's schedule and they look like a 9-4 or 10-3 (they play 13 reg season games in 2013) regular season team IMO. If anything, they are probably ranked a little too low.

Section 1

August 1st, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^

I dare say we'll finish ranked higher than #17 if Devin Gardner stays healthy for the season.  If not, we'll finish lower than #17.

SF Wolverine

August 1st, 2013 at 2:52 PM ^

Beat ND and we are sniffing around the top 10.  For traditonal powerhouses, it's always going to be able to be about how you play.   We start the year out of the Top 25, then roll of 4-5 wins to start, and we are back in the thick of it.  Preseason only matters for non-power conference teams.