September 18th, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^
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 ^
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 ^
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 ^
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 ^
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 ^
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 ^
September 18th, 2017 at 7:25 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
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 ^
September 18th, 2017 at 8:33 PM ^
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 ^
September 18th, 2017 at 7:19 PM ^
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 ^
September 18th, 2017 at 7:23 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 7:27 PM ^
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 ^
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 ^
September 18th, 2017 at 8:20 PM ^
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 ^
September 18th, 2017 at 10:07 PM ^
September 18th, 2017 at 8:36 PM ^
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 ^
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 ^
September 18th, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
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 ^
September 19th, 2017 at 1:25 AM ^