AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:38 am

After seeing the post about womens tennis getting a win versus a ranked opponent (congrats to the ladies), I got to thinking about all App teams histories with national rankings at the top level (FBS for football, and post 1971 D1 for everyone else) and thought it would be more interesting here than just using AI to look up the answers. I have two questions.

1-How many App teams have ever been nationally ranked themselves?

Other than football, I do not know of any. The two mens basketball teams that went to the NITs were in the "others receiving votes" section at different points during those seasons, as I recall. And I have no idea how/if rankings happen in wrestling but as good as they have been I kind of expect they must have been ranked in the past. But that is it.

2-How many App teams have beaten ranked opponents?

Off the top of my head:
-Football has 4 (Michigan, Texas A&M, Coastal, JMU)
-Mens basketball has at least 3 that I know of (Auburn recently, Steph Curry era Davidson at least once, and UNCC when I was in school in the late 90s) Any others?
-Baseball has a handful that I remember but likely has more (Southern Miss and Coastal for sure). Didn't they beat Oklahoma once in the CWS regional only to lose to them twice more for the double elimination?
-Field hockey has 2 in the last few years (JMU, Louisville)
-And now womens tennis last week

What am I missing? Anything from the 70s or 80s maybe? I have heard mens soccer was pretty good in 80s.

AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:38 am

After seeing the post about womens tennis getting a win versus a ranked opponent (congrats to the ladies), I got to thinking about all App teams histories with national rankings at the top level (FBS for football, and post 1971 D1 for everyone else) and thought it would be more interesting here than just using AI to look up the answers. I have two questions.

1-How many App teams have ever been nationally ranked themselves?

Other than football, I do not know of any. The two mens basketball teams that went to the NITs were in the "others receiving votes" section at different points during those seasons, as I recall. And I have no idea how/if rankings happen in wrestling but as good as they have been I kind of expect they must have been ranked in the past. But that is it.

2-How many App teams have beaten ranked opponents?

Off the top of my head:
-Football has 4 (Michigan, Texas A&M, Coastal, JMU)
-Mens basketball has at least 3 that I know of (Auburn recently, Steph Curry era Davidson at least once, and UNCC when I was in school in the late 90s) Any others?
-Baseball has a handful that I remember but likely has more (Southern Miss and Coastal for sure). Didn't they beat Oklahoma once in the CWS regional only to lose to them twice more for the double elimination?
-Field hockey has 2 in the last few years (JMU, Louisville) FH also gets my vote for the most likely App team to break into the national ranking if they stay on the path they've been on over the past 5 years.
-And now womens tennis last week

What am I missing? I am sure wrestling has more than a few. Anything from the 70s or 80s maybe? I have heard mens soccer was pretty good in 80s.

scatman77 wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:46 am

Go back and check men's soccer from 1970-1980 and you'll find those Vaughn Christian coached teams consistently in the top 10 nationally. The matches vs Clemson at the time were epic.

311neers wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:49 am

I believe we were top 25 in baseball in 2012. Numerous rankings had us in the top 30 most of that year. That's probably the most impressive as there are something like 300 D1 baseball teams.

Baseball has a ton of ranked wins. Virginia, OU, LSU x2, Wake a few times, NCState...all the Sun Belt ranked wins v USM, Costal, UL and Troy. (just in the past 10-15 years)
Baseball also get's a lot of volume opportunities to capitalize on ranked wins over other sports.

AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:55 am

311neers wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:49 am

I believe we were top 25 in baseball in 2012. Numerous rankings had us in the top 30 most of that year. That's probably the most impressive as there are something like 300 D1 baseball teams.

Baseball has a ton of ranked wins. Virginia, OU, LSU x2, Wake a few times, NCState...all the Sun Belt ranked wins v USM, Costal, UL and Troy. (just in the past 10-15 years)
Baseball also get's a lot of volume opportunities to capitalize on ranked wins over other sports.

I dont remember being ranked in 2012, but that was a great team for sure. And definately accomplished impressive levels - 1 win away from the super regionals.

Baseball, with all its opportunities, was were I figured there was the most.

AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 10, 2025 7:38 am

After seeing the post about womens tennis getting a win versus a ranked opponent (congrats to the ladies), I got to thinking about all App teams histories with national rankings at the top level (FBS for football, and post 1971 D1 for everyone else) and thought it would be more interesting here than just using AI to look up the answers. I have two questions.

1-How many App teams have ever been nationally ranked themselves?

Other than football, I do not know of any. The two mens basketball teams that went to the NITs were in the "others receiving votes" section at different points during those seasons, as I recall. And I have no idea how/if rankings happen in wrestling but as good as they have been I kind of expect they must have been ranked in the past. But that is it.

2-How many App teams have beaten ranked opponents?

Off the top of my head:
-Football has 4 (Michigan, Texas A&M, Coastal, JMU)
-Mens basketball has at least 3 that I know of (Auburn recently, Steph Curry era Davidson at least once, and UNCC when I was in school in the late 90s) Any others?
-Baseball has a handful that I remember but likely has many more (Southern Miss and Coastal for sure). Didn't they beat Oklahoma once in the CWS regional only to lose to them twice more for the double elimination?
-Field hockey has 2 in the last few years (JMU, Louisville) FH also gets my vote for the most likely App team to break into the national ranking if they stay on the path they've been on over the past 5 years.
-And now womens tennis last week

What am I missing? I am sure wrestling has more than a few. Anything from the 70s or 80s maybe? I have heard mens soccer was pretty good in 80s.

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 12, 2025 2:46 pm

My memory grows cloudy but I seem to remember we reached number three nationally at one time in the Usyian years.