ESPN Pre-Season Top 25

[AppStFan1]

It's a beauty contest, but it's good press.

It means nothing as far as position to accomplish what we want this year but definitely looks good for recruiting and press. I don't care if we begin the season ranked typically and I don't expect to but it will look good for recruiting and marketing if we start the year ranked and stay ranked the entire year. If I had to pick though I prefer what happened in 2019 when we did not start ranked but finished there. As long as we finish top 25 I'll be happy. I kind of hope we begin this season ranked just because if we go undefeated that could be the difference in us going to a NY6 or not. We had no shot last year without going undefeated but this year if we go undefeated I think we get in with two good P5 opponents, one being ranked in the top 10-15 by everyone.

“It means nothing”, are you kidding?

It is hard for me to understand how some folks on this board still don’t get the importance of being ranked as early in the season as possible. The earlier you get in the higher your ceiling AND the more insulation you have against a loss during the season. Yes we still have to take care of business every week but it matters at the end of the regular season when these same people don’t understand why AAC and MWC teams get the benefit of the doubt with one or two losses over us. Starting in the top 25 means A LOT.

When I say it means nothing I am talking about it does not guarantee any wins or mean that we will get in the NY6. It can help us have a higher ceiling, like you said, but I hope our team ignores this and realizes we actually have to win the games.

As much as this ranking CAN help us the poor performance of the rest of our league can negate that and hurt us. Also, the MWC and AAC get the benefit right now because their teams have gotten big wins over top 25 P5 teams. We still don't have that but we have the opportunity to notch one of those wins.

Say we start out 25 and we are 22-23 when we go to Wisconsin. If we beat them and they are ranked in the top 12 we would likely vault all the way up to #15 or so. We never have had a win move us up that much in one week. We get more help and respect from beating Wisconsin and Wake Forest back to back than we would by winning 10 straight against the SBC and G5 teams, and we should.

Dude, I think you just got our point

I always have but what I mean is that the preseason ranking means nothing if you don't have quality wins to go with it. Until we beat a top 25 team who looks legit and does not completely fall like a rock we will still get passed by AAC teams.

It is like at one time last year we were ahead of Memphis but their SOS was so much better late in the year that they would have passed us anyway. That is my point about all this. We could start out 15 but if we have no quality wins and a AAC team goes undefeated with 2 top 25 wins they will still pass us. The higher we start the higher the potential for a ranking but we could still get passed by a G5 team with a strong resume.

[AppStFan1]

It's a beauty contest, but it's good press.

It means nothing as far as position to accomplish what we want this year but definitely looks good for recruiting and press. I don't care if we begin the season ranked typically and I don't expect to but it will look good for recruiting and marketing if we start the year ranked and stay ranked the entire year. If I had to pick though I prefer what happened in 2019 when we did not start ranked but finished there. As long as we finish top 25 I'll be happy. I kind of hope we begin this season ranked just because if we go undefeated that could be the difference in us going to a NY6 or not. We had no shot last year without going undefeated but this year if we go undefeated I think we get in with two good P5 opponents, one being ranked in the top 10-15 by everyone.

“It means nothing”, are you kidding?

It is hard for me to understand how some folks on this board still don’t get the importance of being ranked as early in the season as possible. The earlier you get in the higher your ceiling AND the more insulation you have against a loss during the season. Yes we still have to take care of business every week but it matters at the end of the regular season when these same people don’t understand why AAC and MWC teams get the benefit of the doubt with one or two losses over us. Starting in the top 25 means A LOT.

When I say it means nothing I am talking about it does not guarantee any wins or mean that we will get in the NY6. It can help us have a higher ceiling, like you said, but I hope our team ignores this and realizes we actually have to win the games.

As much as this ranking CAN help us the poor performance of the rest of our league can negate that and hurt us. Also, the MWC and AAC get the benefit right now because their teams have gotten big wins over top 25 P5 teams. We still don't have that but we have the opportunity to notch one of those wins.

Say we start out 25 and we are 22-23 when we go to Wisconsin. If we beat them and they are ranked in the top 12 we would likely vault all the way up to #15 or so. We never have had a win move us up that much in one week. We get more help and respect from beating Wisconsin and Wake Forest back to back than we would by winning 10 straight against the SBC and G5 teams, and we should.

Wait, wait, wait a minute here. You’re telling me being ranked at #24 in a preseason ranking released in February DOESNT guarantee you a NY6 spot? You’ve got to be kidding me. *eye roll*

LOL. I know that nobody thinks that but my main point is that having a team like Wisconsin who is suppose to be top 10 is bigger for us than a preseason ranking. I feel like the preseason ranking would mean more with a weak schedule but the ranking means nothing if you have strong opponents. Wake Forest is solid and Wisconsin is suppose to be really good. Last year we did not really have a quality team on the schedule that voters could say gives them reason to believe we should have gotten in NY6 over a AAC Champ.

I know it is cool to see this stuff now but we will forget about it in a month or so anyway. I feel like being ranked in Athlon, Lindys, Phil Steele and by AP or coaches in the preseason is what really would mean something big. It would be nice to see it in a print magazine or in the official polls that are actually used in broadcasts. I just don't get excited or mad about what anyone says on us right now because it is so early and things can improve or get worse for everyone between now and then.

[Yosef10]

It means nothing as far as position to accomplish what we want this year but definitely looks good for recruiting and press. I don't care if we begin the season ranked typically and I don't expect to but it will look good for recruiting and marketing if we start the year ranked and stay ranked the entire year. If I had to pick though I prefer what happened in 2019 when we did not start ranked but finished there. As long as we finish top 25 I'll be happy. I kind of hope we begin this season ranked just because if we go undefeated that could be the difference in us going to a NY6 or not. We had no shot last year without going undefeated but this year if we go undefeated I think we get in with two good P5 opponents, one being ranked in the top 10-15 by everyone.

“It means nothing”, are you kidding?

It is hard for me to understand how some folks on this board still don’t get the importance of being ranked as early in the season as possible. The earlier you get in the higher your ceiling AND the more insulation you have against a loss during the season. Yes we still have to take care of business every week but it matters at the end of the regular season when these same people don’t understand why AAC and MWC teams get the benefit of the doubt with one or two losses over us. Starting in the top 25 means A LOT.

When I say it means nothing I am talking about it does not guarantee any wins or mean that we will get in the NY6. It can help us have a higher ceiling, like you said, but I hope our team ignores this and realizes we actually have to win the games.

As much as this ranking CAN help us the poor performance of the rest of our league can negate that and hurt us. Also, the MWC and AAC get the benefit right now because their teams have gotten big wins over top 25 P5 teams. We still don't have that but we have the opportunity to notch one of those wins.

Say we start out 25 and we are 22-23 when we go to Wisconsin. If we beat them and they are ranked in the top 12 we would likely vault all the way up to #15 or so. We never have had a win move us up that much in one week. We get more help and respect from beating Wisconsin and Wake Forest back to back than we would by winning 10 straight against the SBC and G5 teams, and we should.

Wait, wait, wait a minute here. You’re telling me being ranked at #24 in a preseason ranking released in February DOESNT guarantee you a NY6 spot? You’ve got to be kidding me. *eye roll*

LOL. I know that nobody thinks that but my main point is that having a team like Wisconsin who is suppose to be top 10 is bigger for us than a preseason ranking. I feel like the preseason ranking would mean more with a weak schedule but the ranking means nothing if you have strong opponents. Wake Forest is solid and Wisconsin is suppose to be really good. Last year we did not really have a quality team on the schedule that voters could say gives them reason to believe we should have gotten in NY6 over a AAC Champ.

I know it is cool to see this stuff now but we will forget about it in a month or so anyway. I feel like being ranked in Athlon, Lindys, Phil Steele and by AP or coaches in the preseason is what really would mean something big. It would be nice to see it in a print magazine or in the official polls that are actually used in broadcasts. I just don't get excited or mad about what anyone says on us right now because it is so early and things can improve or get worse for everyone between now and then.

Beating Wisconsin would be a much bigger deal, agreed. But a sunbelt school going into their 6th year of FBS being mentioned as preseason top 25 is a pretty big deal for us. College football is just as much a beauty contest and marketing machine as anything else.

[ah59396]

A preseason ranking means a lot.

A preseason ranking with a win against Wake in week 2 (#beatmorganstate) means a lot more.

A preseason ranking, with a wake win, probably means top 20, which means a marquee ranked matchup week 3 against Wisconsin. Which means a heck of a lot more.

A top 20, marquee/all eyes on WIN against a top 10 Wisconsin means we are probably a top 12? team in week 4. Insanity.


It’s a cool thing on its own, but it’s a component of a much greater possibility. Which is why it matters.

[InFor6More]

A preseason ranking means a lot.

A preseason ranking with a win against Wake in week 2 (#beatmorganstate) means a lot more.

A preseason ranking, with a wake win, probably means top 20, which means a marquee ranked matchup week 3 against Wisconsin. Which means a heck of a lot more.

A top 20, marquee/all eyes on WIN against a top 10 Wisconsin means we are probably a top 12? team in week 4. Insanity.


It’s a cool thing on its own, but it’s a component of a much greater possibility. Which is why it matters.

This guy gets it.

[AppStFan1]

“It means nothing”, are you kidding?

It is hard for me to understand how some folks on this board still don’t get the importance of being ranked as early in the season as possible. The earlier you get in the higher your ceiling AND the more insulation you have against a loss during the season. Yes we still have to take care of business every week but it matters at the end of the regular season when these same people don’t understand why AAC and MWC teams get the benefit of the doubt with one or two losses over us. Starting in the top 25 means A LOT.

When I say it means nothing I am talking about it does not guarantee any wins or mean that we will get in the NY6. It can help us have a higher ceiling, like you said, but I hope our team ignores this and realizes we actually have to win the games.

As much as this ranking CAN help us the poor performance of the rest of our league can negate that and hurt us. Also, the MWC and AAC get the benefit right now because their teams have gotten big wins over top 25 P5 teams. We still don't have that but we have the opportunity to notch one of those wins.

Say we start out 25 and we are 22-23 when we go to Wisconsin. If we beat them and they are ranked in the top 12 we would likely vault all the way up to #15 or so. We never have had a win move us up that much in one week. We get more help and respect from beating Wisconsin and Wake Forest back to back than we would by winning 10 straight against the SBC and G5 teams, and we should.

Wait, wait, wait a minute here. You’re telling me being ranked at #24 in a preseason ranking released in February DOESNT guarantee you a NY6 spot? You’ve got to be kidding me. *eye roll*

LOL. I know that nobody thinks that but my main point is that having a team like Wisconsin who is suppose to be top 10 is bigger for us than a preseason ranking. I feel like the preseason ranking would mean more with a weak schedule but the ranking means nothing if you have strong opponents. Wake Forest is solid and Wisconsin is suppose to be really good. Last year we did not really have a quality team on the schedule that voters could say gives them reason to believe we should have gotten in NY6 over a AAC Champ.

I know it is cool to see this stuff now but we will forget about it in a month or so anyway. I feel like being ranked in Athlon, Lindys, Phil Steele and by AP or coaches in the preseason is what really would mean something big. It would be nice to see it in a print magazine or in the official polls that are actually used in broadcasts. I just don't get excited or mad about what anyone says on us right now because it is so early and things can improve or get worse for everyone between now and then.

Beating Wisconsin would be a much bigger deal, agreed. But a sunbelt school going into their 6th year of FBS being mentioned as preseason top 25 is a pretty big deal for us. College football is just as much a beauty contest and marketing machine as anything else.

From where we have come from it is a fact for sure that it's a big deal in some ways. Marketing and the beauty contest. It will help us get some recruits, which means we should see the talent start to improve a little bit more.

My big point is that we can start out 15th and without a quality win the AAC Champ would still pass us by if they have top 25 wins. Wisconsin gives us that game where we can get that win and have a reason to make voters push us up rather than let Boise, Memphis, UCF, etc just pass us by.

[gsoappfan]

So what you are saying is, being ranked matters but we actually have to win the games we play? Thanks for the clarification on that. I didn't realize we would actually have to win the games we played.

[AppStFan1]

A preseason ranking means a lot.

A preseason ranking with a win against Wake in week 2 (#beatmorganstate) means a lot more.

A preseason ranking, with a wake win, probably means top 20, which means a marquee ranked matchup week 3 against Wisconsin. Which means a heck of a lot more.

A top 20, marquee/all eyes on WIN against a top 10 Wisconsin means we are probably a top 12? team in week 4. Insanity.


It’s a cool thing on its own, but it’s a component of a much greater possibility. Which is why it matters.

You are definitely right. It is big to start with. One thing many don't bring up is that a few voters have a bias against G5 teams unless they are Boise or the AAC Champ. Beating Wisconsin and running the table would put us in that category of Boise and the AAC top 2 teams. We don't need style points up in Madison. A win is a win there. Wherever we start we will see a big jump with a win over Wisconsin for sure. We could start out 35 and a 3-0 start would put us in the top 20 sure.

Where do you guys think a win in Madison would compare to all-time wins? My opinion is that it would be the 2nd biggest win behind Michigan with SC/UNC wins next and then the 3 FCS titles.

[AppStFan1]

So what you are saying is, being ranked matters but we actually have to win the games we play? Thanks for the clarification on that. I didn't realize we would actually have to win the games we played.

LOL. Of course we all know that but just winning isn't enough for us. We need wins over top 25 teams or style point wins over G5 teams. We have people who complained that Memphis got in the NY6 instead of us. Well, for us to get in the NY6 not only do we have to win but we have to win big and need a top 25 win. If both of those don't happen the voters have an excuse and will pick the AAC Champ.

[MtnMan14]

Hello all. Long time lurker and wanted to join the fun. Haven’t seen this mentioned yet, but ESPN has is listed at 75 in their recently updated FPI. They have ULL at 61...I’ve always hated how wildly inconsistent ESPN is. I don’t think they even review their own content. I’m loving that we are mentioned at 24 in their rankings, but how can they do that and then place us at 75 for FPI. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of the attention we are getting, but ESPN is a joke when it comes to rankings.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... -breakdown

[ah59396]

A preseason ranking means a lot.

A preseason ranking with a win against Wake in week 2 (#beatmorganstate) means a lot more.

A preseason ranking, with a wake win, probably means top 20, which means a marquee ranked matchup week 3 against Wisconsin. Which means a heck of a lot more.

A top 20, marquee/all eyes on WIN against a top 10 Wisconsin means we are probably a top 12? team in week 4. Insanity.


It’s a cool thing on its own, but it’s a component of a much greater possibility. Which is why it matters.

You are definitely right. It is big to start with. One thing many don't bring up is that a few voters have a bias against G5 teams unless they are Boise or the AAC Champ. Beating Wisconsin and running the table would put us in that category of Boise and the AAC top 2 teams. We don't need style points up in Madison. A win is a win there. Wherever we start we will see a big jump with a win over Wisconsin for sure. We could start out 35 and a 3-0 start would put us in the top 20 sure.

Where do you guys think a win in Madison would compare to all-time wins? My opinion is that it would be the 2nd biggest win behind Michigan with SC/UNC wins next and then the 3 FCS titles.

Michigan is special and always will be. It’s also the greatest upset of all time.

But my personal opinion (I know I’ll get flamed for this) is that beating a top 10 Wisconsin would be the biggest win ever for us.

I say that because of the circumstances. Assuming we are both 2-0, we’d be a legitimately ranked team and topple a legit top 10 team.

The Michigan narrative will forever be:
“little guy upsets giant”
“Once in a lifetime”
“Miracle”

But we won’t be sneaking up on anyone if we’ve got a number next to our name. We’d get their A-game with no excuses. I think the narrative after a win like that is:
“These guys are for real”

[AppStFan1]

A preseason ranking means a lot.

A preseason ranking with a win against Wake in week 2 (#beatmorganstate) means a lot more.

A preseason ranking, with a wake win, probably means top 20, which means a marquee ranked matchup week 3 against Wisconsin. Which means a heck of a lot more.

A top 20, marquee/all eyes on WIN against a top 10 Wisconsin means we are probably a top 12? team in week 4. Insanity.


It’s a cool thing on its own, but it’s a component of a much greater possibility. Which is why it matters.

You are definitely right. It is big to start with. One thing many don't bring up is that a few voters have a bias against G5 teams unless they are Boise or the AAC Champ. Beating Wisconsin and running the table would put us in that category of Boise and the AAC top 2 teams. We don't need style points up in Madison. A win is a win there. Wherever we start we will see a big jump with a win over Wisconsin for sure. We could start out 35 and a 3-0 start would put us in the top 20 sure.

Where do you guys think a win in Madison would compare to all-time wins? My opinion is that it would be the 2nd biggest win behind Michigan with SC/UNC wins next and then the 3 FCS titles.

Michigan is special and always will be. It’s also the greatest upset of all time.

But my personal opinion (I know I’ll get flamed for this) is that beating a top 10 Wisconsin would be the biggest win ever for us.

I say that because of the circumstances. Assuming we are both 2-0, we’d be a legitimately ranked team and topple a legit top 10 team.

The Michigan narrative will forever be:
“little guy upsets giant”
“Once in a lifetime”
“Miracle”

But we won’t be sneaking up on anyone if we’ve got a number next to our name. We’d get their A-game with no excuses. I think the narrative after a win like that is:
“These guys are for real”

No doubt. No excuse for an FCS team to upset a team like Michigan. If we go undefeated and finish top 15 then I would say the Wisconsin game is the biggest win because of where it would ultimately catapult us up to.

My whole point on this is that we can have a win like Wisconsin that would truly give us a beef if we go undefeated and don't get the NY6 spot. If we lose to Wisconsin we will likely be on the outside looking in again. With the perceived weakness of the SBC our preseason ranking does not matter and how bad we beat the SBC does not matter if we can't beat Wisconsin. We go 13-0 and we get snubbed in 2020 and then we truly have a beef and our administration should complain for months.