2025-2026 College Football Thread

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Yeah and OSU drops to 10 just far enough to make a comeback if the SEC teams beat each other up and Oklahoma loses a game.

I really don't think Ohio St. has a legit chance of making the national title game even if they win out. It's pretty clear that Alabama has the inside track over Ohio St. of the 1-loss major conference teams. Ohio St. just doean't have a tough enough schedule to move up into the top 2 spots.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I really don't think Ohio St. has a legit chance of making the national title game even if they win out. It's pretty clear that Alabama has the inside track over Ohio St. of the 1-loss major conference teams. Ohio St. just doean't have a tough enough schedule to move up into the top 2 spots.

It would take a lot for Ohio State to get into the title game, and I don't think it's realistically possible. Unlike Alabama they don't play a hard enough schedule to potentially jump Boise or TCU if those teams go undefeated. I don't see Alabama winning out anyway though. Their defense just isn't good enough to beat Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn, and whoever they'd face in the SEC Title game (probably South Carolina again).

I don't see a one-loss team playing in the title game this year. There's too many undefeated teams still (although that will be cut down by 2 with LSU-Auburn and Oklahoma-Missouri this week) and unlike in previous years Boise State and TCU/Utah has a legitimate chance at playing for the title.

[Snowmaker]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Here's something amusing. The Florida Gators, with an extremely disappointing year, have a game at home later this year to #1 ranked I-AA powerhouse Appalachian St. Wonder if App St. can pull of a shocker like they did to Michigan several years ago.

Thanks, I had almost completely blocked that game out of my memory.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Snowmaker

Thanks, I had almost completely blocked that game out of my memory.

The Michigan-Appalachian State game was the first game ever shown on the Big Ten Network. I loved that game even though I hate Appalachian State because their fans were jerks when I was in Chattanooga when Northern Iowa played Appalachian State for the FCS National Championship in 2005. App State could have a realistic shot at beating Florida, but even though they are #1 in FCS they are nowhere as good as that 2007 team.

[The Big Blue]

1. Oklahoma .9215

Didn't see that coming.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by The Big Blue

1. Oklahoma .9215

Didn't see that coming.

I figured if they finished undefeated it would happen, but I didn't see the leap frog coming.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I figured if they finished undefeated it would happen, but I didn't see the leap frog coming.

In the end it was the strength of schedule/computer rankings that allowed Oklahoma to leapfrog the rest of the field. I'd still be very surprised if they run the table though. Oklahoma has barely survived several scares and they still have a few big games ahead. They'll drop at least one.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Yeah and OSU drops to 10 just far enough to make a comeback if the SEC teams beat each other up and Oklahoma loses a game.

I don't know, that loss to Wisconsin probably killed their confidence, they will most likely drop at least one game that they shouldn't have down the stretch.

[fatediesel]

I really wish Scott Wolf of the LA Daily News would lose his AP Top 25 vote. It's clear he has a bias against the Big 10. He ranked Ohio State #16, lowest of all voters. He ranked Iowa #21, lowest of all voters. He ranked Michigan State #12, lower than 58 of 59 voters. He ranked Wisconsin #14, lower than 53 voters. I don't know how he can rank 6-1 Wisconsin at #14 and 4-2 Arkansas at #13 (highest of all voters) when Wisconsin's only loss is at undefeated Michigan State and beat Ohio State while Arkansas's best win is either a neutral site win against 3-3 Texas A&M or winning at 3-4 Georgia. The site pollspeak (linked below) shows whether a voter's ranking are normal, extreme, or near-extreme. Wolf's ballot was extreme 8 times and near-extreme 5 times.

http://www.pollspeak.com/pollstalker...t1=0&t2=0&v=57

Edit: While browsing through the AP voters I've concluded the worst voter is definitely another Californian, Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News. He gave the highest vote to 7 teams and the lowest vote to 7 teams. Only 6 teams aren't deemed extreme or near-extreme. Wilner is clearly one of those voters that wants to make his ballot as extreme as possible to generate controversy.

http://www.pollspeak.com/pollstalker...t1=0&t2=0&v=35

[Chordata]

Interestingly, Chris Fowler ranked his buddy Herbstreit's school the lowest of anyone lol.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Interestingly, Chris Fowler ranked his buddy Herbstreit's school the lowest of anyone lol.

I was very surprised Herbstreit voted Iowa #6, higher than any other voter. Iowa has the potential and remaining schedule to get that high (or higher) but they haven't played like the #6 team in the country yet. They haven't beat a team currently in the top 25 and didn't look great nearly blowing a lead against Michigan. With games left against Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State Iowa could earn a place in the top 6 but they aren't there yet in my opinion.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I was very surprised Herbstreit voted Iowa #6, higher than any other voter. Iowa has the potential and remaining schedule to get that high (or higher) but they haven't played like the #6 team in the country yet. They haven't beat a team currently in the top 25 and didn't look great nearly blowing a lead against Michigan. With games left against Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State Iowa could earn a place in the top 6 but they aren't there yet in my opinion.

I want to see how you'll react if Iowa gets taken to the cleaners by the Badgers like Ohio State did.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I was very surprised Herbstreit voted Iowa #6, higher than any other voter. Iowa has the potential and remaining schedule to get that high (or higher) but they haven't played like the #6 team in the country yet. They haven't beat a team currently in the top 25 and didn't look great nearly blowing a lead against Michigan. With games left against Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State Iowa could earn a place in the top 6 but they aren't there yet in my opinion.

the crazy thing is if Iowa shows up they could do what other teams are doing if they continue winning and leap frog into contention now they'd need some help, but its a very real possibility.

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I don't know, that loss to Wisconsin probably killed their confidence, they will most likely drop at least one game that they shouldn't have down the stretch.

Funny stat they gave on ESPN which is why I'm scared it was something like "when a #1 team drops a game in like 80% or more of the seasons they find there way back into the top5"

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I want to see how you'll react if Iowa gets taken to the cleaners by the Badgers like Ohio State did.

I'm not too emotional about Iowa. If they lose they lose. I'm going to Iowa City to tailgate this weekend and it's possible I'll go to the game if I can find some cheap tickets. I have no problem just going to a bar to watch the game though. I like Iowa but they are well behind Northern Iowa to me among college teams.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I really wish Scott Wolf of the LA Daily News would lose his AP Top 25 vote. It's clear he has a bias against the Big 10. He ranked Ohio State #16, lowest of all voters. He ranked Iowa #21, lowest of all voters. He ranked Michigan State #12, lower than 58 of 59 voters. He ranked Wisconsin #14, lower than 53 voters. I don't know how he can rank 6-1 Wisconsin at #14 and 4-2 Arkansas at #13 (highest of all voters) when Wisconsin's only loss is at undefeated Michigan State and beat Ohio State while Arkansas's best win is either a neutral site win against 3-3 Texas A&M or winning at 3-4 Georgia. The site pollspeak (linked below) shows whether a voter's ranking are normal, extreme, or near-extreme. Wolf's ballot was extreme 8 times and near-extreme 5 times.

http://www.pollspeak.com/pollstalker...t1=0&t2=0&v=57

Ohio St. at #16 sounds about right to me. It's the other pollsters who are overrating them.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Ohio St. at #16 sounds about right to me. It's the other pollsters who are overrating them.

Still not sure why Ohio State was #1 in the polls, would be funny if the #1 ranked team loses for the third week in a row. You know Boise State was cheering Wisconsin on.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Ohio St. at #16 sounds about right to me. It's the other pollsters who are overrating them.

I agree but Iowa, MSU, and Wisconsin shouldn't be put that low.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I agree but Iowa, MSU, and Wisconsin shouldn't be put that low.

Wisconsin should be undefeated if they have any qualms about their current ranking, simple as that.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Wisconsin should be undefeated if they have any qualms about their current ranking, simple as that.

I don't have a problem with their actual rankings, it's Wolf putting them (along with an undefeated Michigan State team) behind Florida State. Florida State got murdered by Oklahoma by 30 and hasn't beat a current top 25 team. They looked like absolute garbage Saturday and were fortunate to beat a bad Boston College team. If you're going to be that blatantly against a conference (seemingly for no reason) you don't deserve an AP vote.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I don't have a problem with their actual rankings, it's Wolf putting them (along with an undefeated Michigan State team) behind Florida State. Florida State got murdered by Oklahoma by 30 and hasn't beat a current top 25 team. They looked like absolute garbage Saturday and were fortunate to beat a bad Boston College team. If you're going to be that blatantly against a conference (seemingly for no reason) you don't deserve an AP vote.

Florida State hasn't been a true contender in a very long time, about as long as it's been for Miami, I think. Michigan State needs to be in the top 10, period, can't remember the last time they had a program this consistently good.