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(10-02-2019 07:12 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  I think the MI ranking problem takes care of itself as soon as they play a B10 team with a pulse. Ultimately, the human polls do self correct. And while I have singled out MI, we've seen this happen with other historically strong programs such as Florida State, Notre Dame and Miami (FL). Lots of love preseason only to fall flat.

It's just a poll of course. But if UCF had a #7 preseason ranking for one of their undefeated seasons maybe they would have had a shot at rising to the CFP. Starting the season outside the top 8 spots makes the pathway almost impossible, even for a P5 to break into what has turned out to be the 'Bama and Clemson Show.

The human polls do take care of themselves. Big names are going to get more attention until there is more games to analyze.

UCF getting a playoff shot or not has nothing to do with preseason rankings in human polls. For a non-P5 to have a legitmate playoff they need to get at least one big scalp non-conference and go 13-0. If we had gone 13-0 with a win at OSU we would be in the playoffs. Houston was going to go to the playoffs the year they beat Oklahoma and Louisville if they had gone undefeated. You probably need to beat a top 10 team and play in the top non P5 conference which seems like it's going to be the American for a long time; there's really not any other non-P5 even close to us.