(09-21-2015 08:26 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 07:02 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  Northern Illinois almost took down the #1 team in the country which is Ohio State.

No. Northern Illinois almost took down the team that was currently ranked #1 team in the country. which is Ohio State.

Northern Illinois didn't almost beat the #1 team. They almost beat a team ranked #1, based upon no objective evidence, other than how they finished last season.

I realize the pundits had proclaimed Ohio State a dynasty already, and a team that nobody could compete with, because of their talent and depth at QB. But the pundits were wrong about Ohio State, their QBs, and much else besides.

We see more upsets today because people are so obsessed with ranking things. We have to know who is better than whom, before anyone even practices. And we adjust these rankings during practices, much good it does. Then we go into the season, and when teams play, the results differ from the expected outcome.

But that's because these rankings are based on past performance, a perception about the coaching staffs, and perceived reputation, instead of basing it on an visual evaluation of the talent on campus, like it used to be done. But today, all the visual evaluation happens prior to college, and is done by recruiting services. Today's sports reporters, most of whom were sports personalities with no formal training in journalism, don't see the need to examine beyond the rating services and raw statistics, without consideration given to the talent said statistics are generated against. So we have a bunch of upsets as a result of incompetent reporters reporting .

That is what I am saying, but to expand on that. Their some great talent in the G5 schools like Northern Illinois, who can take down these top teams.