1) Clemson
2) LSU
3) Ohio State
4) Alabama

5) Notre Dame
6) Baylor

Top G5 ... Memphis #13

Committee definitely looking at SOS and how/where a team lost, not just record.

Well we know that two or four will be out of the top but this time next week

Not bad, ND. Keep winning.

(11-03-2015 07:24 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Not bad, ND. Keep winning.

The committee is pretty wise. Everyone knows HFA is worth 3-5 points, so losing on the road to Clemson by 2 is pretty much a tie. And a tie with the #1 team means something.

Ohio State was number 16 last year in the initial ranking

Memphis at #13 is pretty incredible. They can run the table and get a playoff spot, and the committee just told everyone that it is definitely a real possibility.

(11-03-2015 07:22 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  1) Clemson
2) LSU
3) Ohio State
4) Alabama

5) Notre Dame
6) Baylor

Top G5 ... Memphis #13

Committee definitely looking at SOS and how/where a team lost, not just record.

Memphis should be #4 ahead of Alabama.

Memphis should be higher, but not as bad as it could have been. With games against Navy, Houston, Temple, and then possibly Temple again they would move up if they keep winning. The question is how much?

I'll take it.

Putting LSU and Alabama in there doesn't mean much, especially on the first poll.

Can't argue with the ND and Ala rankings. They have some good wins and their losses are solid. Those rankings aren't too out of whack with last year. I think the committee was off on Ohio State and Baylor, though. They seemed to use the eye test/ AP poll bias on those two more than the typically did last year. Both Ohio State and Baylor are lacking the quality wins and SOS that the committee typically required last year, IMO. Of course the 6-10 teams all have their own warts so maybe is was a situation where they gave the eye test the benefit of the doubt.

(11-03-2015 07:29 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(11-03-2015 07:22 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  1) Clemson
2) LSU
3) Ohio State
4) Alabama

5) Notre Dame
6) Baylor

Top G5 ... Memphis #13

Committee definitely looking at SOS and how/where a team lost, not just record.

Memphis should be #4 ahead of Alabama.

No, Alabama's SOS is far tougher.

(11-03-2015 07:28 PM)TampaKnight Wrote:  Memphis at #13 is pretty incredible. They can run the table and get a playoff spot, and the committee just told everyone that it is definitely a real possibility.

They can, but they do need a LOT of help. Basically, they need:

1) To run the table

2) Ole Miss to win the SEC

3) Notre Dame to lose another game

4) Big 12 to cannibalize itself, not have any unbeaten teams

5) Stanford to lose another game.

If ALL of those things happen, they have a decent shot to get in. Still not guaranteed, but a shot.

(11-03-2015 07:22 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  1) Clemson
2) LSU
3) Ohio State
4) Alabama

5) Notre Dame
6) Baylor

Top G5 ... Memphis #13

Committee definitely looking at SOS and how/where a team lost, not just record.

Let's look at this from the realistic view of a cynic. ESPN is hedging bets from the get go this year.

They will hope that the winner of the L.S.U. / Alabama game wins out. If L.S.U. wins any subsequent loss, as long as it is close will not derail them unless it is to Florida in the Championship game by which time the Gators will have risen by attrition to a position close enough to attain spot #4.

Ohio State is a safe start right now but Michigan State will catapult up there if they beat the Buckeyes, and Iowa will remain in striking position so that they can slip in with a win in the CCG.

The SEC and Big 10 the two top drawing conferences have their tickets punched provided their leaders don't all have two slip ups.

Clemson is there for ACC inclusion provided they beat F.S.U.. If a weak F.S.U. with a bad loss emerges to the ACC title game, and wins, it won't matter provided Notre Dame (the real national draw) beats Stanford. Then you have either LSU/Florida/Alabama for one slot, Ohio State/Michigan State/ Iowa for another, Clemson if they win out, and the winner of Stanford / Notre Dame neither of which will be seriously challenged (Stanford more so) before the end of the regular season.

Baylor is 6th as a wink at the Big 12. If T.C.U. beats them they will get within winking distance. If Oklahoma State wins out and any of the Big 10 / SEC / or ACC screw the pooch then the Cowboys will likely get in, but only then.

T.C.U. and Baylor are exactly what they were last year, box office poison.

For you neophyte true believers does anything stand starkly out with this lineup? National brands all. SEC Brand, Big 10 Brand, Notre Dame/ Stanford, and possibly and undefeated Clemson which is a strong regional brand with a very rabid fan base.

This is the committee's way of saying to ESPN, by text of course since we are all so very modern about the smoke filled room, FIFY.

I can't disagree with the top 4 for this first ranking. What really surprises me from last year is they are giving the G5 schools more credit for their record even is they don't have the strongest SOS.

(11-03-2015 07:45 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-03-2015 07:28 PM)TampaKnight Wrote:  Memphis at #13 is pretty incredible. They can run the table and get a playoff spot, and the committee just told everyone that it is definitely a real possibility.

They can, but they do need a LOT of help. Basically, they need:

1) To run the table

2) Ole Miss to win the SEC

3) Notre Dame to lose another game

4) Big 12 to cannibalize itself, not have any unbeaten teams

5) Stanford to lose another game.

If ALL of those things happen, they have a decent shot to get in. Still not guaranteed, but a shot.

I'd think any combination of three that includes one and two would be good enough to propel them into real consideration since it's a sure thing that a lot of the teams above them have to play each other.

If Memphis goes undefeated and Ole Miss wins the SEC, could you see Ole Miss jumping them in the rankings despite head to head? Could you see the PAC12 champ jumping them?

For Memphis to be in top-4:

1) They have to win out.

2) Utah needs to lose one more regular season game, but win the PAC-12

3) Stanford needs to beat Notre Dame, but lose to Utah in PAC-12 CCG

4) Clemson needs to beat Florida State AND win the ACC CCG

5) Alabama needs to beat LSU, but lose one more time in regular season.

6) Ole Miss needs to win out.

7) Big XII runner-up has to have two losses or more (in four team round robin, Oklahoma and one other have to go 2-1, the other two need to go 1-2).

The playoff would then be Memphis, Clemson, Utah, and Big XII team.

Eventually, the Big 12 will get the hint. If a 1 loss Notre Dame makes the playoff over an undefeated Big 12, just bite the bullet.

Clemson at #1? How can that be? We've all heard from the haters about how weak the ACC is!

(11-03-2015 08:17 PM)stxrunner Wrote:  Eventually, the Big 12 will get the hint. If a 1 loss Notre Dame makes the playoff over an undefeated Big 12, just bite the bullet.

That won't happen. The Big 12 teams have huge games coming up, enough to propel them past Notre Dame.

There is a 100% chance that an unbeaten Big 12 team makes the playoffs.

(11-03-2015 08:36 PM)Rabbit_in_Red Wrote:  Clemson at #1? How can that be? We've all heard from the haters about how weak the ACC is!

Just because you have the best team doesn't mean the conference is any good.