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So, even a solid win against UCLA doesn't get us in the Top 25 prior to Ohio State. We're at #34 and that is a few ticks higher than the Coaches Poll had us. So, there's that...

Absolutely, a win over UCLA gets us in the Top 25.

After all, they have to rank Ohio State's opponents to make the Buckeyes look better.

(08-19-2019 04:29 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Absolutely, a win over UCLA gets us in the Top 25.

After all, they have to rank Ohio State's opponents to make the Buckeyes look better.

In all honesty, we are the highest ranked/featured OOC game for the Bucks this year. FAU, Cincinnati, and MyAMuh, O.

Nebraska at 24 is an absolute joke. They should have to play their way in but since they're a brand name they get in on pure speculation.

(08-19-2019 04:29 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Absolutely, a win over UCLA gets us in the Top 25.

After all, they have to rank Ohio State's opponents to make the Buckeyes look better.

Let's be honest and blunt... A win over UCLA helps, but it also depends on who above us also loses and by how much...

(08-20-2019 07:36 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 04:29 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Absolutely, a win over UCLA gets us in the Top 25.

After all, they have to rank Ohio State's opponents to make the Buckeyes look better.

Let's be honest and blunt... A win over UCLA helps, but it also depends on who above us also loses and by how much...

Not to get ahead of ourselves by any means, but with a statement win we could reasonably expect to jump a team like Army (playing Rice), TCU (playing Ark Pine-Bluff) and Miss State (playing LA Lafayette) even under the assumption all 3 win.

I want nothing more than to smack UCLA 56-14 and come out making a statement

(08-20-2019 08:27 AM)dubcat14 Wrote:  

(08-20-2019 07:36 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 04:29 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Absolutely, a win over UCLA gets us in the Top 25.

After all, they have to rank Ohio State's opponents to make the Buckeyes look better.

Let's be honest and blunt... A win over UCLA helps, but it also depends on who above us also loses and by how much...

Not to get ahead of ourselves by any means, but with a statement win we could reasonably expect to jump a team like Army (playing Rice), TCU (playing Ark Pine-Bluff) and Miss State (playing LA Lafayette) even under the assumption all 3 win.

I want nothing more than to smack UCLA 56-14 and come out making a statement

ESPNs Computer/Power rankings (I think FPI based, but didn’t look closely) have the Bucks at #13 and UCLA at #20. Idk if UCLA OOC schedule last year that included UC#24, Oklahoma #4, and Fresno State #18 is the reason for the computers ranking them 20, but either way a week 1 statement win could/should move us into top 25.

Yet another G5 disadvantage: the toughest games are sometimes at the beginning of the season rather than the end which means even being ranked pre-season often means for one week only.

If UC prevails against UCLA and jumps into the rankings the next week, even a close loss @ OSU would probably end the run as voters either minimize the value of a win over UCLA or consider it simply an upset--an aberration.

Conversely, an end of season loss to OSU by other contenders in the B10 is viewed differently and probably won't bounce a conference foe from a ranking in the teens. And of course those P5 teams get lots of love in the following pre-season poll and the cycle continues.

But I really believe Fickell is building a program and has a chance to get ranked soon and stay in the conversation in spite of the G5 challenges. A few schools have broken through in that way and I believe UC will too.

In addition, being a Thursday night hopefully there's a lot of eyeballs on TVs and Cincinnati can give a good evaluation to voters and this game doesn't get passed over as just a box score result. Plenty of chances to go to Columbus with a number next to our name.

(08-20-2019 09:07 AM)natibeast21 Wrote:  

(08-20-2019 08:27 AM)dubcat14 Wrote:  

(08-20-2019 07:36 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 04:29 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Absolutely, a win over UCLA gets us in the Top 25.

After all, they have to rank Ohio State's opponents to make the Buckeyes look better.

Let's be honest and blunt... A win over UCLA helps, but it also depends on who above us also loses and by how much...

Not to get ahead of ourselves by any means, but with a statement win we could reasonably expect to jump a team like Army (playing Rice), TCU (playing Ark Pine-Bluff) and Miss State (playing LA Lafayette) even under the assumption all 3 win.

I want nothing more than to smack UCLA 56-14 and come out making a statement

ESPNs Computer/Power rankings (I think FPI based, but didn’t look closely) have the Bucks at #13 and UCLA at #20. Idk if UCLA OOC schedule last year that included UC#24, Oklahoma #4, and Fresno State #18 is the reason for the computers ranking them 20, but either way a week 1 statement win could/should move us into top 25.

LOL... First, the polls are not figured out by computers. Second, nobody who wins on Week 1 is dropping out of the poll. Third, you're talking about an AAC team here... We'll break the Top 25 if/when we beat OSU. Beating UCLA...at home...will be impressive but not enough in-and-of-itself to put us in the rankings.

(I'll grant that beating UCLA in blow-out fashion would certainly help, but we're still going to need some teams ahead of us to lose...preferably in embarrassing fashion.)

(08-20-2019 05:11 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(08-20-2019 09:07 AM)natibeast21 Wrote:  

(08-20-2019 08:27 AM)dubcat14 Wrote:  

(08-20-2019 07:36 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 04:29 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Absolutely, a win over UCLA gets us in the Top 25.

After all, they have to rank Ohio State's opponents to make the Buckeyes look better.

Let's be honest and blunt... A win over UCLA helps, but it also depends on who above us also loses and by how much...

Not to get ahead of ourselves by any means, but with a statement win we could reasonably expect to jump a team like Army (playing Rice), TCU (playing Ark Pine-Bluff) and Miss State (playing LA Lafayette) even under the assumption all 3 win.

I want nothing more than to smack UCLA 56-14 and come out making a statement

ESPNs Computer/Power rankings (I think FPI based, but didn’t look closely) have the Bucks at #13 and UCLA at #20. Idk if UCLA OOC schedule last year that included UC#24, Oklahoma #4, and Fresno State #18 is the reason for the computers ranking them 20, but either way a week 1 statement win could/should move us into top 25.

LOL... First, the polls are not figured out by computers. Second, nobody who wins on Week 1 is dropping out of the poll. Third, you're talking about an AAC team here... We'll break the Top 25 if/when we beat OSU. Beating UCLA...at home...will be impressive but not enough in-and-of-itself to put us in the rankings.

(I'll grant that beating UCLA in blow-out fashion would certainly help, but we're still going to need some teams ahead of us to lose...preferably in embarrassing fashion.)

Easy Cheddar Bob...never said the AP/Coaches polls were figured out by computers. Obviously we need teams to lose. Easier version for ya below.

1) FPI has UCLA at #20 (Found that very interesting myself)
2) Statement Win=Blowout (Especially if it’s a home game)
3) Said could/should not will

http://www.espn.com/college-football/sta...eamratings

My optimism for this year is tempered by the fact we have a lot of new faces on our defensive and offensive line. We won some games last year, but we were not world beaters just blowing people out. A large part of our success was due to the consistent play of our lines. Don’t get me wrong- I think we will be good- but it will be hard to match our record from last year.

(08-21-2019 06:24 AM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  My optimism for this year is tempered by the fact we have a lot of new faces on our defensive and offensive line. We won some games last year, but we were not world beaters just blowing people out. A large part of our success was due to the consistent play of our lines. Don’t get me wrong- I think we will be good- but it will be hard to match our record from last year.

I feel the same way about this season. UC went 4-1 last year in down to the wire games. SMU and Ohio U needed miracles while the other two wins Virginia Tech and UCLA could have gone the other way.

UCLA this year is a must win. Cats have to get to 3-1 before conference play and then beat UCF at home to have any chance of playing for something that matters.

For me 9-3 is the bar for a good season. Win all your home games, get to 6-2 in conference and see if that is good enough to play for the league title. I expect UCF to lose two conference games and at least one non-conference game this year. I also believe this is the year the American struggles to earn the New Year's 6 bid as I have Cincinnati, UCF, Temple, Memphis, and Houston all knocking each other off in conference play while also playing some really difficult teams in the non-conference.
Basically root against Boise State, Utah State, SDSU, and Appalachian State in all their high profile non-conference games so the American Champion can still get the bid with two or three losses.