HooplaNation's Week 7 Rankings - Discussion Thread

I totally disagree with your thought process and that is what I am pointing out. The teams that tend to struggle with games actually end up being tougher come post season than the ones that skate walk their schedule.

A great example was 2006 Florida who everyone wrote off because they won like 5-6 games by 7 points or less while Ohio State that year cleaned everyone's clocks. Florida ended up beating them 42-14.

This happens every year in fact, there is always that one team that blows everyone out and people rave about them but then they get into a real challenge and get beat. Blowouts don't grow your team from a maturity stand point.

I am not saying Ohio State is bad or anything. They were in my top 5 rankings and are a title contender. I even put them ahead of Alabama. However, they really haven't played a game yet that gives me any idea on whether they are a great team or not. I just haven't seen enough from them yet. They will get there if they continue to win.
Teams improving doesn’t invalidate my thought process, it actually strengthens it. I am flexible in my rankings. I am taking the information as it comes and not making projections off of my personal biases. That is the difference. I think it all works out in the end and I don’t care that may lead to 5-6 #1 teams during the season. I know that is something you are having issues wrapping your head around. If Bryce is back next week and they handle Tenn, they will be my #1 team. If Tenn handles Bama with a healthy Bryce, I may argue Tenn is #1
 
It is funny the two extremes that I am arguing with online right now.

On Vol Nation, there are Tennessee fans claiming Tennessee should be top 5 and talking about how Michigan, Ohio State, and USC haven't played anyone. I am arguing we are fine at #8: Coaches Poll, Vols remain #8

On here, I am dealing with the same crap but from opposite perspective with the pro-Buckeye crowd (funny that neither are Ohio State fans).

It is the same song and dance every time.

I am going to say this, Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia have shown they can win at a high level the last 4-5 years. Until other programs step up and do that, I am going to respect these guys a little more. I am also not going to buy into my own Vols until they step up and win a few big games as well.

It isn't just an SEC thing. You don't see me pimping Ole Miss as a top 5 team for example (or Tennessee). I am going off how the teams play. Ohio State still hasn't even played a team on the level of Texas A&M (going off comment in your thread). I get that Texas A&M is 3-3 with that stupid loss to Appalachian State but they came to Tuscaloosa ready to play and they have tons of talent on that team. Ohio State hasn't gotten a game effort, IMO, from anyone not named Notre Dame yet. (I do think the Notre Dame was a good win, this is why I wasn't trolling Ohio State when Marshall beat Notre Dame).

At this point, you guys are coming off as more trolling than talking football. To many transitive property used that clearly doesn't work.
It doesn't help that this is the narrative with Ohio State every year and generally they end up getting beat. The one exception was 2014. I am going to need to see more before I rank Ohio State #1.

Ohio State won a playoff game in 2020 and were a couple bad calls away from winning one in 2019. They are 3-3 in the playoffs
 
Teams improving doesn’t invalidate my thought process, it actually strengthens it. I am flexible in my rankings. I am taking the information as it comes and not making projections off of my personal biases. That is the difference. I think it all works out in the end and I don’t care that may lead to 5-6 #1 teams during the season. I know that is something you are having issues wrapping your head around. If Bryce is back next week and they handle Tenn, they will be my #1 team. If Tenn handles Bama with a healthy Bryce, I may argue Tenn is #1

Let's agree to disagree at this point.

One reason I would put teams over Tennessee is the lack of recruiting classes. We have decent depth but not on the level of an elite team. That could sting us later on in the season.
 
Let's agree to disagree at this point.

One reason I would put teams over Tennessee is the lack of recruiting classes. We have decent depth but not on the level of an elite team. That could sting us later on in the season.
It could, but Bama is facing that now. Can they survive without Bryce and get to the playoffs? I would rather bet on Bama, OSU, and Georgia, because of their depth. That doesn’t mean a team like Tenn can not get lucky and avoid crippling injuries. That is my point, information is always changing. The good thing is by the final week, everyone has probably had an ugly performance. The idea of surviving and avoiding an “L” is much more important, than style points after 12 games compared to 6.
 
I see Coastal Carolina creeping into some Top 25's.

Be careful with that as they're just scraping by against bad teams.

Their schedule gets a lot tougher going forward. I'm not seeing another 11 win team here.

Oct 15: Old Dominion (beat Va Tech)
Oct 29: @ Marshall (beat Notre Dame)
Nov 3rd: Appy St (beat Texas A&M)
Nov 12: Southern Miss (beat Tulane)
Nov 19: @ Virginia
Nov 26: @ James Madison

I've been watching CCU close since I'm interested in Jamey Chadwell if he can win 11 for the 3rd year in a row.
 
I see Coastal Carolina creeping into some Top 25's.

Be careful with that as they're just scraping by against bad teams.

Their schedule gets a lot tougher going forward. I'm not seeing another 11 win team here.

Oct 15: Old Dominion (beat Va Tech)
Oct 29: @ Marshall (beat Notre Dame)
Nov 3rd: Appy St (beat Texas A&M)
Nov 12: Southern Miss (beat Tulane)
Nov 19: @ Virginia
Nov 26: @ James Madison

I've been watching CCU close since I'm interested in Jamey Chadwell if he can win 11 for the 3rd year in a row.

I made effort to include all of the undefeated teams somewhere in my top 25. I think that is why they are getting love.

Other than that, I agree with you for the most part.
 
Its Ohio State

and then everyone else
 
Its Ohio State

and then everyone else

giphy.webp


"You're a troll and a Big 10 homer."
 
Even if you take out SEC because any time someone argues for an SEC team on here they are "homers" and "pimping":

You still have Oklahoma State, Clemson, USC Trojans, and UCLA who have all played tougher teams than Ohio State and have looked very good.
Okie Lite struggled with a Texas Tech team playing their 3rd string QB.
 
I am going to say this, Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia have shown they can win at a high level the last 4-5 years. Until other programs step up and do that, I am going to respect these guys a little more. I am also not going to buy into my own Vols until they step up and win a few big games as well.
@Volbound1700 i can't believe you are going to make me defend Ohio State, but they are 123-13 since 2012.

They've won the Rose Bowl twice during that time, the Cotton Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and a National Championship.

I absolutely despise them, but they are in the top tier with Bama, Clemson, Georgia. They have finished, at least, in the top 6 in the final poll 8 years in a row, with 5 of the years finishing in the top 3.

Urban Meyer elevated their program to a different level in recruiting and those pipelines to Florida and Texas are still paying off for them.
 
@Volbound1700 i can't believe you are going to make me defend Ohio State, but they are 123-13 since 2012.

They've won the Rose Bowl twice during that time, the Cotton Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and a National Championship.

I absolutely despise them, but they are in the top tier with Bama, Clemson, Georgia. They have finished, at least, in the top 6 in the final poll 8 years in a row, with 5 of the years finishing in the top 3.

Urban Meyer elevated their program to a different level in recruiting and those pipelines to Florida and Texas are still paying off for them.

I think you are adding a lot of words that I didn't say based off the trolls.

My point was that I don't see them as #1 right now. Big difference between great records and being #1. History says they are typically a top 5 team but not the #1 team. That is why they don't have more crowns like an Alabama or Clemson. If they beat up Michigan and Penn State, I will agree and probably put them at #1. Ohio State hasn't always had the best track record in the big games but then again, you can say that about all the programs not named Alabama or Clemson (heck even Georgia did not until last year).

EDIT: I have argued on here that Ohio State has been the only program to be a consistent conference champion contender and possibly National Title contender since I started watching college football. Every other team has experienced dips.

It isn't even an Ohio State thing, every year there is that one team that starts out with an easier schedule and blows everyone out and people talk about them as a dominant #1 and then they come down to reality once they play a solid opponent. Of course teams have bucked that trend in the past as well. I will get more confidence in Ohio State once they have played some of the stronger opponents on their schedule.

I am not even the only person talking about this subject:

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Honestly I can see both sides. We don't know how Ohio State will respond if they go up against a team that can challenge them in the trenches, but they have dominated and they have not been at full strength.

If Ohio State controls the LOS then it's over bc their skill players are ridiculous
 
I think you are adding a lot of words that I didn't say based off the trolls.

My point was that I don't see them as #1 right now. Big difference between great records and being #1. History says they are typically a top 5 team but not the #1 team. That is why they don't have more crowns like an Alabama or Clemson. If they beat up Michigan and Penn State, I will agree and probably put them at #1. Ohio State hasn't always had the best track record in the big games but then again, you can say that about all the programs not named Alabama or Clemson (heck even Georgia did not until last year).

EDIT: I have argued on here that Ohio State has been the only program to be a consistent conference champion contender and possibly National Title contender since I started watching college football. Every other team has experienced dips.

It isn't even an Ohio State thing, every year there is that one team that starts out with an easier schedule and blows everyone out and people talk about them as a dominant #1 and then they come down to reality once they play a solid opponent. Of course teams have bucked that trend in the past as well. I will get more confidence in Ohio State once they have played some of the stronger opponents on their schedule.

I am not even the only person talking about this subject:

View attachment 87737

Yeah don't use Desmond Howard as your back up. Dude has notoriously bad takes
 
I think you are adding a lot of words that I didn't say based off the trolls.

My point was that I don't see them as #1 right now. Big difference between great records and being #1. History says they are typically a top 5 team but not the #1 team. That is why they don't have more crowns like an Alabama or Clemson. If they beat up Michigan and Penn State, I will agree and probably put them at #1. Ohio State hasn't always had the best track record in the big games but then again, you can say that about all the programs not named Alabama or Clemson (heck even Georgia did not until last year).

It isn't even an Ohio State thing, every year there is that one team that starts out with an easier schedule and blows everyone out and people talk about them as a dominant #1 and then they come down to reality once they play a solid opponent. Of course teams have bucked that trend in the past as well. I will get more confidence in Ohio State once they have played some of the stronger opponents on their schedule.

I am not even the only person talking about this subject:

View attachment 87737
Ohio State is in a completely different tier than UM. Desmond talks because he went to UM, but last year was one win for UM. They've been dominated by OSU for 15+ years.

As far as this year, in general? Who knows? Bama has been playing without Young. OSU has played almost the entire year with arguably the best WR in CFB in Ngjiba-Smith. They've been without their preseason all-american RB, then without his backup once he got back. So no one really knows, as teams simply haven't been healthy.

That being said -- if you are talking the last couple years, the last 5 years, the last 10 years -- Ohio State is right there with the other 3 as the premier teams in CFB. 123-13. Think about how ridiculous that is. Since the turn of the century -- the program that has put the most players into the NFL with 157 is.............Ohio State. Alabama is 2nd with 144. Georgia is 4th with 139.
 
Ohio State is in a completely different tier than UM. Desmond talks because he went to UM, but last year was one win for UM. They've been dominated by OSU for 15+ years.

As far as this year, in general? Who knows? Bama has been playing with Young. OSU has played almost the entire year with arguably the best WR in CFB in Ngjiba-Smith. They've been without their preseason all-american RB, then without his backup once he got back. So no one really knows, as teams simply haven't been healthy.

That being said -- if you are talking the last couple years, the last 5 years, the last 10 years -- Ohio State is right there with the other 3 as the premier teams in CFB. 123-13. Think about how ridiculous that is. Since the turn of the century -- the program that has put the most players into the NFL with 157 is.............Ohio State. Alabama is 2nd with 144. Georgia is 4th with 139.

I mean, yeah they are elite. I guess they don't get a lot of love because the lack of National Titles compared to Alabama and Clemson. Granted, Tennessee had same problem. They got only one during the Fulmer run and got beat regularly by Florida keeping Tennessee out. It is hard to win the crown.

I guess my big hang up is the schedule.

I am NOT so sure Michigan is as far off anymore. If their is a gap, it tends to usually be the offense (notably QB play) for Michigan.
 
I mean, yeah they are elite. I guess they don't get a lot of love because the lack of National Titles compared to Alabama and Clemson. Granted, Tennessee had same problem. They got only one during the Fulmer run and got beat regularly by Florida keeping Tennessee out. It is hard to win the crown.

I guess my big hang up is the schedule.

I am NOT so sure Michigan is as far off anymore. If their is a gap, it tends to usually be the offense (notably QB play) for Michigan.
I'm about as die hard a Michigan fan as you will find. I'm just not a homer and instead simply a big college football fan. The gap in talent between UM and OSU is bigger now than it has ever been in my lifetime. Last year, the stars aligned -- UM had a very good OL and OSU had a very soft DL line. That doesn't mean UM has closed the distance in talent, it means for a year our strengths were their weakness and we finally got a win. The gap in talent is still huge.

Here is a sample:
2019-2022 recruiting classes
Ohio State signed 35 kids ranked in the top 100 nationally and 15 of them were 5 star recruits in those 4 classes
Michigan signed 11 kids ranked in the top 100 nationally and 3 of them were 5 star recruits in those 4 classes.

That is how big the difference is between a top 5 recruiting school and a top 10 recruiting school.
 
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