Here's the 1st poll released

1. Clemson (8-0)
2. LSU (7-0)
3. Ohio State (8-0)
4. Alabama (7-1)
5. Notre Dame (7-1)
6. Baylor (7-0)
7. Michigan State (8-0)
8. TCU (8-0)
9. Iowa (8-0)
10. Florida (7-1)
11. Stanford (7-1)
12. Utah (7-1)
13. Memphis (8-0)
14. Oklahoma State (8-0)
15. Oklahoma (7-1)
16. Florida State (7-1)
17. Michigan (6-2)
18. Ole Miss (7-2)
19. Texas A&M (6-2)
20. Mississippi State (6-2)
21. Northwestern (6-2)
22. Temple (7-1)
23. UCLA (6-2)
24. Toledo (7-0)
25. Houston (8-0)

Not really too much to argue against, imo. Notre Dame I think is a little too high, and they're in a pretty good position going forward. If they can beat Stanford I think they'll be in. LSU and Alabama play in an elimination game this weekend. Ohio State and MIchigan will play in a elimination game later. And Baylor vs TCU will happen.

The only really surprising thing to me is Notre Dame ahead of Baylor.

I'm impressed they have Memphis that high.

No way is Alabama - LSU an elimination game. LSU with one loss (to Alabama) might not even drop out of the top four for next week. I don't think Alabama with two losses is completely done either.

Alabama in the top 4 is an absolute joke. When you lose at home to Ole Miss, you don't get to stay ahead of unbeaten teams or ND who has a close loss on the road to the number 1 team.

Seahawks1983":1ehwih4c said:

Alabama in the top 4 is an absolute joke. When you lose at home to Ole Miss, you don't get to stay ahead of unbeaten teams or ND who has a close loss on the road to the number 1 team.

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I have no problem with it, Baylor's out of conference schedule is an absolute joke. Michigan State really should have one loss if Michigan's punter didn't muff a snap. Iowa's best win is a 10-6 win over Wisconsin. TCU's only "difficult" opponent thus far is a Minnesota team that squeaked by Kent State and Ohio. I suppose Notre Dame has a minor case to be ahead of Alabama, but they too barely got past Virginia and Temple.

Besides, it's early. This will all work itself out. Getting all riled up about Alabama's placement in the poll when they still have LSU, Miss State in Starkvegas and the Iron Bowl is foolish. Not to mention a likely date with Florida in the SECCG should they get through those 3 games.

In other words, if Bama finished 12-1, they're absolutely a Top 4 team.

I wish they would go to an 8 team playoff. Might actually be a real issue this year if a big conference team runs the table and misses. The whole excuse about any kind of extended playoffs being too much for college schedules to handle is such a laughable lie.

Then again, 8 does feel like a little too many. I just wish they had a way of guaranteeing an undefeated big conference team some kind of shot. When you win all your games playing in a big conference and you don't get in, it demeans the regular season, IMO. It makes teams feel that they may not necessarily control their own destiny. Especially now that the selection process is 100% subjective, it seems like more of a crime than ever for an undefeated big conference team to be snubbed.

Eight would be OK to me . . . but ten would be ideal. Four is not really a "playoff," IMO.

Top four teams would receive a first round bye and home field.

Hasselbeck":18xoje7t said:

Seahawks1983":18xoje7t said:

Alabama in the top 4 is an absolute joke. When you lose at home to Ole Miss, you don't get to stay ahead of unbeaten teams or ND who has a close loss on the road to the number 1 team.

Click to expand...

I have no problem with it, Baylor's out of conference schedule is an absolute joke. Michigan State really should have one loss if Michigan's punter didn't muff a snap. Iowa's best win is a 10-6 win over Wisconsin. TCU's only "difficult" opponent thus far is a Minnesota team that squeaked by Kent State and Ohio. I suppose Notre Dame has a minor case to be ahead of Alabama, but they too barely got past Virginia and Temple.

Besides, it's early. This will all work itself out. Getting all riled up about Alabama's placement in the poll when they still have LSU, Miss State in Starkvegas and the Iron Bowl is foolish. Not to mention a likely date with Florida in the SECCG should they get through those 3 games.

In other words, if Bama finished 12-1, they're absolutely a Top 4 team.

Click to expand...

Sorry, not buying it. When you lose at home to a team that got pounded by Memphis, your SOS arguments lose all weight.

I like it at 4. Keeps the regular season more meaningful. Also puts pressure on athletic directors to schedule better non conference opponents.

Seahawks1983":1kzxwn9u said:

Hasselbeck":1kzxwn9u said:

Seahawks1983":1kzxwn9u said:

Alabama in the top 4 is an absolute joke. When you lose at home to Ole Miss, you don't get to stay ahead of unbeaten teams or ND who has a close loss on the road to the number 1 team.

Click to expand...

I have no problem with it, Baylor's out of conference schedule is an absolute joke. Michigan State really should have one loss if Michigan's punter didn't muff a snap. Iowa's best win is a 10-6 win over Wisconsin. TCU's only "difficult" opponent thus far is a Minnesota team that squeaked by Kent State and Ohio. I suppose Notre Dame has a minor case to be ahead of Alabama, but they too barely got past Virginia and Temple.

Besides, it's early. This will all work itself out. Getting all riled up about Alabama's placement in the poll when they still have LSU, Miss State in Starkvegas and the Iron Bowl is foolish. Not to mention a likely date with Florida in the SECCG should they get through those 3 games.

In other words, if Bama finished 12-1, they're absolutely a Top 4 team.

Click to expand...

Sorry, not buying it. When you lose at home to a team that got pounded by Memphis, your SOS arguments lose all weight.

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And yet if they lose Saturday they need a lot of help.

There are 4 or 5 games left depending on team. Getting all riled up over the first ranking is wasted time. Would you honestly keep a one loss Alabama out of the playoff if they ran the table from here on out?

Hasselbeck":19l8752m said:

Seahawks1983":19l8752m said:

Hasselbeck":19l8752m said:

Seahawks1983":19l8752m said:

Alabama in the top 4 is an absolute joke. When you lose at home to Ole Miss, you don't get to stay ahead of unbeaten teams or ND who has a close loss on the road to the number 1 team.

Click to expand...

I have no problem with it, Baylor's out of conference schedule is an absolute joke. Michigan State really should have one loss if Michigan's punter didn't muff a snap. Iowa's best win is a 10-6 win over Wisconsin. TCU's only "difficult" opponent thus far is a Minnesota team that squeaked by Kent State and Ohio. I suppose Notre Dame has a minor case to be ahead of Alabama, but they too barely got past Virginia and Temple.

Besides, it's early. This will all work itself out. Getting all riled up about Alabama's placement in the poll when they still have LSU, Miss State in Starkvegas and the Iron Bowl is foolish. Not to mention a likely date with Florida in the SECCG should they get through those 3 games.

In other words, if Bama finished 12-1, they're absolutely a Top 4 team.

Click to expand...

Sorry, not buying it. When you lose at home to a team that got pounded by Memphis, your SOS arguments lose all weight.

Click to expand...

And yet if they lose Saturday they need a lot of help.

There are 4 or 5 games left depending on team. Getting all riled up over the first ranking is wasted time. Would you honestly keep a one loss Alabama out of the playoff if they ran the table from here on out?

Click to expand...

A loss Bama at the end of the season depends on several factors, first and foremost did they win the SEC?

I agree it is dumb to get riled up at this point, but it is also dumb to give Alabama a mulligan or two because they are Alabama. At this point, it will likely take 3 losses to completely eliminate them from contention, no other team gets that luxury.

Seahawks1983":lt3y49nk said:

A loss Bama at the end of the season depends on several factors, first and foremost did they win the SEC?

I agree it is dumb to get riled up at this point, but it is also dumb to give Alabama a mulligan or two because they are Alabama. At this point, it will likely take 3 losses to completely eliminate them from contention, no other team gets that luxury.

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Well yes, if Bama finished with 1 loss that means they won the SEC. And barring disaster it would be over Florida who is ahead by 2 games right now in the SECE, and they've already beat UGA, Tennessee and Kentucky.. so they basically have it wrapped.

Only way I can see a 2-loss Bama getting in is if they still made it to the SEC Championship and won it. That will be incredibly hard if they lose Saturday.. as then Ole Miss and LSU would both have the tie-break over them. So I disagree.. I think a 2 loss Bama would be in serious jeopardy of missing the playoff.

Now a 1-loss LSU on the other hand...... well.. that's very much in play. Could be a reverse of the LSU/Bama thing from a few years ago.

The best thing to do at this point is root for Clemson to finish 13-0, Ohio State or Michigan State to finish 13-0, and TCU or Baylor to finish 12-0.. then it would make it very difficult to put 2 SEC teams in.

If FSU wins Saturday and Bama wins Saturday... this thing will turn into an outright mess.

Fun fact, Ohio state was 16th when the original rankings came out last year. So a lot can still change.

I don't see a single school on there I can root for.

For absolutely no reason at all, since I was a teen I've had a soft spot for Clemson and I couldn't tell you why.

Good Lord I am sick of the SEC.
ukeface:

Hasselbeck":3rhqozso said:

Seahawks1983":3rhqozso said:

A loss Bama at the end of the season depends on several factors, first and foremost did they win the SEC?

I agree it is dumb to get riled up at this point, but it is also dumb to give Alabama a mulligan or two because they are Alabama. At this point, it will likely take 3 losses to completely eliminate them from contention, no other team gets that luxury.

Click to expand...

Well yes, if Bama finished with 1 loss that means they won the SEC.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Alabama cannot win the SEC if Ole Miss manages to win out, even if Bama goes 11-1.

Seahawks1983":2w14dvw7 said:

Hasselbeck":2w14dvw7 said:

Seahawks1983":2w14dvw7 said:

A loss Bama at the end of the season depends on several factors, first and foremost did they win the SEC?

I agree it is dumb to get riled up at this point, but it is also dumb to give Alabama a mulligan or two because they are Alabama. At this point, it will likely take 3 losses to completely eliminate them from contention, no other team gets that luxury.

Click to expand...

Well yes, if Bama finished with 1 loss that means they won the SEC.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Alabama cannot win the SEC if Ole Miss manages to win out, even if Bama goes 11-1.

Click to expand...

Ah excellent point.

I don't see Ole Miss winning out.. especially with LSU and a roadie at rival Miss State on their sched to close.

Hasselbeck":64kzs34a said:

Seahawks1983":64kzs34a said:

Hasselbeck":64kzs34a said:

Seahawks1983":64kzs34a said:

A loss Bama at the end of the season depends on several factors, first and foremost did they win the SEC?

I agree it is dumb to get riled up at this point, but it is also dumb to give Alabama a mulligan or two because they are Alabama. At this point, it will likely take 3 losses to completely eliminate them from contention, no other team gets that luxury.

Click to expand...

Well yes, if Bama finished with 1 loss that means they won the SEC.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Alabama cannot win the SEC if Ole Miss manages to win out, even if Bama goes 11-1.

Click to expand...

Ah excellent point.

I don't see Ole Miss winning out.. especially with LSU and a roadie at rival Miss State on their sched to close.

Click to expand...

Bit of a double edged sword for Bama there. Makes their loss at home look even worse than it already does. Though as already established, Alabama gets the benefit of a mulligan, so it doesn't really matter.