NDL Media Rank Review Preseason Poll
Article By: Every Monday will take a look back at the most recent media poll results.
After thinking of the prime area to focus on for this, I think it is better served as no focus. The top 10 weekly, for the most part those are staying status quo until they play each other. Once you get beyond that things get interesting. So I guess there is a focus, and that will be the next group. So weekly the focus might change. One week we might dig into the top 10 more if it is warranted. This week it will be the other guys.
Top 10
For this group each time one of these teams loses it will feel like a league wide type thing. It'll be talked about regardless of if its losing to a fellow top 10 team, a top 25 team, or an unranked team. I dont think there are any massive shocks here. Some likely had different orderings than others but the 10 seem to be the guys everyone really expects to be there end of season.
The next
Really the rest of the top 25 sits and waits for the few top 10 teams to cannibalize each other a little and make their move.
11. Missouri
Sits at the top spot and could very easily find his way into the top 10 after block 1 as Georgia and Notre Dame play, Georgia also has to play Michigan and could take a big slide. Good user and in the tough SEC, but he dodges a bunch of the top teams. Will that mixed with a soft non conference schedule possibly hold him back at the end of the season if he does drop 2 games?
12. Ohio State
I don't personally know a ton about Ohio State. By the time I joined in last season he was kind of out of the playoff picture or at least on the outside so he didn't get as much focus. I personally put him at 14 so not wildly off. I dont think he can make it in as a 2 loss team with the amount of SEC heat all around the top 12.
13. Florida
This one I am honestly shocked he is this low. Shock when I voted him 9 and he is 13 could be drastic, but BIGmike always rated high in the metrics and I have seen his offense on display. Finally, after the ranking was played, I got to scrimmage him and see it in person. He will light up some teams. Getting a big rivalry win over a ranked Miami should get him climbing higher. I think this is a team if he goes 9-3 will be lurking for that final spot, and should be a lock if he goes 10-2.
14. Florida State
Coming off a big year with Tulane and before that New Mexico. People expect more of the same heading into this season. I admittedly didn't rank him. It could take a block or 2 for me to get there. He is coming off a 31-27 win over Boston College so far.
15. Oklahoma
This ranking reminds me of the classic fantasy football one. The backup RB who will never be a 6th round pick value wise. He will either be a top 5 type player or useless. How this translates? I don't see Oklahoma as team 15 end of season. He is going to either show up and really do well and be up well inside the top 10, or the step up in teams is going to lead to an 7 to 8 win type season and out of the top 25 or in the very back end. There is a lot of talk this year about North Carolina's schedule being easy, that is where he came from before this.
16. Louisville
He took TCU to the CFP last year and is now taking over a team that made the CFP. Didn't see a ton of him play last year so I can speak to a ton. Other than watching him lose to Oklahoma in the CFP. He did come in at 17 for me.
17. Miami
This is one that early on I might be wrong on. I had Miami at 12 which would theoretically be first team out of the CFP when you factor in a conference champion lower than them would have to be in. A tough Beefy Cup loss to Iowa and a tough loss to Florida in the opener. I will likely still keep him in the top 25 but could see others bumping him out as we was already number 17.
18. Texas Tech
Wildes went away from defense and run game Iowa to come to the school known for the air raid. He crushed Miami in Beefy as mentioned, but will the success hold into the regular season. He does still have a great running back but the defense is not nearly on the level of Iowa.
19. North Carolina
Been a bit of a tough start to the season. The defense let him down in a Beefy Cup game and he dropped a non conference game to BYU. But pulled it together against Wisconsin. There is a lot of talk about how easy the conference schedule is. I had him pegged as a team that could go 11-1 and make a CFP run. That is still possible but it is a lot harder now.
20. USC
Snubbed from last year's CFP according to some, he travels cross country to get a high powered offense with one of the best receivers in the game. He has to travel to Penn State but does luck out on the rest of the conference schedule. The week 14 game against Notre Dame could very well be a win and into the playoff game for both.
21. Washington State
Behind Texanole again,
ducks. Coming off an 11-2 season he gets to play with the Cougars again. The schedule is easy. I almost think he has to go undefeated to make the CFP. But this is a very possible 12-0 schedule.
22. Central Michigan
Lightened up the schedule, he is everyone's darling to make the CFP out of the G5s this year. Should make a good run at it but any slip up likely ends those chances.
23. Penn State
Don't make this year be the fall from grace year. I don't see myself having a high enough draft pick next year to get them. Third season at Penn State he is coming off a big win against Texas A&M in the opener that could be big if he turns in a 10-2 type season.
24. USF
The non CMU for CFP spot people are on the USF train. He took Sam Houston State on the verge of a CFP spot last year before dropping the conference championship. His schedule this year is tougher, he will likely have to win out with all the possible G5 competition.
25. Cincinnati
I admittedly am 34 years old and still routinely spell Cincinnati incorrectly. Steam coming off a disappointing season at Texas heads to the Big 12. At a record of 234-71 in season he isn't a team to be slept on.
Outside looking in
Wisconsin-likely won't be breaking into the top 25 with a loss in block 1 but probably deserved to be there preseason
San Diego State-Like Wisconsin, a block 1 loss should keep him from getting any votes next week but could make a return later.
Colorado-Personal bias aside, I would be shocked to not see Colorado in the top 25 next week if business is taken care of at Duke.
Michigan-has a chance to shoot up the polls with a game against Georgia in block 1 this afternoon.
Iowa- The opening block loss to Texas was expected and will likely keep him out of the ranks for the next one, but if he can win his next 3 he can start making his case again.
South Carolina-like Oklahoma above, he is either going to make a name for himself or tumble off. An opening block with Navy and Kentucky should be able to get him into the top 25 with 2 wins.
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