Exactly. Everyone is still high on their Rose Bowl performance, which was impressive. But with the obvious exception of McKnight, it was mostly guys that won't be there next year that made that performance so good.
WVU is too low. We dunno how good of a recruiter Bill Stewart is, but he has proven to be a master motivator and, at least in recent history, a class act. I think WVU can do something big next year.
The rankings look right as far as i'm concerned. It was said earlier.. lose just one game -- florida or UGA and we'll have a legitimate shot at another championship. If it's florida.. and we win out I can't imagine not making it back to the NCG. If we lose 2 games.. we'll still be looking at a 5-10 finish IMO. Alabama and USCe are the two games that worry me.
So basically, they think that: --USC and Ohio State are going to win their conferences, and that USC is going to beat Ohio State when they play each other during the regular season. --Oklahoma and Missouri will make it to the Big 12 Championship, and Oklahoma is going to win. --LSU or Auburn will win the SEC West, and Georgia or Florida will win the SEC East. Georgia will win it all. --In the end, Georgia and USC will play for the National Title, and USC will win. SEC #2 Georgia #6 Florida #8 LSU #9 Auburn #21 Tennessee #24 South Carolina BIG 12 #4 Oklahoma #5 Missouri #11 Kansas #14 Texas #17 Texas Tech BIG TEN #3 Ohio State #15 Wisconsin #16 Illinois #20 Penn State #23 Michigan PAC-10 #1 USC #18 Oregon #19 Arizona State ACC #10 Clemson #13 Virginia Tech #25 Wake Forest BIG EAST #7 West Virginia #22 South Florida MOUNTAIN WEST #12 BYU http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=759223
Isn't that the same post from the start of this thread. Just asking or did Rivals have 2 from Jan 8th that said the same thing? I don't see anything different.
I know you've heard it before, but last year was a REBUILDING year. This was supposed to be the year...we're returning 18 starters, including 2-3 likely first round picks on defense alone next year. Tressel has won big games before (beats UM, both of em), and our team in 02 (i know, old news, not the point) shows me that Tress is capable of getting a team to overachieve, instead of under as has happened recently. Chris wells, returning 4 starting o lineman, 2 of whom will be first day picks next year, with two decent (we need a speed guy, but there are several options here that need to step their game up)wide receivers. imo, our biggest question is QB and the current slump/big game funk that has plagued our coaching staff of late. These are issues that will resolve themselves, and deal with it. If you were returning the same team as played last year, you'd be unquestionable #1, so why is it so hard to imagine a team that had a great year last year that's doing so isn't legitimized by having a couple of bad games. should ok be forever banned from the top ten bc they have lost 4 straight BCS games? How about UM for the loss to appy st.? Alabama and ULM? How about WVU for choking against pitt. I fail to understand why some people think that suddenly, teams don't choke anymore, especially in bowl season where they've had a month and a half or more to think about it and lose focus. These are 18-22 year old kids we're talking about here. that is not to say that i'm proud of the choke, but don't try and deny talent just b/c the talent doesn't always live up to it's potential, every time they take the field. I agree it's a hump we need to get over this year, at the risk of dire consequences for buckeye nation, but i have faith that we will, as do many others. Look, i'm not going to change your mind, even though i've just tried, so think whatever you want. We'll all see what happens...i've already eaten enough crow to start to acquire a taste for it...are you willing to do the same, just b/c of a kneejerk, media spoon fed, anti buckeye disposition?
Here is Rivals early preseason from the beginning of last year: http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=627579 Basically, they thought LSU and Florida would play for the SEC, LSU would win. Oklahoma would play Nebraska for the Big 12 Championship, and Oklahoma would win. USC would win their conference. Michigan would win the Big Ten. In the end, Michigan and USC would play for the National Title, and USC would win. SEC #3 LSU #5 Florida #12 Georgia #14 Auburn #16 Arkansas #17 Tennessee BIG TEN #2 Michigan #6 Ohio State #10 Wisconsin #18 Penn State BIG 12 #8 Oklahoma #9 Texas #13 Nebraska #21 Texas A&M ACC #7 Virginia Tech #20 Florida State #24 Boston College #25 Clemson PAC-10 #1 USC #15 California BIG EAST #4 West Virginia #11 Louisville #19 Rutgers INDEPENDENT #22 Notre Dame WAC #23 Hawaii
