SI's power rankings

[gregorylee]

Why does it seem as though I am the only one bothered by this #1 ranking....


I know it is just a power ranking, but if it were up to me (and I know it isn't) the Buckeyes would never start any season higher than 6th or so. Right now I think that they should be in the 8 to 10 range just to motivate them a little more.

I don't want to hear this busll[censored] about "they shouldn't need to draw outside motivation..."

I don't care who you are or what you do, if you have a competetive ounce in your body then you just can't stand someone telling you (or implying) you suck. No one believes in you, they just don't think you are very good, whatever. It is a motivator for the spring and fall in camp when you "could" be dogging it a few plays or workouts.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by gregorylee

I don't want to hear this busll[censored] about "they shouldn't need to draw outside motivation..."

And I don't want to hear any bull[censored] about "it's too much pressure being #1, we'll have a target on our backs". You come to Ohio St. to be the best and win every game, not to be ranked 8th every year. I love it when we're ranked #1 and every Buckeye fan should too.

[BuckTwenty]

I think Notre Dame is fine where they are right now in the top five. Their O is comparable with the best of the best this year, but after watching video of their D during their spring game, their D still looks like it's struggling (it looks like they lack speed in the back 7, minus zbikowski and lambert). If they drop outside of the top 5 preseason, it's soley because of their defense

I'd much rather have us in the bottom half of the top 10 and work ourselves up, because the way Troy talks, he doesn't sound all that humble (calling CWells the next "Bus", talking everyone else up, ect) and I hope our team can keep from getting big heads (see OSU circa 1998). WVU's rankings are inflated due to their easy schedule (see Purdue circa 2005) and I feel they are overhyped (the big head scenario could happen to them too). Texas has a lot of team returning. They'd be preseason #1 without much argument if Vince was returning.

[Buckeyes27]

tOSU yes #1 or #2. I dont think anyone will be able to keep up with our offense. the defense is going to pretty tough even thou we lost a lot of people.

ND will only be better this year if they have more speed. they did not even come close to tOSU speed last year. they will have a offical full summer under wies also. they need more speed to compete.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by gregorylee

I don't care who you are or what you do, if you have a competetive ounce in your body then you just can't stand someone telling you (or implying) you suck. No one believes in you, they just don't think you are very good, whatever. It is a motivator for the spring and fall in camp when you "could" be dogging it a few plays or workouts.

- "how is OSU ever going to replace all of those departed defenders?"
- "no tresselball offense can carry a weak defense"
- pittman not only gets overlooked regularly, but the press is covering Wells quite a bit

I'd say there's plenty of motivation out there.

[redbenn]

Ohio State starts at No. 1 - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

1Last Week: --
Ohio St. Buckeyes (11-2 in 2007)
All eyes Saturday will be on ... well, Pryor, if he gets in the game, but also DE Lawrence Wilson. The highly touted junior, who broke his leg in last year's season opener and missed the rest of the year, steps in for departed star Vernon Gholston.

2Last Week: --
Oklahoma Sooners (11-3)
The Sooners' defensive line is impressive. DE Auston English was a dominant pass rusher when healthy, DT DeMarcus Granger was an All-Big 12 honoree prior to his Fiesta Bowl suspension and DT Gerald McCoy was the Big 12's top defensive freshman.

3Last Week: --
Georgia Bulldogs (11-2)
Assuming the Dawgs put away Georgia Southern early Saturday, star tailback Knowshon Moreno will likely give way to a pair of backups already being touted as the next in line -- redshirt freshman Caleb King and true frosh Richard Samuel.
4Last Week: --
USC Trojans (11-2)
It will be interesting to see how the Trojans' tailback rotation plays out early in the season. It's no secret Joe McKnight will see the field often, but will offseason standout Allen Bradford supplant the more experienced C.J. Gable and Stafon Johnson?
5Last Week: --
Missouri Tigers (12-2)
Despite returning a largely veteran team, eighth-year coach Gary Pinkel plans to play as many as eight true freshmen this season, the most of his tenure. High-flying receiver Jerrell Jackson has attracted the most attention so far.
6Last Week: --
LSU Tigers (12-2)
It speaks to the level of LSU's recruiting these past few years that a team can lose as many veteran standouts as the Tigers did -- 13 starters -- and still appear to be loaded at nearly every position. QB and cornerback are the concerns.
7Last Week: --
Florida Gators (9-4)
The Gators may well contend for the national championship, but their preseason standing took a hit due to the season-ending injury of TE Cornelius Ingram and the fact that star WR Percy Harvin missed most of fall camp recovering from his heel injury.
8Last Week: --
Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-4)
The bar gets set pretty high for Mike Leach quarterbacks. Having thrown for 5,705 yards and 48 touchdowns last season, Leach says of third-year starter Graham Harrell: "We expect him to do the same thing -- a few more yards perhaps."
9Last Week: --
Auburn Tigers (9-4)
Is it a good sign or a bad sign that offensive coordinator Tony Franklin has yet to choose a starting quarterback between sophomore Kodi Burns and juco transfer Chris Todd? Burns is more of a dual threat but Todd is a veteran of the spread.

10Last Week: --
Clemson Tigers (9-4)
There's technically nothing at stake in Saturday's opener, but is this the biggest game of Tommy Bowden's tenure? All the momentum of a contract extension and preseason ACC favorite status could go out the window were he to get upstaged by Nick Saban.
First game: Saturday vs. Alabama.