2009 Polls - Regular and Pre-Season

[jlb1705]

You can only put one team at #15.

All kidding aside, I agree there are a lot of teams out there that have question marks. I think there's a clear top 3-4, and a lot of teams that one person or another is gonna think belongs around #15. There's about ten spots in between though that need to be filled in and I think everybody's ballot is gonna have something questionable in that range. Fortunately they'll start playing some games soon and we can sort all of this out!

BTW, I disagree about USC & Oklahoma. Oklahoma is bringing back the reigning Heisman winner at QB while the Trojans are breaking in a new starter. I think that gives the edge to Oklahoma at this point in time. That may not be the way we see it at the end of the season, but these should be rankings not predictions, right?

[buckeyesin07]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

BTW, I disagree about USC & Oklahoma. Oklahoma is bringing back the reigning Heisman winner at QB while the Trojans are breaking in a new starter. I think that gives the edge to Oklahoma at this point in time. That may not be the way we see it at the end of the season, but these should be rankings not predictions, right?

I might be thinking of another team, but didn't OU lose most of its starting offensive line?

[BayBuck]

Originally Posted by HerbBrooks

Southern Pigskin: The Leading Name in Southern College Football Coverage - Story

Pretty interesting top 25.

8. Ohio State
In a weak league Ohio State is one team that has the skill to compete nationally and will get to prove that early against Southern California in Columbus. The Buckeyes have an improved offensive line returning and a physical defense led by an experienced defensive line. With one in conference challenge this year November 7th at Penn State look for the Buckeyes to again be in the discussion for a title match-up if they come out of State College with a win.

They're black!

[muffler dragon]

Originally Posted by buckeyesin07

23. Notre Dame (I hate to say it, but should be about #15)

Hell, I would have felt more righteous about this poll if they weren't even in the Top 25. ND and Michigan should fight it out for relevance as far as I'm concerned.

[jlb1705]

4 of 5 - all but perhaps their best one from last year. That's the reasoning I'm using for placing them below Texas.

That alone would probably be enough to justify putting USC ahead of them too, since you could argue that a good or experienced OL could make a QB look good but perhaps not vice versa. USC is also replacing a lot at LB though, and for the sake of being concise I omitted that before. For me that's enough to slot them behind the Sooners to start the season.

I hope I'm wrong - I don't want Bradford to have a good enough season to win a second Heisman (Tebow either!)

[Buckeneye]

Originally Posted by buckeyesin07

My initial thoughts:

too high:

5. Alabama (should be around #12-15)
8. Penn St. (should be around #15)
10. Mississippi (should be around #20-25)
14. Oregon (should be around #23-25)
19. Florida St. (should be unranked)

Give Bama their due' ; they return a very solid defense and some great skill players. If their lines hold up, they'll be every bit as good as last year.
JPW won't be a giagantic loss. I'd say the Tide should be around the 6-9 range.

Penn State should be around 10-12th me thinks.

Originally Posted by buckeyesin07

4. USC (should be above OU)
7. Va Tech (should be about #5)
23. Notre Dame (I hate to say it, but should be about #15)
24. BYU (if Boise St. and TCU are in the top 17, BYU should be too)
NR. Illinois (should be about #15)

USC above OU, why? Seeing as how OU returns their main offensive weapons while they lost less then USC on defense. No, OU should be on top. Were not counting past sins here.

Va Tech @ 5? They have talent, but out of the top 10 in my mind.
Notre Dame is right where they need to be, one loss from the cusp of being out of the top 25. If they win against some solid opponents, sure, move them up, until then, I"m not sold on beating a horrible Hawaii.

[TheIronColonel]

Originally Posted by Buckeneye

Give Bama their due' ; they return a very solid defense and some a great skill players.

FTFY

'Bama is top-25 worthy, but until we see more from their new offensive personnel count me as not-yet-sold on a top ten ranking.

VT doesn't belong in the top ten. Let me show you their roster: Tyrod Taylor. That's their whole team. He's been passable, but hasn't lived up to the hype. They could easily win the ACC, but that's like being the least repugnant anchor on Fox News.

[ScriptOhio]

Re: Michigan got 1 point

NCAA College Football Polls, College Football Rankings, NCAA Football Poll - ESPN

I wonder who actually voted for scUM in the coaches poll.

[fourteenandoh]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

Re: Michigan got 1 point

NCAA College Football Polls, College Football Rankings, NCAA Football Poll - ESPN

I wonder who actually voted for scUM in the coaches poll.

JT?

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

Re: Michigan got 1 point

NCAA College Football Polls, College Football Rankings, NCAA Football Poll - ESPN

I wonder who actually voted for scUM in the coaches poll.

Not to pick nits Script', but you accidentally chose the emoticon instead of

[martinss01]

Michigan State 136

CENTRL MICHIGAN 3

Michigan 1

[zwem]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

4 of 5 - all but perhaps their best one from last year. That's the reasoning I'm using for placing them below Texas.

That alone would probably be enough to justify putting USC ahead of them too, since you could argue that a good or experienced OL could make a QB look good but perhaps not vice versa. USC is also replacing a lot at LB though, and for the sake of being concise I omitted that before. For me that's enough to slot them behind the Sooners to start the season.

I hope I'm wrong - I don't want Bradford to have a good enough season to win a second Heisman (Tebow either!)

How about McCoy? One of those three will probably win it.

[zwem]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

You can only put one team at #15.

All kidding aside, I agree there are a lot of teams out there that have question marks. I think there's a clear top 3-4, and a lot of teams that one person or another is gonna think belongs around #15. There's about ten spots in between though that need to be filled in and I think everybody's ballot is gonna have something questionable in that range. Fortunately they'll start playing some games soon and we can sort all of this out!

BTW, I disagree about USC & Oklahoma. Oklahoma is bringing back the reigning Heisman winner at QB while the Trojans are breaking in a new starter. I think that gives the edge to Oklahoma at this point in time. That may not be the way we see it at the end of the season, but these should be rankings not predictions, right?

It never seems to bother USC when they bring in a new starter. Palmer went to the NFL.....enter Leinart. Booty then took over and led USC to Rose Bowls. Sanchez comes in and they don't miss a beat. One thing USC does and probably better than anything is that they develop qbs. I'm sure they will be fine.

[TheIronColonel]

While that's true, theoretically the weakest point in that cycle is when you're bringing in a new starter. While it's not a good idea to use that as a concrete edge for OU, it certainly has validity as a potential stumbling block for USC (even if that potential is low, given the historical precedent). That being said, I doubt USC sees much of a drop off; their starters are usually good, not great (outside of Palmer - Leinart had enough talent to cover any shortcomings).

[BB73]

Originally Posted by zwem

How about McCoy? One of those three will probably win it.

From a Buckeye perspective, McCoy winning it this year preserves Archie's distinction as the only two-time winner, so the vast majority of us would be fine with that.

Personally, I thought he deserved it last year.

But this is a poll thread, here's the Hesiman thread:

BP.Heisman.2009