Hypothetical: Texas is #11 in the final CFP and ND has 2 losses and is ranked 12. Does their "agreement" mean ND would be in over Texas even though TX would be higher ranked?
I don't know that it's negative but not sure why, without any presentation of their analysis, a common introduction I hear on predictions of our matchups is "Indiana isn't as strong as last year's team, but they're still very good".
I don't know that is a fact at all, that we aren't as strong. (And no, not going find links right now. Killing some work time.)
Seems like teams with the benefit of the doubt we hear 'this team lost a lot from last year's team, but (insert blue blood name) they just reload.'
I thought going into the season the #6 ranking was as low as we could have reasonably been ranked.
Oregon #2? When we solidly beat them at Oregon and trashed them and Moore in the Peach Bowl?
5 places behind OSU when OSU lost 4 of the top 11 1st round NFL picks in the draft, all on D?
Texas ahead of us, with their idiot coach?
I felt we should have been ranked in the #3/4 range.
Now, I have to admit that our OL and DL/LBs have not been quite as good as I anticipated. We've been slightly disappointing, imo.
And Bama & Miami are worthy of their present rankings.
Hypothetical: Texas is #11 in the final CFP and ND has 2 losses and is ranked 12. Does their "agreement" mean ND would be in over Texas even though TX would be higher ranked?
Yes....which raises the obvious question.....why the hell would the SEC & Big 10 agree with that? ND plays us like a fiddle.
Slightly agree on O-line, but it's good. No Coogan and he was great. On our third very good center in a row though.Now, I have to admit that our OL and DL/LBs have not been quite as good as I anticipated. We've been slightly disappointing, imo
Slightly disagree on D-line. I think Haines showed that at Nebraska. And Cig has mentioned to reporters a few different games that our ability to rotate on the D-line is one of our strengths.
Agree on LBs but they seem to be coming around, along with DBs. Still good. Just no Fischer, or Ponds.
College Football With Sam - after Rutgers he commented that his preseason expectations were that we would be down on the D-line after losing guys. And said that instead, we had reloaded. He said "I looked at the sacks for Indiana against Rutgers and thought, 'what's a Blake Smythe?" LOL
@tammany They look like the most complete team in the country, right now. Obviously we'll get a better handle on that, Saturday. And then when they play Miami. When I remind myself what SEC teams have done in the CFP and other bowls of late, and that their superior size, speed, etc... is way over blown.... Then teams like Notre Dame and Miami... and how they've looked so far... they're the best 2 teams in the country right now, in my opinion. Georgia is up there too, Indiana and OSU as well (rankings at the top 4-5 are fine). But teams like Bama and Texas and Ole Miss... their losses are no better than Northwestern's loss, USC's loss, Iowa's loss...heck UCLA's no losses...
The SEC depth argument, and the bias it creates, is so absurd.
I don't know that it's negative but not sure why, without any presentation of their analysis, a common introduction I hear on predictions of our matchups is "Indiana isn't as strong as last year's team, but they're still very good".
I don't know that is a fact at all, that we aren't as strong. (And no, not going find links right now. Killing some work time.)
Seems like teams with the benefit of the doubt we hear 'this team lost a lot from last year's team, but (insert blue blood name) they just reload.'
I thought going into the season the #6 ranking was as low as we could have reasonably been ranked.
Oregon #2? When we solidly beat them at Oregon and trashed them and Moore in the Peach Bowl?
5 places behind OSU when OSU lost 4 of the top 11 1st round NFL picks in the draft, all on D?
Texas ahead of us, with their idiot coach?
I felt we should have been ranked in the #3/4 range.
Now, I have to admit that our OL and DL/LBs have not been quite as good as I anticipated. We've been slightly disappointing, imo.
And Bama & Miami are worthy of their present rankings.
And the other thing about that #6 ranking is that we had the 2nd highest 1st place votes, behind only OSU. Which leads me to think that some of the other voters were somewhat hostile toward IU.
@iunorth the 10 point line at BYU says a lot about how good they are. Unfortunately.
Long way to go though. That Miami game will be extremely interesting.
Well, I think it was true pre-NIL, under the table pay only. Not post-Saban.The SEC depth argument, and the bias it creates, is so absurd.
Apparently takes years to change a bias. And why would media that covers the SEC have incentive to correct that? It is absurd.
Some mid-pack SEC team wins a close one against another mid-pack SEC team, it's the top fold with pics on ESPN's website, Indiana wins a tough one, it's (maybe) a text link over on the right.
But I don't blame them. Dance with what brung ya'.
Who is the best team ND has played. Wisconsin? No way we can know how good they are with their joke of a schedule so far. I guess BYU might give some insight but I think they are overrated as well. If they lose 2 games they should be out.
@iunorth the 10 point line at BYU says a lot about how good they are. Unfortunately.
Long way to go though. That Miami game will be extremely interesting.
Yep....BYU appears to be way overrated. ND will have to F up pretty good to have a chance, and they are far less likely to do that under Freeman v. Kelly. I'd be surprised if they win by less than 14, shocked if they lose.
@tammany They look like the most complete team in the country, right now. Obviously we'll get a better handle on that, Saturday. And then when they play Miami. When I remind myself what SEC teams have done in the CFP and other bowls of late, and that their superior size, speed, etc... is way over blown.... Then teams like Notre Dame and Miami... and how they've looked so far... they're the best 2 teams in the country right now, in my opinion. Georgia is up there too, Indiana and OSU as well (rankings at the top 4-5 are fine). But teams like Bama and Texas and Ole Miss... their losses are no better than Northwestern's loss, USC's loss, Iowa's loss...heck UCLA's no losses...
The SEC depth argument, and the bias it creates, is so absurd.
Right now I like Georgia & Miami as #1 and 1A, in whichever order, and ND 3rd. OSU 4th, IU 5th. I think you're underrating Bama, mainly due to their QB, and Ole Miss & Texas are better than NW, USC, Iowa but are not NC contenders, imo. We need to watch Miss St as well. And Missouri. I'm a BT guy but this is an SEC year.
Freeman has loses at home to Marshall and NIU on his record. I think the inexplicable loss thing is a Notre Dame thing. I wouldn't be shocked if BYU upset them especially since it's in Provo.
@mushroomgod Why are those teams better than NW, USC, and Iowa? Just cuz? Texas played one good quarter against OSU. But lost to Oklahoma, struggled at Tennessee. Ole Miss got trucked at a mediocre Florida team, and nearly lost to an overrated LSU team at home.
Who is the best team ND has played. Wisconsin? No way we can know how good they are with their joke of a schedule so far. I guess BYU might give some insight but I think they are overrated as well. If they lose 2 games they should be out.
wisconsin or North Carolina. Bottom line is they haven't had played anyone of measure yet. They look to be very good. Haven't seen BYU play this year so won't predict that one. Miami could be a loss for sure.
Freeman has loses at home to Marshall and NIU on his record. I think the inexplicable loss thing is a Notre Dame thing. I wouldn't be shocked if BYU upset them especially since it's in Provo.
I think he learned from these missteps and corrected whatever they were doing wrong. Unfortunately.