Who *SHOULD* be #1?
Now that we've got the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and various preseason rankings, which team do you think looks like the #1 team going in to the season, and why
For me, it's USC. I think they are the most talented and the most balanced, and have a clearer path to 12-0 than LSU (who I would put #2) or Alabama (who I would put #3). OU also has a clear path, but I don't think they would match up well with any of the other three I just mentioned. I'd finish the top 5 off with Oregon, as most seem to do.
[I'd love to see us up there, but I think there are still too many questions that need to be answered before we could even dream of the top 5.]
August 18th, 2012 at 1:56 PM ^
Michigan should be #1!
August 18th, 2012 at 2:07 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 3:16 PM ^
Ditka v. a hurricane, but the hurricane is named Ditka.
August 18th, 2012 at 5:00 PM ^
Now what if Da Bears were to enter the Indianapolis 500?
August 18th, 2012 at 6:18 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 1:56 PM ^
Their NFL passing attack will finally end the SEC's reign of terror. The only problem I see is the possiblity of playing Oregon twice. If USC's secondary depth issues pop up, those are going to be coinflip firework shows.
Morris to Treadwell with a brick wall line and pounding RBs will pick up the torch in 2014.
August 18th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^
agree, schedule strength should not be factor of pre-season rankings. beg to differ, if you feel the same for final season rankings. last year, definitely think we caught a bit of a break having some big games at home. this year, not so much. if oregon had anyone else on the schedule except lsu as a first game, believe most likely they would have played in bcs game.
still believe alabama should never have had the second chance to play lsu, that should have been okla st.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:15 PM ^
I agree as well. If you use the SOS argument, then last year you could make the case that Michigan was preseason top 25 team based on the schedule.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
I'm not sure I understand the position of those who don't think that schedule should be a consideration in determining pre-season rankings. As I've always understood them, pre-season rankings are not power polls. They are not merely trying to estimate which teams have the most talent overall, but rather are trying to predict which teams will end the season having had the best season.
To put it another way, the final version of these polls are supposed to measure which teams had the best season overall. Why do people expect that a pre-season version of the same poll would be based on an entirely independant criterion (team talent), rather than on the criterion that accounts for the final poll?
August 18th, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^
Well therein lies your problem, you don't understand what the polls are about.
They are about ranking the teams in order from best to worst, they aren't about ranking them from who you think will make the championship to who you think won't.
August 18th, 2012 at 4:07 PM ^
Oregon did play in a BCS game , they played in the rose bowl.
I have a slight problem with USC as number 1. They where just as inconsistant as Michigan was last year ( Barely sqeaking by minnesotta at home and losing to ASU). When they where good, they where good but when they where bad lol. If you put that with the fact they are paper thin everywhere on the roster , I can't think USC will come close to a NCG this year.
August 18th, 2012 at 8:03 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^
This, for the love of god.
SOS and preseason rankings are quickly becoming a huge pet peeve of mine.
August 18th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
I think we should always be #1. I'm in favor of Michigan never losing a game. I don't understand why other schools can't accommodate this request.
August 18th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
head says usc, but heart always screams, "Meeeshigan!" (in a very ufer-ish voice, of course!)
August 18th, 2012 at 2:01 PM ^
Their tears would be so much sweeter after losing in the Big House.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:04 PM ^
Indiana
August 18th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
should always be preseason #1 in my opinion.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^
only thing about that though, there is so much turnover in college. you might have an entire squad with few if any remaining players to start the new season. agree if you are talking pros, but not college. besides pre-season rankings are such bs, let the games decide.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:59 PM ^
Maybe if every team in CFB was the same, and no players ever showed improvement from year to year.
They won last year, not the current year.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
I'm gonna have to go with USC. I can't say that I'm much a fan of USC, but anyone that can bring down the SEC, I'm ok with.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:13 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:15 PM ^
I think USC is a bit overrated and Oklahoma might sneak-up this year because they were such a dissapointment last year.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:37 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^
At least OU has been making BCS games. They've been pretty reliable to make the BCS (and then yes, lose subsequently)
August 18th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
Based on the USC we saw by the end of last season, and given that they team returns most starters -- plus a few that played at half-strength, plus Redd -- I'd have to go with them. Barkley, as a senior, should be awesome. And their schedule borders on soft. Their toughest road game is at Stanford, and their only top-10 opponent is Oregon (in LA).
Fortunately, despite their ability to land so many blue-chippers, I think they'll take a step back over the next couple years. The scholarship reductions will impact the Trojans' depth. Teams can't be great without a deep bench.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 2:46 PM ^
There is no doubt in my mind that this post is just a Michigan fan making fun of OSU fans. Nothing to see here. Move along.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^
Is there not a single Buckeye who understands basic grammar?
August 19th, 2012 at 1:32 AM ^
the fantastic flying fug...?
August 18th, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 3:32 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
undefeated since 1878
August 18th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^
Stongest team on the OL and DL. USC has the flashy skill players, but they have some major question marks on the DL. Alabama has to replace a lot of players in their defensive back seven, but they have the talent waiting in the wings. USC has little depth at OL and DL.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
USC's offense is loaded, but you are correct, they have had two season ending injuries on the DL and will probably lose a game for it. I don't think there is a clear choice for a #1, making this season a little more wide open than years past.
August 18th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^
Post-spring, USC's backup DT was Zach Kusnir, a SDSU walk-on transfer who started his career at QB. USC is extremely green at DT. Unless their RS freshmen DTs are instant contributors, some teams are going to gash their defense.
As you mentioned, they already lost their starting DE and another DE in the two-deep to season ending injuries.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^
There SHOULD not be a pre-season ranking. How does it make sense to rank teams which have achieved nothing?
Vegas, journalists, bloggers and forum posters should be left to predict whom they think will win the most games, but the whole concept of a preseason ranking is silly.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
When I clicked on this thread, I thought it was another discussion about who should wear the #1 jersey.
August 18th, 2012 at 2:56 PM ^
They should just wait till the 6th week of the season before introducing the polls.
Preason polls are awful, and then you have the majority of the voters who won't drop a team unless they lose, it's just a mess.
August 18th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
The one thing the BCS got right was its decision to not rank teams until well into the season. Pre-season rankings are, in addition to wild guesses, hopelessly unfair. Inevitably, many or most voters will err in favor of teams that are highly ranked from the start -- because, hey, look how highly everyone else ranks them.
August 18th, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
But the BCS assimilated polls that started preseason into its formula.
August 18th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
August 18th, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
What bothers me about this is a team that was supposedly slammed by the NCAA comes off of their bowl ban as the number 1 team in the country - just doesn't seem right to me.
August 18th, 2012 at 3:33 PM ^
The bowl ban cost them a shot at the Pac-12 title last year and potential Rose Bowl. The scholarship sanctions could have an effect as this season is the first year (75 total scholarships and 15 scholarships per year for next 3 years). USC has done a pretty good job planning for the sanctions by backdating scholarships and recruiting at an extremely high level, but their lack of depth at multiple positions could cost them a national championship in the next 3-4 years.
I think USC has already and will continue to pay a serious price due to these NCAA sanctions.