Michigan Opens at #7 in the AP Poll
Here you go: https://collegefootball.ap.org/aggiesports/poll
2019 Opponents:
Ohio State - #5
Notre Dame - #9
Penn State - #15
Michigan State - #18
Wisconsin - #19
Iowa - #20
August 19th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
That Penn State ranking surprises me. I feel like they're on the down slide with Franklin at the helm.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:10 PM ^
I wouldn't expect AP voters to look that closely
August 19th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
Just like JoPa.
August 19th, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
Got eeeeeem.
August 19th, 2019 at 4:04 PM ^
Here is a breakdown of each AP voter's poll, graphically (h/t to bakonydrako on reddit)
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/cslhey/ap_poll_voter_consistency_preseason/
August 19th, 2019 at 4:32 PM ^
2 things:
1. Whoever is putting us in at 4 is asking for a world of hate from every D1 school.
2. I sure am glad our logo is giant and bright yellow. Way easier to recognize than the muddle of reds and oranges.
August 19th, 2019 at 5:24 PM ^
For a bit I thought the red S was for Stanford then I saw a red S with a tree. Then I was confused. Took me a while to realize the red S is an orange S and it is Syracuse. Maybe I need to see an eye Dr.
August 19th, 2019 at 3:26 PM ^
Well played Baughz, well played
August 19th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
Their recruiting has been strong over the last few years. The AP may be banking on a couple of highly-rated players to break out.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:15 PM ^
I'm more surprised by MSU than PSU. I get that MSU returns a lot and had a lot of injuries last year but they were also very bad and have recruited like shit. I can't see them being 18th this year.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:18 PM ^
MSU is going to have a legit Defense. The question is if they can score more than 10 points per game...
August 19th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Nebraska at #24...the Hype is REAL.
Sparty will probably end up in the top 25 at the end of the year. They'll probably have 4-5 losses amongst their games (@UW, @UM, @OSU, PSU, @NU, Indiana), but they won't be shit this year. Next year will be interesting though when some of their Defensive talent moves on and they've got the lackluster recrutis to backfull with. 2020 and beyond look bleak.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:35 PM ^
MSU might have a top 5 defense
August 19th, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
I get that they're good but we really think they're THAT good? Top 5?
August 19th, 2019 at 12:42 PM ^
MSU actually had the #2 defense last year when strength of opponent was figured into it. Better than us. So yeah, I think their defense is elite and didn't lose a whole lot.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
Not only that, but to have that crappy of an offense and still have that good of defensive numbers is pretty tough to keep. They were legit.
August 19th, 2019 at 1:22 PM ^
They didn't lose "a whole lot" but they are replacing 4 guys in their back 7, 2 of which (Justin Layne and Khari "Whatchu talkin bout" Willis) will not be easy to replace, along with LB Andrew Dowell who was always a head ache for us . Their DL plus Bachie will be elite for sure, but they don't have much depth at any spot on defense so if their O can't stay on the field or if the D has injuries to any of those key guys, they're in trouble.
MSU's problem the last year years has been depth. They cry the injury excuse (like we did in the RR/Hoke era) but the reality is that injuries happen to all teams, but the good ones can replace those players with decent options and MSU didn't have the depth to do that last year. Since we play MSU late, if they suffer any injuries, they're in trouble.
August 19th, 2019 at 6:18 PM ^
August 19th, 2019 at 3:30 PM ^
3 guys that are arguably All-American candidates in the front 7. Scheme-wise they are sound and they've been running it forever which helps the learning curve.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
I think people are overselling that defense. They have some solid pieces for sure. Elite? I would say no. Also, they have no depth.
August 19th, 2019 at 3:40 PM ^
I think you hit the key word that many overlook - depth - especially late in the season. Let's face it, teams like Alabama, Clemson, OSU and most recently Georgia have the depth due to recruiting to overcome injuries and players leaving early, MSU does not. Hopefully we're getting to that point.
August 19th, 2019 at 5:41 PM ^
Yeah because the #2 defense isn’t good enough to be elite.
August 19th, 2019 at 1:17 PM ^
I was feeling pretty good about our chances against Sparty this year, maybe one of the only teams we beat in 2019, but after reading Seth's writeup in HTTV I lost a lot of confidence
August 19th, 2019 at 4:48 PM ^
One of the only teams we beat? One of the only 15 teams we beat, sure.
August 19th, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
Yeah - don’t sleep on MSU. They are legit on D this year.
August 19th, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
evenyoubrutus: Anything good you have to say about MSU...
...I don't believe it. ;-)
August 19th, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
Touche.
I'll never forget your kind words from two years ago, brother, after my family suffered an unimaginable tragedy.
August 19th, 2019 at 10:38 PM ^
I'll never forget your tragedy every time I see your username and handsome avatar. ...You have my heart.
On Aug. 2nd, we had our own scare. My son had an anaphylactic reaction and we came so very close to losing him. Tomorrow is his 14th birthday. 17 days ago we came seconds away from having to celebrate his birthday without him. If we had lost him, I know I would have had your support. Continued best wishes to you & your family!
August 19th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
MSU has 9-3 written all over them. They only have 4 tough games, and it would be difficult for Leiwerke to not bounce back at least somewhat.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
I follow a couple of college football media guys who aren't stupid, and they're high on PSU. The loss of offensive talent can/will be an issue, but they are loaded with talent. I believe they at least match Michigan's level of 4/5-star talent this season.
People keep waiting for PSU to stink, but PSU is in good shape. It's going to be a tough game this year.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
No doubt it will be a tough game. But they could still upset Michigan in Happy Valley as a highlight of their season and end up easily end up with 3-4 losses. Maybe that puts them right at 18th, but depends who they lose to.
August 19th, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^
a couple that aren't stupid and how many that are?
just curious
August 19th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
Still a lot of individual talent on the team. KJ Hamler and Micah Parsons immediately come to mind as guys who should be among the best at their position within the conference.
I do see a step back for them this year, but I think 8-4 to 9-3 is attainable.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
PSU is a good football team. They're probably looking at 10 wins.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
An OOC schedule that includes Idaho, Buffalo and Pitt... all at home, certainly helps.
August 19th, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
They have an extremely strong defense that returns almost everyone, highly ranked guys at essentially every position on offense and a super soft schedule. Of course the bottom could fall out of the offense this year and they could have a 7 or 8 win season but I think 9 wins is their most likely outcome which would would put them around #15 in the country, not really that far off from this pre-season ranking.
August 19th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
I feel like it's put up or shut up time for Franklin. He's got the talent there (except maybe QB, which is more of a question mark), so we'll see if he can actually utilize it without a superstar OC like Moorhead, or if he's just an elite recruiter that otherwise can't get out of his own way (essentially a higher-ceiling Brady Hoke).
August 19th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
Sounds about right
August 19th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Link brings up last years final poll, not the first AP poll of this year.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:10 PM ^
It shows Week 1 with todays date but records are from last year.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
We were not #7 in last year's final poll...
August 19th, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
It feels like we’ve been ranked #7 more than any other spot in the poll.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
I feel you of all people should know whether or not that’s factually true.
August 19th, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
Not that there's anything wrong with it!
August 19th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
"We're number 7!" just doesn't have a catchy ring to it.
August 19th, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^
Maybe not. But "I'm Number 7", on the other hand
August 19th, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
if it works for you....... it works for you.
August 19th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
Michigan at #7 is all well and good and we should feel good about it.
The important story of this poll is Iowa at #20 and ISU at #21. We are 3 wins (ISU over N. Iowa, Iowa over Miami(OH) and Rutgers) away from a RANKED EL ASSICO BABY! GAMEDAY IN AMES!
August 19th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
I think the Matt Campbell hype train derails this year.