OT: Quick aside, how is Purdue not ranked??

Submitted by Hail to the Vi… on November 7th, 2021 at 8:27 PM

Not that I am overly concerned about the fortunes of Purdue football, but they have two wins against - at the time - top 3 opponents. Even with a 6-3 record how can they not be ranked when teams like University of Texas San Antonio, Houston and Louisiana sneaking in there. 

As fun as college football is, it is also incredibly stupid much of the time.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/coaches-poll-top-25-alabama-jumps-cincinnati-wake-forest-falls-from-top-10-in-college-football-rankings/

MGoArchive

November 7th, 2021 at 8:31 PM ^

Purdue will to lose to OSU this weekend - they will have four losses at that point. Four losses is four losses.

So while your point is valid, it's very temporary.

s1105615

November 8th, 2021 at 9:43 AM ^

Well…they both have similar records and Wisconsin beat Purdue pretty badly.  However, cfb is a game that is predicated on winning favorable matchups.  UM’s defense is much better suited to stuff the run than defend an air raid attack, so I’d rather go up against Wisconsin with 8 or 9 in the box and dare Mertz to try and beat UM’s pass d than have 6 defensive backs trying to contain Bell on the edges and in space.

Add in the fact that UM beat Wisconsin by 21 in Madison and I’ll say that yes, in a hypothetical B1G Championship Game, I’d rather see UM get Wisconsin than Purdue.

lilpenny1316

November 7th, 2021 at 8:31 PM ^

Glad I refreshed the board because I was about to post the same thing. We'll see what the CFP does with them. They have two of the three best wins of the season. One was on the road, and both were by double digits.

Ezekiels Creatures

November 7th, 2021 at 8:33 PM ^

Right? They've beaten a #2 and #3 team. What's a team have to do to get respect?

They had a loss to Notre Dame, that was closer than the score indicates. And a fairly bad loss to Wisconsin. Though Wisconsin has a fairly bad loss to Michigan, and they are ranked.

So I don't know.

Newton Gimmick

November 7th, 2021 at 11:00 PM ^

Yeah at this point Purdue's win at Kinnick isn't as good as Michigan's ass-beating of Wisconsin in Camp Randall.  Rankings "at the time" are poor metrics for determining quality wins.  If Wisconsin had a back loaded instead of front loaded schedule, that might be a "Top 5-10 road win" instead of one over an unranked team. 

stephenrjking

November 8th, 2021 at 12:14 AM ^

You’re right, that’s a rankable resume. They have two of the best wins anybody has this season. 

I mean, I still don’t really care much about polls or Purdue personally, but the evidence is persuasive. Also, I’m trying not to be a jerk about it this time. I was mean and unfairly so. 

MGoGrendel

November 7th, 2021 at 8:49 PM ^

I saw a stat stating Purdue has 17 wins (!) against top 5 teams when they aren’t ranked.  They lead the FBS in that category. 
 

Guessing they beat mostly B1G teams and ND, which means ???

  • They are historically under rated
  • Their opponents are over rated
  • Massive amount of luck mixed with trap game shenanigans 

Red is Blue

November 7th, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^

The logic is that it is much easier to count the number of losses a team has rather than try to figure out how good the really are.  A hypothetical 9-3 team that loses to #1, #2 and #3 but has wins over #4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12 would be ranked behind any undefeated team even if that team played no one ranked. 

Brhino

November 7th, 2021 at 9:06 PM ^

I said it when they knocked off Iowa - it's got to be fun to be a Purdue fan.  Zero expectations most of the time.  Crappy game? So what?  Most of your games are crappy.  And then next thing you know, you go out and just end some team's dream season.

UMForLife

November 7th, 2021 at 9:30 PM ^

Well, CFP seems to reward good wins. So I will not be surprised if they are ranked for a week. If they somehow beat OSU, which I give 1 percent chance, they will be in low 20s. If they lose with a decent margin, then they might still be in top 25. 

AP and Coaches poll are crap. They have no logic whatsoever. They all get Georgia right. After that, it is a crap shoot.

tybert

November 7th, 2021 at 10:05 PM ^

Purdue is kind of ranked - 26th + 28th. UW has won 5 in a row including 30-13 at Purdue. PSU is still PSU so they get bonus points. UL is playing well in a non Power 5 conf with only loss though to a 4-5 Texas. I think they end 8-4 and will depend on a bowl game to see if they end up ranked.

Consider this: Purdue beat Iowa and MSU, but lost to Minn which lost at HOME to BGSU and Illinois. BGSU lost to EMU by 31 at home and to Akron by 15. The home loss to UMinn is what is keeping them from being ranked. 

Still fun to watch. 

greymarch

November 7th, 2021 at 10:11 PM ^

Good question.  Purdue should be ranked.

 

Another question I've been thinking about: If UM was fortunate enough to make it to the B1G champ game, who would UM rather play: Wisconsin or Purdue?

 

Purdue is a proven giant-killer with a wicked passing attack.  Wisconsin is red-hot, and would be extra-motivated to avenge their loss vs UM early in the season.

 

#GoBlue

Hail to the Vi…

November 7th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^

Honestly I think Wisconsin is a better matchup for Michigan than Purdue. That seems kinda crazy to me even as I type it, but Purdue has the kind of offense that could give Michigan big problems. I think it's more likely Purdue could out gun Michigan than it would be for Wisconsin to shut down our offense.

That's a tough call though.

1VaBlue1

November 8th, 2021 at 8:45 AM ^

I'll agree with you - Wisconsin would be the better matchup for Michigan.  I don't fear Mertz throwing the ball, not one bit.  And we've already seen the offense steamroll UW's defense.  Nothing from that game tells me to worry about UW a second time around.

Purdue might be a tough out, but are just as likely to get dumped on.  They can't run - there's no game plan on Earth that has Purdue running the ball to win a game.  So Michigan could run a 4-1-6 defense (or some such secondary loaded approach) and shut them down.  Sadly, Michigan is just as likely to run a base defense and give up 3491 yards in a display of 'we play the way we play'...

s1105615

November 8th, 2021 at 10:01 AM ^

I think Wisconsin is the preferable matchup for a couple of reasons:

1.  How easily UM controlled the game in Madison.  Out side two throws late in the half UM dominated the game. UM also never trailed in the game and won by 21.

2.  UM’s D is better situated to defend against the way Wisconsin wants to attack on offense. The Wisconsin online is not generating the push they normally get, and the RBs aren’t Jonathan Taylor or Monte Ball or Ron Dayne.  Meanwhile, Mertz isn’t going to win the game for Wisconsin when the running game is stymied.

3. Wisconsin’s D is not as strong up front to completely shut down the UM rushing attack.  If and when Wisconsin decides to put 8 or 9 guys in the box to stop the run, the qb de jour and WRs/TEs are able to do enough to get open and make plays down the field against the Wisconsin secondary.

To sum up, UM would be favored probably by 7-10 in a rematch and I believe they would cover comfortably all things being equal to how they stand today.

Meanwhile, Purdue’s offense attacks where the UM d is vulnerable (back 7, particularly the DBs) and will scheme to get favorable matchups for Bell, who is a game breaker just as dangerous as Rondale Moore.  The Purdue D is built around another bonafide star in George Karloftis, who can and will disrupt the running game enough to put UM in high pressure situations throwing the ball to get conversions.  Those downs will see Karloftis then generate pressure on the QB.

I suspect UM would also be favored by 7-10 over Purdue in this hypothetical matchup, but I think UM would either cover comfortably (by 20+), or struggle mightily and possibly lose outright.

I know that’s not all that deep or really much of a hot take, but it boils down to say this:

In a hypothetical B1G Championship Game, I’d rather see UM draw Wisconsin than Purdue.