SWC75
Bored Historian
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- Aug 26, 2011
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It’s October and so I will once again chart the future challenges of the undefeated in major college football. Once November comes I’ll include the one-loss teams. We now have a four team playoff, (maybe someday we’ll move to 8 with auto bids for the Power Five champions), so more of these teams will continue to have a chance until the very end of the regular season. I’ll limit my coverage to ranked teams. (For fun I’ll also keep track of the teams eligible for the Pesci Bowl, the top mid-majors in the country and the Tydee Bowl, which decides the worst team in the country, although I’ll not spend as much time on them. I think I’ll do a four team playoff for them, too.)
A note on rankings: the first is the ranking of the AP (writer’s) poll, then the USA Today (coach’s) poll the ESPN power ranking and finally College Football Playoff Committee, (which won’t start until November 3rd). The total is based on a 25 points for 1st, 24 for 2nd, etc. system. They are listed in order of that total. (Shortcut- if they are ranked in all the polls: add the rankings and subtract from 78 or 104 once the committee joins in.)
I’ll also include the team’s points “Against Ranked Teams” from my latest post of that title, their won-lost record and their points for and against. I’ll supply the same info in the same format for each future opponent.
OHIO STATE 8-0 (308-121) 0 points against ranked teams (ART) rank: 1-1-2-3 total: 97
Sat 11/7 Minnesota 4-4 (169-191) 25 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 at Illinois 4-4 (184-181) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Michigan State 8-0 (267-177) 40 ART rank: 6-6-6 total:
Sat 11/28 at Michigan 6-2 (229-91) 101 ART rank: 16-16-17 total:
Comments: T. J. Barrett was suspended for a game but they still have Cardell Jones. I don’t see Minnesota beating them in Columbus. Illinois is slumping so the Buckeyes likely won’t be threatened until they face the Michigan teams.
CLEMSON 8-0 (325-141) 22 ART rank: 3-5-1-1 total: 94
Sat 11/7 Florida State 7-1 (262-134)0 ART rank: 17-15-16-16 total: 40
Sat 11/14 at Syracuse 3-5 (234-235) 8 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Wake Forest 3-6 (168-207) 8 ART not ranked
Sat 11/28 at South Carolina 3-5 (171-219) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: Florida State “got well” against Syracuse. They may be better with Maquire than Golston and they have plenty of running backs as we found out. Clemson’s defense looked vulnerable vs. NC State. But they remember what the Noles did to them in Death Valley two years ago and will want revenge. If they get it, it will be smooth sailing after that.
LOUISIANA STATE 7-0 (272-158) 60 ART rank: 4-4-3-2 total: 91
Sat 11/7 at Alabama 7-1 (268-131) 110 ART rank: 7-7-7-4 total: 79
Sat 11/14 Arkansas 4-4 (260-213) 10 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 at Mississippi 7-2 (355-177) 61 ART rank: 19-19-19-18 total: 29
Sat 11/28 Texas A&M 6-2 (257-197) 50 ART not ranked
Comments: They survived the first of the Florida-Alabama-Mississippi-Texas A&M gauntlet. I still think with LSU is good but they seem like a one-dimensional team and I suspect they’ll get that second defeat somewhere along the way. That would knock them out of a playoff.
BAYLOR 7-0 (428-176) 0 ART rank: 2-2-4-6 total: 90
Thu 11/5 at Kansas State 3-4 (191-202) 20 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Oklahoma 7-1 (365-147) 33 ART rank: 14-13-13-15 total: 49
Sat 11/21 at Oklahoma State 8-0 (352-185) 0 ART rank: 12-10-12-14 total: 56
Fri 11/27 at Texas Christian 8-0 (391-196) 0 ART rank: 5-3-5-8 total: 73
Comments: The Big Twelve powers put up impressive numbers but nothing against ranked teams so far. That’s because their schedules are back-loaded: they don’t play anybody good until they play each other at the end of the season. Then things will get sorted, even if they might not get sorted out. Remember that the Big 12 has no title game so their teams will have one less hurdle than contenders in other conferences- but also one less change to feather-bed their resume.
MICHIGAN STATE 8-0 (267-177) 22 ART rank: 6-6-6-7 total: 79
Sat 11/7 at Nebraska 3-6 (300-253) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Maryland 2-6 (191-270) 4 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 at Ohio State 8-0 (308-121) 0 ART rank: 1-1-2-3 total: 97
Sat 11/28 Penn State 7-2 (231-154) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: The Spartans pulled one out of their hat against Michigan but I still think they are vulnerable to an upset. That trip to Ohio State could be unpleasantl. The Spartans probably have to run the table to make the playoff.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN 8-0 (391-196) 0 ART rank: 5-3-5-8 total: 73
Sat 11/7 at Oklahoma State 8-0 (352-185) 0 ART rank: 12-10-12-9 total: 63
Sat 11/14 Kansas 0-8 (132-377) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 at Oklahoma 7-1 (365-147) 33 ART rank: 14-13-13-15 total: 49
Fri 11/27 Baylor 7-0 (428-176) 0 ART rank: 2-2-4-6 total: 90
Comments The Big 12 hoe-down begins with the undefeated Horn Frogs against the undefeated Cowboys. Then after a walk-over against Kansas, they get red-hot Oklahoma and then Baylor. It should be fun. The Purple used to be people-eaters on defense but now they are just trying to win shoot-outs. It will be tough to win all three of them.
IOWA 8-0 (261-122) 11 ART rank: 10-11-11-9 total: 63
Sat 11/7 at Indiana 4-4 (265-298)) 18 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Minnesota 4-4 (169-191) 25 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Purdue 2-6 (217-275) 21 ART not ranked
Fri 11/27 at Nebraska 3-6 (300-253) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: The Hawkeyes are kind of sneaking up on people. They don’t’ play Ohio State or either of the Michigan schools in the regular season. But then comes the Big Ten title game if they make it that far. That will be the litmus test.
OKLAHOMA STATE 8-0 (352-185) 0 ART rank: 12-10-12-14 total: 56
Sat 11/7 Texas Christian 8-0 (391-196) 0 ART rank: 5-3-5-8 total: 73
Sat 11/14 at Iowa State 3-5 (212-237) 6 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Baylor 7-0 (428-176) 0 ART rank: 2-2-4-6 total: 90
Sat 11/28 Oklahoma 7-1 (365-147) 33 ART rank: 14-13-13-15 total: 49
Comments: Okie State is another school where you never know if they are for real or not. Texas Tech is always dangerous. Then comes the TCU-Baylor-Oklahoma gauntlet. I’ll believe them in a playoff when I see it.
MEMPHIS 8-0 (383-213) 26 ART rank: rank: 15-16-15-13 total: 45
Sat 11/7 Navy 6-1 (238-132) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 at Houston 8-0 (367-138) 0 ART rank: rank: 18-18-18-25 total: 15
Sat 11/21 at Temple 7-1 (246-126) 13 ART rank: 23-23-20-22 total: 16
Sat 11/28 Southern Methodist 1-7 (230-349) 4 ART not ranked
Comments: The Tigers made headlines by handling a slumping Ole Miss. Now they play and under-rated Navy team, undefated Houston and Temple who lost only to Notre Dame . If they get though that unscathed, there’s the conference title game. If they still have the goose egg at the end of their record…they still won’t make the national championship playoff. But they’ll be playing on New Year’s Day and nobody will want to be playing them.
TOLEDO 7-0 (259-114) 12 ART ranked: 20-20-21-24 total: 19
Tue 11/3 Northern Iowa 4-4 (169-176) FCS not ranked
Tue 11/10 at Central Michigan 5-4 (237-195) 4 ART not ranked
Tue 11/17 at Bowling Green 6-2 (351-228) 0 ART not ranked
Fri 11/27 Western Michigan 53 (288-232) 8 ART not ranked
Comments: The Rockets are also obviously not going to be in a playoff, although they could be in contention for a New Year’s Day bowl, (or the Pesci Bowl- see below), if they can run the table. Bowling Green is the big roadblock on their schedule, the AAC teams off of it.
HOUSTON 8-0 (367-138) 0 ART rank: 18-18-18-25 total: 15
Sat 11/7 Cincinnati 5-3 (308-211) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Memphis 8-0 (383-213) 26ART rank: 15-16-15-13 total: 45
Sat 11/21 at Connecticut 4-5 (183-190) 1 ART not ranked
Fri 11/27 Navy 6-1 (238-132) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: Same deal here, only the hurdles are Memphis and Navy. If they get by them, They’ll likely play Temple ion the conference title game.
Next week I’ll start including the one loss teams from the power conferences which currently include: Alabama 7-1, Florida 7-1, Florida State 7-1, North Carolina 7-1, Notre Dame 7-1, Oklahoma 7-1, Stanford 7-1, Utah 7-1
Top non-power conference teams, (in contention for the Joe Pesci Bowl: we’re not big but don’t’ mess with us!), Houston 8-0, Memphis 8-0, Toledo 7-0, Appalachian State 7-1, Marshall 8-1, Navy 6-1 and Temple 7-1.
Trying to avoid the Tydee Bowl: Central Florida 0-9 and Kansas 0-8,
Also: Eastern Michigan 1-8, Louisiana-Monroe 1-7, Massachusetts 1-7, Miami University 1-8, New Mexico State 1-7, , North Texas 1-7, Southern Methodist 1-7, Texas San Antonio 1-7.
A note on rankings: the first is the ranking of the AP (writer’s) poll, then the USA Today (coach’s) poll the ESPN power ranking and finally College Football Playoff Committee, (which won’t start until November 3rd). The total is based on a 25 points for 1st, 24 for 2nd, etc. system. They are listed in order of that total. (Shortcut- if they are ranked in all the polls: add the rankings and subtract from 78 or 104 once the committee joins in.)
I’ll also include the team’s points “Against Ranked Teams” from my latest post of that title, their won-lost record and their points for and against. I’ll supply the same info in the same format for each future opponent.
OHIO STATE 8-0 (308-121) 0 points against ranked teams (ART) rank: 1-1-2-3 total: 97
Sat 11/7 Minnesota 4-4 (169-191) 25 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 at Illinois 4-4 (184-181) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Michigan State 8-0 (267-177) 40 ART rank: 6-6-6 total:
Sat 11/28 at Michigan 6-2 (229-91) 101 ART rank: 16-16-17 total:
Comments: T. J. Barrett was suspended for a game but they still have Cardell Jones. I don’t see Minnesota beating them in Columbus. Illinois is slumping so the Buckeyes likely won’t be threatened until they face the Michigan teams.
CLEMSON 8-0 (325-141) 22 ART rank: 3-5-1-1 total: 94
Sat 11/7 Florida State 7-1 (262-134)0 ART rank: 17-15-16-16 total: 40
Sat 11/14 at Syracuse 3-5 (234-235) 8 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Wake Forest 3-6 (168-207) 8 ART not ranked
Sat 11/28 at South Carolina 3-5 (171-219) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: Florida State “got well” against Syracuse. They may be better with Maquire than Golston and they have plenty of running backs as we found out. Clemson’s defense looked vulnerable vs. NC State. But they remember what the Noles did to them in Death Valley two years ago and will want revenge. If they get it, it will be smooth sailing after that.
LOUISIANA STATE 7-0 (272-158) 60 ART rank: 4-4-3-2 total: 91
Sat 11/7 at Alabama 7-1 (268-131) 110 ART rank: 7-7-7-4 total: 79
Sat 11/14 Arkansas 4-4 (260-213) 10 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 at Mississippi 7-2 (355-177) 61 ART rank: 19-19-19-18 total: 29
Sat 11/28 Texas A&M 6-2 (257-197) 50 ART not ranked
Comments: They survived the first of the Florida-Alabama-Mississippi-Texas A&M gauntlet. I still think with LSU is good but they seem like a one-dimensional team and I suspect they’ll get that second defeat somewhere along the way. That would knock them out of a playoff.
BAYLOR 7-0 (428-176) 0 ART rank: 2-2-4-6 total: 90
Thu 11/5 at Kansas State 3-4 (191-202) 20 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Oklahoma 7-1 (365-147) 33 ART rank: 14-13-13-15 total: 49
Sat 11/21 at Oklahoma State 8-0 (352-185) 0 ART rank: 12-10-12-14 total: 56
Fri 11/27 at Texas Christian 8-0 (391-196) 0 ART rank: 5-3-5-8 total: 73
Comments: The Big Twelve powers put up impressive numbers but nothing against ranked teams so far. That’s because their schedules are back-loaded: they don’t play anybody good until they play each other at the end of the season. Then things will get sorted, even if they might not get sorted out. Remember that the Big 12 has no title game so their teams will have one less hurdle than contenders in other conferences- but also one less change to feather-bed their resume.
MICHIGAN STATE 8-0 (267-177) 22 ART rank: 6-6-6-7 total: 79
Sat 11/7 at Nebraska 3-6 (300-253) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Maryland 2-6 (191-270) 4 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 at Ohio State 8-0 (308-121) 0 ART rank: 1-1-2-3 total: 97
Sat 11/28 Penn State 7-2 (231-154) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: The Spartans pulled one out of their hat against Michigan but I still think they are vulnerable to an upset. That trip to Ohio State could be unpleasantl. The Spartans probably have to run the table to make the playoff.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN 8-0 (391-196) 0 ART rank: 5-3-5-8 total: 73
Sat 11/7 at Oklahoma State 8-0 (352-185) 0 ART rank: 12-10-12-9 total: 63
Sat 11/14 Kansas 0-8 (132-377) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 at Oklahoma 7-1 (365-147) 33 ART rank: 14-13-13-15 total: 49
Fri 11/27 Baylor 7-0 (428-176) 0 ART rank: 2-2-4-6 total: 90
Comments The Big 12 hoe-down begins with the undefeated Horn Frogs against the undefeated Cowboys. Then after a walk-over against Kansas, they get red-hot Oklahoma and then Baylor. It should be fun. The Purple used to be people-eaters on defense but now they are just trying to win shoot-outs. It will be tough to win all three of them.
IOWA 8-0 (261-122) 11 ART rank: 10-11-11-9 total: 63
Sat 11/7 at Indiana 4-4 (265-298)) 18 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Minnesota 4-4 (169-191) 25 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Purdue 2-6 (217-275) 21 ART not ranked
Fri 11/27 at Nebraska 3-6 (300-253) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: The Hawkeyes are kind of sneaking up on people. They don’t’ play Ohio State or either of the Michigan schools in the regular season. But then comes the Big Ten title game if they make it that far. That will be the litmus test.
OKLAHOMA STATE 8-0 (352-185) 0 ART rank: 12-10-12-14 total: 56
Sat 11/7 Texas Christian 8-0 (391-196) 0 ART rank: 5-3-5-8 total: 73
Sat 11/14 at Iowa State 3-5 (212-237) 6 ART not ranked
Sat 11/21 Baylor 7-0 (428-176) 0 ART rank: 2-2-4-6 total: 90
Sat 11/28 Oklahoma 7-1 (365-147) 33 ART rank: 14-13-13-15 total: 49
Comments: Okie State is another school where you never know if they are for real or not. Texas Tech is always dangerous. Then comes the TCU-Baylor-Oklahoma gauntlet. I’ll believe them in a playoff when I see it.
MEMPHIS 8-0 (383-213) 26 ART rank: rank: 15-16-15-13 total: 45
Sat 11/7 Navy 6-1 (238-132) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 at Houston 8-0 (367-138) 0 ART rank: rank: 18-18-18-25 total: 15
Sat 11/21 at Temple 7-1 (246-126) 13 ART rank: 23-23-20-22 total: 16
Sat 11/28 Southern Methodist 1-7 (230-349) 4 ART not ranked
Comments: The Tigers made headlines by handling a slumping Ole Miss. Now they play and under-rated Navy team, undefated Houston and Temple who lost only to Notre Dame . If they get though that unscathed, there’s the conference title game. If they still have the goose egg at the end of their record…they still won’t make the national championship playoff. But they’ll be playing on New Year’s Day and nobody will want to be playing them.
TOLEDO 7-0 (259-114) 12 ART ranked: 20-20-21-24 total: 19
Tue 11/3 Northern Iowa 4-4 (169-176) FCS not ranked
Tue 11/10 at Central Michigan 5-4 (237-195) 4 ART not ranked
Tue 11/17 at Bowling Green 6-2 (351-228) 0 ART not ranked
Fri 11/27 Western Michigan 53 (288-232) 8 ART not ranked
Comments: The Rockets are also obviously not going to be in a playoff, although they could be in contention for a New Year’s Day bowl, (or the Pesci Bowl- see below), if they can run the table. Bowling Green is the big roadblock on their schedule, the AAC teams off of it.
HOUSTON 8-0 (367-138) 0 ART rank: 18-18-18-25 total: 15
Sat 11/7 Cincinnati 5-3 (308-211) 0 ART not ranked
Sat 11/14 Memphis 8-0 (383-213) 26ART rank: 15-16-15-13 total: 45
Sat 11/21 at Connecticut 4-5 (183-190) 1 ART not ranked
Fri 11/27 Navy 6-1 (238-132) 0 ART not ranked
Comments: Same deal here, only the hurdles are Memphis and Navy. If they get by them, They’ll likely play Temple ion the conference title game.
Next week I’ll start including the one loss teams from the power conferences which currently include: Alabama 7-1, Florida 7-1, Florida State 7-1, North Carolina 7-1, Notre Dame 7-1, Oklahoma 7-1, Stanford 7-1, Utah 7-1
Top non-power conference teams, (in contention for the Joe Pesci Bowl: we’re not big but don’t’ mess with us!), Houston 8-0, Memphis 8-0, Toledo 7-0, Appalachian State 7-1, Marshall 8-1, Navy 6-1 and Temple 7-1.
Trying to avoid the Tydee Bowl: Central Florida 0-9 and Kansas 0-8,
Also: Eastern Michigan 1-8, Louisiana-Monroe 1-7, Massachusetts 1-7, Miami University 1-8, New Mexico State 1-7, , North Texas 1-7, Southern Methodist 1-7, Texas San Antonio 1-7.