Top 25 - When (or do we ever) get back there?

[Doc5120]

I can't believe it's been 14 years since we've been in the top 25. I honestly think we have the young talent, specifically at the skill positions, to get there. But when is it going to happen? I keep telling myself we're a year or two away...and maybe I'm delusional, but assuming we have a semi-competent O-line and a somewhat capable secondary, I think we have everything else we need to be a legitimate top 25 team next season. Dungey, Fredericks, Erv and Ish are ACC level players. Thompson, Bennett, Franklin and Cordy can be difference makers on defense.

Look at some of the "world-beaters" in the top 25 this week: Memphis, Toledo, Houston, Temple and Duke. Can we really not get on the level of these programs? I remember the Temple game being a "stat" game for our guys. It makes me sick to think Temple is in the top 25 while we're trying to figure out...can we make it to <insert minor bowl here>.

I'd like to see us get to 6 wins somehow, get the extra practice reps and be ready to go full bore in 2016.

 

[NineOneSeven]

You think we would end up in there at like 25 just out of pure random luck.

14 years is amazing.

Would like a list of every team that's been there even just a week over that time frame.

 

[dollarbill44]

When we get a half decent OL. You can have all the skill players in the world, but if your OL can't generate any space for them or time for the QB, it's not going to amount to much.

 

[kcsu]

I believe that we can get there next year. I predict we finish next year with 2 possibly 3 losses during the year and a signature win. I see us finishing the year ranked 21st

 

[PAcuse]

2017

 

[Doc5120]

I believe that we can get there next year. I predict we finish next year with 2 possibly 3 losses during the year and a signature win. I see us finishing the year ranked 21st

I absolutely love your positivity and hope you're right. But getting out with only 3 losses will be tough with ND, Clemson and FSU on the schedule. We'd have to pull a big upset or run the table the rest of the way.

 

[KaiserUEO]

You think we would end up in there at like 25 just out of pure random luck.

14 years is amazing.

Would like a list of every team that's been there even just a week over that time frame.

pretty sure weve had the list of who has NOT been in the top 25 over that time frame posted here.

and it was like 4 programs who just went d1, a few non P5s, probably temple and Syracuse.

 

[Ottoble]

I truly honestly thought it was going to be this week back when we were 3-1, I dared to dream of 5-1 with a 10pt loss to the #5 team in the country as a solid and pretty attainable resume. Now I wasn't sure we would stay there with the back end of the schedule but man I thought we had a shot to get back up there. Foolish me.

 

[cuseguy]

We'll get back there when we have better talent than most of the teams on our schedule.

If that doesn't happen, then we won't be a Top 25 team.

 

[Ozcuse]

You think we would end up in there at like 25 just out of pure random luck.

14 years is amazing.

Would like a list of every team that's been there even just a week over that time frame.

I saw that list a few months ago somewhere. I think Indiana and SU were the only teams in the P5 not to finish in the Top 25 over the last 14 years. I might be a bit fuzzy on this but I think like 105 out of 127(?) something FBS teams had been ranked at some point since 2000 as well. I really wish I could find that article now.

 

[Trueblue25]

Next year if Dungey remains healthy.

 

[NineOneSeven]

I saw that list a few months ago somewhere. I think Indiana and SU were the only teams in the P5 not to finish in the Top 25 over the last 14 years. I might be a bit fuzzy on this but I think like 105 out of 127(?) something FBS teams had been ranked at some point since 2000 as well. I really wish I could find that article now.

That's incredible

 

[Eric15]

We got close in 2010, starting 5-2 against a weak schedule, but then we lost to Louisville at home and that was the end of that.

 

[CuseCactus]

That's incredible

Well, we can all proudly say that there are no more dedicated fans in the country then Syracuse football fans. All 23 of us.

So here's to that future top 25 ranking - people say you can't enjoy the ups without suffering the downs.

 

[jekelish]

2017

If we can develop our young OL and DBs then I think 2017 is plausible. We'll have the best collection of offensive talent, at least on paper, in 20 years.

SR: Ishmael, Philips, Custis
JR: Dungey, Fredericks, Strickland, Perkins, Womack, Enoicy
SO/RFr: Moe Neal, Sadiq Palmer, Darius Stubbs, Lindsey Scott, Rex Culpepper and, oh yeah, Chris Clark
True FR: Daewood Davis, whoever else we add (and we're in the running - serious running - for a couple other 4-star WRs...Anthony White Jr, an ESPN300 kid, absolutely loves SU)

That's not mentioning the possibility of adding guys like Kentrail Moran and Tyrek Tisdale for the '16 class, both of which are very realistic.

Please note my use of the phrase "on paper" and realize I'm talking about potential, if players improve like we think/hope, and our young guys become the players we think/hope.

 

[Shark58]

if things break right, we should be top 15 or better in 2 years, and should stay in that neighborhood for a while

 

[RF2044]

if things break right, we should be top 15 or better in 2 years, and should stay in that neighborhood for a while

Especially if Dungey continues to develop, and either Culpepper or Scott end up being legit successors.

 

[Shark58]

Especially if Dungey continues to develop, and either Culpepper or Scott end up being legit successors.

I'm kinda betting on Rex, plus the level of our skill kids recruiting staying on or surpassing the current level. with the kids we have, and those on the way. another wave behind them seems realistic. thats a flat out ton of talent.

imho, the biggest needs going forward (with the major assumption that the current regime continues and we don't face another rebuild in the next couple of years) is a Rex successor and quality recruits on both lines and some D backs (esp corners)

oh yeah...and health

 

[jekelish]

I'm kinda betting on Rex, plus the level of our skill kids recruiting staying on or surpassing the current level. with the kids we have, and those on the way. another wave behind them seems realistic. thats a flat out ton of talent.

imho, the biggest needs going forward (with the major assumption that the current regime continues and we don't face another rebuild in the next couple of years) is a Rex successor and quality recruits on both lines and some D backs (esp corners)

oh yeah...and health

I'm hoping we've already got the inside track on a Rex (or Scott) successor in Jalen Mayden. I'd kill to land that kid.

 

[Shark58]

I'm hoping we've already got the inside track on a Rex (or Scott) successor in Jalen Mayden. I'd kill to land that kid.

you follow this stuff much more closely than I do

between who is already here and who has committed and may see time as a true frosh, whats your take on holes in the back 7/8 on D next year?

 

[DocFlanders]

I shall not be fooled yet again with "next year's team." I am in full wait and see mode now.

 

[jekelish]

you follow this stuff much more closely than I do

between who is already here and who has committed and may see time as a true frosh, whats your take on holes in the back 7/8 on D next year?

NEXT year? I think Monquavion Brinson probably has the best shot at getting immediate PT in our secondary (of our current commits). I'm super high on Scoop Bradshaw but it depends on where they decide to play him. I think he's going to be very good, though. He's very instinctive and I think will be a real playmaker whenever he's ready to contribute.

It also depends on how we close out recruiting. We're still in the running for some very good DB prospects, most notably Cycoby Burch and Tony Butler (Butler's a Pitt decommit who is rated as the #1 safety in Ohio).

 

[Shark58]

NEXT year? I think Monquavion Brinson probably has the best shot at getting immediate PT in our secondary (of our current commits). I'm super high on Scoop Bradshaw but it depends on where they decide to play him. I think he's going to be very good, though. He's very instinctive and I think will be a real playmaker whenever he's ready to contribute.

It also depends on how we close out recruiting. We're still in the running for some very good DB prospects, most notably Cycoby Burch and Tony Butler (Butler's a Pitt decommit who is rated as the #1 safety in Ohio).

if scoop and brinson are good enough to demand some burn next year, our DB's should be pretty tight then. i'd love to add Cycoby just for the name alone

so I guess the biggest internal issue for next year is how the young backups on the OL progress

(and yes, its kinda BS to already be looking at next year)

 

[jekelish]

if scoop and brinson are good enough to demand some burn next year, our DB's should be pretty tight then. i'd love to add Cycoby just for the name alone

so I guess the biggest internal issue for next year is how the young backups on the OL progress

(and yes, its kinda BS to already be looking at next year)

Well, the DBs have to prove themselves. I'm just going best case, here. Not saying they'll be ready to step in and be starters right away or anything.

 

[djorange1989]

We got close in 2010, starting 5-2 against a weak schedule, but then we lost to Louisville at home and that was the end of that.

We were actually 6-2 in 2010. Because of the two wins vs FCS teams, we weren't bowl eligible yet, it took a last minute win against RU to get that 7th win the following week. Would have been nice to beat Charlie and Ville, we would have probably been ranked after that at 7-2