What a difference a conference makes

[buffalorange]

Like many I've been pleasantly surprised about out 7-2 record and the resulting #13 ranking. I think the surprise part is due to Big East history.

If the Big East was still operational, where would SU be ranked, if at all, with the same record including losses to Pitt and maybe substitute Miami for Clemson? I'm not sure we'd even be in the top 25.

 

[upperdeck]

We probably beat Miami and so would be 8-1 and still around where we are I think.

 

[OrangeinOmaha]

What incarnation of the Big East though. If it was the 90's Big East with Miami, VT, and WV probably right where we are but if it was the AAC version with Cincy, USF, and UCONN probably not ranked. We shared the title in 2012 and was a blocked field goal returned for a TD at Rutgers away from winning the conference outright and playing in the Sugar bowl and we didn't even sniff the rankings that year.

I will always say conference realignment worked out so well for my sports teams in 2013. Syracuse got the ACC and the football program is ranked now and Creighton basketball got the Big East and is predicted to finish 6th or 7th this year and still possibly be on the NCAA bubble. You finish 6th or 7th in the Missouri Valley and you wouldn't even sniff the NIT.