[OutsiderFan]

Stanford played seven teams in the final AP Top 25 poll and beat five of them, including a close loss to the team that finished #3.

No other team beat five teams in the final poll, let alone played seven (eight if you count ASU twice).  UCF and Oregon ahead of Stanford is quite silly.  But take solace in the fact Stanford did finish ahead of Ohio State!

[OutsiderFan]

Stanford played seven teams in the final AP Top 25 poll and beat five of them, including a close loss to the team that finished #3.

No other team beat five teams in the final poll, let alone played seven (eight if you count ASU twice).  UCF and Oregon ahead of Stanford is quite silly.  But take solace in the fact Stanford did finish ahead of Ohio State!

[OutsiderFan]

Stanford played seven teams in the final AP Top 25 poll and beat five of them, including a close loss to the team that finished #3.

No other team beat five teams in the final poll, let alone played seven (eight if you count ASU twice).  UCF and Oregon ahead of Stanford is quite silly.  But take solace in the fact Stanford did finish ahead of Ohio State!

[OutsiderFan]

Stanford played seven teams in the final AP Top 25 poll and beat five of them, including a close loss to the team that finished #3.

No other team beat five teams in the final poll, let alone played seven (eight if you count ASU twice).  UCF and Oregon ahead of Stanford is quite silly.  But take solace in the fact Stanford did finish ahead of Ohio State!

[Spiny_Norman]

Stanford and Ohio State tied for #10 in the Coaches Poll so we can say that Stanford is still a top 10 team. 

[Spiny_Norman]

Stanford and Ohio State tied for #10 in the Coaches Poll so we can say that Stanford is still a top 10 team. 

[Spiny_Norman]

Stanford and Ohio State tied for #10 in the Coaches Poll so we can say that Stanford is still a top 10 team. 

[Spiny_Norman]

Stanford and Ohio State tied for #10 in the Coaches Poll so we can say that Stanford is still a top 10 team. 

[Redrum]

That loss devalued the Oregon win and now the Ducks get to cash in on that.  Look at the records of the teams that finished in front of us.  We are the highest-ranked 3-loss team.  Stripped of our natural feelings of support, hard to say our position could have been much higher.  Oregon finished strong, with a win over a football media darling (even if they were dumping their coach for obvious performance reasons).  Oregon wins the beauty contest.

[Redrum]

That loss devalued the Oregon win and now the Ducks get to cash in on that.  Look at the records of the teams that finished in front of us.  We are the highest-ranked 3-loss team.  Stripped of our natural feelings of support, hard to say our position could have been much higher.  Oregon finished strong, with a win over a football media darling (even if they were dumping their coach for obvious performance reasons).  Oregon wins the beauty contest.

[Redrum]

That loss devalued the Oregon win and now the Ducks get to cash in on that.  Look at the records of the teams that finished in front of us.  We are the highest-ranked 3-loss team.  Stripped of our natural feelings of support, hard to say our position could have been much higher.  Oregon finished strong, with a win over a football media darling (even if they were dumping their coach for obvious performance reasons).  Oregon wins the beauty contest.

[Redrum]

That loss devalued the Oregon win and now the Ducks get to cash in on that.  Look at the records of the teams that finished in front of us.  We are the highest-ranked 3-loss team.  Stripped of our natural feelings of support, hard to say our position could have been much higher.  Oregon finished strong, with a win over a football media darling (even if they were dumping their coach for obvious performance reasons).  Oregon wins the beauty contest.

[OutsiderFan]

I don't think the 3-loss issue is viewed in proper context.  That is what bugs me. 

Stanford's schedule was simply the toughest in the country.  If teams ranked above Stanford played eight games against ranked opponents, they too wold have more losses, and that includes Michigan State.

At least the MSU loss isn't tarnishing Stanford's perceived quality going into 2014.

[OutsiderFan]

I don't think the 3-loss issue is viewed in proper context.  That is what bugs me. 

Stanford's schedule was simply the toughest in the country.  If teams ranked above Stanford played eight games against ranked opponents, they too wold have more losses, and that includes Michigan State.

At least the MSU loss isn't tarnishing Stanford's perceived quality going into 2014.

[OutsiderFan]

I don't think the 3-loss issue is viewed in proper context.  That is what bugs me. 

Stanford's schedule was simply the toughest in the country.  If teams ranked above Stanford played eight games against ranked opponents, they too wold have more losses, and that includes Michigan State.

At least the MSU loss isn't tarnishing Stanford's perceived quality going into 2014.

[OutsiderFan]

I don't think the 3-loss issue is viewed in proper context.  That is what bugs me. 

Stanford's schedule was simply the toughest in the country.  If teams ranked above Stanford played eight games against ranked opponents, they too wold have more losses, and that includes Michigan State.

At least the MSU loss isn't tarnishing Stanford's perceived quality going into 2014.

[LuckE2Bhere]

IMHO, far to many TV analysts and subjective ranking voters focus on how many loses you have (and, to a lesser degree, to whom), with far to little consideration given to who you've beaten.  By that measure, we should have been in the Top 5!

[LuckE2Bhere]

IMHO, far to many TV analysts and subjective ranking voters focus on how many loses you have (and, to a lesser degree, to whom), with far to little consideration given to who you've beaten.  By that measure, we should have been in the Top 5!

[LuckE2Bhere]

IMHO, far to many TV analysts and subjective ranking voters focus on how many loses you have (and, to a lesser degree, to whom), with far to little consideration given to who you've beaten.  By that measure, we should have been in the Top 5!

[LuckE2Bhere]

IMHO, far to many TV analysts and subjective ranking voters focus on how many loses you have (and, to a lesser degree, to whom), with far to little consideration given to who you've beaten.  By that measure, we should have been in the Top 5!

[Papa John]

The final Sagarin ratings:
1. FSU
2. Oregon
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Stanford
6. MSU

Stanford is #1 in SOS with 9 teams in Sagarin's top 30, and a 7-2 record against those teams. Nice for the good guys, but, Oregon at #2, Bama at #3 and MSU below Stanford? Seriously?

So, whether it's a beauty contest (humans) or football's version of trying to solve a Millennium Prize Problem (computers), perhaps it's best not to get too wrapped up in end-of-the-season rankings. During-the-season rankings are only important to the extent that they might influence the playoff selection committee.

[Papa John]

The final Sagarin ratings:
1. FSU
2. Oregon
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Stanford
6. MSU

Stanford is #1 in SOS with 9 teams in Sagarin's top 30, and a 7-2 record against those teams. Nice for the good guys, but, Oregon at #2, Bama at #3 and MSU below Stanford? Seriously?

So, whether it's a beauty contest (humans) or football's version of trying to solve a Millennium Prize Problem (computers), perhaps it's best not to get too wrapped up in end-of-the-season rankings. During-the-season rankings are only important to the extent that they might influence the playoff selection committee.

[Papa John]

The final Sagarin ratings:
1. FSU
2. Oregon
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Stanford
6. MSU

Stanford is #1 in SOS with 9 teams in Sagarin's top 30, and a 7-2 record against those teams. Nice for the good guys, but, Oregon at #2, Bama at #3 and MSU below Stanford? Seriously?

So, whether it's a beauty contest (humans) or football's version of trying to solve a Millennium Prize Problem (computers), perhaps it's best not to get too wrapped up in end-of-the-season rankings. During-the-season rankings are only important to the extent that they might influence the playoff selection committee.

[Papa John]

The final Sagarin ratings:
1. FSU
2. Oregon
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Stanford
6. MSU

Stanford is #1 in SOS with 9 teams in Sagarin's top 30, and a 7-2 record against those teams. Nice for the good guys, but, Oregon at #2, Bama at #3 and MSU below Stanford? Seriously?

So, whether it's a beauty contest (humans) or football's version of trying to solve a Millennium Prize Problem (computers), perhaps it's best not to get too wrapped up in end-of-the-season rankings. During-the-season rankings are only important to the extent that they might influence the playoff selection committee.

[Canalejas]

The most peculiar part of the human rankings to me is that we lose by four points to the No. 3 team...and drop six spots.

 

Meanwhile Auburn loses by 3 points to the champs and doesn't fall at all.  Seems inconsistent to me.

[Canalejas]

The most peculiar part of the human rankings to me is that we lose by four points to the No. 3 team...and drop six spots.

 

Meanwhile Auburn loses by 3 points to the champs and doesn't fall at all.  Seems inconsistent to me.

[Canalejas]

The most peculiar part of the human rankings to me is that we lose by four points to the No. 3 team...and drop six spots.

 

Meanwhile Auburn loses by 3 points to the champs and doesn't fall at all.  Seems inconsistent to me.

[Canalejas]

The most peculiar part of the human rankings to me is that we lose by four points to the No. 3 team...and drop six spots.

 

Meanwhile Auburn loses by 3 points to the champs and doesn't fall at all.  Seems inconsistent to me.

[BostonCard]

I think the big thing was that Stanford already had two losses.  Voters largely gave us the benefit of the doubt (in fact, putting us in front of many 1-loss teams) because of our tough schedule.  But that third loss was a killer.  We still wound up as the top 3-loss team.

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

BC

[BostonCard]

I think the big thing was that Stanford already had two losses.  Voters largely gave us the benefit of the doubt (in fact, putting us in front of many 1-loss teams) because of our tough schedule.  But that third loss was a killer.  We still wound up as the top 3-loss team.

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

BC

[BostonCard]

I think the big thing was that Stanford already had two losses.  Voters largely gave us the benefit of the doubt (in fact, putting us in front of many 1-loss teams) because of our tough schedule.  But that third loss was a killer.  We still wound up as the top 3-loss team.

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

BC

[BostonCard]

I think the big thing was that Stanford already had two losses.  Voters largely gave us the benefit of the doubt (in fact, putting us in front of many 1-loss teams) because of our tough schedule.  But that third loss was a killer.  We still wound up as the top 3-loss team.

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

BC

[Bruce Wang]

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.

[Bruce Wang]

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.

[Bruce Wang]

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.

[Bruce Wang]

In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.

[CornFed]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=9359.msg81636#msg81636 date=1389664187]
In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.
[/quote]

Correction:  Next year, let's win the damned playoff games.

[CornFed]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=9359.msg81636#msg81636 date=1389664187]
In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.
[/quote]

Correction:  Next year, let's win the damned playoff games.

[CornFed]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=9359.msg81636#msg81636 date=1389664187]
In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.
[/quote]

Correction:  Next year, let's win the damned playoff games.

[CornFed]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=9359.msg81636#msg81636 date=1389664187]
In any case it doesn't matter an iota.  For bragging rights it might have been nice to say we had four consecutive top-10 finishes, but really, it doesn't matter.  Next year, let's win the damned bowl game.

Correction. Next year, let's win the damned playoff game.
[/quote]

Correction:  Next year, let's win the damned playoff games.