[socalstanfan1]

Finding your way into the National Polls is a nice reward for kids who worked hard all year, and might carry some benefits in the recruiting competition, so I found myself wondering if Stanford might find its way into the final Top-25 rankings after the bowl season is over? My first thought once this question crossed my mind was that, with all the losses this year, there is no way we sneak back into the final poll of the year.  BUT, given the way we finished the season, particularly the trouncing of UCLA, in Pasadena, (and the Bruins are still ranked as a top-15 team) one could easily make the argument that we are, right now, one of the top 25 teams in the country.  That is particularly true after seeing some of the lower end ranked teams losing (and at times just get steamrolled) in their bowl game. 

#23 LSU losing to unranked Notre Dame;
#21 Louisville getting hammered by Georgia;
#25 Minnesota losing convincingly to Missouri

Our last loss came against a team that just crushed (regardless of Jameis Winston's Rose Colored Glasses) undefeated Florida,  State, and from there we dominated.  A case can certainly be made for our place in the top-25.  To play devils advocate, there are another couple of other unranked teams that can make the same claim: Texas A&M, Arkansas both had nice victories in their bowl games. 

I'm curious what others think.

[socalstanfan1]

Finding your way into the National Polls is a nice reward for kids who worked hard all year, and might carry some benefits in the recruiting competition, so I found myself wondering if Stanford might find its way into the final Top-25 rankings after the bowl season is over? My first thought once this question crossed my mind was that, with all the losses this year, there is no way we sneak back into the final poll of the year.  BUT, given the way we finished the season, particularly the trouncing of UCLA, in Pasadena, (and the Bruins are still ranked as a top-15 team) one could easily make the argument that we are, right now, one of the top 25 teams in the country.  That is particularly true after seeing some of the lower end ranked teams losing (and at times just get steamrolled) in their bowl game. 

#23 LSU losing to unranked Notre Dame;
#21 Louisville getting hammered by Georgia;
#25 Minnesota losing convincingly to Missouri

Our last loss came against a team that just crushed (regardless of Jameis Winston's Rose Colored Glasses) undefeated Florida,  State, and from there we dominated.  A case can certainly be made for our place in the top-25.  To play devils advocate, there are another couple of other unranked teams that can make the same claim: Texas A&M, Arkansas both had nice victories in their bowl games. 

I'm curious what others think.

[French Rage]

Our last loss was Utah.

[French Rage]

Our last loss was Utah.

[82 Card]

Although unlikely, I suppose it's possible if the remaining three PAC12 games come up aces. UCLA was the best quality win in our season ending run.  A successful outing by CLA tomorrow would expose voters to repeated references to our win against UCLA. Even if everything goes our way in the remaining bowls, we probably will be kept out by total number of losses. Most of the voters are probably not going to abandon the candidates from their preferred conferences and most of the voters are not from PAC12 country.

[82 Card]

Although unlikely, I suppose it's possible if the remaining three PAC12 games come up aces. UCLA was the best quality win in our season ending run.  A successful outing by CLA tomorrow would expose voters to repeated references to our win against UCLA. Even if everything goes our way in the remaining bowls, we probably will be kept out by total number of losses. Most of the voters are probably not going to abandon the candidates from their preferred conferences and most of the voters are not from PAC12 country.

[chicard]

In our favor:
1. I think over our last three games, we played like a Top 15 team.
2. The Pac 12 has done very well in the postseason.
3. So far, 4 of 5 teams that we lost to during the season have won their bowl games. 
4. We won our bowl game in convincing fashion.
5. Looking at the bottom half of the Top 25 (and those just outside it)... Auburn, Louisville, Nebraska, LSU, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Duke, and CSU all lost their bowl games.  Several now have 5 losses as well.

Not in our favor:
1. Marshall and Memphis, who had more votes than us going in, both won their bowl games.
2. Auburn lost a close bowl game to slightly higher-ranked opponent; Louisville got blown out but to a solidly higher-ranked opponent -- not sure if either will slip completely out of the Top 25 as a result.

So we deserve to be in the top 25, and it'll be close.  I agree with 82 Card that UCLA's performance tomorrow will have some impact.  I think we'll end up #25 or #26, depending on whether we can move ahead of Louisville -- if I was forced to guess, I'd say #26.  Hoping I'm wrong.

[chicard]

In our favor:
1. I think over our last three games, we played like a Top 15 team.
2. The Pac 12 has done very well in the postseason.
3. So far, 4 of 5 teams that we lost to during the season have won their bowl games. 
4. We won our bowl game in convincing fashion.
5. Looking at the bottom half of the Top 25 (and those just outside it)... Auburn, Louisville, Nebraska, LSU, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Duke, and CSU all lost their bowl games.  Several now have 5 losses as well.

Not in our favor:
1. Marshall and Memphis, who had more votes than us going in, both won their bowl games.
2. Auburn lost a close bowl game to slightly higher-ranked opponent; Louisville got blown out but to a solidly higher-ranked opponent -- not sure if either will slip completely out of the Top 25 as a result.

So we deserve to be in the top 25, and it'll be close.  I agree with 82 Card that UCLA's performance tomorrow will have some impact.  I think we'll end up #25 or #26, depending on whether we can move ahead of Louisville -- if I was forced to guess, I'd say #26.  Hoping I'm wrong.

[82 Card]

Regardless of any national ranking, I'm proud of our guys this year. Sure, there were some disappointments while playing a difficult schedule. But they never gave up and in the end showed us what they are capable of. I'm more excited about having a team of quality guys than I am about how they may be ranked by some faceless voters with their own agendas.

[82 Card]

Regardless of any national ranking, I'm proud of our guys this year. Sure, there were some disappointments while playing a difficult schedule. But they never gave up and in the end showed us what they are capable of. I'm more excited about having a team of quality guys than I am about how they may be ranked by some faceless voters with their own agendas.

[fullmetal]

I'm excited for the team's prospects next season--hopefully the defense will reload rather than rebuild.  Whether we're ranked probably depends on how many returning starters we have...

[fullmetal]

I'm excited for the team's prospects next season--hopefully the defense will reload rather than rebuild.  Whether we're ranked probably depends on how many returning starters we have...

[81alum]

Sagarin has us at 16 today.  Of course, his computers also have TCU #1, Ohio State #2, and Oregon #3.  Florida State is 18.  The only 8-5 team ranked higher by Sagarin is Auburn, at 10.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/

[81alum]

Sagarin has us at 16 today.  Of course, his computers also have TCU #1, Ohio State #2, and Oregon #3.  Florida State is 18.  The only 8-5 team ranked higher by Sagarin is Auburn, at 10.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/

[OutsiderFan]

I agree with TCU being the best team.  They score points by the ton and play suffocating defense.  Per the other thread, it's criminal that they are aced out of playing for a championship this year.

[OutsiderFan]

I agree with TCU being the best team.  They score points by the ton and play suffocating defense.  Per the other thread, it's criminal that they are aced out of playing for a championship this year.

[gocard14]

Sagarin has us at 16 today.  Of course, his computers also have TCU #1, Ohio State #2, and Oregon #3.  Florida State is 18.  The only 8-5 team ranked higher by Sagarin is Auburn, at 10.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/

Interestingly enough, The Sagarin rankings have us above UCLA (15 vs. 21) despite UCLA having a 9-3 record and a higher SOS (7th hardest vs. 21st).  It must be avg margin of victory/defeat that puts us over the top, as UCLA got blown out in their losses, including to us, while had 1 blowout loss.

[gocard14]

Sagarin has us at 16 today.  Of course, his computers also have TCU #1, Ohio State #2, and Oregon #3.  Florida State is 18.  The only 8-5 team ranked higher by Sagarin is Auburn, at 10.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/

Interestingly enough, The Sagarin rankings have us above UCLA (15 vs. 21) despite UCLA having a 9-3 record and a higher SOS (7th hardest vs. 21st).  It must be avg margin of victory/defeat that puts us over the top, as UCLA got blown out in their losses, including to us, while had 1 blowout loss.

[washingtonismoney]

Sagarin has us at 16 today.  Of course, his computers also have TCU #1, Ohio State #2, and Oregon #3.  Florida State is 18.  The only 8-5 team ranked higher by Sagarin is Auburn, at 10.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/

to be perfectly accurate, Sagarin's PREDICTOR is his most accurate ranking. (That has TCU #1, Oregon #2, Alabama #3, and OSU #4...though Stanford is #16 in this ranking as well.)

[washingtonismoney]

Sagarin has us at 16 today.  Of course, his computers also have TCU #1, Ohio State #2, and Oregon #3.  Florida State is 18.  The only 8-5 team ranked higher by Sagarin is Auburn, at 10.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/

to be perfectly accurate, Sagarin's PREDICTOR is his most accurate ranking. (That has TCU #1, Oregon #2, Alabama #3, and OSU #4...though Stanford is #16 in this ranking as well.)

[TrumpCard]

There is at least 1 open space in the top 25.  Who deserves it more than Stanford?  I think the only possible candidates are TAMU, UDFG, Memphis and Marshall.  If both Auburn and LSU stay in the top 25, I think it is tough to justify adding another team from the SEC, especially in light of the SEC's bowl performances.  I don't think a non-power conference school will get into the rankings.  Neither Memphis nor Marshall has a good win all season.  As much as I hate to say it, I think UDFG is the biggest threat because of the head-to-head game and UDFG's large fan base (silly reason but real).  If UCLA, Washington, and Oregon sweep their remaining games, that may be enough though. 

[TrumpCard]

There is at least 1 open space in the top 25.  Who deserves it more than Stanford?  I think the only possible candidates are TAMU, UDFG, Memphis and Marshall.  If both Auburn and LSU stay in the top 25, I think it is tough to justify adding another team from the SEC, especially in light of the SEC's bowl performances.  I don't think a non-power conference school will get into the rankings.  Neither Memphis nor Marshall has a good win all season.  As much as I hate to say it, I think UDFG is the biggest threat because of the head-to-head game and UDFG's large fan base (silly reason but real).  If UCLA, Washington, and Oregon sweep their remaining games, that may be enough though. 

[BostonCard]

Not that it really matters, but given the dreadful performance by the SEC in bowl games, a lot of the SEC teams' in-conference wins have to be downgraded.  It will be interesting to see how Wilner talks about his ballot (for all the grief I give him, at least he is transparent about publishing it and explaining his reasoning, even if it is flawed).  To be internally consistent with what he has declared in the past, even the SEC teams that won should either be moved down or at least not moved up, since he should be re-evaluating their entire body of work and should find that some of those wins are no longer that impressive.

BC

[BostonCard]

Not that it really matters, but given the dreadful performance by the SEC in bowl games, a lot of the SEC teams' in-conference wins have to be downgraded.  It will be interesting to see how Wilner talks about his ballot (for all the grief I give him, at least he is transparent about publishing it and explaining his reasoning, even if it is flawed).  To be internally consistent with what he has declared in the past, even the SEC teams that won should either be moved down or at least not moved up, since he should be re-evaluating their entire body of work and should find that some of those wins are no longer that impressive.

BC