[BostonCard]

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/po...ches-poll/

Among opponents/Pac-12 teams:
ND #9
UW #12
Oregon #13
Utah #15
UCF #17
WSU #21
NW #25

We face 5 teams ranked higher than us; and all three of our non-conference opponents are ranked.

BC

[BostonCard]

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/po...ches-poll/

Among opponents/Pac-12 teams:
ND #9
UW #12
Oregon #13
Utah #15
UCF #17
WSU #21
NW #25

We face 5 teams ranked higher than us; and all three of our non-conference opponents are ranked.

BC

[CTcard]

I guess sort of related.

Bill Connelly is doing a Pac 12 season preview for ESPN this year. Connelly is more broadly knowledgeable than most of the national pundits (if a little too biased towards his own numbers for my taste).

He has Stanford in the typical 3rd in the North spot (that's by 2019 projected S&P+). Notes that Costello had considerably better numbers than Herbert last year. Like everyone he worries about the turnover on the Stanford roster.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...nigma-more

[CTcard]

I guess sort of related.

Bill Connelly is doing a Pac 12 season preview for ESPN this year. Connelly is more broadly knowledgeable than most of the national pundits (if a little too biased towards his own numbers for my taste).

He has Stanford in the typical 3rd in the North spot (that's by 2019 projected S&P+). Notes that Costello had considerably better numbers than Herbert last year. Like everyone he worries about the turnover on the Stanford roster.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...nigma-more

[Papa John]

We have UND, UW, UO and NW at home, UCF and WSU on the road. We won't play Utah unless both teams make the Pac-12 championship game.

Others receiving votes: @ U$C, vs. UCLA. ASU received votes but we would only play them in the P-12 CG.

The biggest surprise to me is that the coaches poll is sponsored by Amway. I thought Amway had gone the way of the Sears Roebuck catalog.

[Papa John]

We have UND, UW, UO and NW at home, UCF and WSU on the road. We won't play Utah unless both teams make the Pac-12 championship game.

Others receiving votes: @ U$C, vs. UCLA. ASU received votes but we would only play them in the P-12 CG.

The biggest surprise to me is that the coaches poll is sponsored by Amway. I thought Amway had gone the way of the Sears Roebuck catalog.

[BostonCard]

Ooo, a SWOT analysis!

BC

[BostonCard]

Ooo, a SWOT analysis!

BC

[French Rage]

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/po...ches-poll/

Among opponents/Pac-12 teams:
ND #9
UW #12
Oregon #13
Utah #15
UCF #17
WSU #21
NW #25

We face 5 teams ranked higher than us; and all three of our non-conference opponents are ranked.

BC

Meanwhile Alabama gets to play something called "Western Carolina" in November.

[French Rage]

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/po...ches-poll/

Among opponents/Pac-12 teams:
ND #9
UW #12
Oregon #13
Utah #15
UCF #17
WSU #21
NW #25

We face 5 teams ranked higher than us; and all three of our non-conference opponents are ranked.

BC

Meanwhile Alabama gets to play something called "Western Carolina" in November.

[Papa John]

Alabama's noncon opponents are Duke (RV, home), New Mexico State (home), Southern Miss (home) and WCU (home). Bama's conference opponents are South Carolina (RV, away), Mississippi (RV, home), Texas A&M (#11, away), Tennessee (RV, home), Arkansas (home), LSU (#6, home), Mississippi State (RV, away) and Auburn (#16, away).

Alabama does not face the following SEC teams prior to the conference championship game: #3 Georgia, #8 Florida, RV Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt.

Another tidbit: the coaches for New Mexico State and Southern Miss are voters in the coaches poll.

[Papa John]

Alabama's noncon opponents are Duke (RV, home), New Mexico State (home), Southern Miss (home) and WCU (home). Bama's conference opponents are South Carolina (RV, away), Mississippi (RV, home), Texas A&M (#11, away), Tennessee (RV, home), Arkansas (home), LSU (#6, home), Mississippi State (RV, away) and Auburn (#16, away).

Alabama does not face the following SEC teams prior to the conference championship game: #3 Georgia, #8 Florida, RV Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt.

Another tidbit: the coaches for New Mexico State and Southern Miss are voters in the coaches poll.

[CardinalSagehen]

Alabama's noncon opponents are Duke (RV, home), New Mexico State (home), Southern Miss (home) and WCU (home). Bama's conference opponents are South Carolina (RV, away), Mississippi (RV, home), Texas A&M (#11, away), Tennessee (RV, home), Arkansas (home), LSU (#6, home), Mississippi State (RV, away) and Auburn (#16, away).

Alabama does not face the following SEC teams prior to the conference championship game: #3 Georgia, #8 Florida, RV Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt.

Another tidbit: the coaches for New Mexico State and Southern Miss are voters in the coaches poll.

Vegas has our over/under at 6.5 wins. Against Alabama’s schedule, I’m guessing we’d be at 8 or 8.5 wins.  

Hats off to the SEC and Alabama’s feckless scheduler for playing the CFP game correctly. Roll tide!

Personally, I prefer a tough schedule in which all the OOC games are interesting, especially in our situation of not really having a likely shot at the CFP.

[CardinalSagehen]

Alabama's noncon opponents are Duke (RV, home), New Mexico State (home), Southern Miss (home) and WCU (home). Bama's conference opponents are South Carolina (RV, away), Mississippi (RV, home), Texas A&M (#11, away), Tennessee (RV, home), Arkansas (home), LSU (#6, home), Mississippi State (RV, away) and Auburn (#16, away).

Alabama does not face the following SEC teams prior to the conference championship game: #3 Georgia, #8 Florida, RV Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt.

Another tidbit: the coaches for New Mexico State and Southern Miss are voters in the coaches poll.

Vegas has our over/under at 6.5 wins. Against Alabama’s schedule, I’m guessing we’d be at 8 or 8.5 wins.  

Hats off to the SEC and Alabama’s feckless scheduler for playing the CFP game correctly. Roll tide!

Personally, I prefer a tough schedule in which all the OOC games are interesting, especially in our situation of not really having a likely shot at the CFP.

[OutsiderFan]

The dichotomy of Alabama's and Stanford's schedules SCREAMS for every conference champion to have a spot in the playoffs.

These teams (all of them, not just Stanford and Alabama), simply aren't on equal enough playing fields to let pure record dictate who plays for championship glory.

[OutsiderFan]

The dichotomy of Alabama's and Stanford's schedules SCREAMS for every conference champion to have a spot in the playoffs.

These teams (all of them, not just Stanford and Alabama), simply aren't on equal enough playing fields to let pure record dictate who plays for championship glory.

[SamuelMcF]

The dichotomy of Alabama's and Stanford's schedules SCREAMS for every conference champion to have a spot in the playoffs.

These teams (all of them, not just Stanford and Alabama), simply aren't on equal enough playing fields to let pure record dictate who plays for championship glory.

But OF, all the teams on Bama's schedule have to play Bama! And if they lose a game, they lost to a team that beat Bama! /s

[SamuelMcF]

The dichotomy of Alabama's and Stanford's schedules SCREAMS for every conference champion to have a spot in the playoffs.

These teams (all of them, not just Stanford and Alabama), simply aren't on equal enough playing fields to let pure record dictate who plays for championship glory.

But OF, all the teams on Bama's schedule have to play Bama! And if they lose a game, they lost to a team that beat Bama! /s

[SeaLoon]

I sometimes wonder if I would feel "better" about our team if we had a superior record but we played an easy nonconference schedule, or if I'd rather watch high-level matchups (like we have with this year's schedule). 

In principle, I'd rather play against top teams. But ask me again if we end up 6-6 when we could have used grade inflation to get to 8-4.

[SeaLoon]

I sometimes wonder if I would feel "better" about our team if we had a superior record but we played an easy nonconference schedule, or if I'd rather watch high-level matchups (like we have with this year's schedule). 

In principle, I'd rather play against top teams. But ask me again if we end up 6-6 when we could have used grade inflation to get to 8-4.

[Papa John]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

[Papa John]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

[CowboyIndian]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

You da man, Papa! I heartily endorse this but I think we are pissing in a very remunerative wind.

[CowboyIndian]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

You da man, Papa! I heartily endorse this but I think we are pissing in a very remunerative wind.

[Mick]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

The Pac-12 schedule is so difficult, I think our three off-season games should be CreamCake U., CreamPuff College and Little Sisters of the Poor.  That would make our schedule, what...the 25th toughest?

SJSU, Hawaii and Rice, or Rutgers, or whatever the worst Florida school is...

[Mick]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

The Pac-12 schedule is so difficult, I think our three off-season games should be CreamCake U., CreamPuff College and Little Sisters of the Poor.  That would make our schedule, what...the 25th toughest?

SJSU, Hawaii and Rice, or Rutgers, or whatever the worst Florida school is...

[CardinalSagehen]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

The Pac-12 schedule is so difficult, I think our three off-season games should be CreamCake U., CreamPuff College and Little Sisters of the Poor.  That would make our schedule, what...the 25th toughest?

SJSU, Hawaii and Rice, or Rutgers, or whatever the worst Florida school is...

Perhaps, but it's all academic with the teams we've had for the last few years. I think we can all see the difference between a team that is just scraping by, even when it wins, and one that dominates and can pick up a couple yards on the ground at will. There is no point in making it to the CFP and getting slaughtered because we're barely good enough to beat Pitt.

I say this in the most optimistic, hopeful, anything-can-happen, we're-still-undefeated mindset!  But my hope for the season is a Pac 12 championship, which is a fair contest and always a realistic objective for Stanford.  Once you change your focus to that, the entertainment value of Northwestern, UCF and ND far exceeds the win-column value of CreamCakes, CreamPuffs and Little Sisters, at least in my book.

[CardinalSagehen]

This discussion reminds me why I'd rather have one of the following:
1. Return to the old bowl system, where the winner of the Pac-12 and B1G play each other in the Rose Bowl game every year, no exceptions. The national championship can go back to being mythical, which does not bother me one bit.
2. Expand the playoff to 8 and include all the five major conference champions, one group of five team and a couple of at-large teams. First round played at the better-seeded team's home stadium.

In any case, five teams on Stanford's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Three teams on Bama's schedule are ranked ahead of Stanford. Stanford has six home games, Bama has eight.

So, yeah, apples and oranges...

The Pac-12 schedule is so difficult, I think our three off-season games should be CreamCake U., CreamPuff College and Little Sisters of the Poor.  That would make our schedule, what...the 25th toughest?

SJSU, Hawaii and Rice, or Rutgers, or whatever the worst Florida school is...

Perhaps, but it's all academic with the teams we've had for the last few years. I think we can all see the difference between a team that is just scraping by, even when it wins, and one that dominates and can pick up a couple yards on the ground at will. There is no point in making it to the CFP and getting slaughtered because we're barely good enough to beat Pitt.

I say this in the most optimistic, hopeful, anything-can-happen, we're-still-undefeated mindset!  But my hope for the season is a Pac 12 championship, which is a fair contest and always a realistic objective for Stanford.  Once you change your focus to that, the entertainment value of Northwestern, UCF and ND far exceeds the win-column value of CreamCakes, CreamPuffs and Little Sisters, at least in my book.

[BostonCard]

SJSU, Hawaii and Rice, or Rutgers, or whatever the worst Florida school is...

I'm old enough to remember when we played a Florida school that went winless. In fact, they may be on our schedule again this year (maybe that was the point of your comment).

BC

[BostonCard]

SJSU, Hawaii and Rice, or Rutgers, or whatever the worst Florida school is...

I'm old enough to remember when we played a Florida school that went winless. In fact, they may be on our schedule again this year (maybe that was the point of your comment).

BC

[Phogge]

Both of Ralston’s RB teams could have won the NC. They let down against some bad teams but got it done against three giants of CFB, OSU, SC and Michigan. And the ‘69 team may have been better. A one point loss in the Phipps/Plunkett shootout, a blocked Horowitz fg leading to the UCLA tie and Voldemort’s fg in the Colosseum after a missed tackle on Davis.

Play good teams to get better. The only teams you can’t beat are Clemson and Bama because they are professional organizations. 13-0 and a respectable loss in the semis. Of course strike that if you have another season losing half your starters.

[Phogge]

Both of Ralston’s RB teams could have won the NC. They let down against some bad teams but got it done against three giants of CFB, OSU, SC and Michigan. And the ‘69 team may have been better. A one point loss in the Phipps/Plunkett shootout, a blocked Horowitz fg leading to the UCLA tie and Voldemort’s fg in the Colosseum after a missed tackle on Davis.

Play good teams to get better. The only teams you can’t beat are Clemson and Bama because they are professional organizations. 13-0 and a respectable loss in the semis. Of course strike that if you have another season losing half your starters.