Poll possibilities

[MililaniBuckeye]

As the bowls progress, we finally move into the territory where results will effect how far up in the polls we can move. I've listed teams that are ranked between 15 and 25 in the AP and/or Coaches poll, along with results as of today (late evening of Dec 30th).

TEAM AP/COACHES
TENNESSEE 15/17
WISCONSIN 16/16
FLORIDA ST 17/15
VIRGINIA 18/18 (lost to unranked Fresno State 37-34 in MPC Bowl)
PITTSBURGH 19/20
FLORIDA 20/19
ARIZONA ST 21/24
TEXAS A&M 22/25
TEXAS TECH 23/21 (beat #4 California 45-31 in Holiday Bowl)
OHIO ST 24/22 (beat unranked Oklahoma State 33-7 in Alamo Bowl)
BOSTON COLLEGE 25/26 (beat unranked North Carolina 37-24 in Contental Tire Bowl)
WEST VIRGINIA 26/23

We obviously won't leap Texas Tech, who pounded #4 (albeit over-rated) California. We also don't have to worry about Boston College jumping us. I think that if any team ranked 8 or less places above us loses (aside from Wisconsin), regardless of how close the game, we can jump them. Since #18/#18 Virginia already lost, we should jump them, especially in the coaches poll. Also, since Tennessee plays Texas A&M, we should jump the loser of that game. So, as a minimum, we should finish no lower than 22 in the AP and 20 in the coaches poll, even if no other team ranked ahead of us loses. You would figure at least one more team ahead of us will lose, so we have a good chance at finishing in the top 20 in both final polls. The only team we have to worry about is West Virginia, because if they beat #17/#15 Florida State, they could jump us, seeing as they are only 2 places behind us in the AP and 1 place in the Coaches poll.

 

[CleveBucks]

The only team we have to worry about is West Virginia, because if they beat #17/#15 Florida State, they could jump us, seeing as they are only 2 places behind us in the AP and 1 place in the Coaches poll.

If that were to happen, WVU might jump us, but we would then most likely jump FSU. Records would be identical, but we would end up with a big win, they end up with a loss.

 

[stowfan]

Of course I'm bias, but I think we could make a huge move. If an astute pollster were to look only at where we are now we will do well. Based on our last 2 games we should garner some high votes, and that what the polls are about, where are these teams now.

We completely dominated then #9 Michigan. We crushed a bowl opponent that had scored 35 on both OU and UTx. Even at 15 we would be underrated. The way we played the last 2 games we could give anyone a tussle.

 

[UGABuck]

And we blew out our opponent. So maybe these stiffs will just look at the score and give us a little more love. Plus, if they are listening to Trev, he is pumping us for a run next season like Auburn did this year.

I don't want to hijack your thread Mili but I was just looking over that list again and is there any doubt that we would not beat any of those teams head to head the way our team has evolved?


I am SOOOO stoked for next year no matter who QB's the team.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

...Even at 15 we would be underrated. The way we played the last 2 games we could give anyone a tussle.

and

I don't want to hijack your thread Mili but I was just looking over that list again and is there any doubt that we would not beat any of those teams head to head the way our team has evolved?

Keep in mind the polls should reflect the team's overall performance throughout the entire season, albeit with emphasis on the end of the season. While I agree that if we played like we did against Michigan and Oklahoma State we could hang with anyone, I also agree that we need to take our medicine for that 3-game debacle. I'll be quite satisfied with cracking both Top-20s.

 

[UGABuck]

Let's assume we end up 19/20. How will that relate to our ranking next season? Even me as a rabid OSU fan knows that next season we are a legit top 8-12 team from the get-go.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

How do you guys think the "Florida State Championship" influences the rankings? The Canes are a good ways up but if Florida beats them I'd love to see OSU finish ahead of them for the 3rd straight year.

Miami is #14 in both polls. If Florida tears them a new one, we may be able to make up the 8-place differential in the coaches poll, but I don't see us making up the 10-place gap in the AP poll.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Latest results (thru 31 Dec) included:

TEAM AP/COACHES
TENNESSEE 15/17
WISCONSIN 16/16
FLORIDA ST 17/15
VIRGINIA 18/18 (lost to unranked Fresno State 37-34 in MPC Bowl)
PITTSBURGH 19/20
FLORIDA 20/19 (lost to #14 Miami 27-10 in Peach Bowl))
ARIZONA ST 21/24 (beat unranked Purdue 27-23 in Sun Bowl)
TEXAS A&M 22/25
TEXAS TECH 23/21 (beat #4 California 45-31 in Holiday Bowl)
OHIO ST 24/22 (beat unranked Oklahoma State 33-7 in Alamo Bowl)
BOSTON COLLEGE 25/26 (beat unranked North Carolina 37-24 in Contental Tire Bowl)
WEST VIRGINIA 26/23

 

[BB73]

Prediction. For the third year in a row, a 5-loss Florida team that doesn't deserve to be ranked, will squeak into the final poll at #24 or #25.

2002, 8-5. AP-unranked, Coaches-#24
2003. 8-5. AP-#24, Coaches-#25

They'll barely keep alive their streak of being ranked in at least one of the final polls every year since 1990.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Latest results (thru 1 Jan) included:

TEAM AP/COACHES
TENNESSEE 15/17 (beat #22/#25 Texas A&M 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl)
WISCONSIN 16/16 (lost to #8/#7 Georgia 24-21 in the Outback Bowl)
FLORIDA ST 17/15 (beat #26/#23 West Virginia 30-18 in the Gator Bowl)
VIRGINIA 18/18 (lost to unranked Fresno State 37-34 in MPC Bowl)
PITTSBURGH 19/20 (lost 35-7 to #5/#6 Utah in the Fiesta Bowl)
FLORIDA 20/19 (lost to #14 Miami 27-10 in Peach Bowl))
ARIZONA ST 21/24 (beat unranked Purdue 27-23 in Sun Bowl)
TEXAS A&M 22/25 (lost to #15/#17 Tennessee 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl)
TEXAS TECH 23/21 (beat #4 California 45-31 in Holiday Bowl)
OHIO ST 24/22 (beat unranked Oklahoma State 33-7 in Alamo Bowl)
BOSTON COLLEGE 25/26 (beat unranked North Carolina 37-24 in Contental Tire Bowl)
WEST VIRGINIA 26/23 (lost to #17/#15 Florida State 30-18 in the Gator Bowl)

So, of the teams ranked above us in either or both polls:

Wisconsin - We won't jump them as they played top-10 Georgia tough
Virginia - We should jump them in both polls as they lost to an unranked team and they were only 6 and 4 places ahead of us
Pittsburgh - No doubt we'll jump them after they got blasted by top-10 Utah and they were only 5 and 2 places ahead of us
Florida - This will be close, but we should jump them as they lost by 17 to #14 Miami and they were only 4 and 3 places ahead of us
Texas A&M - No doubt we'll jump them in the AP (already ahead in the coaches) as they got blasted by #15/#17 Tennessee

We'll have to jump Virginia, Pittsburgh, Florida, and Texas A&M to get to #20 in the AP. We're guaranteed to be #20 or better in the coaches poll since we'll jump Virginia and Pittsburch for sure, and should jump Florida. I predict that after all the dust settles that we'll be #19 in the final AP poll and #18 in the final coaches poll.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I don't give a shit who they lost to, if an 7 - 5 Florida team is ranked ahead of Ohio State at 8 - 4 I'm not gonna be happy. It's shit like that that makes people think voters have no clue what they are doing.

 

[MightbeaBuck]

WISCONSIN 16/16 (barely lost to #8/#7 Georgia 24-21 in the Outback Bowl)
FLORIDA ST 17/15 (beat #26/#23 West Virginia 30-18 in the Gator Bowl) as they should have.
VIRGINIA 18/18 (lost to unranked Fresno State 37-34 in MPC Bowl!!)
PITTSBURGH 19/20 (was crushed by 35-7 to #5/#6 Utah in the Fiesta Bowl)
FLORIDA 20/19 (lost soundly to #14 Miami 27-10 in Peach Bowl))
ARIZONA ST 21/24 (squeaked one out against unranked Purdue 27-23 in Sun Bowl)
TEXAS A&M 22/25 (hammered by #15/#17 Tennessee 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl)
TEXAS TECH 23/21 (beat #4 California 45-31 in Holiday Bowl)
OHIO ST 24/22 (walked all over unranked Oklahoma State 33-7 in Alamo Bowl)
BOSTON COLLEGE 25/26 (beat unranked North Carolina 37-24 in Contental Tire Bowl)
WEST VIRGINIA 26/23 (lost to #17/#15 Florida State 30-18 in the Gator Bowl) as they should have.

I predict that after all the dust settles that we'll be #19 in the final AP poll and #18 in the final coaches poll.

also:

We also don't have to worry about Boston College jumping us. I

I hope you are right, but fear the media won't put us up as much as logic says they should. First, the media doesn't think we are sexy enough in normal circumstances, and. Second, the ongoing problems with MoClarett, and Troy, and (fill in about any headline / headache here) will hurt us even more. Boston College shouldn't leap us, even with us being "media challenged", but BC has been a sexier program, in part because of the Notre Dame thing, in part because of the Flutie thing, in part because they are an east coast, and not a dreary midwest team.
Hell, if Michigan woulda lost the Roses by more than a touchdown, we should / ideally would have passed them also

 

[njbuck]

Where do you think Ohio State will be ranked next year?

Where do you think Ohio State will be next year at the start and end of the season?

My two cents: top 5 pre-season. No comment as to the end of the year ranking until after the Texas game.

 

[BB73]

I predict that after all the dust settles that we'll be #19 in the final AP poll and #18 in the final coaches poll.

I finally looked at this closely. I think we'll be #20 AP and #19 Coaches.

Based on not jumping anybody above #18 Virginia, and being ahead of Ariz St. in one poll and behind in the other. Mili, do you think we jump Texas Tech in both polls, is that where the other spot comes from in your prediction? With their win over Cal, I don't think that'll happen.