Across The Field
Oaky Afterbirth
So since you can't prove that they've beaten more than 1 ranked team, for the sake of this argument they've beaten 1 ranked team. IN 7 YEARS. That is not a top 30 team. They're the benefactor of a shit schedule outside of Bama/LSU and the occasional good year from Auburn/Ole Miss/Arkansas. Otherwise, they have beaten N-O-B-O-D-Y.I've said they've beaten more than 1 ranked team, which is fact. You can look it up if you want. And yes, obviously what Briles did was more impressive than Mullen, I would never dispute that.
And being ranked does matter, never disputed that. And Ferentz and Fitzgerald have done amazing work at their schools. Fitzgerald is a great coach. Fitzgerald has turned them into a top 50 program, which again is saying something since it's Northwestern, that is a hell of a job.
And in regards to Mississippi State:
Last 6 years(which is what I've claimed all along)
Massey Composite Average Ranking - 26.16
Sagarin Average Rank - 24.3
Anderson & Hester Average Rank - 28.6
Colley Matrix Average Rank - 29.3
Two AP top 15 finishes and another top 30 AP finish.
If YOU want to look at his entirety at Mississippi State, that's fine, then they aren't a top 30 program, but that isn't what I've been saying at all.
They're at about the level of Northwestern, a decent top 50ish program. Nowhere near top 30. If he can manage to put together a couple more good seasons and actually beat someone, then you can start talking about them being a top 30 program overall.