First pre season poll out for 2019...

[PSUTE]

The usual suspects at the top...

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/way-too-early-top-25-college-football-rankings-2019

 

[HuskerinBig10]

7 teams SEC
7 teams B1G Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Nebraska
4 PAC 12 Oregon, Washington, Utah, Washington State
3 Big 12 Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa State
2 ACC Clemson and Vtech
1 Independent
1 Group of 5 UCF

 

[7Samurai13]

4-8 Nebraska invalidates that entire list.

 

[HuskerinBig10]

4-8 Nebraska invalidates that entire list.

I agree, to a point. Their 2019 schedule is very, very favorable. It takes no more than 4 losses to make the final rankings. Nebraska has a shot at it. Nebraska very well could be 4-0 to start the season.

But taking a two time 4-8 team and ranking them, is a stretch.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I agree, to a point. Their 2019 schedule is very, very favorable. It takes no more than 4 losses to make the final rankings. Nebraska has a shot at it. Nebraska very well could be 4-0 to start the season.

But taking a two time 4-8 team and ranking them, is a stretch.

Yeah, not having Michigan, Penn State or Michigan State on the schedule certainly helps your case. Your toughest games are OSU and then whatever teams actually turn out well of NW/Iowa/Wisc.

 

[ericd7633]

I guess people didn't watch this season? That's the only reason to have 7 B1G teams in a preseason poll.

 

[78Cyclones]

Iowa State carrying the Big Xii AGAIN!

 

[rmilia1]

I guess people didn't watch this season? That's the only reason to have 7 B1G teams in a preseason poll.

Well there's 4 Big 10 West teams . Making it even less credible lol

 

[rmilia1]

Somehow they have Iowa at 17 despite having 5 road games vs teams in their own top 25.... Seems to make sense lol

 

[Cobrabit]

4-8 Nebraska invalidates that entire list.

I agree, to a point. Their 2019 schedule is very, very favorable. It takes no more than 4 losses to make the final rankings. Nebraska has a shot at it. Nebraska very well could be 4-0 to start the season.

But taking a two time 4-8 team and ranking them, is a stretch.

I feel the same way having VT ranked after a losing season of 6-7 (first losing season since 1992). We were depleted on defense due to multiple reasons this year and while a lot of young guys got a LOT of playing time this year to gain experience, it's still a unit that had a LOT of second half collapses. All while I like to think the experience will make them better, they weren't good this year, so that doesn't mean they'll be back to the VT "standard" next year. I certainly hope so, but my expectations are not the dominant defences we've had in the past. Hopefully better than this year, which should help change the overall record to the positive though.

With our schedule looking manageable next year, I hope we have a positive swing in record by a few games, but after losing to ODU this year, my expectations are extremely low and will be ecstatic to compete for the division of it comes to it.

While the defense was a BIG issue this year, especially in the second half, our offense seemed to disappear in the second half as well.

In every single loss this year, we lost the second half scoring. Only in the Marshall game did we win the game, but lost the second half. In 8 of our games, we either led or were tied at the half. We went 5-3 in those games. We were leading or within one score in 12 games at the half ( only @Pitt was a blow out at half). We went 6-6 in those games. Couldn't close out.

Looking to a better 2019, but we shouldn't be ranked in the preseason.

 

[Red_Alert]

I agree, to a point. Their 2019 schedule is very, very favorable. It takes no more than 4 losses to make the final rankings. Nebraska has a shot at it. Nebraska very well could be 4-0 to start the season.

But taking a two time 4-8 team and ranking them, is a stretch.

There will likely be at least one 5 loss team in the final rankings.

Northwestern (9-5) won their bowl game, were ranked #22 in the CFP and Coaches polls, and #26 with also receiving votes in the AP.

 

[cwerph]

Ohio State is way too high - - - new HC, new defensive coaches, new "passing game coordinator/QB Coach, new QB, 3 new OL, a couple of new DL . . .

way too much uncertainty to be #5.

 

[Across The Field]

Ohio State is way too high - - - new HC, new defensive coaches, new "passing game coordinator/QB Coach, new QB, 3 new OL, a couple of new DL . . .

way too much uncertainty to be #5.

I think most of the teams behind them have questions too, without the added benefit of elite recruiting.

 

[cwerph]

I think most of the teams behind them have questions too, without the added benefit of elite recruiting.

I know. Not sure about Ryan Day, but Urban always coached better as the hunter than the hunted.

 

[jjc2009]

Michigan failing forward I see.

 

[jjc2009]

Ohio State is way too high - - - new HC, new defensive coaches, new "passing game coordinator/QB Coach, new QB, 3 new OL, a couple of new DL . . .

way too much uncertainty to be #5.

Too much uncertainty for anyone. This is such a useless list we still don't know who is going to the NFL, who is transferring, or where some elite recruits are going.

 

[HuskerOC]

1/3/19

Does anybody worth a shit actually give a shit about these rankings?

For fucks sake. 9 months away from kickoff and we haven't even crowned a 2018 Champ.

 

[navamind]

I don't think Nebraska would be a top 25 team going into next season, but I don't think they were quite as bad as the 4-8 record shows. 4 of those losses were by a TD or less and they did outgain their opponents this year (6.3 yards per play to 5.8 for their opponents). Martinez showed a lot of promise in his freshman season and that offense could be a lot of fun to watch next year.

 

[Chewbaccer]

Ohio State is way too high - - - new HC, new defensive coaches, new "passing game coordinator/QB Coach, new QB, 3 new OL, a couple of new DL . . .

way too much uncertainty to be #5.

Losing Haskins and Urban will hurt, but if the next QB is competent and Day was a good hire, I could see next year's team being better than this years. Like Bama and UGA, yall are returning damn near the whole team.

 

[VTgator]

I feel the same way having VT ranked after a losing season of 6-7 (first losing season since 1992). We were depleted on defense due to multiple reasons this year and while a lot of young guys got a LOT of playing time this year to gain experience, it's still a unit that had a LOT of second half collapses. All while I like to think the experience will make them better, they weren't good this year, so that doesn't mean they'll be back to the VT "standard" next year. I certainly hope so, but my expectations are not the dominant defenses we've had in the past. Hopefully better than this year, which should help change the overall record to the positive though.

Well said. Siince 1998, VT's defense AVERAGED 16th in the nation. In 2018, it was ranked 99th. Imagine how much better VT would have been if the defense was ranked 42d, same as the offense?

IMO, the second half collapses were due to a lack of defensive depth. They were simply exhausted and there were few backups to come into the game.

With our schedule looking manageable next year, I hope we have a positive swing in record by a few games, but after losing to ODU this year, my expectations are extremely low and will be ecstatic to compete for the division of it comes to it.

While the defense was a BIG issue this year, especially in the second half, our offense seemed to disappear in the second half as well.

In every single loss this year, we lost the second half scoring. Only in the Marshall game did we win the game, but lost the second half. In 8 of our games, we either led or were tied at the half. We went 5-3 in those games. We were leading or within one score in 12 games at the half ( only @Pitt was a blow out at half). We went 6-6 in those games. Couldn't close out.

Interesting. You may be right. Points by half:

-------------------------------Offense--------------------------------------Defense

Opponent--------------1st Half----------2d Half-----------------1st Half----------2d Half

FSU.............................17........................7...................................3......................0
ODU............................14......................21..................................14....................31
Duke...........................17......................14....................................7......................7
Notre Dame..................16.......................7...................................17....................28
North Carolina.................7.....................15.....................................9...................10
Georgia Tech.................21.......................7...................................28....................21
Boston College..............14........................7....................................7....................24
Pitt................................7......................15...................................31...................21
Miami...........................14........................0...................................17..................21
Virginia.........................14......................17/3..................................0..................31/0
Marshall........................31......................10.....................................6..................14
Cincinnati......................14......................17...................................14..................21

Total............................186....................140.................................153.................229
Average.........................16......................12...................................13..................19

My guess is that the offense had to get out of its comfort zone, knowing that the defense will not be able to stop anyone, thus hindering the offense's effectiveness. Suffice it to say, had they had a typical defense, I think VT wouold have won the Coastal and earned the right to get slaughtered by Clemson.

Looking to a better 2019, but we shouldn't be ranked in the preseason.

Agree completely. But I think we all know why VT struggled, and why those who predict the Hokies to rebound will do so. Bud Foster and triple digit defenses do not fit in the same sentence...