Levitation and the AP

#26
#26
vol94 said:
Good Post.

Back in the day TN teams were ranked with a 1-2 record. I think it was 2005 and possibly 2008 - maybe prior 2005.

Notre Dame is the most popular school in the country, though I despise them, so they get the benefit of the doubt. It will be interesting how their season progresses.

Go Vols!
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#27
#27
VFL-82-JP said:
That's precisely why it bugs me when the voters do patently stupid things with their votes. What the AP and Coaches polls say DO matter, because they're the ones who start the "national conversation." And when the CFP committee gets going, it kinda starts from the position of that ongoing conversation. Sure, they can deviate from it, but it's built into how they're all thinking of the season already.

So 'means nothing' isn't really right. SHOULD mean nothing, that I would agree with.

Go Vols!
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Well, it really means nothing until November
 
#30
#30
VFL-82-JP said:
Consider this photo:

View attachment 775517

That _seems_ to be two people holding each other off the ground. Why's he up there? Because she's holding him up. But why is she up there? Because he has her hand, of course.

Circular logic.

The AP poll voters are making hay on this concept in 2025.

~ ~ ~

Exhibit A: Indiana and Illinois

Illinois enters the season ranked the #12 team in the land. Why? Who knows? Probably Heather Dinch talking in fellow media types' ears all off-season, joined by a pinkie promise from the Illini coach that, "yah, we're gonna be really good this year, you betcha."

They then beat the Western Illinois Leathernecks of the Ohio Valley Conference (FCS or Division III, something like that), and RISE a spot to #11! It's magic, folks.

The following week, they whup Duke (at least that's an FBS team), followed by a G5 directional-Michigan team, and rise TWO MORE SPOTS, to #9. Astounding.

But things aren't to last. Illinois comes crashing to earth (well, not quite, we will get back to that) after suffering a loss to the mighty Hoosiers of Indiana.

Pay attention, this is where it gets truly magical.

Indiana, ranked #19 before meeting the Illini, SHOOTS up into the sky to the #11 spot themselves. All based on beating the magically-floating Illinois team.

You might think Indiana is there for something more than just beating Illinois, but consider their other victories: Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State.

Oh, and the bit about Illinois falling to earth? Not quite--they're still ranked in the top 25. No one knows why. No strings are visible. Just them holding hands with the Hoosiers who beat them.

~ ~ ~

Exhibit B: Utah and Texas Tech

Utah starts the season unranked and Texas Tech is #23 in the pre-season polls. But worry not; this levitation stuff is about to get real.

Utah beats mighty UCLA in week 1, and joins the polls at #25. They beat something called Cal Poly in week 2, and mystically rise five spots to #20 (overtaking Texas Tech, btw). The Utes clobber Wyoming in week 3, and shoot skyward to #16. And the stage is set....

Meanwhile, Texas Tech has been impressing the voters in their own right: wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State, and Oregon State have seen them likewise levitate their way up to just behind Utah, at #17.

Now comes the energy transference miracle, as the two meet on the gridiron, and Texas Tech beats Utah!

While Utah drops out of the polls entirely, Texas Tech absorbs all their magic and flies upward to the #12 position. Having not only beaten Kent State themselves but also beaten the Utes who beat UCLA and Cal Poly, the Red Raiders' resume is impeccable. They are ready to take their place in the College Football Playoffs.

~ ~ ~

Heh, I don't know how some of these poll voters take themselves seriously. This year is the worst I've seen for ridiculous inflation of certain teams.


~ ~ ~

None of this would be more than mild bemusement for most of us, if it were not for the fact that Illinois and Texas Tech are taking space and breathing air in spots where the Vols ought to be instead. We'd whup both those teams handily. We are ranked #15 today, but probably belong somewhere in the #10 to #12 range.

Oh, and 1-2 Notre Dame is still ranked. Reminds me a bit of the Saturday Night Live gag, this just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
This is the exact same thing fans of teams outside the SEC say about the SEC. To be fair, Illinois was 10-3 last year, including a win over SC in the bowl game and they brought a ton of players back, including their QB. However, as we are seeing this year, returning starters means less than it ever has and that 10-3 record was built almost entirely on wins over bad to mediocre teams. They did beat Michigan but gave it back by losing to Minnesota. Indiana is good but I do think they will come back down to earth when they play Oregon. I hope I'm wrong though. It would be cool to see IU win the Big 10.
 
#33
#33
VFL-82-JP said:
Consider this photo:

View attachment 775517

That _seems_ to be two people holding each other off the ground. Why's he up there? Because she's holding him up. But why is she up there? Because he has her hand, of course.

Circular logic.

The AP poll voters are making hay on this concept in 2025.

~ ~ ~

Exhibit A: Indiana and Illinois

Illinois enters the season ranked the #12 team in the land. Why? Who knows? Probably Heather Dinch talking in fellow media types' ears all off-season, joined by a pinkie promise from the Illini coach that, "yah, we're gonna be really good this year, you betcha."

They then beat the Western Illinois Leathernecks of the Ohio Valley Conference (FCS or Division III, something like that), and RISE a spot to #11! It's magic, folks.

The following week, they whup Duke (at least that's an FBS team), followed by a G5 directional-Michigan team, and rise TWO MORE SPOTS, to #9. Astounding.

But things aren't to last. Illinois comes crashing to earth (well, not quite, we will get back to that) after suffering a loss to the mighty Hoosiers of Indiana.

Pay attention, this is where it gets truly magical.

Indiana, ranked #19 before meeting the Illini, SHOOTS up into the sky to the #11 spot themselves. All based on beating the magically-floating Illinois team.

You might think Indiana is there for something more than just beating Illinois, but consider their other victories: Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State.

Oh, and the bit about Illinois falling to earth? Not quite--they're still ranked in the top 25. No one knows why. No strings are visible. Just them holding hands with the Hoosiers who beat them.

~ ~ ~

Exhibit B: Utah and Texas Tech

Utah starts the season unranked and Texas Tech is #23 in the pre-season polls. But worry not; this levitation stuff is about to get real.

Utah beats mighty UCLA in week 1, and joins the polls at #25. They beat something called Cal Poly in week 2, and mystically rise five spots to #20 (overtaking Texas Tech, btw). The Utes clobber Wyoming in week 3, and shoot skyward to #16. And the stage is set....

Meanwhile, Texas Tech has been impressing the voters in their own right: wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State, and Oregon State have seen them likewise levitate their way up to just behind Utah, at #17.

Now comes the energy transference miracle, as the two meet on the gridiron, and Texas Tech beats Utah!

While Utah drops out of the polls entirely, Texas Tech absorbs all their magic and flies upward to the #12 position. Having not only beaten Kent State themselves but also beaten the Utes who beat UCLA and Cal Poly, the Red Raiders' resume is impeccable. They are ready to take their place in the College Football Playoffs.

~ ~ ~

Heh, I don't know how some of these poll voters take themselves seriously. This year is the worst I've seen for ridiculous inflation of certain teams.


~ ~ ~

None of this would be more than mild bemusement for most of us, if it were not for the fact that Illinois and Texas Tech are taking space and breathing air in spots where the Vols ought to be instead. We'd whup both those teams handily. We are ranked #15 today, but probably belong somewhere in the #10 to #12 range.

Oh, and 1-2 Notre Dame is still ranked. Reminds me a bit of the Saturday Night Live gag, this just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
Without any evidence of corruption, I can say with certainly the AP preseason polling system is corrupt by design to favor the Big 10, SEC, (the two wealthiest conferences) and weirdly, Notre Dame. There is too much money at stake so it guarantees people with money are gaming the system to persuade AP voters to include undeserving Big 10 teams in the top 25. Still not sure why ND keeps popping up, unless it gets support from the Vatican.
 
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#34
#34
Bottom line it’s a bunch of journalists and some don’t watch the games, it’s a poll by people who’s have no business voting on anything.
 
#35
#35
VFL-82-JP said:
Consider this photo:

View attachment 775517

That _seems_ to be two people holding each other off the ground. Why's he up there? Because she's holding him up. But why is she up there? Because he has her hand, of course.

Circular logic.

The AP poll voters are making hay on this concept in 2025.

~ ~ ~

Exhibit A: Indiana and Illinois

Illinois enters the season ranked the #12 team in the land. Why? Who knows? Probably Heather Dinch talking in fellow media types' ears all off-season, joined by a pinkie promise from the Illini coach that, "yah, we're gonna be really good this year, you betcha."

They then beat the Western Illinois Leathernecks of the Ohio Valley Conference (FCS or Division III, something like that), and RISE a spot to #11! It's magic, folks.

The following week, they whup Duke (at least that's an FBS team), followed by a G5 directional-Michigan team, and rise TWO MORE SPOTS, to #9. Astounding.

But things aren't to last. Illinois comes crashing to earth (well, not quite, we will get back to that) after suffering a loss to the mighty Hoosiers of Indiana.

Pay attention, this is where it gets truly magical.

Indiana, ranked #19 before meeting the Illini, SHOOTS up into the sky to the #11 spot themselves. All based on beating the magically-floating Illinois team.

You might think Indiana is there for something more than just beating Illinois, but consider their other victories: Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State.

Oh, and the bit about Illinois falling to earth? Not quite--they're still ranked in the top 25. No one knows why. No strings are visible. Just them holding hands with the Hoosiers who beat them.

~ ~ ~

Exhibit B: Utah and Texas Tech

Utah starts the season unranked and Texas Tech is #23 in the pre-season polls. But worry not; this levitation stuff is about to get real.

Utah beats mighty UCLA in week 1, and joins the polls at #25. They beat something called Cal Poly in week 2, and mystically rise five spots to #20 (overtaking Texas Tech, btw). The Utes clobber Wyoming in week 3, and shoot skyward to #16. And the stage is set....

Meanwhile, Texas Tech has been impressing the voters in their own right: wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State, and Oregon State have seen them likewise levitate their way up to just behind Utah, at #17.

Now comes the energy transference miracle, as the two meet on the gridiron, and Texas Tech beats Utah!

While Utah drops out of the polls entirely, Texas Tech absorbs all their magic and flies upward to the #12 position. Having not only beaten Kent State themselves but also beaten the Utes who beat UCLA and Cal Poly, the Red Raiders' resume is impeccable. They are ready to take their place in the College Football Playoffs.

~ ~ ~

Heh, I don't know how some of these poll voters take themselves seriously. This year is the worst I've seen for ridiculous inflation of certain teams.


~ ~ ~

None of this would be more than mild bemusement for most of us, if it were not for the fact that Illinois and Texas Tech are taking space and breathing air in spots where the Vols ought to be instead. We'd whup both those teams handily. We are ranked #15 today, but probably belong somewhere in the #10 to #12 range.

Oh, and 1-2 Notre Dame is still ranked. Reminds me a bit of the Saturday Night Live gag, this just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
Very impressive presentation! Thank you for taking the time to post something so well thought out.
 
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