Printable View
This is another reason I was not excited about playing in another bowl game. You lose another game, and we are almost assured of not being ranked. Regardless of what happens the rest of the bowl calendar, Louisiana will finish the year in the Top 25.Quote:
Originally Posted by SlickRick
BTW, that will be two Top 25 final rankings in consecutive seasons. Something the Ruston legends have never accomplished since moving up to a higher Division.
We’ve also got more weeks cumulative top 25 AP than they have. But we’re not comparing past events where it doesn’t favor them.
I don't care if they have been ranked at any time during the season. They've never finished a season in the higher division ranked in the Top 25.Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunEXPRESS
No way in hell #10. Impossible. Not after a no name bowl win against a 7-5 team. Not happening. #13 - #15 maybe but not #10.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grantvb
Let's compare ourselves to Cincinnati rather than LA Tech.
Cincy has only had this success for the past 4 seasons as they were 4-8 in 2017. They were ranked #24 (11-2) in 2018, #21 (11-3) in 2019, #6 (9-1) in 2020 and now #4 (13-0) this year. During that 4 year period, they beat a handful of P5 schools including UCLA, Indiana, Notre Dame, VA Tech and Boston College while losing to Michigan, Ohio State and Georgia. Of course, they played in the AAC, the top G5 conference and have now parlayed that into a P5 conference invite to the Big 12.
UL has had Top 20 national rankings for two years, last year and this year, and having a 13-1 record this year. However, we have only 1 signature win vs. Iowa State and in that 4 year period have lost to Miss State (twice), Alabama, Texas and Tulane (AAC in bowl game). Bowl wins have been vs. unimpressive G5 opponents.
UL needs to improve OOC scheduling and improve bowl game appearances or play bowl games vs. P5 schools. We have only 1 opportunity next year with Florida State. The SBC is improving, but still lacks perception that the AAC has. It will be interesting to see how perception of both conference changes with the AAC losing its 3 best teams and replacing them with CUSA schools while the SBC adds 3 CUSA schools and an FCS program.
UL has an opportunity to continue that success for a 3rd year in 2022. Win our conference and a weak OOC schedule (except Florida State) should keep us ranked. A win over our only P5 school next year in Florida State should improve our standing. We have to play and defeat P5 schools if we hope to improve our national perception and mirror what Cincy has accomplished as a G5 program.
Louisiana will finish as high as #13 and as low as #17…IMO.
So who goes ahead of us into the Top 10? You don’t reward someone with spot move up if they lose. Utah, Ole Miss and Ok St (along with BYU, Oregon and Msu/Pitt) all lose….somebody has to fill the void at 8-10. The winner of 11 MsU/13 Pitt will move in. OU will move in. That leaves the #10 spot. Who you gonna put? Houston? Not 11 spots. Clemson? Not 8 spots. We are only LOGICAL choice UNLESS P-5 bias sets in and they find a way to excuse an Ole Miss loss to their not move them back 2 spots instead of 3.Quote:
Originally Posted by babysitter
Just like our bowl win already baked into 16th, BYU loss also accounted for. They’re still in front.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grantvb
Neither Pitt nor MSU getting below us with a third loss.
How is BYU accounted for? They were #12 going into the bowl game and they lost to an unranked team. If Pitt at #13 loses, they won’t stay at 13. They’ll drop. You have to fill the void
Until someone can give me a rational scenario which doesn't reek of P-5 favoritism, I’m sticking with my plan.
You are making a tremedous amount of sense and it scares me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grantvb
Sometimes I scare myself. I’m not trying to come off as arrogant, I just can’t see who would leap frog us or how any losing team between 8-15 would log jam us