AP Top 25 - Mizzou, Baylor, and Texas Tech in top 10

[sbsmith]

In the real world, however, I would love to be 5-1 right now even if we beat the sisters of the poor non-conference. We would be talked up around town. People would argue whether or not we are as good as our record. And I am fine with that. You have to start somewhere. Go 10-2 against a crappy schedule, and then worry about going 10-2 against a good one. Baby steps.

We've been down this road before (2011), didn't end up so well once we started playing teams that weren't garbage. Forget the baby steps (time for that was when June first got here not 6 years in) and upgrade the coaching staff so we can start getting real talent and beat real teams.

[SoCal_Pony]

JasonB,

6 years & over $12M later and you talk 'Baby Steps'?, what BS.

[JasonB]

1) I'm not saying we shouldn't be further along than we are. Never said that. Just saying that as a program, lets get to 10-2 against crap teams and then worry about 10-2 against good ones. I am not saying that Jones should be around for that.

2) Yes, even though I do think we would be better off with a crap non-conference schedule until we are good, I did expect us to beat Tech this season. They had a true freshman QB and were on the road in a season opener. I did not think we would win at TCU, but I thought TCU would be better than they are. I had us at 9-3, with losses to A&M, TCU, and Cincy. Later, right before the season started, I threw out 8-4 because I thought we would have trouble with either Houston or UCF. Rutgers graduated a ton, so I did not think they would be very good. We should still beat Temple, UCONN, and USF, and then win one of three against Cincy, UCF, and Houston. Which gives us a 6 win season, but that isn't going to be good enough for anybody and I would not expect June to be here next year if we go 6-6. IMHO, I think June will pretty much have to run the rest of the schedule and win the conference to stick around.

3) Massey Rankings:
Wofford: 195 Florida A&M: 335
La-Monroe: 117 Cal: 127
Iowa State: 77 San Diego State: 107
Buffalo: 80 Buffalo:80
West Virginia:70 Northwestern: 62
K State: 47 Iowa 50
Wisconsin: 21

Ohio State has played one more game, and it is against Wisconsin, who is the best team either team has played. But the rest of their schedule is actually worse than the Baylor schedule from a ranking perspective, believe it or not.

[ReedFrawg]

Based on my eyeball test, tech is nowhere close to top 10. We aint very good and really gave that game to them (with a large assist from the refs). I think baylor beats mizzou and ohio st and miami on a neitral field...and I think they would hang with oregon too.

Re mizzou and a&m....what it tells me is the SEC is overrated. Two middle of the road big 12 teams go into the SEC and kick arse overnight. Yes the SEC is good but its a self fulfilling prophecy when 2/3 of your teams are ranked before week 1 and the top teams don't always play each other.

Did I mention how bad the tcu offense is????

[East Coast Mustang]

Re mizzou and a&m....what it tells me is the SEC is overrated. Two middle of the road big 12 teams go into the SEC and kick arse overnight. Yes the SEC is good but its a self fulfilling prophecy when 2/3 of your teams are ranked before week 1 and the top teams don't always play each other.

A&M came into the SEC with a new coach and a new QB who went on to be a Heisman Trophy winner.

Mizzou has gotten the benefit of playing Florida & UGA teams that were decimated by injuries.

[East Coast Mustang]

I don't think anyone can beat Baylor that's left on their schedule. Getting Texas and OU in Waco is a huge boost for them...and I think they will crush Tech. Hardest game left on their schedule might be OSU in Stillwater.

[gostangs]

Reed - nothing stays static. They were middle of the road when they went in, and now they have had the sec banner to recruit with and have gotten much better. Either team would win the big 12 running away.

[CoxMustangFan]

3) Massey Rankings:
Wofford: 195 Florida A&M: 335
La-Monroe: 117 Cal: 127
Iowa State: 77 San Diego State: 107
Buffalo: 80 Buffalo:80
West Virginia:70 Northwestern: 62
K State: 47 Iowa 50
Wisconsin: 21

Ohio State has played one more game, and it is against Wisconsin, who is the best team either team has played. But the rest of their schedule is actually worse than the Baylor schedule from a ranking perspective, believe it or not.

It's only "worse" based on how you ranked them (worse to best). Re-rank based on best to worst and it's not nearly as close. Regardless, this issue for me is scheduling roadkill, which Baylor has done. Do you think scheduling Cal, San Diego State, and Florida A&M is really taking the easy route? Those three are having slightly disappointing seasons, but that's a solid non-con for a team that plays a pretty salty conference schedule.

[WordUpBU]

didn't think you would take that as a serious comment. I give TCU all the credit in the world for scheduling LSU. Baylor has played a weak schedule so far, but they are hanging 70 on almost everybody and doing it with their backups playing a good part of the 2nd half. They are good

I believe they have a good quarterback and a couple of WR's that can get behind mediocre secondary units. Against a team with a good D-line and a decent secondary they would look average (to go with the rest of their team). They just won't play a team that matches that until game 8 or 9 of the season. Man, the Big 12 is really really really bad this year.

You are dramatically naive about our offense. We are loaded at WR, have 3 good RB's, a stellar OL, and a very good QB. Our TE's rarely get the ball but are capable in the passing game and can handle most DE's in the run game. Those WR's have experience over the last 2-3 years and have been big-play that whole time. It isn't a case of guys simply being good against bad opposition as most of these players have been doing it since before this season.

We have a very good offensive line and the teams we have faced (even with ISU dragging the average down) only give up 30 yards per possession and BU's starters are averaging 56 per offensive possession. WVU has a good DL and a good secondary and a lot of good it did them. Statistically they have done pretty well against BCS schools apart from playing us despite playing an obscene # of possessions (14 avg) and having no offense to help them.

The Big 12 started bad (Diaz at UT, Patterson losing his roster's depth) but now that UT has improved on D you have a pretty good league. UT is top 30 IMO, OU whipped a solid ND team, OSU dominated MSU, and Tech/Baylor are unbeaten. It's not the league's best year but it's certainly not really really really bad.

[WordUpBU]

Reed - nothing stays static. They were middle of the road when they went in, and now they have had the sec banner to recruit with and have gotten much better. Either team would win the big 12 running away.

Or perhaps the SECSECSEC is just really top heavy and the Big 12's teams were better than originally thought? Any recruits gained by the SEC membership would at-oldest be true sophomores- AKA not the nucleus of the team. Fact is the SEC's middle to bottom teams are worse than the brand implies and two middling B12 teams are kicking their heads in.

[WordUpBU]

3) Massey Rankings:
Wofford: 195 Florida A&M: 335
La-Monroe: 117 Cal: 127
Iowa State: 77 San Diego State: 107
Buffalo: 80 Buffalo:80
West Virginia:70 Northwestern: 62
K State: 47 Iowa 50
Wisconsin: 21

Ohio State has played one more game, and it is against Wisconsin, who is the best team either team has played. But the rest of their schedule is actually worse than the Baylor schedule from a ranking perspective, believe it or not.

It's only "worse" based on how you ranked them (worse to best). Re-rank based on best to worst and it's not nearly as close. Regardless, this issue for me is scheduling roadkill, which Baylor has done. Do you think scheduling Cal, San Diego State, and Florida A&M is really taking the easy route? Those three are having slightly disappointing seasons, but that's a solid non-con for a team that plays a pretty salty conference schedule.

San Diego State is dogcrap. They were blown out by Eastern Illinois, an FCS team. It wasn't even close 40-19. Wins over meh Nevada and one win AFA mean nothing to me.
Cal is horrible, a one win team that only beat Portland State. They lost to Oregon St. who lost to an FCS team.
FAMU is horrible. Do I even need to explain this one?

If you think that is solid, I have some oceanfront property in North Dakota to sell you.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

I only watch ND and what I can stomach to watch when SMU plays with JJ at the helm, but OU did not whip ND. They played smart and won, but no way OU wins that game at SB if Golson were the starting quarterback instead of Rees. I also saw the SMU/Tech game, and Tech is overrated. It was the first game for both, and SMU is notorious for not being prepared to start the season (or to play a full season). Tortilla tech loses their next 3 out of 4. Not sure how good Baylor is but the numbers being reported are video game like numbers.

[CoxMustangFan]

It's not the league's best year but it's certainly not really really really bad.

The Big 12 is terrible this year and you've lost your mind if you think otherwise (BY FAR worst of the P5). Whatever you need to tell yourself so you can sleep at night.

[CoxMustangFan]

San Diego State is dogcrap. They were blown out by Eastern Illinois, an FCS team. It wasn't even close 40-19. Wins over meh Nevada and one win AFA mean nothing to me.
Cal is horrible, a one win team that only beat Portland State. They lost to Oregon St. who lost to an FCS team.
FAMU is horrible. Do I even need to explain this one?

If you think that is solid, I have some oceanfront property in North Dakota to sell you.

Two issues here. One, while the teams OSU has played this year may be having down years, they're WAY above the dog food Baylor has scheduled.

Second, if you rank top to bottom, even having bad years Baylor's schedule is < than OSU's. Baylor is a solid team that is clearly better than the HS teams they've played so far. They likely will hang 60+ on KU, but again, so what? In fact, even if Baylor wins out so what? Congrats on your game against Fresno State or Northern Illinois.

[Stallion]

In Week 2, I went with Baylor as the Top team in Texas in our ponyfans ratings. I was pretty sure A&M's defense would lead to some losses in the SEC- I wouldn't be surprised if they lose as many as 4 games this year. I'm sticking with Baylor until someone slows down their offense. K-State wrote the script on how to beat Baylor -ball control offense but couldn't pull it off. Baylor could also be in trouble in bad weather against a good team