New AP Poll out!

[marshall23]

All this is true, but I need to explain something from an older fan's perspective - it didn't used to all come out in the wash from PSU's point of view.

I was watching this game and really thought PSU would drop in the polls, especially after the fake-scoop-and score momentarily made it 38-24. I think the system is much better now than it was before (see below) and it will come down to the Lions taking care of business against OSU and the other teams in our division and then winning the conference title.


Boomer Lion Fan Paranoia, an Explanation
People my age are irrational because we have flashbacks to 1994 when PSU dropped from #1 to #2 in one poll because Indiana scored two late touchdowns on our reserves turning 35-14 to 35-29. We also remember the age of the BCS when a bank of computers would consider margin of victory along with the records of opponents to calculate rating points. I was looking at a close game against a bad team plus losses by Ball State, Wisconsin, and possibly Auburn at the time (even a close game by them would have hurt PSU's rating back then) and thinking this will hurt the Lions. Also, as long as Notre Dame is winning, PSU is historically screwed - they always get ranked ahead of us if it is even close. This is just the history of things from circa 1970 to the onset of the playoffs.

I'm an older fan too. But this isn't close to the same system that has screwed PSU in 94.
The top 4 get in and determine the winner on the field.
I'm less concerned about PSU's ratings in week four than I am with what seemed like 'big' wins, not looking so big anymore. There was nothing this team could have proven to me or any pollster vs Villanova.
As I posted earlier, I see no reason to be excited about standings until we beat both Indy and Iowa. If the team accomplishes this......then there is a chance that this can be a very, very special season. Drop one or both of those and we're looking to go 8-4 or 9-3 at best.

 

[marshall23]

Look, anyone who watched that game could tell PSU was flat and not fully engaged. Franklin said as much, that they “lacked edge.” They should have that edge back when Indiana comes to town, if they remember what happened last year.

In comparison to the Wisky and Auburn game, I was flat and not fully engaged for the game. I mean, really, you want to take care of business. They did.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

Georgia ran up the score to pass Alabama in case they would have a close game.

Georgia could have scored 200 points if they wanted to. They had their backups in the game by the end of the first quarter. Vandy was done playing big boy football as soon as the coin was tossed.

I suspect Vandy was looking ahead to next week when they have to play UConn. 🙂

 

[KCLion]

I’d argue that you could beat a 1AA team by 100 points and it’d still be a mediocre win.

Or by 70 anyway, 😀

 

[BUFFALO LION]

I'm an older fan too. But this isn't close to the same system that has screwed PSU in 94.
The top 4 get in and determine the winner on the field.
I'm less concerned about PSU's ratings in week four than I am with what seemed like 'big' wins, not looking so big anymore. There was nothing this team could have proven to me or any pollster vs Villanova.
As I posted earlier, I see no reason to be excited about standings until we beat both Indy and Iowa. If the team accomplishes this......then there is a chance that this can be a very, very special season. Drop one or both of those and we're looking to go 8-4 or 9-3 at best.

You mean the “top 4” as picked by a bunch of politicians. It wasn’t JUST 1994. It was 68, 69, and 73 too.

Until we go with Conference Champs as automatic bids, it will be nothing more than a beauty contest decided by politics. Ohio State’s loss to Oregon leaves Oregon ahead of us till they lose. Right now, as of today, CBS’s Jerry Palm has the CFP seedings as:

1.) Alabama
2.) Georgia
3.) Oklahoma
4.) Oregon

He has us out of the NY6 bowls even though we will be in the top 12. He has us playing in the Outback Bowl against Florida.

Don’t be surprised if the SEC doesn’t get 3 teams in this year. If Mississippi beats Alabama this weekend, which COULD happen, things could get VERY interesting wrt everyone outside the SEC. Notre Dame could become a HUGE problem. They looked a lot better against Wisconsin than we did.

 

[marshall23]

You mean the “top 4” as picked by a bunch of politicians. It wasn’t JUST 1994. It was 68, 69, and 73 too.

Until we go with Conference Champs as automatic bids, it will be nothing more than a beauty contest decided by politics. Ohio State’s loss to Oregon leaves Oregon ahead of us till they lose. Right now, as of today, CBS’s Jerry Palm has the CFP seedings as:

1.) Alabama
2.) Georgia
3.) Oklahoma
4.) Oregon

He has us out of the NY6 bowls even though we will be in the top 12. He has us playing in the Outback Bowl against Florida.

Don’t be surprised if the SEC doesn’t get 3 teams in this year. If Mississippi beats Alabama this weekend, which COULD happen, things could get VERY interesting wrt everyone outside the SEC. Notre Dame could become a HUGE problem. They looked a lot better against Wisconsin than we did.

Again, I'll pay attention to this when PSU defeats Indiana and Iowa. Besides, I don't know about you, but I don't have a vote. So, I'll concentrate on things that I can improve in my life.

 

[lazydave841]

Georgia could have scored 200 points if they wanted to. They had their backups in the game by the end of the first quarter. Vandy was done playing big boy football as soon as the coin was tossed.

I suspect Vandy was looking ahead to next week when they have to play UConn. 🙂

Vandy lost to ETSU. East Tennessee State. I don't know what division they play in without looking but they just reinstated their football program in the last 10 years.

Georgia did what they should have, but it's hardly impressive.

 

[wolve1972]

PSU
OSU
UM
MSU
MD
IA

IA has the best odds of winning the conference because they have by far the easiest path. MD is obviously a long shot but it's anybody's guess between PSU, OSU, UM, and MSU. I think the East is won by a one loss team.

Yep, could be a one loss East team determined by head-to-head. Right now, I wouldn't bet anything on who wins the East. And you left out Rutgers which won't win it but I really believe they can win a few and possibly ruin someone's season/ The B1G East is the best and most competitive division in CF and it's not close.

 

[HartfordLlion]

Because most people don’t see a three TD win as mediocre especially when two of their TD’s came in mop up time. But things are different on this board.

IDK, when i was much younger PSU would give up some points but would keep on scoring against a team like this when we dumped out 3rd and 4th string team out there. Very few walkons saw action, 90%+ of the guys were scholarship players and only a few were TR FR. It's not the end of world but I thought we should have been much better in the 4th qtr. The only thing I learned about our backups yesterday was if Clifford goes down, the season is down the shitter. Roberson did not look comfortable or good out there.

 

[AWS1022]

I’d argue that you could beat a 1AA team by 100 points and it’d still be a mediocre win.

That would be a dumb argument.

 

[AWS1022]

IDK, when i was much younger PSU would give up some points but would keep on scoring against a team like this when we dumped out 3rd and 4th string team out there. Very few walkons saw action, 90%+ of the guys were scholarship players and only a few were TR FR. It's not the end of world but I thought we should have been much better in the 4th qtr. The only thing I learned about our backups yesterday was if Clifford goes down, the season is down the shitter. Roberson did not look comfortable or good out there.

Almost all teams would have to say the same thing.

 

[lazydave841]

The only thing I learned about our backups yesterday was if Clifford goes down, the season is down the shitter. Roberson did not look comfortable or good out there.

You are probably right. I wouldn't expect to continue on the same trajectory. SC is playing *really* good right now.

However, I like how Yurcich is coaching. He would determine what Roberson is best at and play to it.

Additionally, I wouldn't put much stock in down time. Vanilla x2 at that point. Second string WRs catching your throws doesn't help either.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

Vandy lost to ETSU. East Tennessee State. I don't know what division they play in without looking but they just reinstated their football program in the last 10 years.

Georgia did what they should have, but it's hardly impressive.

i think it’s safe to say that the biggest game in college football this weekend will be UConn vs Vandy. It will be fascinating to see which team wants to lose more. 🙂

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

The running game will be addressed the next 2 games. If I am wrong...shoot me.

Laugh minnow I have 10k that says your laughing emoji ...originates grom your clitoris.

 

[OzLion]

Again, I'll pay attention to this when PSU defeats Indiana and Iowa. Besides, I don't know about you, but I don't have a vote. So, I'll concentrate on things that I can improve in my life.

You have achieved enlightenment 😉 You are ready to live on a mountaintop and have people climb up to bring you gifts and seek your advice.

I actually think PSU can lose to Iowa and still get in the playoffs if they beat everyone else and win the conference championship. The season is young, but exciting so far. We shall see...

 

[step.eng69]

I for one actually believe PSU is over rated for my expectation of the #4 team in the country

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

 

[lazydave841]

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

I have to ask: who does?

 

[PSUinSTL]

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

And why not. So wiscy has 2 losses. They will end up 8-4 or better. Still good win.
Playing there us tougher than playing them in Chicago. Plus while the ND score was a route the game was definitely closer than the score.

So Auburn struggled last week. How many times did we lose twice to OSU.
We were in control of the Auburn game from 1/2 time on.

The other 2 games we did what we needed to and they were never in doubt.

Yes our running isn’t great. However- every team has come in wanting SC to beat them. And he did. 1 of 2 things will happen. Either teams play us balanced and run game gets better(and it will) or SC will continue to go off.

The fact we can win this way is good (last year we couldn’t).


And besides bama who has looked great against everyone

 

[LemonEars]

One question. Where is pitt?

Over on their message board the pitters think that they are in the driver's seat to win the ACC and to go to a big time bowl. Also, the think that Kenny Pickett is the best QB in the country and it's a shame he isn't getting a lot of Heisman hype. The fact that they gave up 44 points and lost to a mid-level MAC team seems to be a distant memory.

Of course the pitters spent most of the time over the weekend talking about how Auburn and Wisconsin are highly overrated and our wins don't mean anything. Also, they are obsessed with Franklin to USC.

 

[PAgeologist]

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

Perhaps you are right. Time will tell.

The top 3 seem to be right. After that, it seems to be a crap shoot. Who deserves to be #4 then? Nobody stands out to me. PSU has played as well as anyone ranked 5 to 10. Plus the higher PSU is ranked, they won't fall as far if they stumble, hopefully.

 

[lions1995]

Amazing that a mediocre win against a 1AA team earned us 2 spots this week. Not sure why, but I’ll take it.

Up 38-3 in the 4th quarter, and they scored 2 touchdowns against backups, wouldn't necessarily call that mediocre, just means the backup guys aren't ready.

 

[LionJim]

Up 38-3 in the 4th quarter, and they scored 2 touchdowns against backups, wouldn't necessarily call that mediocre, just means the backup guys aren't ready.

Could easily have been 49-3.

 

[Texas Lion]

Could easily have been 49-3.

I really am not sure what the uproar was.....the final score I guess?? What I saw is PSU up 38-3. At that point PSU pretty much emptied their bench while Nova keep their dogs in. Should our 2's and 3's have been better? Sure....but they don't have the experience.

 

[psuno1]

From what I watched in the first 4 weeks in the BIG10, PSU can beat every team in the conference home or away but have to get some kind of run game going, at least 100 yards a game.

 

[wolve1972]

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

Possibly, but the polls - right now - are nothing more than conversation pieces between the fan bases. The great part is that everything will be sorted out over the next couple of months. Some teams that are looking strong now will regress - others will improve. Should be a great CF season

 

[NittanyChris]

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

I hear you. We do have some flaws, however, so does almost everyone else. For me only Bama and Georgia are heads and shoulders above PSU.
After those two teams, every team is highly imperfect. I would say that we have as much a right to that spot as anyone else.

 

[BudatPSU]

Over on their message board the pitters think that they are in the driver's seat to win the ACC and to go to a big time bowl. Also, the think that Kenny Pickett is the best QB in the country and it's a shame he isn't getting a lot of Heisman hype. The fact that they gave up 44 points and lost to a mid-level MAC team seems to be a distant memory.

Of course the pitters spent most of the time over the weekend talking about how Auburn and Wisconsin are highly overrated and our wins don't mean anything. Also, they are obsessed with Franklin to USC.

Well, sometimes delusion is a good thing. Thanks for the information.

 

[AWS1022]

I hear you. We do have some flaws, however, so does almost everyone else. For me only Bama and Georgia are heads and shoulders above PSU.
After those two teams, every team is highly imperfect. I would say that we have as much a right to that spot as anyone else.

And even Georgia’s squeaker versus Clemson isn’t looking that great right now.

 

[LemonEars]

I hear you. We do have some flaws, however, so does almost everyone else. For me only Bama and Georgia are heads and shoulders above PSU.
After those two teams, every team is highly imperfect. I would say that we have as much a right to that spot as anyone else.

If our OL doesn't learn to run block we will likely lose 2 or 3 Big 10 games and then we won't need to think about the possibilities.

 

[psu_et_vt]

And even Georgia’s squeaker versus Clemson isn’t looking that great right now.

It’s actually this kind of comparison that proved our Wisky and AL jr. wins are pretty good. Yeah Clemson looks average now and Wisky and Auburn had bad weeks. But the game film says those are all pretty good teams with a few significant flaws. In week 1, nobody knew what those flaws were. A few weeks from now, I expect Clemson to be just fine. I also expect Wisconsin to end up with in the B1G championship game. Auburn will certainly win 8 games too.

 

[doctornick]

FWIW, PSU is #6 in the coaches' poll (Oklahoma and Iowa still ahead of us).

 

[Texas Lion]

FWIW, PSU is #6 in the coaches' poll (Oklahoma and Iowa still ahead of us).

Most people put more stock in the coaches pool.....not me. Coaches will vote on what hurst a team like penn state. For example....I bet Narduzzi, Locksley, and Schiano all have Penn State ranked lower than say the guy from Arkansas, TCU, and Wyoming....

 

[Woodpecker]

PSU pretty much emptied their bench while Nova keep their dogs in.

OK, I know that I don't think like most people but this smacks of a couple of things. First, it doesn't say much for the Villanova coach. If the game is that far gone, why not give the other kids on your roster a chance to tell their grandkids that they played in front of 100,000 people in Beaver stadium ? (I know that there weren't that many in the stands [especially by then] but us old folks get certain leeway with embellishing stories about the old days) Second, my barometer for "calling off the dogs" is based on the opposing coach: you wave the white flag by putting in your back-ups and I'll respond in kind; you keep your starters in, then I will too. Granted, Franklin had other goals about giving his guys game experience that were independent of the opponent and, on a practical level, so would I but it sure would be tempting to punish the opposition who won't cry uncle. (Have I broken the board record for mixed metaphors?)

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Up 38-3 in the 4th quarter, and they scored 2 touchdowns against backups, wouldn't necessarily call that mediocre, just means the backup guys aren't ready.

My apologies, perhaps mediocre was a poor choice of words. Regardless of the score, my point was that we were rewarded for playing a JV team.

 

[fastlax16]

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

Post your top 25

 

[AWS1022]

My apologies, perhaps mediocre was a poor choice of words. Regardless of the score, my point was that we were rewarded for playing a JV team.

Kind of like when we played Pitt.

 

[step.eng69]

Post your top 25

By rushing yardage per game?

 

[fastlax16]

By rushing yardage per game?

By whatever metric pleases you? Put penn state where you think they deserve to be. You call the shots.

 

[step.eng69]

By whatever metric pleases you? Put penn state where you think they deserve to be. You call the shots.

IMO.....#6, WITH Ohio State & Florida ahead of us.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

That's the way I'm feeling. PSU at this time does not deserve a football ranking of #4.

Nobody does!