Week 5 Polls

[Bison06]

Right now if you use the Sports Network Polls, the MVFC has an average position of 11th with 5 top 25 teams: 1) NDSU 3) Youngstown St. 13) Illinois State 14) N. Iowa and 25) South Dakota St.

The Big Sky has an average position in the polls of 15th with 5 top 25 teams: 2) Montana State 7) Eastern Washington 21) Montana 22) Northern Arizona and 23) Cal Poly

If you included the next two teams (1 per conference) you would have UND at 30th and Indiana State at 32nd, which would put the positioning closer with the MVFC avg. place 15 and Big Sky avg. place at 17.5

The major argument for both conferences would be N. Iowa in the MVFC and Montana in the Big Sky. N. Iowa is 1-3 and simply should not be in the polls. This isnt the final season poll, they should be allowed to win themselves back into the poll but not be babied and allowed to stay in the poll just because they scheduled tough - thats just poor logic. As far as Montana goes, I think NAU should at least be ahead of them. There only D1 wins so far have been Liberty and South Dakota, both at home. But, if you compare the two swing teams (Montana and N. Iowa), I'd say hands down Montana is the better team (IMO).

What are you basing this opinion on? Seems like an odd thing to say.

[petey23]

Question. Does UNI have to run the table to make the playoffs? They are 0-3 as far as games considered for playoff criteria and have 7 games left.

[Siouxperfan7]

Question. Does UNI have to run the table to make the playoffs? They are 0-3 as far as games considered for playoff criteria and have 7 games left.

6 wins typically does not get you in the playoffs. IMO (and the majority of the FCS world) believe that they will have to run the table and win all 7 of their games to make the playoffs. Very possible....but not likely.

[UNDColorado]

6 wins typically does not get you in the playoffs. IMO (and the majority of the FCS world) believe that they will have to run the table and win all 7 of their games to make the playoffs. Very possible....but not likely.

Well...their run starts with NDSU this week. Should be interesting, but I am most interested in out tilt with Cal Poly on Saturday. Go Sioux!

[krangodance]

It will all work itself out in the wash. I honestly don't understand the emphasis people are putting on the rankings in week 3? A large portion of people vote in the first half of the season based on the past season as well unfortunately. No doubt UNI is enjoying the good will they built for themselves at the end of last season right now. Ultimately the only time that rankings matter is come playoff time.

Is NDSU really the #1 team in the country right now? Who the hell knows we haven't beaten anyone in the FCS worth a damn yet. Nobody has earned their ranking in week 3 or week 4 I guess it would be. There just isn't a large enough sample size to make good decisions so people are voting with last season in mind.

There's no arguing against this post. This poll doesn't matter right now and we don't know how things will shake out.

Still, though, this gives UNI a huge leg up. It's easier to stay in the top 20 if you're already there than if you're not already there. They should have to earn their way into these polls like everybody else. This isn't a preseason poll after all. We have four games to go on. They chose their non-conference schedule. They knew the risks of having such a tough schedule. They should be held accountable and they most cerainly are not being held accountable.

Like I said, if they lose this weekend then what? If losing to two FBS teams and the #2 team in the country leaves them at #14 why would losing to the #1 team in the country have any effect on their current ranking? If it doesn't, should a 1-4 team be ranked so highly? Let's also consider the possibility that they lose this weekend and drop way down in the rankings, if not out of the rankings. How is that consistent? It just seems like the voters put themselves in a strange position by allowing any 1-3 team in the top 25, regardless of the subjective opinion of that team's strength.

[Bison06]

There's no arguing against this post. This poll doesn't matter right now and we don't know how things will shake out.

Still, though, this gives UNI a huge leg up. It's easier to stay in the top 20 if you're already there than if you're not already there. They should have to earn their way into these polls like everybody else. This isn't a preseason poll after all. We have four games to go on. They chose their non-conference schedule. They knew the risks of having such a tough schedule. They should be held accountable and they most cerainly are not being held accountable.

Like I said, if they lose this weekend then what? If losing to two FBS teams and the #2 team in the country leaves them at #14 why would losing to the #1 team in the country have any effect on their current ranking? If it doesn't, should a 1-4 team be ranked so highly? Let's also consider the possibility that they lose this weekend and drop way down in the rankings, if not out of the rankings. How is that consistent? It just seems like the voters put themselves in a strange position by allowing any 1-3 team in the top 25, regardless of the subjective opinion of that team's strength.

I agree, the only explanation I can come up with is as of right now is they are being rewarded for two things in the eyes of the voters. Not me, the voters. Strength of schedule /level of play during those difficult games and the good will that a decent playoff run and a history of being a powerhouse brings with it.

Beyond that I don't see any justifcation for putting UNI in the top 20. Looking at some of the teams in the low 20's though, I personally would still rank them ahead of them. But, I also watched the two FBS games they played and am basing my opinion on how they played in those games, not on the outcome of the game.

[82SiouxGuy]

I agree, the only explanation I can come up with is as of right now is they are being rewarded for two things in the eyes of the voters. Not me, the voters. Strength of schedule /level of play during those difficult games and the good will that a decent playoff run and a history of being a powerhouse brings with it.

Beyond that I don't see any justifcation for putting UNI in the top 20. Looking at some of the teams in the low 20's though, I personally would still rank them ahead of them. But, I also watched the two FBS games they played and am basing my opinion on how they played in those games, not on the outcome of the game.

I believe that Bville would classify the 2 FBS games as "moral victories". Bville really seems to be hung up on moral victories. But now you're giving UNI real credit for performing well in those games. I don't put much stock in polls, especially any polls done before the middle of the season. But polls should be based on actual performance, not perceived strength of the teams.

[Bison06]

I believe that Bville would classify the 2 FBS games as "moral victories". Bville really seems to be hung up on moral victories. But now you're giving UNI real credit for performing well in those games. I don't put much stock in polls, especially any polls done before the middle of the season. But polls should be based on actual performance, not perceived strength of the teams.

What is your obsession with bisonville? I don't speak for all Bison fans or anything that is said over there. If you want to make a comment in general on the thread like this fine, but don't quote my post and then reference things I have never said and in fact things I have explicitly stated I don't buy into (ie moral victories).

All I have said is SOS plays a role in ranking teams as well as it should.

Did you take more pride in the close loss to SDSU this year or your close loss to USF a few years back? Don't say you took equal pride in them because they were both losses.

Regardless of what other Bison fans have said regarding moral victories, there is nothing wrong with a fan taking more pride in playing well against a quality opponent. It doesn't equal a victory, but it doesn't mean you can't take positive things away from a close loss to a good team.

[82SiouxGuy]

What is your obsession with bisonville? I don't speak for all Bison fans or anything that is said over there. If you want to make a comment in general on the thread like this fine, but don't quote my post and then reference things I have never said and in fact things I have explicitly stated I don't buy into (ie moral victories).

All I have said is SOS plays a role in ranking teams as well as it should.

Did you take more pride in the close loss to SDSU this year or your close loss to USF a few years back? Don't say you took equal pride in them because they were both losses.

Regardless of what other Bison fans have said regarding moral victories, there is nothing wrong with a fan taking more pride in playing well against a quality opponent. It doesn't equal a victory, but it doesn't mean you can't take positive things away from a close loss to a good team.

I was happier with the performance of the team during the loss to SDSU than to USF. But both were losses and if voting in a poll would regard them both as losses. For me, I would deduct more for a loss to a bad team than a loss to a better team. But there should be a penalty in a poll for losing no matter how good the opponent. Otherwise the top teams at the beginning of the year become very hard to knock down even if they lose some games. And polls at the beginning of the year are usually not very reflective of how all ranked teams will perform during the year.

I find it interesting to compare Bison fans with attitudes shown on Bville. Sometimes you follow along with the herd, sometimes you deviate. It's refreshing to know that not all Bison fans completely follow the party line.

[Bison06]

I was happier with the performance of the team during the loss to SDSU than to USF. But both were losses and if voting in a poll would regard them both as losses. For me, I would deduct more for a loss to a bad team than a loss to a better team. But there should be a penalty in a poll for losing no matter how good the opponent. Otherwise the top teams at the beginning of the year become very hard to knock down even if they lose some games. And polls at the beginning of the year are usually not very reflective of how all ranked teams will perform during the year.

I find it interesting to compare Bison fans with attitudes shown on Bville. Sometimes you follow along with the herd, sometimes you deviate. It's refreshing to know that not all Bison fans completely follow the party line.

All fair points, however, I would like to use hyperbole to make the point that strength of schedule has to play a role in ranking teams.

Can you honestly say that you would regard a 1 point overtime loss to Alabama the same as you would regard a blowout loss to a non-scholarship NAIA squad when determining if a team deserves to be ranked or not? All other things being equal.

After all they are both losses.

[Cratter]

Maybe UNI will make the platoffs with five or six FCS wins!! I think thats the slope people see with this ranking. UNI might not have one FCS win after this weekend and still be top twenty?!

[Let'sGoHawks!]

Maybe UNI will make the platoffs with five or six FCS wins!! I think thats the slope people see with this ranking. UNI might not have one FCS win after this weekend and still be top twenty?!

Perhaps they will beat NDSU, they might be getting them at a good time, NDSU has played nobodies and is fat and happy, UNI has been through the grinder, NDSU won't seem so big bad and scary to them...

[Bison06]

Perhaps they will beat NDSU, they might be getting them at a good time, NDSU has played nobodies and is fat and happy, UNI has been through the grinder, NDSU won't seem so big bad and scary to them...

I agree, this is definitely a game that I am interested in. UNI has certainly had our number since moving into the MVFC with our only win coming at home last year.

They are used to being top dog in the MVFC and I am not sure that playing NDSU scares them much at this point. If we beat them a few more times in a row, NDSU will start to be a team they won't want to see on the schedule, but we aren't there yet.

I don't think NDSU is in a situation where they will overlook UNI though. This has become a fierce rivalry very quickly and there is absolutely no love lost between these two squads. Even the coaches don't get along. This is a game I have been excited about all summer.

[mnbison]

Nice way to dance around it by pigeon holing it to only Patty V. Weak. Of course she isn't going to say it, she never says anything.

Several media members, including your own, and SIU coach Dale Lennon have said it. That is multiple people who work in the league and are the media for the league that are trying to put it out there for people to believe.

http://m.thesouthern...19bb2963f4.html

83, first off, thank you for the link. My guess is Dale is responding to a question asked of him about the SEC and MVFC but he went with it. Second, go back and read my post, you might see where I bring up the media and fans. Oh well, maybe instead of pointing the finger at me, you should be more clear in how you state things. For example, MVFC fans and media say they are just like the SEC rather than the MVFC says........see what I'm getting at? That's the only reason I brought Patty up becasue your statement points the finger at the conference. Hey, no big deal. Good luck against CP.

[82SiouxGuy]

All fair points, however, I would like to use hyperbole to make the point that strength of schedule has to play a role in ranking teams.

Can you honestly say that you would regard a 1 point overtime loss to Alabama the same as you would regard a blowout loss to a non-scholarship NAIA squad when determining if a team deserves to be ranked or not? All other things being equal.

After all they are both losses.

I said right in my post that I would deduct more for a loss to a weak team than I would for a loss to a strong team. But so far UNI has had few points deducted even for 3 losses. That approach ends up giving too much leeway to teams that are highly ranked early in the season. They can stay too high in the polls if they prove to be weaker than people originally thought. As someone else said, UNI cold lose this week and would still be top 20 with a 1-4 record. That doesn't make much sense no matter who they lost to.