NU = Ranked This Week

[PURPLE Book Cat]

#25 Mississipi State, #23 Tennessee, #20 Boise State and #18 Arkansas all lost. BYU beat Boise, Wisconsin rolled, so NU will likely come in at #24 or #25.

On one hand, increases national exposure/attention to the game with a very good Duke team. On the other hand, this paints more of a target on NU's back. Duke will be more up for the game with a number behind NU.

BTW I caught the Duke-NCCU game, Duke has a true dual-threat Q. A lot of read-option, but made some very pretty throws. Much like Thorson in many ways, maybe a better passer. Duke is going to be tough! Looking forward to the game though.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Good chance, but don't be surprised if BYU leap frogs us so it will be close. If you thought their Hail Mary against Nebraska got a ton of media coverage, just wait for the replays of tonight's last minute 4th down Hail Mary repeat performance which was capped off by a pick six.

Also while Arkansas will drop they still get the SEC bias so at least some voters will put them ahead of Northwestern even with their loss. I agree most of the others on your list will fall below Northwestern but Boise State may be too close to call for those who actually saw the game and are not looking only at the final score.

I would say the odds of us being ranked by at least one of the two major polls this week are better than 50%, but not a sure lock.

 

[GlideCat]

Good chance, but don't be surprised if BYU leap frogs us so it will be close. If you thought their Hail Mary against Nebraska got a ton of media coverage, just wait for the replays of tonight's last minute 4th down Hail Mary repeat performance which was capped off by a pick six.

Also while Arkansas will drop they still get the SEC bias so at least some voters will put them ahead of Northwestern even with their loss. I agree most of the others on your list will fall below Northwestern but Boise State may be too close to call for those who actually saw the game and are not looking only at the final score.

I would say the odds of us being ranked by at least one of the two major polls this week are better than 50%, but not a sure lock.

Mississippi State coming back from 14-0 and taking it to the last play against LSU will probably keep them ahead of us, as well. I am hoping that we are at #26 or #27 which will motivate our guys before the Duke game rather than a #24 or #25 which will motivate Duke. A solid win at Duke gets the team ranked for sure.

 

[Deeringfish]

Mississippi State coming back from 14-0 and taking it to the last play against LSU will probably keep them ahead of us, as well. I am hoping that we are at #26 or #27 which will motivate our guys before the Duke game rather than a #24 or #25 which will motivate Duke. A solid win at Duke gets the team ranked for sure.

Glide, you and I often think alike.

 

[mission_cat]

BYU was already ahead of us in the AP poll, so we don't have to worry about them leapfrogging us.

 

[EvanstonCat]

I don't think we are going to be ranked, nor do I think we should be yet.

Maybe if we beat Duke. The Stanford win was nice, but as has been pointed out, we still have some flaws, particularly on offense and with a shaky OL that is already beset with injuries.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

BYU was already ahead of us in the AP poll, so we don't have to worry about them leapfrogging us.

In the Coaches poll Northwestern got 35 votes and BYU got 23. However, it is true that in the preseason polls that BYU had a few votes while we had none. Either way, I can see BYU moving ahead of us now that they have beaten a ranked team, whereas last week we were the unranked team that beat a ranked team.

(With regard to the AP poll though you are correct, as BYU did have two more votes than NU, 74 vs. 72)

 

[NJCat83588]

On the other hand, this paints more of a target on NU's back. Duke will be more up for the game with a number behind NU.

I don't get why Duke will be any more "up" for NU if the Cats are #25 than if they are #26 (i.e.unranked). NU is the biggest game Duke will play thus far in the schedule. Cutcliffe will have them ready to play. And the Cats and Duke will be playing every year now for the foreseeable futures it will be almost like a conference game.

I worry much more about the Cats if they are #25. Do they let early success go to their heads? We've seen NU teams int he past lay an egg after getting ranked. In a way, I'm glad they go on the road to play, hopefully this will focus them more than playing in Evanston. Plus, I'm glad I'll be able to drive over to the game!

 

[DaCat]

If you nervous nellies are worried about how the Cats are going to handle being ranked 25, there's going to be a lot of bunched panties when NU is ranked in the top 10 by mid-season.