We're 82!

[IdahoAlum]

USA Today ranks all 128 FBS teams, and NU sits at No. 82 -- right behind those traditional powerhouses Appy State, Middle Tenn. State, Nevada and New Mexico.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...e-alabama-auburn-baylor-boise-state/31820541/

 

[NJCat83588]

USA Today ranks all 128 FBS teams, and NU sits at No. 82 -- right behind those traditional powerhouses Appy State, Middle Tenn. State, Nevada and New Mexico.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...e-alabama-auburn-baylor-boise-state/31820541/

You beat me to it. I was just about to post this. Stanford is the highest rated opponent on NU's schedule at #10. Duke is #36.

And NU is only the second highest ranked Illinois team.....ahead of #102 Illinois but far behind #39 NIU.

Meyerberg used to do his homework and publish exhaustive preseason analyses. Sorry that he no longer does it.

 

[phatcat]

Even if Stanford beats us, I hope they lose 9 games. They used to be mediocre for decades and now they are everyone's love child. Why no notice of their 5 loss season? tenth?

 

[NJCat83588]

Why no notice of their 5 loss season? tenth?

Perhaps because the 5 teams they lost to went a combined 49-18.........and they spanked a Cal team who ran roughshod over NU 38-17. OTOH, they DID lose to ND..........

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

What a joke! Jackson will run for a buck fifty on those turds! Time to get this party started!

 

[phatcat]

Perhaps because the 5 teams they lost to went a combined 49-18.........and they spanked a Cal team who ran roughshod over NU 38-17. OTOH, they DID lose to ND..........

Not saying they are not going to beat us, nor am i saying they aren't better. Just...10th? If they get back to the 11 win level, fine, otherwise, they are becoming "ND West" in terms of overrating.

 

[pawildcat]

Another ridiculous preseason list, signifying nothing.

 

[JoeWildcat]

This is fine. I see this as good bulletin board material. The important rankings are the ones at the end of the year, and those will be determined by what's done on the field.

 

[willycat]

Not saying they are not going to beat us, nor am i saying they aren't better. Just...10th? If they get back to the 11 win level, fine, otherwise, they are becoming "ND West" in terms of overrating.

Right they are the coast version of ND. As usual Northern is way over rated and look, Vanderbilt #121. Really?

 

[JoeWildcat]

We're also ranked ranked behind Ball State (#75), so that gives NU another opportunity for a stunning upset.

 

[TheC]

Finishing #82 would be pretty disappointing. Though I can certainly understand why outsiders would not think highly of us going in. Thank god we get to play the games!

 

[villox]

What ever happened to the Myerberg Countdown, the really detailed previews he did on each team? This doesn't look like it.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

USA Today ranks all 128 FBS teams, and NU sits at No. 82 -- right behind those traditional powerhouses Appy State, Middle Tenn. State, Nevada and New Mexico.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...e-alabama-auburn-baylor-boise-state/31820541/

I'm not going to sit here and say we are going to be a top 25 team this year, especially with a new QB, but to say we are #82 in the country behind some of these teams is pretty ridiculous. To be clear, I don't care because these media rankings obviously mean less than zero, but just the fact that this team is WAY healthier than they were at this time last year is a huge step in the right direction. Additionally, I believe that we have an above average defense and a strong stable of running backs that will allow us to run the ball. Combine these two and I think we will see more low scoring close games that we will be in. How we can close out games will determine how successful this season is. I just don't see blowouts coming from us or being given to us.

 

[Figrating]

That's more like it - up, up, up all the way up to #82! The National Cabbage Growers Assoc. had us at 84.

 

[Deeringfish]

You beat me to it. I was just about to post this. Stanford is the highest rated opponent on NU's schedule at #10. Duke is #36.

And NU is only the second highest ranked Illinois team.....ahead of #102 Illinois but far behind #39 NIU.

Meyerberg used to do his homework and publish exhaustive preseason analyses. Sorry that he no longer does it.

I used to really look forward to his countdown

 

[FloridAlum]

I used to really look forward to his countdown

Me,too

 

[Deeringfish]

USA Today ranks all 128 FBS teams, and NU sits at No. 82 -- right behind those traditional powerhouses Appy State, Middle Tenn. State, Nevada and New Mexico.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...e-alabama-auburn-baylor-boise-state/31820541/

This list really doesn't look well thought out especially at the bottom.

He says he is actually projecting the final season record based on talent and schedule. If schedule is taken into account he might be reasonable. So if we had scheduled cupcakes in the preseason, we would project much higher.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I'm not going to sit here and say we are going to be a top 25 team this year, especially with a new QB, but to say we are #82 in the country behind some of these teams is pretty ridiculous. To be clear, I don't care because these media rankings obviously mean less than zero, but just the fact that this team is WAY healthier than they were at this time last year is a huge step in the right direction. Additionally, I believe that we have an above average defense and a strong stable of running backs that will allow us to run the ball. Combine these two and I think we will see more low scoring close games that we will be in. How we can close out games will determine how successful this season is. I just don't see blowouts coming from us or being given to us.

We were 42 last year and they were wrong then too.

 

[beetlemania74]

We were 42 last year and they were wrong then too.

And something like #27 in 2013, so even wronger...I have some serious concerns about this year's team, but we're better than 82.

 

[NURoseBowl]

And something like #27 in 2013, so even wronger...I have some serious concerns about this year's team, but we're better than 82.

Yes. Objectively, I'd have to believe we're among the top 35 or 40 -- and better than that IF the OL proves to be better than we're giving them credit for.

 

[beetlemania74]

Yes. Objectively, I'd have to believe we're among the top 35 or 40 -- and better than that IF the OL proves to be better than we're giving them credit for.

I'd say 35 to 40 is too high. I'd put us in the 50 to 60 range to start the season. Lots of talent at certain positions (DB, RB) but still too many "hangover" concerns from last year regarding terrible special teams and lack of big plays on offense. Hopefully those issues will be corrected to some extent and the team will surprise everyone to the upside this season. I guess we'll see in 16 days...

 

[Styre]

I'd say 35 to 40 is too high. I'd put us in the 50 to 60 range to start the season. Lots of talent at certain positions (DB, RB) but still too many "hangover" concerns from last year regarding terrible special teams and lack of big plays on offense. Hopefully those issues will be corrected to some extent and the team will surprise everyone to the upside this season. I guess we'll see in 16 days...

Yep. Last year we finished 53rd/47th in total/scoring defense, and 104th/98th in total/scoring offense. Even allowing for offseason improvement, there's no way any preseason rankings should have us in the top 40 teams in the country. That doesn't mean we can't surprise people and wind up there by season's end, but nobody should be surprised or offended that after two bad seasons we have a bad ranking.

 

[NURoseBowl]

Yep. Last year we finished 53rd/47th in total/scoring defense, and 104th/98th in total/scoring offense. Even allowing for offseason improvement, there's no way any preseason rankings should have us in the top 40 teams in the country. That doesn't mean we can't surprise people and wind up there by season's end, but nobody should be surprised or offended that after two bad seasons we have a bad ranking.

You guys may well be right, but slightly unrealistic optimism is the hallmark of the Chicago/Northwestern fan.