The SEC needs to have a lot of preseason top 10s so when they beat eachother everyone can blow their wad to how good they are and talk about having 2 in the playoffs.
This is what ESPN hopes the top 10 looks like. I know they use a formula but their variables are entirely chosen by what they want their results to be. They are clamoring for Michigan to be atop the B1G. Sorry but they have to go through us first.
Those are FPI computer-generated rankings based on returning production from a year ago. Ergo, they're bullshit. Fields is our ace in the hole to the top.
This is pure page clickbait bullshit. ESPN would rank us No. 25 but they dont want to see their headquarters burned to the ground, they just want to piss us all off so we'll visit their stupid pages. Dont feed the trolls.
"You're the patron saint of the totally effed" - Hot Tub Time Machine
How the hell is TTUN ranked in the top 20 ?? They got hammered in their most important game of the year (which was supposed to be the year it all turned around for them), they've lost the two best defensive coaches on their staff, they have no running backs left in the cupboard, their O-Line is worthless and they lost most of the "best defense" in college ball. They must be ranked in the top 10 because of their punter .....
They should be embarrassed for putting out such a senseless list ....
Urban Meyer is a legend, one of the all-time greats, and a tremendous contributor to the Ohio State program. But he was not Urban Meyer last year. Anybody expecting the Buckeyes to take a step back in '19 because of coaching is in for a big surprise. Not sure what they'll do once they get there, but our Buckeyes are going to the CFP next year.
I don’t see how anyone could make a case for scUM, ND, or especially Auburn being ranked so highly. Just look at the personnel lost with each of them. And Auburn and scUM weren’t even top 10 last year.
1. Clemson
2 Bama
3. tOSU
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. Oregon
7. LSU
8. Florida
9. UCF
10. Army- don’t be shocked if they upset scUM in week 2. They return 20 starters including all 11 on a defense that ranked 8th last year. They’ll be favored in every other game.
10. Army- don’t be shocked if they upset scUM in week 2. They return 20 starters including all 11 on a defense that ranked 8th last year. They’ll be favored in every other game.
IDK they were 11-2 last year HAMMERED Houston in their bowl game and Oklahoma barely escaped that game with a win 28-21. If they were to upset Michigan very, very good chance they go unbeaten
The only rankings that matter are the ones by the CFP committee come early next December. As to this poll in the OP, based on proven returning offensive and defensive production, a second ten ranking is not unreasonable in February. The uncertainty is what will make the 2019 Buckeye football exciting.
Too much time spent at the North Heidelberg rather than the classroom. SSD 68-72
Oh - the utter outrage of where our Buckeyes are ranked in a pre-season poll!! Every year these ass hats come up with a poll anointing teams as being in the top 10 and every year they are wrong at the end of the year. Take these polls for what they are worth - NOTHING!!!!!!!
GO BUCKEYES!!!!!
"To have a great life simply follow this rule: Do not bring undo conflict into your life..."
My counter is that it’s the off-season. Stuff like this is what we are supposed to talk about.
Also, these ranking will matter. The deck is still being stacked for SEC dominance narrative...which most definitely affects the regular season.
As I said in the OP, OSU having a new QB and Coach and lots of transition could lead to not being ranked but there are some highly questionable rankings in there, which are head scratchers (looking at you Michigan , especially).
This is a good thing. I'd rather see a young team spend the entire off season preparing with a chip on their shoulder than take reps. off to read about how great they are.
Coach Mick has great bulletin board material already.
Not a bad call!!! I'm not so sure that we should necessarily be #5 due to the amount of change that we are going through. However, due to empirical evidence I don't see how Mich should be either. Texas not being in seems really odd but I guess they aren't returning a lot.
Everyone is overly worked up over this. FPI really means nothing....especially now considering that a lot of FPI is based off of on the field performance. I certainly don't claim to be an expert in this field but they are justifying the low Ohio St rank based on Fields being an unproven QB. This whole thing seems based on their view of a team's QB proficiency and returning personel. They clearly hold Kelly Bryant, Jalen Hurts and Shea Patterson in high regard. This doesn't explain Auburn, Penn St, Mich St, Tenn, or S Carolina though.
100% based on the two most important positions being unknowns. Day is probably going to be a stud and Fields is probably going to be a beast. By the time October rolls around, OSU will be sitting comfortably in the top 3.
This.Stuff.Does.Not.Matter.
Proudly dispensing unbridled arrogance since 1983.
Agreed - absolutely nothing wrong with this. 2002 started with a #13 preseason rank, in case anyone remembers. Take one game at a time and don't get blown out by a crappy B1G West team. The rankings will sort themselves out.
I’m not really concerned with our position. We have a new coach and QB. I can see why they’d leave us out (though I still think we should crack it).
Where all this love for Michigan, Auburn, Florida, etc. comes from is beyond me though. It’s not like they were great in 2018. Plus, those teams lost some of the better players from 2018.
I have mixed opinions on the whole "ESPN hates Ohio State" narrative, but some of you folks are just looking for a reason to suggest it. If you read the entire article, it discusses why Ohio State isn't in the top 10. The story basically says why FPI is a flawed metric. ESPN has already shown what they think of the Buckeyes in their 2019 way-too-early poll, and you can bet they'll have the Buckeyes in the top 6 when they release their final preseason poll as well.
Good teams but strange list. I think being left off the list helps the team. I hope they continue to get picked to have a lame season, maybe 3rd in the league. Nothing fires up young players like being picked to stink.
Just wait till ESPN comes out with their Way To Early Heisman Trophy Finalist List. Expect it to be Lawrence, Tua, Hurts and Patterson...lol, 2019 gonna be a fun ride.
Too early to care. That OSU would not be in the top group does not bother me. They have a new coach, a new QB and new coaching staff on defense outside of LJ.
The top two are hard to argue with, after that. Who cares at this point. Win on the field and let things sort their way out. The SEC, when football gets going again, will always get a benefit of a doubt. Two losses will be considered great because you lost to Alabama or Georgia. By far the best two loss team in football and so on.
This is FPI, which the QB position weighs heavily. It does not credit Fields as being part of a recruiting class. It basically lumps him in with a true freshman QB walking into Wake Forest that is supposed to start. The guys that put out opinion polls doe not have the same top 10.
You know what. I am okay with this. Take a look at the Twitter feeds of the players. A pissed-off, underdogs team works harder from February through the heat of August. These guys will be ready to bring it on Opening Day. An angry team is a hungry team.
5 SEC teams in the Top 10-that's cool, but they will eat each other up in conference, so the pre-season rankings mean absolutely nothing. tOSU will be better than scUM or Oregon next year. ND benefitted last year from having a tough paper schedule, but the on field reality of said teams-USC,VT,FSU,Stanford-was quite different from pre-season perceptions.
I have it on good authority that Ohio State is on ESPN's ineligible to rank anywhere list. Michigan at 5th? They must have not watched last years game.
This is unfortunately going to be the narrative all the way up to the point we beat a team in the CFP semi-finals. Our schedule is weak this year and with all the "newness" the narrative will be that we haven't proven ourselves against a top team. Looking at our schedule, we may not even get that chance the entire regular season. This may be the weakest overall the B1G has been in a while, and we don't have any OOC games like OU, TCU, etc. this year. Our two hardest regular season test this year will be PSU and UM. The pundits will apply unrealistic standards to us as always, and we will have to completely dominate our schedule to gain any amount of respect.
That said, there are some real question marks - number one being, is Justin Fields actually who we think he is. Second and almost as big of a question, will our defense take a step forward or backward. Our DB's still haven't proven themselves, we don't even have that one lockdown corner that we've been blessed with for the last how many years. Our d-line has huge potential but is largely unproven. And our LB's need to step up this year.
I know this is pure garbage from espin, but to be honest, it's going to be a long time till any of us have answers and can be truly confident about this team. And really, out of the last decade, if we were ever in for a "rebuilding" year it would be this one (save 2011). I'm usually the homerest of the homers, but I don't know about this year, feels like it could either go incredibly well, or incredibly mediocre.
Actually, ESPN has the Buckeyes ranked 5th in their opinion poll from their pundits. The OP reference is to the FPI which is based upon returning production.
I’m in agrreance with everyone that is saying “who the hell cares” about these useless rankings this time of year... AP, coaches, FPI, they are all going to change as soon as the season starts and once our buckeyes start showing the nation what they are made of, respect will be earned... it’s just so frustrating seeing teams (I.e. SEC teams/ ACC teams) that are way over ranked getting love in the polls solely to build the resumes of bama or Clemson or Georgia... I’m just so pumped about this upcoming season and to see what coach day can do as the man in charge... I’m 100% confident that once our boys in scarlet and grey kick off the year it’s going to be trouble for all opponents and rankings will reflect
ESPN is such bone heads its unwatchable. All season long all they could say was how Alabama was head and shoulders above every other team. The minute they got beat all they could say was Clemson was head and shoulders above every other team. I feel we could have hung with either team. Plus after the treatment they gave Haskin's I won't be watching them again. Idiot's.
Show All Comments
Friggin Idiots.
Va Buck
It’s almost like they made a poll so obviously bad that people would talk about it.
Glad no one here fell for it.
Auburn top ten hahahah
florida top ten hahahaha
notre dame top ten hahahah
scum top ten hahahaha
SEC three of top four and five of top ten hahahaha
You can feed a bobcat all the chili it wants. That don't mean it's going to crap out diamonds.
They are high...but screw preseason rankings. We all know what really matters.
The SEC needs to have a lot of preseason top 10s so when they beat eachother everyone can blow their wad to how good they are and talk about having 2 in the playoffs.
LSU #4? UM #5? Auburn? Oregon? I guess it could have been Clemson and 9 SEC teams.
This is what ESPN hopes the top 10 looks like. I know they use a formula but their variables are entirely chosen by what they want their results to be. They are clamoring for Michigan to be atop the B1G. Sorry but they have to go through us first.
Nope.
Not to be dismissive of the post ... but I barely care what the pollsters say in October or November so this is sort of like a mousefart to me.
Varys: I've always hated the bells. They ring for horror, a dead king, a city under siege.
Tyrion: A wedding.
Varys: Exactly.
What's the 'P' stand for again?
Pretentious?
What the fuck ever.
I had to run away high, so I wouldn't come home low...
Ole Mark Schlabach over @ ESPN had the Bucks 4th I believe in his early rankings.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/college-sports/2019/02/102444/esecp...
It's not even spring
Those are FPI computer-generated rankings based on returning production from a year ago. Ergo, they're bullshit. Fields is our ace in the hole to the top.
11 Strong.
This is pure page clickbait bullshit. ESPN would rank us No. 25 but they dont want to see their headquarters burned to the ground, they just want to piss us all off so we'll visit their stupid pages. Dont feed the trolls.
"You're the patron saint of the totally effed" - Hot Tub Time Machine
How the hell is TTUN ranked in the top 20 ?? They got hammered in their most important game of the year (which was supposed to be the year it all turned around for them), they've lost the two best defensive coaches on their staff, they have no running backs left in the cupboard, their O-Line is worthless and they lost most of the "best defense" in college ball. They must be ranked in the top 10 because of their punter .....
They should be embarrassed for putting out such a senseless list ....
But they do have the best QB in the B1G! /s
Bertie and Jeeves won't put up with this nonsense!
Urban Meyer is a legend, one of the all-time greats, and a tremendous contributor to the Ohio State program. But he was not Urban Meyer last year. Anybody expecting the Buckeyes to take a step back in '19 because of coaching is in for a big surprise. Not sure what they'll do once they get there, but our Buckeyes are going to the CFP next year.
Michigan at 5? I guess they forgot about the last game on their schedule.
That was just a mirage...
I don’t see how anyone could make a case for scUM, ND, or especially Auburn being ranked so highly. Just look at the personnel lost with each of them. And Auburn and scUM weren’t even top 10 last year.
1. Clemson
2 Bama
3. tOSU
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. Oregon
7. LSU
8. Florida
9. UCF
10. Army- don’t be shocked if they upset scUM in week 2. They return 20 starters including all 11 on a defense that ranked 8th last year. They’ll be favored in every other game.
Nope.
Is this "nope you don't agree" or "nope, TTUN won't beat Army"? Just wondering.
I survived Cooper, and I hate Tai Streets.
Sorry; fair point. IMO, no way is Army the No. 10 team in the country. I'd be absolutely shocked.
Totally agree. But I smiled at the thought of Army taking them down.
I survived Cooper, and I hate Tai Streets.
IDK they were 11-2 last year HAMMERED Houston in their bowl game and Oklahoma barely escaped that game with a win 28-21. If they were to upset Michigan very, very good chance they go unbeaten
You WIN with people.
WW Hayes
The only rankings that matter are the ones by the CFP committee come early next December. As to this poll in the OP, based on proven returning offensive and defensive production, a second ten ranking is not unreasonable in February. The uncertainty is what will make the 2019 Buckeye football exciting.
Too much time spent at the North Heidelberg rather than the classroom. SSD 68-72
Oh - the utter outrage of where our Buckeyes are ranked in a pre-season poll!! Every year these ass hats come up with a poll anointing teams as being in the top 10 and every year they are wrong at the end of the year. Take these polls for what they are worth - NOTHING!!!!!!!
GO BUCKEYES!!!!!
"To have a great life simply follow this rule: Do not bring undo conflict into your life..."
Charlie Baker - OSU - 1986
Outraged! No Tennessee!
Believe it or not Tennessee is in their top 25.
I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan!
Um, you do know this is a football poll, not a basketball poll, right?
Seriously, it's February. Rankings barely mean anything during the season, let alone 6 months before kickoff.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
My counter is that it’s the off-season. Stuff like this is what we are supposed to talk about.
Also, these ranking will matter. The deck is still being stacked for SEC dominance narrative...which most definitely affects the regular season.
As I said in the OP, OSU having a new QB and Coach and lots of transition could lead to not being ranked but there are some highly questionable rankings in there, which are head scratchers (looking at you Michigan , especially).
You win with people.
And so forth...
9 Units Strong!
You are doing exactly what ESPN wants people to do with their opinionated lists. Spread the clicks far and wide.
More click bait by ESPN, nothing new....Known about this for years.
Whatever moves the needle. Football fans that actually follow the sport would have something similar to this:
Also keep in mind fellow buckeye fans, they are PRESEASON polls. This will change mightily come October
Is it April 13th yet?
Not that it matters but I would probably slot OSU behind Georgia and probably OU as well but I think it can go either way.
"The Edge is where average stops and elite begins"
I agree with that!
More verification ESECPN has no idea......they just want the "clicks".
Enjoying daily the 62-39 ttun beatdown.
How do you figure?
Proudly dispensing unbridled arrogance since 1983.
I hope they underestimate us for most of the season...exactly how the did in '14.
This is a good thing. I'd rather see a young team spend the entire off season preparing with a chip on their shoulder than take reps. off to read about how great they are.
Coach Mick has great bulletin board material already.
Just cancel the season.
Stay golden, Ponyboy.
Field is where it matters, don't care what ESPN thinks/formulates.
Having a hard time getting worked up about this.
Connor Brown
Take the disrespect now and show them all up later!
Anybody that places scUM and Notre Lame in their top 15 is a display of far reaching incompetence.
Ohio State should replace Michigan. Texas should replace Notre Dame and Texas A&M should replace Auburn.
Trout Dog
Solid suggestions. Thnx.
You win with people.
And so forth...
9 Units Strong!
Not a bad call!!! I'm not so sure that we should necessarily be #5 due to the amount of change that we are going through. However, due to empirical evidence I don't see how Mich should be either. Texas not being in seems really odd but I guess they aren't returning a lot.
Everyone is overly worked up over this. FPI really means nothing....especially now considering that a lot of FPI is based off of on the field performance. I certainly don't claim to be an expert in this field but they are justifying the low Ohio St rank based on Fields being an unproven QB. This whole thing seems based on their view of a team's QB proficiency and returning personel. They clearly hold Kelly Bryant, Jalen Hurts and Shea Patterson in high regard. This doesn't explain Auburn, Penn St, Mich St, Tenn, or S Carolina though.
100% based on the two most important positions being unknowns. Day is probably going to be a stud and Fields is probably going to be a beast. By the time October rolls around, OSU will be sitting comfortably in the top 3.
This.Stuff.Does.Not.Matter.
Proudly dispensing unbridled arrogance since 1983.
I couldn't care less--the only rankings I care about happen towards the end of the season...
You Got Barbecue Back There!?!?!?!
I really want to say "LOL ESPN, who cares"
But it seems pretty obvious they are one of if not the largest voice in the room when it comes to the CFP and sadly this stuff matters.
Pro tip: STOP GOING TO ESPN.
Take care of business and see these haters in January.
ESiPN=That box of rocks! All the more reason not to watch or listen or visit the boxes website.
Love this poll. What’s wrong with starting outside the top 10?
Agreed - absolutely nothing wrong with this. 2002 started with a #13 preseason rank, in case anyone remembers. Take one game at a time and don't get blown out by a crappy B1G West team. The rankings will sort themselves out.
I survived Cooper, and I hate Tai Streets.
I’m not really concerned with our position. We have a new coach and QB. I can see why they’d leave us out (though I still think we should crack it).
Where all this love for Michigan, Auburn, Florida, etc. comes from is beyond me though. It’s not like they were great in 2018. Plus, those teams lost some of the better players from 2018.
You win with people.
And so forth...
9 Units Strong!
I have mixed opinions on the whole "ESPN hates Ohio State" narrative, but some of you folks are just looking for a reason to suggest it. If you read the entire article, it discusses why Ohio State isn't in the top 10. The story basically says why FPI is a flawed metric. ESPN has already shown what they think of the Buckeyes in their 2019 way-too-early poll, and you can bet they'll have the Buckeyes in the top 6 when they release their final preseason poll as well.
"Anything easy ain't worth a damn"
Good teams but strange list. I think being left off the list helps the team. I hope they continue to get picked to have a lame season, maybe 3rd in the league. Nothing fires up young players like being picked to stink.
Zbuddha
Just wait till ESPN comes out with their Way To Early Heisman Trophy Finalist List. Expect it to be Lawrence, Tua, Hurts and Patterson...lol, 2019 gonna be a fun ride.
watch today as 11w gets mad at math itself
Too early to care. That OSU would not be in the top group does not bother me. They have a new coach, a new QB and new coaching staff on defense outside of LJ.
The top two are hard to argue with, after that. Who cares at this point. Win on the field and let things sort their way out. The SEC, when football gets going again, will always get a benefit of a doubt. Two losses will be considered great because you lost to Alabama or Georgia. By far the best two loss team in football and so on.
ESPN has an agenda... Big surprise!
Urban Meyer left an incredible legacy. 12/4/18 Ryan Day begins his.
This is FPI, which the QB position weighs heavily. It does not credit Fields as being part of a recruiting class. It basically lumps him in with a true freshman QB walking into Wake Forest that is supposed to start. The guys that put out opinion polls doe not have the same top 10.
ESPN is actually being unfair to the SEC. If they were being impartial and unbiased they would've had Miss St and Tennessee in the Top 10 also.
/s
AKA the Horseshoe, the Shoe, and the House That Harley Built
That will happen in week two
You know what. I am okay with this. Take a look at the Twitter feeds of the players. A pissed-off, underdogs team works harder from February through the heat of August. These guys will be ready to bring it on Opening Day. An angry team is a hungry team.
EspCNN = Fake News
5 SEC teams in the Top 10-that's cool, but they will eat each other up in conference, so the pre-season rankings mean absolutely nothing. tOSU will be better than scUM or Oregon next year. ND benefitted last year from having a tough paper schedule, but the on field reality of said teams-USC,VT,FSU,Stanford-was quite different from pre-season perceptions.
lol
Good.. I'd have this shit posted at the Woody.. In the weight room.. In the pisser etc..
Pigskins & Porkrinds
When EsecN reporters take too much meth, it isn’t good. And they have been smoking for awhile now.
TheDewMan10
Psychologically it's great. Bucks always play better when dissed or mad! Otherwise like the above poster stated" who cares"?
Espin gets no clicks from this one.
I have it on good authority that Ohio State is on ESPN's ineligible to rank anywhere list. Michigan at 5th? They must have not watched last years game.
Anything that comes from ESPN this early before spring practice....
36-24-36? Ha ha, only if she's 5'3"
This is unfortunately going to be the narrative all the way up to the point we beat a team in the CFP semi-finals. Our schedule is weak this year and with all the "newness" the narrative will be that we haven't proven ourselves against a top team. Looking at our schedule, we may not even get that chance the entire regular season. This may be the weakest overall the B1G has been in a while, and we don't have any OOC games like OU, TCU, etc. this year. Our two hardest regular season test this year will be PSU and UM. The pundits will apply unrealistic standards to us as always, and we will have to completely dominate our schedule to gain any amount of respect.
That said, there are some real question marks - number one being, is Justin Fields actually who we think he is. Second and almost as big of a question, will our defense take a step forward or backward. Our DB's still haven't proven themselves, we don't even have that one lockdown corner that we've been blessed with for the last how many years. Our d-line has huge potential but is largely unproven. And our LB's need to step up this year.
I know this is pure garbage from espin, but to be honest, it's going to be a long time till any of us have answers and can be truly confident about this team. And really, out of the last decade, if we were ever in for a "rebuilding" year it would be this one (save 2011). I'm usually the homerest of the homers, but I don't know about this year, feels like it could either go incredibly well, or incredibly mediocre.
The Couban embargo.
Plays guitar and makes iced tea in the winter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgiM_ypFsRQ <--- scum tears
In ESPN, thou shalt not trust. In every pre-season ranking, thou shalt not trust even further.
Actually, ESPN has the Buckeyes ranked 5th in their opinion poll from their pundits. The OP reference is to the FPI which is based upon returning production.
69 in 18
I’m in agrreance with everyone that is saying “who the hell cares” about these useless rankings this time of year... AP, coaches, FPI, they are all going to change as soon as the season starts and once our buckeyes start showing the nation what they are made of, respect will be earned... it’s just so frustrating seeing teams (I.e. SEC teams/ ACC teams) that are way over ranked getting love in the polls solely to build the resumes of bama or Clemson or Georgia... I’m just so pumped about this upcoming season and to see what coach day can do as the man in charge... I’m 100% confident that once our boys in scarlet and grey kick off the year it’s going to be trouble for all opponents and rankings will reflect
bleed scarlet and grey
RyanPH
By January 2020 we will be number 1...
People getting this angry over a computer ranking without understanding how the ranking is formed is prettty funny.
scum unironically being listed top 5
I am completely ok being ranked outside of the top 10. Let our new OL, QB and coaching staff come in motivated to get back where we belong.
Lets ger er dun boys!
"Come on, you sons of b!tches! Do you want to live forever?" -- Dan Daly, WWI
ESPN is such bone heads its unwatchable. All season long all they could say was how Alabama was head and shoulders above every other team. The minute they got beat all they could say was Clemson was head and shoulders above every other team. I feel we could have hung with either team. Plus after the treatment they gave Haskin's I won't be watching them again. Idiot's.
What comes to mind when ESECPN prints this crap...………...
Enjoying daily the 62-39 ttun beatdown.