IdaGriz01
Well-known member
Although someone posted the STATS poll earlier, it has drafted so far down the list, I thought I’d repost here. (This is the list for September 16.) Then I figured to add some interesting observations.
Rank, name, 1st Place votes, Poll Points
1 South Dakota State (2 - 1) 41 1380
2 North Dakota State (2 - 1) 5 1311
3 Montana State (3 - 0) 7 1296
4 Idaho (2 - 1) 3 1255
5 Villanova (3 - 0) 1131
6 South Dakota (1 - 1) 1108
7 Southern Illinois (2 - 1) 986
8 Central Arkansas (2 - 1) 983
9 Montana (2 - 1) 961
10 North Dakota (2 - 1) 911
11 Sacramento State (1 - 2) 881
12 William & Mary (2 - 1) 738
13 UC Davis (2 - 1) 653
14 Mercer (3 - 0) 575
15 UIW (1 - 2) 565
16 Tarleton State (2 - 1) 539
17 Illinois State (2 - 1) 518
18 Lafayette (2 - 1) 444
19 Abilene Christian (2 - 1) 283
20 Albany (1 - 2) 255
21 SE Missouri (2 - 1) 218
22 Lamar (2 - 1) 184
23 Chattanooga (0 - 3) 133
24 Western Carolina (1 - 2) 125
25 UNI (2 - 1) 103
Others: Florida A&M (82), Wofford (82), Richmond (80), Eastern Illinois (53), Rhode Island (52), Weber State (49), Youngstown State (39), Elon (34), Furman (30), Southern Utah (22), Northern Arizona (20), Nicholls (17), North Carolina Central (15), Duquesne (13), Campbell (11), ETSU (11), Harvard (8), Drake (7), New Hampshire (5), McNeese (3), Towson (2)
The point that got my attention was what appeared to be a lack of Coastal (formerly Colonial) Athletic Association teams in the Top-25, despite their expansion to sixteen teams. A second look revealed that they actually had three in, after noting that UAlbany is part of the CAA. Still, even three is a bit of a comedown for them. It highlights the big fall-off for the CAA with the departure of several top teams … with Delaware set to go next year.
FWIW: The Missouri Vally has seven teams in the Top-25 (five in the Top-10) and the Big Sky five (three in the Top-10).
Other observations: North Dakota is ranked, so after playing Western Carolina, the Griz will have played two ranked teams in their first four games.
The 49 “Other” points for Weber doesn’t surprise me, but how did Northern Arizona get 20? Perhaps they are the sleeper that someone has suggested.
As those of you who have followed my “Poll Guesses” in the past know, no one is more cynical about the polls than me. Point: Chattanooga is (0-3) but still ranked. Sure they’ve played a tough schedule (two FBS), but … c’mon.
So it’s easy to say these early-polls are “meaningless,” and in one sense they are. Do they truly reflect the strongest teams? Almost certainly not. But they are meaningful in another way. They set the stage for every following poll. That is, few (if any) pollsters re-evaluate their list based the complete body of new and old results. Most clearly start with their previous list and tweak it based on the latest results. A team that is ranked high to start with won’t drop much unless they go into an absolute free-fall losing streak.
Final: Northern Iowa landed in the Top-25 (barely). Will they move up with a good showing at Hawaii? Not out of the question … the Rainbow Warriors have not looked good.
Rank, name, 1st Place votes, Poll Points
1 South Dakota State (2 - 1) 41 1380
2 North Dakota State (2 - 1) 5 1311
3 Montana State (3 - 0) 7 1296
4 Idaho (2 - 1) 3 1255
5 Villanova (3 - 0) 1131
6 South Dakota (1 - 1) 1108
7 Southern Illinois (2 - 1) 986
8 Central Arkansas (2 - 1) 983
9 Montana (2 - 1) 961
10 North Dakota (2 - 1) 911
11 Sacramento State (1 - 2) 881
12 William & Mary (2 - 1) 738
13 UC Davis (2 - 1) 653
14 Mercer (3 - 0) 575
15 UIW (1 - 2) 565
16 Tarleton State (2 - 1) 539
17 Illinois State (2 - 1) 518
18 Lafayette (2 - 1) 444
19 Abilene Christian (2 - 1) 283
20 Albany (1 - 2) 255
21 SE Missouri (2 - 1) 218
22 Lamar (2 - 1) 184
23 Chattanooga (0 - 3) 133
24 Western Carolina (1 - 2) 125
25 UNI (2 - 1) 103
Others: Florida A&M (82), Wofford (82), Richmond (80), Eastern Illinois (53), Rhode Island (52), Weber State (49), Youngstown State (39), Elon (34), Furman (30), Southern Utah (22), Northern Arizona (20), Nicholls (17), North Carolina Central (15), Duquesne (13), Campbell (11), ETSU (11), Harvard (8), Drake (7), New Hampshire (5), McNeese (3), Towson (2)
The point that got my attention was what appeared to be a lack of Coastal (formerly Colonial) Athletic Association teams in the Top-25, despite their expansion to sixteen teams. A second look revealed that they actually had three in, after noting that UAlbany is part of the CAA. Still, even three is a bit of a comedown for them. It highlights the big fall-off for the CAA with the departure of several top teams … with Delaware set to go next year.
FWIW: The Missouri Vally has seven teams in the Top-25 (five in the Top-10) and the Big Sky five (three in the Top-10).
Other observations: North Dakota is ranked, so after playing Western Carolina, the Griz will have played two ranked teams in their first four games.
The 49 “Other” points for Weber doesn’t surprise me, but how did Northern Arizona get 20? Perhaps they are the sleeper that someone has suggested.
As those of you who have followed my “Poll Guesses” in the past know, no one is more cynical about the polls than me. Point: Chattanooga is (0-3) but still ranked. Sure they’ve played a tough schedule (two FBS), but … c’mon.
So it’s easy to say these early-polls are “meaningless,” and in one sense they are. Do they truly reflect the strongest teams? Almost certainly not. But they are meaningful in another way. They set the stage for every following poll. That is, few (if any) pollsters re-evaluate their list based the complete body of new and old results. Most clearly start with their previous list and tweak it based on the latest results. A team that is ranked high to start with won’t drop much unless they go into an absolute free-fall losing streak.
Final: Northern Iowa landed in the Top-25 (barely). Will they move up with a good showing at Hawaii? Not out of the question … the Rainbow Warriors have not looked good.
