Ranking this years toughest games

[ClonerJams]

Watching this weeks two guys with Jake Brend and Derek Duke got me inspired to do my own rankings. How do you rank them?
1. Kansas State in Dublin - weird conditions playing in Ireland. Not sure how each team responds but win this one and its a huge start to the year.
2. BYU - Retzlaff returns from and should be even better. BYU comes off an impressive year where they ended up by smoking Colorado.
3. Arizona State - The bad man at RB is gone, but Leavitt returns. Revenge will be on the mind.
4. Iowa - We should be the better team but we haven't won at home since 2011 and Iowa usually pulls some voodoo out of their ass.
5. Kansas - They have been a bad matchup for us and Daniels is back.
6. @TCU - Josh Hoover is a good QB and will be on the road.
7. @ Colorado - Boulder was never an easy place to play, though they lose their two best players from last year.
8. @Oklahoma State - The Gundy era seems to be at the end. I have a hard time seeing them being as bad as they were last year though.
9. @Cincy - From the beginning the Satterfield hire felt bad to me. I think this is his last year.
10. Arizona - Again, not impressed with their coach and they lost their best player.
11. @Arkansas State - Some PTSD from the Ohio game a few years ago, but we should handle them.
12. South Dakota - Not a bad FCS opponent and it will be weird circumstances coming back from Ireland, but we should handle business.

 

[FerShizzle]

The top 5ish games all being at home seems like a positive.

 

[Al_4_State]

This is an awesome conference home slate, IMO. The best new teams in the conference, a historic nearby opponent, and a total pushover.

 

[cyclones500]

I heard the podcast and made some notes for the ranking.

I think it would've been better if they did it in reverse order, 12 to 1, to heighten "anticipation," but whatever.

Here's my rank:

1 vs. Kansas State (Dublin)
2 Iowa
3 BYU
4 Arizona State
5 at TCU
6 Kansas
7 at Oklahoma State
8 at Colorado
9 at Cincinnati
10 Arizona
11 at Arkansas State
12 South Dakota

KSU might not be the most challenging opponent, specifically, but it's SO huge in conference / ranking projection.

I'm placing OSU higher on the list than pod guys did, no way Oklahoma State is as horrible in '25 vs. '24. USD between Dublin and CyHawk could be tricky, but I'm putting it 12th mainly because ASU is road game. South Dakota might be a dullish 27-13 win or something, but I don't think it's serious upset potential.

 

[Al_4_State]

I think ASU is tougher than BYU. Leavitt ate our lunch, and Heacock completely befuddled Retzlaff in ‘23.

 

[JP4CY]

Maybe it's just me but I have a gut feeling Kansas is gonna skid out a little bit.
Not return to pre Liepold but struggle a bit more than expected.

 

[ClonerJams]

I think ASU is tougher than BYU. Leavitt ate our lunch, and Heacock completely befuddled Retzlaff in ‘23.

Leavitt is a stud and torched us no doubt, but I think some of that had to do with having to worry about Skateboo. I'll be interested to see how they are at RB this year.

 

[madguy30]

This is an awesome conference home slate, IMO. The best new teams in the conference, a historic nearby opponent, and a total pushover.

About the opposite of last year with exception to KSU.

 

[cytor]

This is an awesome conference home slate, IMO. The best new teams in the conference, a historic nearby opponent, and a total pushover.

I like how you are referring the Hoks as a pushover. Works for me!

 

[cyclones500]

Side note/rant: Thread title is based on the podcast title, so this is not a direct critique. I'm annoyed by recent overuse/trend of "tough/tougher" as it applies to challenging, difficult, daunting. "Tough" is OK, but variety is good.

 

[cyclone1209]

Watching this weeks two guys with Jake Brend and Derek Duke got me inspired to do my own rankings. How do you rank them?
1. Kansas State in Dublin - weird conditions playing in Ireland. Not sure how each team responds but win this one and its a huge start to the year.
2. BYU - Retzlaff returns from and should be even better. BYU comes off an impressive year where they ended up by smoking Colorado.
3. Arizona State - The bad man at RB is gone, but Leavitt returns. Revenge will be on the mind.
4. Iowa - We should be the better team but we haven't won at home since 2011 and Iowa usually pulls some voodoo out of their ass.
5. Kansas - They have been a bad matchup for us and Daniels is back.
6. @TCU - Josh Hoover is a good QB and will be on the road.
7. @ Colorado - Boulder was never an easy place to play, though they lose their two best players from last year.
8. @Oklahoma State - The Gundy era seems to be at the end. I have a hard time seeing them being as bad as they were last year though.
9. @Cincy - From the beginning the Satterfield hire felt bad to me. I think this is his last year.
10. Arizona - Again, not impressed with their coach and they lost their best player.
11. @Arkansas State - Some PTSD from the Ohio game a few years ago, but we should handle them.
12. South Dakota - Not a bad FCS opponent and it will be weird circumstances coming back from Ireland, but we should handle business.

1) I'll say ASU will be the toughest game because they have been spending like crazy in the portal, and they already had a really good roster.
2) Kansas - Jalon Daniels has owned the 3 man defensive front for multiple years now. If we line up that predictable defensive alignment again, he will eat it up again.

It's a weird thing for me that we had two WR drafted into the NFL, and I'm actually more worried about the defense. The lack of talent on the D Line and at LB worries me (with the exception of Dom Orange, I'm unsure we have any first or second team Big 12 people in the front 7 of defense)

 

[1SEIACLONE]

1) I'll say ASU will be the toughest game because they have been spending like crazy in the portal, and they already had a really good roster.
2) Kansas - Jalon Daniels has owned the 3 man defensive front for multiple years now. If we line up that predictable defensive alignment again, he will eat it up again.

It's a weird thing for me that we had two WR drafted into the NFL, and I'm actually more worried about the defense. The lack of talent on the D Line and at LB worries me (with the exception of Dom Orange, I'm unsure we have any first or second team Big 12 people in the front 7 of defense)

The LB's should be better with a year of experience and the return of the injured players for another season. If they can improve their play, the defense should be better, I also hope we actually see more of the either a 4 man front, or bringing the LBers on blitzes and getting home this season, than last.

 

[enisthemenace]

1) I'll say ASU will be the toughest game because they have been spending like crazy in the portal, and they already had a really good roster.
2) Kansas - Jalon Daniels has owned the 3 man defensive front for multiple years now. If we line up that predictable defensive alignment again, he will eat it up again.

It's a weird thing for me that we had two WR drafted into the NFL, and I'm actually more worried about the defense. The lack of talent on the D Line and at LB worries me (with the exception of Dom Orange, I'm unsure we have any first or second team Big 12 people in the front 7 of defense)

Assuming the guys can stay healthy, I don’t think LB will be a concern this year.

 

[CascadeClone]

The top 5ish games all being at home seems like a positive.

I always look at that as a glass half-full or half-empty.

To the good, better chances to win on the road vs bad teams and at home vs good teams.
To the bad, you can lose at home to good teams, and you can lose on the road even to a bad team.

So sort of high-risk, high-reward.

CMC has been good on the road. But has gotten punked at home a few times. 8-4? 9-3? Maybe better if fate smiles on them.

 

[Cydkar]

I always look at that as a glass half-full or half-empty.

To the good, better chances to win on the road vs bad teams and at home vs good teams.
To the bad, you can lose at home to good teams, and you can lose on the road even to a bad team.

So sort of high-risk, high-reward.

CMC has been good on the road. But has gotten punked at home a few times. 8-4? 9-3? Maybe better if fate smiles on them.

You always want your toughest games at home. Can you screw the pooch? Of course, but that's on you.

 

[OscarBerkshire]

I mean I expect a regression. An 11 win season would be great and probably on paper we will be much healthier especially defensively but a lot of things broke our way last year and we dodged the best 3 teams in the regular season of conference play.

Front 7 on defense is definitely a concern. I’m comfortable with the offense, I think the o line will be better and the run game will be much improved. If we beat Iowa, k state, and maybe Kansas as well to get that monkey off our back, and win 8 total games I’ll be happy.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

1) I'll say ASU will be the toughest game because they have been spending like crazy in the portal, and they already had a really good roster.
2) Kansas - Jalon Daniels has owned the 3 man defensive front for multiple years now. If we line up that predictable defensive alignment again, he will eat it up again.

It's a weird thing for me that we had two WR drafted into the NFL, and I'm actually more worried about the defense. The lack of talent on the D Line and at LB worries me (with the exception of Dom Orange, I'm unsure we have any first or second team Big 12 people in the front 7 of defense)

The 3 man front vs 4 man front debate is hilarious. We will always be a sum of the parts and and extra d-lineman wasn't going to change anything. Last year was a product of our secondary pressing forward because we didn't have any linebackers. That allowed Kansas to beat our safeties over the top time and time again. I don't think that happens this year.

 

[cytor]

Each season takes on it's own identity. Success will hinge upon many things. The 2 biggest factors: 1) Staying healthy, and 2) it's not WHO you play, it's WHEN you play them.

Last year ISU had one of the toughest schedules.... which, in the end, was not the case. Time will tell.

 

[cyclones500]

I'm braced for somewhat of "regression to the mean." Might not be as steep of record fall-off as it was from 2020 to 2021, but considering on-paper opponents strength and some other factors, if it's 9 wins or better, I'd take that in a heartbeat.

My outlook might change somewhat if ISU starts like 8-1 and finishes 9-4 and no title game appearance, and I guess that's possible, late October onward almost all games seem close to 50-50.

 

[ElephantPie]

Leavitt is a stud and torched us no doubt, but I think some of that had to do with having to worry about Skateboo. I'll be interested to see how they are at RB this year.

Plus ASU has the Helton twins now so there will be some extra insight into previous internal workings of the offense. I doubt it will be something that makes a big difference but I'd rather those guys hadn't transferred within the conference.