How bad are we?

[CLONEing around]

I went looking for some perspective on how bad the football team really is this year. When you look at objective, computer based rankings (I think it's the only way to avoid regional/conference bias) you will find ISU ranked in the 70-80 range. Pretty bad. Definitely unacceptable. But what surprised me was all of the other P5 teams ranked below, or barely above us.

Vanderbilt, Indiana, Syracuse, Virginia, Wake Forest, Oregon State, Maryland, Rutgers, Colorado, Purdue, Washington State, Boston College, and of course Kansas.

Not that this information made me feel that much better. These teams are all the doormats of their conferences. But, at the same time, I don't think that we are that far away from being a team that competes for a bowl game either. Not this season, and most likely not with this coaching staff. I just don't think things are quite as bad as some of the really negative people on here want everyone to believe.

 

[alarson]

We'll drop more in those rankings as the blowout losses mount. I believe last week we were in the 50s in sagarin. Now we're 70.

 

[GMan]

People, myself included, are mad because this is the 3rd season in a row of bad play. If we were in a bowl game last year, some people would be mad (they always are), but many more would just see it as an off year and shake it off. But when you've had 3 bad years in a row, it's time to burn it down.

 

[TensasCy]

People, myself included, are mad because this is the 3rd season in a row of bad play. If we were in a bowl game last year, some people would be mad (they always are), but many more would just see it as an off year and shake it off. But when you've had 3 bad years in a row, it's time to burn it down.

Patience. XCPR is rebuilding.

 

[Ficklone02]

We'll drop more in those rankings as the blowout losses mount. I believe last week we were in the 50s in sagarin. Now we're 70.

True. After the next two games we will probably be ranked in the 90s.

 

[CLONEing around]

True. After the next two games we will probably be ranked in the 90s.

Not necessarily. Getting beat by teams that are ranked significantly higher usually doesn't drop a teams ranking all that much. Sometimes it even goes up. Also depends on what happens in other games.

 

[CycloneErik]

Bad enough for 2-10 to be a likelihood. Do we need other measures?

 

[alarson]

Not necessarily. Getting beat by teams that are ranked significantly higher usually doesn't drop a teams ranking all that much. Sometimes it even goes up. Also depends on what happens in other games.

That can depend on how you lose. After this weekend, does anyone think thats going to be anything other than 'badly'?

 

[Spam]

Is the "we are improved" assessment even true anymore?

 

[CyclonesForever]

Take the 8th best team in the Big 12, jump off a Grand Canyon sized cliff, and you'll find us at the bottom. When you get to the bottom, dig a deep hole, and you'll find Kansas somewhere down there.

 

[cyclones500]

Vanderbilt, Indiana, Syracuse, Virginia, Wake Forest, Oregon State, Maryland, Rutgers, Colorado, Purdue, Washington State, Boston College, and of course Kansas.

Focusing on this portion: 13 teams in that list. ISU already disposed of KU, which leaves 12.

As a thought experiment: What do CF'ers think Iowa State's record would be if that was our 12-game schedule this season? (Assume 6 games at home, 6 on the road.)

Additional question: What should be the final record vs. that slate, and what would it be?

Should: 10-2

Would: Probably 6-6

 

[CLONEing around]

Because I like to hold on to a small shred of optimism, I'll say we would go 7 - 5.

 

[Cydkar]

I went looking for some perspective on how bad the football team really is this year. When you look at objective, computer based rankings (I think it's the only way to avoid regional/conference bias) you will find ISU ranked in the 70-80 range. Pretty bad. Definitely unacceptable. But what surprised me was all of the other P5 teams ranked below, or barely above us.

Vanderbilt, Indiana, Syracuse, Virginia, Wake Forest, Oregon State, Maryland, Rutgers, Colorado, Purdue, Washington State, Boston College, and of course Kansas.

Not that this information made me feel that much better. These teams are all the doormats of their conferences. But, at the same time, I don't think that we are that far away from being a team that competes for a bowl game either. Not this season, and most likely not with this coaching staff. I just don't think things are quite as bad as some of the really negative people on here want everyone to believe.

What makes you say that you think we are close to competing for a bowl game? What tangible evidence is there of that?

 

[fsanford]

3-9..0regon state and CU along with KU

 

[Erik4Cy]

lol, ISU is not close to being a bowl team. What are you people smoking? Oh yeah...a bowl. I get it.

 

[Wesley]

I went looking for some perspective on how bad the football team really is this year. When you look at objective, computer based rankings (I think it's the only way to avoid regional/conference bias) you will find ISU ranked in the 70-80 range. Pretty bad. Definitely unacceptable. But what surprised me was all of the other P5 teams ranked below, or barely above us.

Vanderbilt, Indiana, Syracuse, Virginia, Wake Forest, Oregon State, Maryland, Rutgers, Colorado, Purdue, Washington State, Boston College, and of course Kansas.

Not that this information made me feel that much better. These teams are all the doormats of their conferences. But, at the same time, I don't think that we are that far away from being a team that competes for a bowl game either. Not this season, and most likely not with this coaching staff. I just don't think things are quite as bad as some of the really negative people on here want everyone to believe.

Yeah, you are right. We just play in a league with eight better programs. We are being outrecruited and outclassed. The only thing to do better appears is change conferences if you want a football team. To go bowling we only have to beat WVU on the road, OSU, KSU on the road, and UT. See, we are not that far away. There is still life in this one trick pony.

 

[Wesley]

3-9..0regon state and CU along with KU

Really hope to win that third game to show progress.

 

[Wesley]

Take the 8th best team in the Big 12, jump off a Grand Canyon sized cliff, and you'll find us at the bottom. When you get to the bottom, dig a deep hole, and you'll find Kansas somewhere down there.

Thank god there is a football Kansas.

 

[CLONEing around]

What makes you say that you think we are close to competing for a bowl game? What tangible evidence is there of that?

About 50 teams every year go to a bowl. The difference between the 80th team and the 50th team is marginal. I think with a better QB this team would be in the hunt for a bowl. In fact, If TT and ISU switched QBs, I would wager that ISU would be a bowl level team and TT would not. And it isn't as if Mahomes is NFL caliber. He's just a good college quarterback. And unfortunately, Richardson isn't.

 

[Wesley]

I would settle for Huebner.