CFN's early rankings

[Go Gophers Rah]

Here are the early Big Ten rankings according to College Football News:

12. Penn State
13. Ohio State
27. Michigan State
31. Iowa
36. Wisconsin
41. Illinois
44. Minnesota
57. Michigan
60. Northwestern
83. Purdue
85. Indiana

Here's what they wrote about us:
44. Minnesota 2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 71
Now the program has to start to really roll. Despite last year’s disastrous second half, big strides were made throughout the season. Out of the dome, Minnesota is in a new stadium and with a new attitude. QB Adam Weber and WR Eric Decker will form a dangerous combination, but it’ll be the defense, even without defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who took off to Auburn, that should make the biggest improvement with nine returning starters.

Here's how they rank our nonconference opponents:
14. Cal
53. Air Force
96. Syracuse

Based soleley on this ranking (and giving us the win over Illinois because its a home game and they're only ranked 3 spots higher, we would be 6-6. If that happened, I would wager that we'd be the best 6-6 team in the country.

Here are a few more observations:

• Its possible that the Big Ten won't have any top-10 teams come August; I wonder when the last time that happened;
• I think they have Wisconsin too high and Northwestern too low;
• I think Royston and Carufel will be very productive; something that the folks at CFN aren't counting on;
• Dang, I wish we had Michigan and Indiana on the schedule!
• Preseason polls don't mean anything! (but they do give us something to talk about in January)

Go Gophers!

 

[Golden Elephant]

GGR, I'd agree with your comments, and while I desperately wish Indiana was on the schedule, Michigan should turn the corner next year (as we did in 2008). Rodriguez had great success at WV and I'd expect he'll have the same at Michigan. I agree with you about UW & NW, but I'd also add they've got Michigan underrated - though based on 2008's performance they couldn't really put them much higher than they did.

 

[GoBigGold]

Again, 10 Conference games per yr

Imagine never having to concern ourselves with who is playing whom within a conf yr in and yr out? No hope for a real Nat. champ if we can't get a real Big Ten champ.

 

[Sotakid]

am i missing something? why is iowa so high? they lose their heart and soul on both offense and defense in greene and king. stanzi doesnt impress me at all. i know their backup RB looked pretty good but that was after greene wore them down

 

[EG#9]

I think there rankings are fair, but I could see Minnesota finishing ahead of MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. I could also see the Gophers finishing below a revitalized Michigan and the usually overachieving Wildcats.

The Big Ten seems to be wide open with only tOSU looking to be a lock for one of the top spots. I will say Brewster better win that opener against Air Force, it would really set a bad tone to open the new stadium with an L.

 

[GopherGod]

I think there rankings are fair, but I could see Minnesota finishing ahead of MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. I could also see the Gophers finishing below a revitalized Michigan and the usually overachieving Wildcats.

The Big Ten seems to be wide open with only tOSU looking to be a lock for one of the top spots. I will say Brewster better win that opener against Air Force, it would really set a bad tone to open the new stadium with an L.

I agree that the Air Force game is crucial as is the opener against Syracuse. If we lose to one of the worst teams in the BCS with a first year coach that would be terrible.