Gophers ranked 9th in final list by The Athletic

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WindyCityGopher

WindyCityGopher

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Stewart Mandel of The Athletic places us ninth in the country and second among Big Ten schools in his second-to-last ranking (only 1/2 with LSU/Clemson is still TBD). We’re up in some rarified air with the big boys here. I love the sound of “Minnesota...Top 10 team.”

1. LSU
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Oregon
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
8. Florida
9. Minnesota (11-2)
Kudos to P.J. Fleck’s team for upsetting top 12 SEC foe Auburn 31-24 in Wednesday’s Outback Bowl to complete the school’s first 11-win season since … 1903! The Gophers neutralized a talented Auburn defensive front with their sleek RPO-centric offense, led by standout WR Tyler Johnson’s career-high 12 catches for 204 yards and RB Mohamed Ibrahim’s season-high 20 carries for 140 yards. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defense held the Tigers to just 56 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
10. Penn State
 

WindyCityGopher said:
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic places us ninth in the country and second among Big Ten schools in his second-to-last ranking (only 1/2 with LSU/Clemson is still TBD). We’re up in some rarified air with the big boys here. I love the sound of “Minnesota...Top 10 team.”

1. LSU
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Oregon
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
8. Florida
9. Minnesota (11-2)
Kudos to P.J. Fleck’s team for upsetting top 12 SEC foe Auburn 31-24 in Wednesday’s Outback Bowl to complete the school’s first 11-win season since … 1903! The Gophers neutralized a talented Auburn defensive front with their sleek RPO-centric offense, led by standout WR Tyler Johnson’s career-high 12 catches for 204 yards and RB Mohamed Ibrahim’s season-high 20 carries for 140 yards. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defense held the Tigers to just 56 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
10. Penn State
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This is an illegitimate list. How can you have a list of the top 10 if Indiana hasn’t played Tennesse?
 

DEGopher said:
This is an illegitimate list. How can you have a list of the top 10 if Indiana hasn’t played Tennesse?
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Ha! He does address that:

We won’t know whether LSU or Clemson finishes No. 1 until a week from Monday, but every other spot has been decided. (Unless you think the Tennessee-Indiana Gator Bowl winner merits consideration.)
 

Mandel is typically low on the Gophers. He's a Northwestern alum which means every season when looking at the schedule, both of us see a sure win against each other. Another new rower in our boat!
 

Back in the Barber/Maroney era Mandel worked for SI and wa
asa big believer in the Gophers. That came to an end after a certain Friday night against Michigan.
 



WindyCityGopher said:
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic places us ninth in the country and second among Big Ten schools in his second-to-last ranking (only 1/2 with LSU/Clemson is still TBD). We’re up in some rarified air with the big boys here. I love the sound of “Minnesota...Top 10 team.”

1. LSU
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Oregon
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
8. Florida
9. Minnesota (11-2)
Kudos to P.J. Fleck’s team for upsetting top 12 SEC foe Auburn 31-24 in Wednesday’s Outback Bowl to complete the school’s first 11-win season since … 1903! The Gophers neutralized a talented Auburn defensive front with their sleek RPO-centric offense, led by standout WR Tyler Johnson’s career-high 12 catches for 204 yards and RB Mohamed Ibrahim’s season-high 20 carries for 140 yards. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defense held the Tigers to just 56 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
10. Penn State
Click to expand...

The Gopher's defense, I think, might be a differentiating factor for national media. There are a lot of good teams nationally with great offenses (Oklahoma), but the best teams also have good defense. To showcase that defensive effort vs. Auburn was impressive.
 

I would like the Gophers chances against both Oregon and Oklahoma too. What a great season this team and staff put together!
 

They definitely wouldn't shit the bed against either of those two unlike some other team we're familiar with.
 



WindyCityGopher said:
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic places us ninth in the country and second among Big Ten schools in his second-to-last ranking (only 1/2 with LSU/Clemson is still TBD). We’re up in some rarified air with the big boys here. I love the sound of “Minnesota...Top 10 team.”

1. LSU
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Oregon
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
8. Florida
9. Minnesota (11-2)
Kudos to P.J. Fleck’s team for upsetting top 12 SEC foe Auburn 31-24 in Wednesday’s Outback Bowl to complete the school’s first 11-win season since … 1903! The Gophers neutralized a talented Auburn defensive front with their sleek RPO-centric offense, led by standout WR Tyler Johnson’s career-high 12 catches for 204 yards and RB Mohamed Ibrahim’s season-high 20 carries for 140 yards. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defense held the Tigers to just 56 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
10. Penn State
Click to expand...

This list needs to include Nebraska. :poop:
 








WindyCityGopher said:
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic places us ninth in the country and second among Big Ten schools in his second-to-last ranking (only 1/2 with LSU/Clemson is still TBD). We’re up in some rarified air with the big boys here. I love the sound of “Minnesota...Top 10 team.”

1. LSU
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Oregon
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
8. Florida
9. Minnesota (11-2)
Kudos to P.J. Fleck’s team for upsetting top 12 SEC foe Auburn 31-24 in Wednesday’s Outback Bowl to complete the school’s first 11-win season since … 1903! The Gophers neutralized a talented Auburn defensive front with their sleek RPO-centric offense, led by standout WR Tyler Johnson’s career-high 12 catches for 204 yards and RB Mohamed Ibrahim’s season-high 20 carries for 140 yards. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defense held the Tigers to just 56 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
10. Penn State
Click to expand...
There is a previous thread titled something like where will the gophers be ranked at the of the season. You can see my final rankings on post # 49.

I agree with the top four spots are shown above. However I disagree strongly with #5. Oregon had a horrible ugly loss to Arizona State, and they had a common opponent with Minnesota, that being Auburn. Therefore I have them at #10.

At number 5 I have Florida. Quality wins over Auburn and Tennessee, Quality losses to Georgia and LSU, No ugly losses.

6).. Minnesota. Quality win over Auburn and Penn State, Quality losses to Iowa and Wisconsin, No ugly looses. Common opponent with Alabama is Auburn, Alabama lost to them Minnesota beat them. Minnesota also won the head to head against #7

7) Penn State. Quality wins over Iowa and Michigan , Quality losses to MN and OSU, no Ugly losses.

8) Alabama
9) Notre Dame
10) Oregon. Quality wins Utah, Wisconsin, USC. Quality loss to Auburn, a common opponent with Minnesota. One huge ugly loss to Arizona State.
 

rpgopherfan said:
There is a previous thread titled something like where will the gophers be ranked at the of the season. You can see my final rankings on post # 49.

I agree with the top four spots are shown above. However I disagree strongly with #5. Oregon had a horrible ugly loss to Arizona State, and they had a common opponent with Minnesota, that being Auburn. Therefore I have them at #10.

At number 5 I have Florida. Quality wins over Auburn and Tennessee, Quality losses to Georgia and LSU, No ugly losses.

6).. Minnesota. Quality win over Auburn and Penn State, Quality losses to Iowa and Wisconsin, No ugly looses. Common opponent with Alabama is Auburn, Alabama lost to them Minnesota beat them. Minnesota also won the head to head against #7

7) Penn State. Quality wins over Iowa and Michigan , Quality losses to MN and OSU, no Ugly losses.

8) Alabama
9) Notre Dame
10) Oregon. Quality wins Utah, Wisconsin, USC. Quality loss to Auburn, a common opponent with Minnesota. One huge ugly loss to Arizona State.
Click to expand...

You took some time, thought this out thoroughly and then presented your case logically and well. Critical thinking skills on display. Excellent job, rpgopherfan.
 

RememberMurray said:
You took some time, thought this out thoroughly and then presented your case logically and well. Critical thinking skills on display. Excellent job, rpgopherfan.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I do have a bias towards ugly losses, hard to put a team in a elite spot in final rankings if they don't beat the teams they are supposed to beat. In the case of Georgia, their three wins against marquee quality opponents makes up for the one ugly loss.
 

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