UConn at #59 in final USA Today rankings

[Redding Husky]

It was a very good year for my two schools, UConn and SMU. Both programs are rising.

 

[Waquoit]

For the record, i'm not picking on UConn.

I said it's probably inflating other schools too,

Since when? I've caught your act in the chat room. And the data is the data. If you choose not to use it here, you really shouldn't use it anywhere.

 

[Palatine]

#84 in Sagarin. I really think that is our floor. This was a very solid squad that was, like most teams, a bit inconsistent week to week.

 

[freescooter]

Largely depends on what data you use and how you weigh it. I’ve always been of the view that wins and losses matter the most. Everything else is just used to justify your prejudices.

 

[Skiblets]

Regardless of source or number , the narrative doesn’t change.

1. UConn football is finally back on the rise
2. We’re winning battles against Big schools on the recruiting front
3. Our NIL is strong and competitive
4. The schedule for next year is favorable
5. This is all part of the master plan that the P4 will not be able to ignore

So basically UConn versus anyone with a middle finger thrown in!

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Largely depends on what data you use and how you weigh it. I’ve always been of the view that wins and losses matter the most. Everything else is just used to justify your prejudices.

So, you would rank an Ohio U over a Colorado, LSU, Alabama, Michigan...in your college football world?

 

[Patman]

Largely depends on what data you use and how you weigh it. I’ve always been of the view that wins and losses matter the most. Everything else is just used to justify your prejudices.

From my perspective, wins losses and a simple enough model is understandable and can be more readily agreed on. Once we factor in score and other things it gets a bit calvinball. I'm sure if I was read in on espns fpi I'd probably give a nod to what it does. I understand it's more machine learning oriented and may be an impressive mathematical work but that's basically on rumors. I run the simpler model for now because I can look under the hood and get what's going on for better, worse, and large variances.

Reality is I haven't tried to be sagarin or Massey because I'm not thrilled with the options as best I know them and wish they were a bit more universally true. Maybe I don't know enough math, maybe the stuff under their hood is a degree of nonsense but without people like them doing their thing maybe I don't go into this field. Maybe I do. I've been kinda predestined since I was like 10.

Somebody's model is going to be somebody's bullshit. I'd rather have transparency. This is why I like methods such as the Colley Matrix. I can repeat his method with little trouble

 

[freescooter]

So, you would rank an Ohio U over a Colorado, LSU, Alabama, Michigan...in your college football world?

Interesting question. 11-3 is awfully good. But probably not. Certainly not all. But I think it is more a general sense than a statistical analysis. Kind of the Army/Navy question I think. It’s clear that those 2 will get special treatment that doesn’t necessarily extend to other G5 programs. Do you really think Navy is better than some of those teams, for example? I’ve seen them ranked in some polls where some of those teams aren’t. I think it is more a measure of “respect” for accomplishment than an analysis and honestly I’d have no problem with an 11 win Ohio being ranked top 25 over a P4 team with an eh record. But that’s just me

 

[AllHusky]

So some would prefer Coach Mora to go into the home of a 4* recruit and say, "We were ranked 59th, but we really weren't that good"??

 

[Patman]

So some would prefer Coach Mora to go into the home of a 4* recruit and say, "We were ranked 59th, but we really weren't that good"??

If he's going to a recruit and talk about our top 60 performance I'd say he already lost

 

[Waquoit]

well, I ran the w/l only model with HFA... reversing wake and duke put an 11-2 UConn at 43. Certainly healthy but those weren't the results on the field. Without those swaps 9-4 UConn is at 73 which makes more sense.

This reminds me of the Kobayashi Maru.

 

[Vowelguy]

Massey: 81
Massey Consensus of 85 rankings: 64 (max: 35 / min: 87)

 

[AllHusky]

If he's going to a recruit and talk about our top 60 performance I'd say he already lost

Well Man of Pat, you are wrong. Kids, parents and Coaches see an improving program, and having the opportunity to contribute early to a team that could conceivably be a top 25 program their freshman year(or last year for a Portal Senior) means something. Selling that opportunity is what recruiting is all about. How do you think they re-recruited Skyler Bell? Money mattered, and so did opportunity.

 

[freescooter]

58 in the Athletic’s final rankings. I’ll take that one.

 

[UCan3]

59 puts us ahead of
10 ACC teams
6 B12 teams
6 B1G teams
4 SEC teams

26 P4 teams total.

That said, if we hadn't lost to two of them, it would be a more impressive achievement. Metrics would say we're in top half of ACC. Game results say maybe not.

Regardless of the rankings and I’ll be the first to say that I thought we looked like a formidable team in December, but if we’re being honest, we must knock off some higher ranked teams to make some serious noise.

The close games against Duke and Syracuse are good but they’re not going to cut it.

Even Randy‘s teams for all the old glory, our record against teams that finished in the Top 25 was abysmal.

I think the natural next step where we can enter the national discussion is to knock off a top 30 team - hopefully we will next year.

This is not a negative post by any means, just saying, we look like we belong but now it’s time to prove it.