Updated: Week 4 AP & Coaches Polls

RyanSnyder

Hall of Famer
Staff member
Nov 2, 2013
33,374
159,085
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Coaches Poll (Sept. 14)​

1) Ohio State
2) Penn State

3) Georgia
4) LSU
5) Oregon
6) Miami
7) Texas
8) Illinois
9) Florida State
10) Texas A&M
11) Ole Miss
12) Oklahoma
13) Iowa State
14) Alabama
15) Tennessee
16) Texas Tech
17) Indiana
18) Utah
19) Georgia Tech
20) Michigan
21) Notre Dame
22) Missouri
23) Vanderbilt
24) South Carolina
25) Auburn

Others Receiving Votes: BYU 158; Arizona State 141; USC 117; Clemson 116; Tulane 107; Louisville 53; TCU 49; South Florida 48; Mississippi State 27; SMU 24; Nebraska 24; Navy 15; Memphis 14; Washington 13; North Carolina State 13; Baylor 8; Houston 5; Kansas 2; UNLV 1; California 1
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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Strangely--coaches don't seem to be nearly as pessimistic about us as our fan base
 

WaffleShopper

Senior
Sep 20, 2023
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Georgia was gifted a win. LSU was outgained by Florida and only won by 10 after getting 5 INTs. Oregon barely had more yards than the dumpster fire Northwestern. We haven’t looked like a top 5 team so far but just like last year I don’t think there’s any great teams.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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Georgia was gifted a win. LSU was outgained by Florida and only won by 10 after getting 5 INTs. Oregon barely had more yards than the dumpster fire Northwestern. We haven’t looked like a top 5 team so far but just like last year I don’t think there’s any great teams.
100%--this is what people don't comprehend
It's also no longer relevant to run the table. We don't have to be perfect--we just have to continue to improve throughout the year and peak come December.
 
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Jun 26, 2025
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Georgia was gifted a win. LSU was outgained by Florida and only won by 10 after getting 5 INTs. Oregon barely had more yards than the dumpster fire Northwestern. We haven’t looked like a top 5 team so far but just like last year I don’t think there’s any great teams.

Our Defense and Special Teams have looked Top 5 so not sure I agree with you. Offense has been inconsistent (but has put up decent overall numbers - 437.3 ypg, 40 ppg, 172 rushing ypg [5.1 yards/att] and 251.5 Passing ypg). Again, two-thirds of the team has looked Top 5 and PSU has enough Offense, albeit very inconsistent, with that Defense to be in every game they play.
 

DaytonRickster

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
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100%--this is what people don't comprehend
It's also no longer relevant to run the table. We don't have to be perfect--we just have to continue to improve throughout the year and peak come December.
The PSU vs Oregon game could end up being a classic. Oregon has lots of speed on the edge offensively. PSU cannot allow their RBs to get out on the edge because they just go, no hesitation.
I'm concerned PSU hasn't seen that type of speed this year.
 

DaytonRickster

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
2,342
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Our Defense and Special Teams have looked Top 5 so not sure I agree with you. Offense has been inconsistent (but has put up decent overall numbers - 437.3 ypg, 40 ppg, 172 rushing ypg [5.1 yards/att] and 251.5 Passing ypg). Again, two-thirds of the team has looked Top 5 and PSU has enough Offense, albeit very inconsistent, with that Defense to be in every game they play.
I think the winner of the PSU vs Oregon game may have to score in the mid to upper 30s.
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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The PSU vs Oregon game could end up being a classic. Oregon has lots of speed on the edge offensively. PSU cannot allow their RBs to get out on the edge because they just go, no hesitation.
I'm concerned PSU hasn't seen that type of speed this year.
Yeah, it's a huge jump in terms of competition--two weeks to prep. The gameplan better be much better. Establish the run early, control the clock.
I have confidence in the defense but I'm also fully aware they won't be shutting out the Ducks
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
4,374
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Not sure how a team with 0 wins can be ranked.
A competitive l1 point loss to A&M and 3 point loss on the road to Miami is better than beating bad teams?
I would rank them but I get it--thought it's important they're Notre Dame--many others wouldn't get the benefit of the doubt
I have a bigger issue with Clemson still getting that many votes lol
 

RyanSnyder

Hall of Famer
Staff member
Nov 2, 2013
33,374
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Associated Press Poll (Sept. 14)​

1) Ohio State
2) Penn State

3) LSU
4) Miami
5) Georgia
6) Oregon
7) Florida State
8) Texas
9) Illinois
10) Texas A&M
11) Oklahoma
12) Iowa State
13) Ole Miss
14) Alabama
15) Tennessee
16) Utah
17) Texas Tech
18) Georgia Tech
19) Indiana
20) Vanderbilt
21) Michigan
22) Auburn
23) Missouri
24) Notre Dame
25) USC

Others Receiving Votes:
BYU 94, South Florida 83, South Carolina 82, Mississippi St. 69, TCU 67, Arizona St. 57, Tulane 33, Louisville 25, Nebraska 9, Baylor 6, Clemson 6, SMU 4, NC State 4, UNLV 2, Navy 1
 

WaffleShopper

Senior
Sep 20, 2023
425
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Our Defense and Special Teams have looked Top 5 so not sure I agree with you. Offense has been inconsistent (but has put up decent overall numbers - 437.3 ypg, 40 ppg, 172 rushing ypg [5.1 yards/att] and 251.5 Passing ypg). Again, two-thirds of the team has looked Top 5 and PSU has enough Offense, albeit very inconsistent, with that Defense to be in every game they play.
Our defense is legit. But if they’re on the field for 35 min against a good team because the offense can’t convert 3rd downs and can’t sustain drives then they’re going to give up an extra score or two. So far this year our offense is 83rd in 3rd down conversion and 71st in TOP. And our schedule has been trash.

Maybe we can win with just an elite defense but I just don’t see it happening. Our offense has to figure out how to convert 3rd downs and Drew has to start making plays in critical situations.
 

WestSideLion

All-American
May 29, 2001
4,694
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The PSU vs Oregon game could end up being a classic. Oregon has lots of speed on the edge offensively. PSU cannot allow their RBs to get out on the edge because they just go, no hesitation.
I'm concerned PSU hasn't seen that type of speed this year.
Ummm…they haven’t. That’s the downside of playing three patsies before kicking off B1G play with Oregon.

But I don’t think Oregon has seen our speed either.
 
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Erial_Lion

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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A competitive l1 point loss to A&M and 3 point loss on the road to Miami is better than beating bad teams?
I would rank them but I get it--thought it's important they're Notre Dame--many others wouldn't get the benefit of the doubt
I have a bigger issue with Clemson still getting that many votes lol
I'd definitely still have Notre Dame ranked. 2 losses to top 10 teams...I'd have them a little higher than they are right now.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
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I'd definitely still have Notre Dame ranked. 2 losses to top 10 teams...I'd have them a little higher than they are right now.
That's fair...my hatred of them might be blinding me lol
If they win out they're definitely in with two competitive losses.
 

Erial_Lion

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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Based on what? They lose well? I would rank them after they win a game.
Based on the fact that they’ve shown that they are a good team by playing very close games against top 10 teams. Does strength of schedule matter, or should we pretend that beating cream puffs means more than losing by 4 total points to two top 10 teams?

Can you see past wins and losses and look deeper? Or would you rank an undefeated MAC team #1 if they were the lone undefeated team?
 

Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
3,583
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Based on the fact that they’ve shown that they are a good team by playing very close games against top 10 teams. Does strength of schedule matter, or should we pretend that beating cream puffs means more than losing by 4 total points to two top 10 teams?

Can you see past wins and losses and look deeper? Or would you rank an undefeated MAC team #1 if they were the lone undefeated team?
To be ranked you have to win. So if ND played 12 ranked teams and lost to them all in close games, should they be ranked? Should a five loss team make the playoffs over a team with one loss if they have a tougher schedule assuming they’re both in P4 conferences?
 
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Erial_Lion

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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To be ranked you have to win. So if ND played 12 ranked teams and lost to them all in close games, should they be ranked? Should a five loss team make the playoffs over a team with one loss if they have a tougher schedule assuming they’re both in P4 conferences?
So you would have had Texas unranked after a close loss to #1 Ohio St after week 1? Teams that beat FCS teams were better in your mind?

Depending on the strength of schedule, I'd be fine with a 5 loss team making it over a 1 loss team. In a fantasy world where a SEC/B1G team played an insane non-conference schedule along with all of the top teams in their conference which ended with them playing 12 teams in the top 15-20 and going 7-5, I'd be more impressed by that than an 11-1 ACC team that didn't beat a single ranked team.

And in the fantasy world where ND played 12 games against the top 12 teams and lost all 12 games by 1 point, I'd have no issues with ranking them in the top 25 (in a good Power Ranking, they certainly would be).

I have an issue with polls only caring about the number in the loss column, and ignoring the quality of the teams that someone has beaten/lost to. Too many pollsters do that...SOS matters.
 
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Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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So you would have had Texas unranked after a close loss to #1 Ohio St after week 1? Teams that beat FCS teams were better in your mind?

Depending on the strength of schedule, I'd be fine with a 5 loss team making it over a 1 loss team. In a fantasy world where a SEC/B1G team played an insane non-conference schedule along with all of the top teams in their conference which ended with them playing 12 teams in the top 15-20 and going 7-5, I'd be more impressed by that than an 11-1 ACC team that didn't beat a single ranked team.

And in the fantasy world where ND played 12 games against the top 12 teams and lost all 12 games by 1 point, I'd have no issues with ranking them in the top 25 (in a good Power Ranking, they certainly would be).

I have an issue with polls only caring about the number in the loss column, and ignoring the quality of the teams that someone has beaten/lost to. Too many pollsters do that...SOS matters.
I’m okay with giving a team a break for a loss after week 1, but after 0-2 or 0-3, they should drop out until they win a game. And ranking an 0-12 team is just ridiculous. There has to be a mix of SOS and wins….just playing tougher teams and losing doesn’t warrant a ranking or a playoff spot.
 

PSUSignore

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,469
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Not sure how a team with 0 wins can be ranked.
all things are possible GIF
 

razpsu

Heisman
Jan 13, 2004
13,498
13,297
113
Wait until notre dame and perhaps Clemson run the table with their schedule. Media will say, this notre dame team is not the same one in September. 🤣
 

VaDave4PSU

All-Conference
Aug 19, 2003
2,071
2,405
113
Depending on the strength of schedule, I'd be fine with a 5 loss team making it over a 1 loss team. In a fantasy world where a SEC/B1G team played an insane non-conference schedule along with all of the top teams in their conference which ended with them playing 12 teams in the top 15-20 and going 7-5, I'd be more impressed by that than an 11-1 ACC team that didn't beat a single ranked team.

Florida. You are talking about Florida.

7-5 with their remaining schedule after the current 1-2 start would be impressive.
 

Psumatt85

Senior
Jan 5, 2002
405
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The PSU vs Oregon game could end up being a classic. Oregon has lots of speed on the edge offensively. PSU cannot allow their RBs to get out on the edge because they just go, no hesitation.
I'm concerned PSU hasn't seen that type of speed this year.
Playing Nevada, FIU and Villanova means 2 things:

1. I am sure they haven’t.
2. That’s a low bar
 

Moogy

All-Conference
Jul 28, 2017
3,848
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So you would have had Texas unranked after a close loss to #1 Ohio St after week 1? Teams that beat FCS teams were better in your mind?

Depending on the strength of schedule, I'd be fine with a 5 loss team making it over a 1 loss team. In a fantasy world where a SEC/B1G team played an insane non-conference schedule along with all of the top teams in their conference which ended with them playing 12 teams in the top 15-20 and going 7-5, I'd be more impressed by that than an 11-1 ACC team that didn't beat a single ranked team.

And in the fantasy world where ND played 12 games against the top 12 teams and lost all 12 games by 1 point, I'd have no issues with ranking them in the top 25 (in a good Power Ranking, they certainly would be).

I have an issue with polls only caring about the number in the loss column, and ignoring the quality of the teams that someone has beaten/lost to. Too many pollsters do that...SOS matters.

Certain factors are good for analysis. Others are good for context when lacking certain comparatives. But, in the end, you gotta win. It's still decided on the field, thankfully.
 

Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
3,583
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If they finish 7-5, that would be impressive. Just look at their schedule. They will be lucky to win 2 more games.
But 7-5 with a loss to South Florida won’t cut it. If one of those 7 wins had been South Florida, then they might have a shot.
 

VaDave4PSU

All-Conference
Aug 19, 2003
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But 7-5 with a loss to South Florida won’t cut it. If one of those 7 wins had been South Florida, then they might have a shot.

The interesting thing is, Florida winning 7 games WITH the USF loss actually means they will have a better 7th win than a 7-5 season with a USF win.

They wouldn't be selected for any playoff outside of an expansion to 32 regarding, but they are the only team who could hypothetically win 7 and lose 5 and people think "hey, they might be better than 11-1 ACC Team X".
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
4,374
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The interesting thing is, Florida winning 7 games WITH the USF loss actually means they will have a better 7th win than a 7-5 season with a USF win.

They wouldn't be selected for any playoff outside of an expansion to 32 regarding, but they are the only team who could hypothetically win 7 and lose 5 and people think "hey, they might be better than 11-1 ACC Team X".
They might be better than 11-1 ACC Team--that's one of the many problems
 
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Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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The interesting thing is, Florida winning 7 games WITH the USF loss actually means they will have a better 7th win than a 7-5 season with a USF win.

They wouldn't be selected for any playoff outside of an expansion to 32 regarding, but they are the only team who could hypothetically win 7 and lose 5 and people think "hey, they might be better than 11-1 ACC Team X".
But who you lose to counts as well and losing to a G5 team along with four other losses won’t cut it.
 
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johnmpsu

Senior
Nov 29, 2001
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None of this would matter if only conference or division winners advanced to a playoff. Winning should matter.
 
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