ISU Ranked #21 in Preseason Coaches Poll

StevieISU23

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How is Ole Miss even rated?
Last Year they were "above average for the SEC".....

They are only returning something like 4 of 22 starters.

Oh, But SEC........
Um, lets put them at 15....wtf
 
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clonedude

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Apr 16, 2006
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People are actually discussing the Coaches Poll…. that’s funny.
 

Peter

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Feb 21, 2010
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Madison, Wisconsin
Why is Illinois so far ahead of us? Seems like we were very similar last year.
Huge hype train for them this year. Unfortunately, the B1G is so watered down now that there is always going to be one team that goes 11-1 because they play a hufflepuff schedule. Indiana was that team last year. And when they played anyone with a pulse, they got destroyed. Illinois seems to be set up for a similar run this year. They'll get embarrassed by Ohio State, for sure, but will still get into the playoff...maybe even host a game.
 

ClubCy

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How is Ole Miss even rated?
Last Year they were "above average for the SEC".....

They are only returning something like 4 of 22 starters.

Oh, But SEC........
Um, lets put them at 15....wtf
Returning starters is one of the more meaningless stats in the current landscape, imo.

They recruit HS well and portal better than most of country.
 

FriendlySpartan

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Huge hype train for them this year. Unfortunately, the B1G is so watered down now that there is always going to be one team that goes 11-1 because they play a hufflepuff schedule. Indiana was that team last year. And when they played anyone with a pulse, they got destroyed. Illinois seems to be set up for a similar run this year. They'll get embarrassed by Ohio State, for sure, but will still get into the playoff...maybe even host a game.
Stealing “hufflepuff schedule” that’s brilliant and accurate
 
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FriendlySpartan

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How is Ole Miss even rated?
Last Year they were "above average for the SEC".....

They are only returning something like 4 of 22 starters.

Oh, But SEC........
Um, lets put them at 15....wtf
Borderline top 15 recruiting class, good transfers, that’s why. When teams have good recruiting classes they get the benefit of the doubt similar to FSU getting votes.

It’s a huge reason why most big12 teams get hurt in the preseason rankings, rarely have classes in the top 30 so the voters don’t know what to expect.

Preseason polls are BS anyways but sadly do matter
 
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Cyhig

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I have never cared for polls when no games have been played. There's a reason the playoff committee poll doesn't come out until early November. Let the games speak for themselves before making judgements.

I just have two takeaways from this poll:
1. Iowa State is being respected
2. College Football season is almost here
 

Heathrow06

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Mar 28, 2025
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Huge hype train for them this year. Unfortunately, the B1G is so watered down now that there is always going to be one team that goes 11-1 because they play a hufflepuff schedule. Indiana was that team last year. And when they played anyone with a pulse, they got destroyed. Illinois seems to be set up for a similar run this year. They'll get embarrassed by Ohio State, for sure, but will still get into the playoff...maybe even host a game.
Uh, Indiana’s not going anywhere. They won last year with mostly 1-AA players from James Madison.
Cignetti’s got more talent this year.
 

AgronAlum

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Underrated: No. 21 Iowa State​

Maybe people are fatigued with Matt Campbell and Iowa State given that the Cyclones still have yet to break a 113-year conference title drought and they haven't made the College Football Playoff yet. But they did log their seventh winning season in eight years and set a program record with 11 wins in 2024 while reaching the Big 12 Championship Game. They also return a ton of important players off of that historic squad.

In fact, Iowa State has 14 starters back in 2025, tied for the fifth most among FBS programs. That includes star quarterback Rocco Becht, running backs Carson Hansen and Abu Sama and important defenders like Jeremiah Cooper. ISU did take a hit by losing wideouts Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, but if it hits on transfer receiver Chase Sowell (ECU), the offense should be able to maintain some of its explosiveness.
 

FriendlySpartan

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Uh, Indiana’s not going anywhere. They won last year with mostly 1-AA players from James Madison.
Cignetti’s got more talent this year.
Yeah not really: 49th ranked recruiting class coming in so the talent isn’t much better. Schedule is a bit harder but nothing crazy. Probably a 8-9 win season which for Indiana is awesome
 
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harimad

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Does that mean we are finally at the popular kids table?
I feel like the media talks more favorably about us now than ever before. Although I wasn't around for the late 70s early 80s when the team was kind of good too.
 
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Heathrow06

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Yeah not really: 49th ranked recruiting class coming in so the talent isn’t much better. Schedule is a bit harder but nothing crazy. Probably a 8-9 win season which for Indiana is awesome.

I guess we’ll see. Their weakness against ND and OSU was offensive line; Cignetti has transfer starters in from both of those schools. Huge upgrade at QB with Mendoza. Defense could be even stronger.
Some schools have seemed to whiff on their hires (Wisconsin, Mich St)…while Indiana has hit the jackpot.
 
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Xerxes_

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Sep 10, 2023
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IMO with who they brought back Iowa State should be ahead of every B12 team except ASU. #21 seems a bit low for me but they'll move up a few spots after week 0.