So, I was talking to a few OU fans down here in Frisco this weekend after the polls came out and an interesting conversation took place after seeing OU drop in the AP poll.
It's no doubt that the perception and even reality is that the OU defense isn't up to par. Again, not even talking about what OU fans think as being super critical, but the media and the national perception.
could this perception and some may say reality, affect the rankings enough that it could keep OU out of the playoffs?
Let's say OU goes undefeated, but we're still winning with poor defense see 55-40 type games, etc. OU stays ranked in that 5-7 spot.
Alabama goes undefeated
Ohio State stays undefeated
Clemson stays undefeated
Notre Dame stays undefeated
In this OU will not get picked over any of those four teams.
Perception may even give Georgia with 1 loss (only to Bama in SEC championship) a higher ranking than OU.
I suppose our discussion centered on the fact that everyone knows OU has a great offense, but everyone nationally questions and in some cases laughs at the defense.
Does that perception play into the polls with OU being a less "complete" team? if that's the case, and the poll puts an undefeated OU out of it because of this perception then it will cost OU millions.
***OU defense ranking, using ESPN rankings as NCAA hasn't updated for this weekends games.
Total Defense # 98 of 130
Defensive Efficiency #73 of 130
Passing Defense #105 of 130
Rushing Defense #72 of 130
Sacks tied for #13 of 130
Interceptions tied for #43 (with about 20 other teams)
It's no doubt that the perception and even reality is that the OU defense isn't up to par. Again, not even talking about what OU fans think as being super critical, but the media and the national perception.
could this perception and some may say reality, affect the rankings enough that it could keep OU out of the playoffs?
Let's say OU goes undefeated, but we're still winning with poor defense see 55-40 type games, etc. OU stays ranked in that 5-7 spot.
Alabama goes undefeated
Ohio State stays undefeated
Clemson stays undefeated
Notre Dame stays undefeated
In this OU will not get picked over any of those four teams.
Perception may even give Georgia with 1 loss (only to Bama in SEC championship) a higher ranking than OU.
I suppose our discussion centered on the fact that everyone knows OU has a great offense, but everyone nationally questions and in some cases laughs at the defense.
Does that perception play into the polls with OU being a less "complete" team? if that's the case, and the poll puts an undefeated OU out of it because of this perception then it will cost OU millions.
***OU defense ranking, using ESPN rankings as NCAA hasn't updated for this weekends games.
Total Defense # 98 of 130
Defensive Efficiency #73 of 130
Passing Defense #105 of 130
Rushing Defense #72 of 130
Sacks tied for #13 of 130
Interceptions tied for #43 (with about 20 other teams)
