In the New World Order the main focus UH and its fans should keep is on programs if the G5. They are our competition for a NY6 Bowl Game.
Having a strong Boise State ranked ahead of UH in preseason polls is a cause for concern. Not alarm, but concern. Then there is BYU and San Diego State lurking just waiting for us to slip - even a little bit. And who knows if Cincinatti will indeed rise to the top snd relegate UH to an ordinary 11-1 season. Have we really gotten to the point where 11-1 could be considered ordinary?
Not that we can’t overcome it, but that it’s possibly something we must overcome. It certainly adds a bit of drama to the upcoming season.
I’m not terribly worried about Boise. Their schedule is nowhere near as strong as ours this year. We still have to take care of business, but if we both do, I don’t see how they could be ranked ahead of us. NY6 is ours to lose.
We would certainly have to slip–and badly–for San Diego State to bypass us.
BYU definitely has a stronger schedule than us, but can’t imagine they run that gauntlet anywhere close to unscathed.
Just like every year, it’s going to take a marquee win to get national attention. Thankfully we have that opportunity in the very first week this year. Also thankfully, if we don’t pull off the win against OU, we have the rest of the season to make up for it. Early season losses are ALWAYS better than late season losses. Assuming (and it is just an assumption) that we make it through conference play unscathed and take home the championship again, the biggest game of the year for us will be Louisville at home. If we have a loss to OU, we’ll mostly likely need a win against UL to get into an NY6 bowl.
I am not sure I get the Washington ranking. They were 7-6 last year. I get they think they were improving, but unranked barely over .500 team to top ten? While having one of the weakest out of conference schedules in the country? Eh…
I think some the Washington hype is based on their returning almost all of their offensive production, plus people still have sky-high expectations out of Chris Petersen. Even then top ten? Really?
My bucket list game this year … will visit their game at Neyland 10/15 with Bama … with my brother his first at Neyland … that and visiting the civil war battle sights at Chattanooga and surrounding area.
With some football significance … Missionary Ridge battle … Gen Douglas MacArthur’s father won a medal of honor there when he inadvertently charged against orders with the Wisconsin regiment … his battle war cry was “On Wisconsin” … which became the title of the fight song of the badgers.
Given their schedule if BYU runs the table we will not be in a NY6 bowl. Michigan State, UCLA, Boise. And don’t giggle at Toledo. Remember last year. If. It’s a very big word.
BYU doesn’t count as the G5 rep as they can’t be a G5 conference champ. If BYU makes NY6 bowl, it would be in addition to G5 rep, much like Notre Dame.
Ohio St with 3 starters returning on O and 3 on D blows my freaking mind. I mean I get that they recruit so well that the guys on the bench could whip up on Tulsa after having 4 martinis, but geez 6th in the country! Most never having played college ball!
