I think you could make a good argument that Stanford may be overrated in the polls. We finished last season unranked (we were on the "also receiving votes" list -- would have been AP #27, Coaches #30). We lost 9 starters from our defense, which was our elite unit. Should we really be ranked higher now than we were at the end of last year?
I think we're benefiting from a halo effect. We've established over the last 6 years that we're a good program. So we get the benefit of the doubt. There's an assumption that we will replace the departed players and stay on course. I hope that's right.
I think we're benefiting from a halo effect. We've established over the last 6 years that we're a good program. So we get the benefit of the doubt. There's an assumption that we will replace the departed players and stay on course. I hope that's right.