[BostonCard]

The problem is that with 2-3 games played you can't possibly rank in a sensible manner. Sure, Wilner's rankings are stupid, but right now every ranking is stupid! It's absolutely pointless to try to rank when most teams haven't played any conference games.

I agree with you; my problem is that Wilner makes a big show about ranking by results... and then doesn't.  There is no logical reason to push Michigan State up as much as he did.  If you go by results, they beat a Notre Dame who is 1-2, with one win over a G5 team (Nevada) and two losses against P5 teams (Michigan State and Texas).  Michigan State's only other win was over Furman, and Texas, of course lost to a mediocre Cal team.  Based solely on results, you can say Michigan State doesn't suck, but there is no justification for putting them in the Top-10, unless you continue to harbor the view that Notre Dame is a good team, contra to evidence.

Stanford may not have a great case to be in the top-10, but it's hard to make a case for having MSU leapfrog us.  Stanford has two P5 wins.  Kansas State's other game was a blowout over FAU.  USC's other two games include a loss at the hands of Alabama, and a win over Utah State.  Notre Dame may well wind up a a better team than USC or Kansas State, but you can't say that based on results.

BC

[BostonCard]

The problem is that with 2-3 games played you can't possibly rank in a sensible manner. Sure, Wilner's rankings are stupid, but right now every ranking is stupid! It's absolutely pointless to try to rank when most teams haven't played any conference games.

I agree with you; my problem is that Wilner makes a big show about ranking by results... and then doesn't.  There is no logical reason to push Michigan State up as much as he did.  If you go by results, they beat a Notre Dame who is 1-2, with one win over a G5 team (Nevada) and two losses against P5 teams (Michigan State and Texas).  Michigan State's only other win was over Furman, and Texas, of course lost to a mediocre Cal team.  Based solely on results, you can say Michigan State doesn't suck, but there is no justification for putting them in the Top-10, unless you continue to harbor the view that Notre Dame is a good team, contra to evidence.

Stanford may not have a great case to be in the top-10, but it's hard to make a case for having MSU leapfrog us.  Stanford has two P5 wins.  Kansas State's other game was a blowout over FAU.  USC's other two games include a loss at the hands of Alabama, and a win over Utah State.  Notre Dame may well wind up a a better team than USC or Kansas State, but you can't say that based on results.

BC