Rankings and quality losses.

[Swoop Doggy Dogg]

I was looking at the trending feature next to the rankings on a sports website and saw an odd pattern. 

So I began writing numbers. 

When teams from the ACC, Big 10 or Big 12 lost a game while ranked, they dropped an average of 5-6 positions. 

When teams from the PAC 12 were ranked and lost, they fell an average of 8 positions. 

When SEC teams lost, they fell an average of around 2.5 positions. 

Four PAC 12 teams dropped 9+ spots after a loss, including Utah.  

Only two other teams all season have dropped 9+ spots in the polls. Michigan after Wisc and Texas after TCU. 

I didn’t count teams that were ranked 20th or below. This isn’t scientific, but found it interesting. 

 

 

[UM4G]

Well now I want to know how far Oregon dropped after their loss to Auburn – 9 or 2.5 spots.

[Swoop Doggy Dogg]

-5 and Auburn jumped +6.

[SalUteopia]

Great observation.

[UtahFanSir]

We know, nice work, confirmed what we suspected all along. I’d like to know why SEC teams are ranked as high as they are all season long. ESPN with their network finger on the scale perhaps? Inquiring minds want to know!

[noneyadb]

All preseason models are based on- previous year results, returning players, and recruiting classes. Bama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Florida are not struggling in this department.  If Pac12 recruited players like SEC they’d have a similar reaction in ranking results.