Despite blowing a two-score lead in the third quarter, Rutgers found a way to win at Virginia Tech, registering its first win in seven tries at famed Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virg.
Now the question: Will pollsters find a way to honor the Scarlet Knights?
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With a 3-0 record to start the season for the third year in a row, Rutgers returns home for its Big Ten opener Friday night when it hosts Washington (3-1) for a nationally televised game on FOX.
If Rutgers didn’t catch the national attention this week, which seems to be the case in this week’s rankings, it has the chance to next week.
Overall, Rutgers average national ranking moved up slightly but not as much as some might have expected after winning a tough road game as a betting underdog Saturday, 26-23. The Scarlet Knights average across five major polls moved up from 43.8 to 40.4, but Rutgers was not one of the 14 teams to receive a vote in this week’s AP Top 25.
Computer rankings
— In Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings on ESPN.com — a “tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency” that are a “predictive measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football, not a résumé ranking” — Rutgers dropped stayed put at No. 41, which is eight spots higher than its preseason position. Shockingly, Rutgers is one spot behind Virginia Tech in this poll.
— In ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), Rutgers moved up one spot to No. 46. The FPI poll gives Rutgers a 89.7% chance of winning six games. Notably, Rutgers started the preseason at No. 46 in FPI and fell 12 spots, despite its 44-7 win against Howard in Week 1. Strength of schedule is likely the category affecting Rutgers’ resume the most. FPI says Rutgers ranks 116th overall, even after the Virginia Tech win.
— The Massey Ratings, which accounts for 44 different polls, gave Rutgers its biggest boost. The Scarlet Knights moved up 13 spots this week to No. 34.
Human rankings
— The Athletic slotted Rutgers at No. 40 overall, up six spots from last week and one from its preseason position.
— CBS Sports ranked the Scarlet Knights 41st, which is three spots lower than last week but four spots higher than the preseason.
— Rutgers did not receive any votes in the AP Top 25 for the fifth week in a row. Noticeably, Washington State (4-0), which has a win over Washington, Rutgers next opponent, just missed the rankings, receiving 67 votes. Indiana (4-0) received the second most votes outside the top 25 with 63.
Season rankings
Check back every Monday for updated rankings and a season-long look how Rutgers fared in the polls.
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Patrick Lanni may be reached at [email protected].
This post was originally published on here
