The WVU football team found itself in a familiar spot when SI.com released its 2017 CFB power rankings. The Mountaineers check in at No. 21.
The basis behind this story is to showcase why and how the teams within the top 25 can make the college football playoff. It also shows why the teams will not be able to make the college football playoff.
The Mountaineers may or may not be in a good position to run the table in the Big 12 Conference, pull some surprises, get some help, and land within the best four teams in the country.
The WVU football team checks in at No. 21 in the SI.com preseason power rankings. That is one spot ahead of its spot in the first AP preseason poll.
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The Big 12 teams ahead of the Mountaineers on the SI.com power rankings are Oklahoma State (No. 6), Oklahoma (No. 8) and Kansas State (No. 16). The WVU football team is ahead of the No. 24 Texas Longhorns, also of the Big 12, and the No. 25 Virginia Tech Hokies, who the Mountaineers will open the season with on Sept. 3.
SI.com had some nice positives about the Mountaineers, as to why the WVU football team will make the playoff this season.
"Why they will make it to the playoff: The Mountaineers have talent in quarterback Will Grier and running back Justin Crawford, but the new receivers Grier will be throwing to could surprise some folks in Big 12 country."
That’s a great assessment because Grier and Crawford just might be two of the most electrifying players in the Big 12. Grier has a lot to prove after his time away from playing in an actual game, while Crawford is out to show that he is a professional contender.
"Why they won’t make it to the playoff: Turnover has prompted the word “rebuild” to be thrown around in Morgantown, so asking them to win 10 games again and finish higher than sixth in the conference might be a stretch."
Now, why the Mountaineers won’t make the playoff, unfortunately, shows some common sense on the part of SI.com. The WVU football team may not be world beaters and, as shown by the rest of the rankings, the Mountaineers are far from the best team in their own conference. That’s not to say they won’t get to that point in a few years.
Even more spot-on is SI.com‘s critique of head coach Dana Holgorsen.
"Relevant number: Five, the over/under on how many meltdowns head coach Dana Holgorsen will have on the sidelines."
Headsets, beware! Keep the energy drinks chilled!
Holgorsen does provide great material for sports show clips and viral videos. Keeping his cool and maintaining a level head is virtually irrelevant to the Mountaineers’ play on the field.
Let’s just hope the WVU football team is in a position to keep Holgorsen happy all season long.