I wonder what the top ten would look like

if there were no preseason or early season polls and the first poll was this week's. Nothing to factor in but wins, schedule (who did you beat/lose to?) and what teams have done this year.

I think it would look different.
I've long been a proponent of no polls until at least week 4. By then, you have an idea of what teams are and a sample size large enough to form a somewhat objective opinion.
 
Can I ask, why they would look different? The polls remain pretty fluid throughout the season, as evidenced by Clemson, despite being undefeated and only struggling in one game, getting knocked out from number 1 to number 4. Is there an egregious example in the top ten currently?
 
And don't we already have that with the playoff committee rankings coming out with it's first edition after the first week in November?
 
Can I ask, why they would look different? The polls remain pretty fluid throughout the season, as evidenced by Clemson, despite being undefeated and only struggling in one game, getting knocked out from number 1 to number 4. Is there an egregious example in the top ten currently?
If you look at who they have played, I don't think Clemson would be in the top four or five right now, for one. Several top ten teams have yet to play a ranked team, for another.
 
If you look at who they have played, I don't think Clemson would be in the top four or five right now, for one. Several top ten teams have yet to play a ranked team, for another.

But doesn't that defeat your original post? If there's no "ranked teams" for Clemson to be measured by, then what exactly is the justification for them to not be top four or five? Other than one game, it's not like they've struggled with anybody.
 
But doesn't that defeat your original post? If there's no "ranked teams" for Clemson to be measured by, then what exactly is the justification for them to not be top four or five? Other than one game, it's not like they've struggled with anybody.
fair point
 
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