Three preseason Wyoming football rankings are now out: the Massey Ratings (via highschoolsports.net), the Maxpreps.com ratings and the Wyopreps.com coaches and media poll. Massey and Maxpreps use computers to rank their teams regardless of classification, while Wyopreps uses votes from coaches and media (including me) to put together a top five in each class.
The Cliff Notes version: Both Massey and Maxpreps have Douglas in the top spot. Massey has Sheridan, Glenrock, Cheyenne Central and Gillette (in that order) rounding out the top five, while Maxpreps has Sheridan, Gillette, Thermopolis and Cheyenne Central in spots 2-5, respectively.
The top five in each 11-man class, in order, from Massey:
4A: Sheridan, Cheyenne Central, Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Green River
3A: Douglas, Buffalo, Cody, Lander, Worland
2A: Glenrock, Thermopolis, Kemmerer, Big Horn, Greybull
1A 11-man: Southeast, Lingle, Cokeville, Lusk, Wind River
Now the same from Maxpreps:
4A: Sheridan, Gillette, Cheyenne Central, Kelly Walsh, Green River
3A: Douglas, Buffalo, Cody, Worland, Torrington
2A: Thermopolis, Glenrock, Greybull, Kemmerer, Big Horn
1A 11-man: Southeast, Lingle, Cokeville, Wind River, Lusk
Obviously, last year’s final finishes have a lot to do with where a team starts ranked in the preseason, especially when a computer is involved. The humans involved in the Wyopreps poll had this to say:
4A: Natrona, Sheridan, Cheyenne East, Gillette, Cheyenne Central
3A: Douglas, Buffalo, Cody, Star Valley, Powell
2A: Thermopolis, Glenrock, Greybull, Big Horn, Kemmerer
1A 11-man: Southeast and Cokeville (tie), Lusk, Lingle, Wind River
1A six-man: Kaycee, Guernsey, Hanna, Midwest, Ten Sleep
Of course, I already made my choices.
Granted, these preseason rankings don’t mean much. They’re either based too much in the past (most computer rankings) or based too much in speculation (most human rankings). But these rankings are also part of what makes it so much fun to actually strap on the pads and prove just how good your team really is. That’s why I get a kick out of these rankings — they’re fun to talk about because we haven’t actually had anyone put their hands in the dirt just yet and truly figure out who is the best.
Can’t wait for Aug. 27! Fewer than 10 days now until that first whistle sounds….
–patrick
I don’t think you can get too much out of the pre-season rankings. there is too many variables for the coaches and media to make accurate predictions, outside maybe #1 and #2. for instance, CST predicted us last year to be fighting for our playoff lives in week 8, and as it turned out, we were battling for first place. imo, too much is put into the rankings. they just give all of us (the fans) something to talk about about during the week.