Because of 2 numbers: 101 and 24.
Midway through the 2010 season, BYU was falling apart, and ranked 101st in total defense. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall fired his defensive coordinator after 5 games, we all tweeted about what a cop-out it is to go firing your defensive coordinator after just 5 games, and then the next 8 games happened. And BYU finished the season ranked 24th in total defense. A full 26 spots ahead of Notre Dame, and we all know how awesome we thought Notre Dame's defense looked at the end of the year.
It was tough to make this pick, given I do feel it's a bit of a stretch. Wanted to take them at 11 instead, but I needed to sneak Nebraska in first. In a way I figure this gives Poot some breathing room as I didn't just go and put Alabama or Oklahoma in here, but I've still got a chance to carve those turkeys. I figure it's a stretch worth taking just to get Poot's reaction when he finds out I put BYU in our Top 10. (And don't think it's that nuts!)
...
8. BYU (DMQ)
9. Arkansas (Biscuit)
10. Wisconsin (Grantland-X)
11. Nebraska (DMQ)
12. LSU (Biscuit)
13. Virginia Tech (PootND)
14. Stanford (DMQ)
15. Florida (Biscuit)
16. Notre Dame (PootND)
17. TCU (DMQ)
18. Georgia (Biscuit)
19. Michigan State (PootND)
20. Texas (DMQ)
21. Ole Miss (Biscuit)
22. Mississippi State (PootND)
23. South Carolina (DMQ)
24. Ohio State (Biscuit)
25. Arizona State (PootND)
By Whiskeyjack August 29, 2011 - 12:49 pm
Use Football Outsider’s stats instead of the NCAA. When quality of opposition isn’t accounted for, the stats are worthless.
The only defensive stat in which BYU outperformed ND was on Passing Downs (10th vs. 17th). By all other metrics, ND had a superior defense.
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By Matt Q. (DMQ) August 29, 2011 - 1:05 pm
That’s not nearly as fun though.
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By Craig August 29, 2011 - 1:05 pm
So, with the entry of BYU into the top 10, I’m wondering: have we reached a point where somebody who’s a no-brainer top-20 team is going to have to be left out because there are 8 or 9 teams for 7 slots?
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By PootND August 29, 2011 - 1:31 pm
Welcome to doing top 25 Roulette with Biscuit & DMQ
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By Craig August 29, 2011 - 4:21 pm
Oh, certainly, it’s probably an inevitable outcome of the format, particularly if someone takes a certain manic delight in producing it. I’m just wondering if we’ve reached the point where it is guaranteed (and if so, who the candidates are for being dropped).
I could look at various pre-season top 25 rankings and figure it out myself, but I’m lazy and would rather have someone else do it (and unlike certain people, I don’t try to hide that behind a bunch of bluster about Socratic teaching or somesuch nonsense).
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By trey August 29, 2011 - 1:57 pm
Ok, I think the HLS community just about lost every shred of credibility we’ve ever had. Should make visiting this site more fun, though.
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By The Biscuit August 29, 2011 - 2:10 pm
I will defend my picks. I will not defend top 10 BYU. But, I embrace Poot’s squirming
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By SDI August 29, 2011 - 2:16 pm
This sounds reasonable. Look at their schedule, they only play 1 ranked team and they get Utah at home. They might not actually be a top 10 team in talent, but if they are undefeated or only have 1 loss to TCU or Texas, they will be ranked high.
Heaps is a talented QB and will be better than last year.
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0
By borromini August 29, 2011 - 3:17 pm
Will there be another Top 10 bomb? With this roulette approach…anything’s possible.
Thumbs Up/Down:
0 
0