Jon Wilner Dropped Baylor Out Of Top 25, Below 7-3 Air Force

Jon Wilner has a well established reputation for unorthodox Top 25 polling. His ranking this week will raise some Big 12 Internet hackles. The Baylor Bears lost to Oklahoma at home. Wilner dropped them out of the Top 25 entirely. Only one other voter (Chadd Cripe at 17) had Baylor lower than 14th.

Wilner is critical of Baylor’s resume. With zero wins over a team with a winning record, that’s an understandable argument.

Wilner has been consistent on Baylor. He had the Bears ranked 9th preseason. That is the highest Wilner has ranked them on any 2015 poll.

Though, Wilner has two-loss Memphis and Temple teams in his Top 25. He also has three three-loss teams ahead of them – Oregon, Washington State, Air Force. Looking at SRS, Temple has played a worse schedule. Air Force, with three losses, has played a significantly worse schedule.

One also might ask why beating unranked Baylor was impressive enough for Wilner to jump Oklahoma seven spots, moving him from the lower range to the higher range of Oklahoma voters?

That said, the AP solicited Wilner’s opinion. He uses a unique, undeviating methodology. Orthodoxy isn’t a requirement. Moreover, unlike the playoff rankings, the AP rankings don’t count. They exist to be a jumping off point for media debate.

There’s no reason to get unduly upset. But, it’s college football. That never stops anyone.