On September 8th, Fresno State will visit Oregon. Assuming the Ducks win their opener against Arkansas State, they'll be a top-five team at the time of the matchup.
Oregon was ranked preseason No. 5 by the Associated Press poll on Saturday, the same spot it holds in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, released back on August 2nd.
Ducks coach Chip Kelly isn't a fan of polls. Actually, "disliking" them is not a strong enough reaction.
"I don't answer hypothetical questions," he said Saturday. "And I've been asked twice since I've been the head coach to be in a coaches poll and I refuse. Because there's absolutely no way. I could not tell you who a good team in the ACC is...I don't know if Virginia Tech is better than Florida State, and nor do I care if Virginia Tech is better than Florida State. It has nothing to do with us.
"It's just a beauty contest in some people's minds," added Kelly.
'Hey, I've got Oregon 5th.'
'Why?'
'I don't know, they were 5th in the Coaches Poll, so I might as well vote them 5th in this poll.'
Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter has a different take on polls.
"I think college football is where it's at in large part to the media," DeRuyter said earlier this month on the day before the start of fall camp. "To put that out there and have fans talking about college football, I think that is a good thing.
"At the same time, it's all just talk right now."
The last time Fresno State played a top-five team, on November 19th, 2010, the Bulldogs got blown out at No. 3 Boise State, 51-0. That was also the last time Fresno State faced a team ranked in the Top 25. Fresno State itself hasn't been ranked since September 28th, 2008 when the Bulldogs were 22nd.
