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2 B1G programs among longest AP Poll droughts for Power 5 programs entering Week 4

Cole Thompson

By Cole Thompson

Published:

For as good as the B1G is in the national spotlight, not every program finds itself in favor of the AP voters. Entering Week 4, 2 programs are in danger of finding themselves in an even bigger negative connotation.

According to Fox Sports, Illinois and Rutgers are 2 of 5 programs with the longest active streak of missing out on the AP Top 25 Poll. Currently, the Fighting Illini’s last ranking came on Oct. 16 in 2011 when facing off against Purdue. The Scarlet Knights were last ranked heading into a matchup against Pitt on Nov. 24.

Stats like these usually aren’t important, but with the emergence of Kansas football under the direction of 2nd-year coach Lance Leipold, things could be changing. The Jayhawks are currently 3-0 to begin the season for the first time since 2009. A win over Duke on Saturday would mark the most wins in a single season for the program since that 5-7 season.

The Jayhawks were last ranked heading into Week 7 against Oklahoma. After beginning the season 5-0, Mark Mangio’s roster would go on to lose 7 straight en route to a sub .500 record. After the season, Mangio resigned after being placed under pressure from both an internal investigation into his treatment of players.

Leipold led the Jayhawks to a 2-10 record in Year 1, with his best win coming in overtime over Texas. Should Kansas defeat Duke on Saturday, AP voters would have a tough time leaving them out of the next set of rankings entering Week 5.

The Illini take on Chattanooga at home Thursday night. The Scarlet Knights with host Iowa on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. E.T.

Cole Thompson

Cole Thompson is a freelance writer for Saturday Tradition who has covered college football and the NFL for multiple websites. Thompson is currently based in Houston, Texas, and also can be heard daily on SportsMap National Radio's 'Just Sayin It' from 3am-6am.