That's what I'm saying, our team gets the "need to show" treatment every year. And I mentioned writers looking at perennial Top 30 programs as part of their voting process. I would think we are currently back in this category. Perennial powers would probably be top 10 or top 5 every year. We're not even talking about those.
I just see teams that are pretty much on par with us the last four years, and those teams don't seem to face the same criteria before they may be considered.
Just to be clear, we were in the top 25 after going on the streak until the last poll came out, after we lost to BYU. But still received votes.
Others receiving votes: Rice 63, Northwestern 52, Oregon State 42, Oklahoma State 37, Rutgers 33, South Dakota State 26, Iowa State 23, Delaware 21, BYU 18, Ohio State 17, Stephen F. Austin 9, Ole Miss 4, Michigan State 4, Syracuse 3, Belmont 1, Marquette 1, Virginia Tech 1
Dropped from rankings: Rutgers 23, Ohio State 24, South Dakota State 25
It's not a big slight, but it would not be a stretch if they were to have received consideration either. Other teams get considered with less justification. That's why these polls are nothing but fun to talk about and nothing to take too seriously.