Virgin Territory: Purdue Leaves List Never Going Atop National Poll Pedestal
December 7th, 2021 - 11:52
A total of 33 current power-conference members are left failing to secure national #1 acclaim in their history after Purdue achieved the feat for first time this season. The Boilermakers' reign didn't last long because of loss at the buzzer at Rutgers, which is one of the blemished 33. Every Power 6 Conference member has been included in an AP national ranking since the 2007-08 campaign with nearly 75% of them (24) ranking among top 12 teams in that span.
Georgia (24th in 2010-11) and Nebraska (21st in 2014-15) are the only elite schools in last 15 years not to reach the Top 20. Nebraska and Northwestern (19th in 2017-18 and 2020-21) are the only power-league members failing to rank among nation's top 15 teams at some point thus far in the 21st Century.
The only one of the 33 power-league institutions in question never placing among the Top 10 at some juncture is Texas Christian (best ranking is 12th during 1951-52 campaign). Twelve of these schools have been national bridesmaid (with Maryland settling at #2 in seven different seasons including four straight years in mid-1970s) since AP poll was introduced midway through 1948-49:
NOTE: AP rankings included only top 10 from 1961-62 through 1967-68 and increased from 20 to 25 schools in 1989-90.