“America’s College Football Insider” doesn’t rank Pitti in a position far too early in the 2022 poll

Pitt’s magical season in 2021 with Kenny Pickett and his club ended in disappointment when the Peach Bowl lost to Michigan State at the end of the year, but Pitt will return 10 All-ACC awards and most of last season’s team for the following season.

However, Action Network’s Brett McMurphy doesn’t like Pitti very well at the start of the season. In his premature 2022 poll, he did not rank Pitti. Although he listed Pitt alphabetically on his list of “also receiving votes” groups, it’s a very, very curious dismissal.

No more waiting: here’s my top 25 rankings of 2022, ridiculously premature @ActionNetworkHQ. The SEC has 7 teams, followed by Big Ten (6), ACC (3), Big 12 (3), Mountain West (2), Pac-12 (2), AAC (1) and Notre Dame.https://t.co/zjpwf0fjBj

– Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 9, 2022

Yes, Pitt lost to Pickett and a few assistants on both sides of the ball, but most of last season’s team is back and a few key moves have already been secured, so Pitt is ready for a new run.

However, he placed Clemson in fifth place, Wake Forest in ninth place and Miami in 11th place.

Clemson without all his previous coordinators and at the end of the season, led by DJ Uiagalelei, has a very, very generous Top 5 ranking. Despite the last half of the season, Clemson’s ranking is purely a nickname.

And despite Wake Forest returning as quarterback Sam Hartman, ranking in the Top 10 is suspected after Pitt beat him in the ACC championship. Still, despite Pitt’s lack of ranking, Clemson and Wake Forest are not surprising in their ranking.

But Miami? Yes, Miami won Pitt in 2021, but Hurricanes ’ranking outside the Top 10 – even as Tyler Van Dyk’s quarterback – is wild. As a result of 7-5 with Mario Cristobal moving in as head coach, the Top 12 ranking is at least interesting.

Wisconsin in 6th place, Oklahoma in 7th place, Penn State in 14th place, LSU in 18th place and Nebraska in 25th place show – to varying degrees – how important it is to be blue-blooded in college football.

Wisconsin has finished third in the weak division of Big Ten. Oklahoma – while securing the UCF transfer to Dillon Gabriel – has lost its head coach, two top quarterbacks and half of his recruiting class. Penn State is 11-11 in the last two seasons, with Sean Clifford returning as a quarterback next season. LSU will start in the first season as Brian Kelly’s head coach and is looking for his quarterback. And Nebraska is ranked 25th? Enough said.

Of course, McMurphy’s ranking means nothing, but this is just an example of Pitt being ignored because he’s Pitt. 11-3, after a season that won the ACC title, one would think Pitt would at least finish in the season.

But that may not be the case if AP and Coaches Poll voters feel the same way McMurphy does.