Even if Duke had capped off an undefeated season with a title last year, and hadn't lost since? The point is, last year shouldn't matter at all for this year. If Duke runs the table this year their only good wins are FSU in the ACC title game and Georgia Tech. Not sure that gets them into the top 4 from unranked. FSU was only in the top 4 because they started at the top. I understand, but your point was that the Florida State name is what you bought them the ranking. I have to disagree with you on that one. Florida State's name was huge because they won the national championship. If a lesser team does that too, then they also become legends and their brand name is just as powerful heading into the next season. Even if that's a lesser-known team right now. In fact it might even be more The case with a lesser-known team if they just plowed the field like that.