Defensive stats without context are meaningless. We had a defense in the late 90s under Coach Braxton that gave up yards but created turnovers and won games. Finishing 9th in a conference you just joined isn't a disaster, it's growing pains. Preseason rankings build momentum and get fans excited, something you wouldn't understand. A top 25 spot means respect on a national scale, something that matters when you're trying to build a program. Your argument sounds like sour grapes from someone whose team hasn't seen a ranking in a decade.