Pre-Season Rankings

[FUBeAR]

Love being the underdog. #6, #11 and #18 = plenty of opportunity to earn the respect!

Dude’s a bellhop; an avowed Furman-hater. If FU is 10-0, including a win over Clemson, we might crack his Top 25 before the final week of the season.

[AllTimeFU]

[The Jackal]

Saw the Stats poll.

Furman not ranked, but at least ahead of Elon this time.

[Purple rain]

The great thing is that it will be decided on the field, very soon!

[FUBeAR]

The great thing is that it will be decided on the field, very soon!

Not exactly. Rankings matter when at-large Playoff berths are determined. And At-Large Playoff berths can lead to great things…

…For example, in this millennium, an At-Large Playoff Team played in the National Championship Game in…
2021
2018
2016
2014
2013
2012
2010*§
2008*
2007*§
2004*
2002*
2001#

* At-Large won National Championship
§ Both Finalists were At-Large Teams
# At-Large Finalist was Furman

So…14 Teams since 2001 ended up in the FCS National Championship Game after ‘not exactly’ getting the opportunity to participate in the Playoffs “on the field.” If these Teams’ rankings had not been ‘right’ in the pre-season, maybe they wouldn’t have been granted that ‘not exactly’ shot to go win it “on the field” in the Playoffs.

[DungeonRealm]

Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25
1. North Dakota State (14-1, 7-1 Missouri Valley), 1,348 points (52 first-place votes)

Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Drake

2. South Dakota State (11-4, 5-3 Missouri Valley), 1,285 (2)

Season Opener: Sept. 3 at Iowa

3. Montana (10-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,218

Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Northwestern State

4. Montana State (12-3, 7-1 Big Sky), 1,203

Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. McNeese

5. Missouri State (8-4, 6-2 Missouri Valley), 1066

Season Opener: Sept. 1 at Central Arkansas

6. Villanova (10-3, 7-1 CAA), 997

Season Opener: Sept. 2 vs. Lehigh

7. Sacramento State (9-3, 8-0 Big Sky), 991

Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Utah Tech

8. Kennesaw State (11-2, 6-0 Big South), 959

Season Opener: Sept. 1 at Samford

9. Southern Illinois (8-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley), 915

Season Opener: Sept. 3 at UIW

10. Stephen F. Austin (8-4, 4-2 ASUN-WAC), 813

Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Jacksonville State (in Montgomery, Alabama)

11. ETSU (11-2, 7-1 Southern), 750

Season Opener: Sept. 1 vs. Mars Hill

12. Chattanooga (6-5, 5-3 Southern), 562

Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Wofford

13. Eastern Washington (10-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 538

Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Tennessee State

14. UIW (10-3, 7-1 Southland), 533

Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Southern Illinois

15. Jackson State (11-2, 8-0 SWAC), 515

Season Opener: Sept. 4 vs. Florida A&M (in Miami Gardens, Florida)

16. Holy Cross (10-3, 6-0 Patriot), 503

Season Opener: Sept. 2 at Merrimack

17. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4, 6-2 Southland), 440

Season Opener: Sept. 3 at Louisiana

18. UT Martin (10-3, 5-1 Ohio Valley), 404

Season Opener: Sept. 1 vs. Western Illinois

19. Delaware (5-6, 3-5 CAA), 401

Season Opener: Sept. 3 at Navy

20. Weber State (6-5, 5-3 Big Sky), 391

Season Opener: Sept. 1 vs. Western Oregon

21. Northern Iowa (6-6, 4-4 Missouri Valley), 289

Season Opener: Sept. 3 at Air Force

22. Rhode Island (7-4, 4-4 CAA), 242

Season Opener: Sept. 1 at Stony Brook

23. Mercer (7-3, 6-2 Southern), 215

Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Morehead State

24. Richmond (6-5, 4-4 CAA), 166

Season Opener: Sept. 3 at Virginia

25. UC Davis (8-4, 5-3 Big Sky), 153

Season Opener: Sept. 3 at California

Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): South Dakota (7-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley) 151, Eastern Kentucky (7-4, 4-2 ASUN-WAC) 129, Florida A&M (9-3, 7-1 SWAC) 78, William & Mary (6-5, 4-4 CAA) 66, Dartmouth (9-1, 6-1 Ivy) 59, Monmouth (7-4, 6-1 Big South) 23, Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy) 19, Princeton (9-1, 6-1 Ivy) 18, Central Arkansas (5-6, 3-3 ASUN-WAC) 14, Furman (6-5, 4-4 Southern) 14, South Carolina State (7-5, 5-0 MEAC) 13, Sacred Heart (8-4, 6-1 Northeast) 12, Elon (6-5, 5-3 CAA) 8, North Carolina A&T (5-6, 3-4 Big South) 4

[FUBeAR]

STATS Poll / Rankings. This one matters. FUBeAR does not like it.

Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25

1. North Dakota State (14-1, 7-1 Missouri Valley), 1,348 points (52 first-place votes)
2. South Dakota State (11-4, 5-3 Missouri Valley), 1,285 (2)
3. Montana (10-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,218
4. Montana State (12-3, 7-1 Big Sky), 1,203
5. Missouri State (8-4, 6-2 Missouri Valley), 1066
6. Villanova (10-3, 7-1 CAA), 997
7. Sacramento State (9-3, 8-0 Big Sky), 991
8. Kennesaw State (11-2, 6-0 Big South), 959
9. Southern Illinois (8-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley), 915
10. Stephen F. Austin (8-4, 4-2 ASUN-WAC), 813
11. ETSU (11-2, 7-1 Southern), 750
12. Chattanooga (6-5, 5-3 Southern), 562
13. Eastern Washington (10-3, 6-2 Big Sky), 538
14. UIW (10-3, 7-1 Southland), 533
15. Jackson State (11-2, 8-0 SWAC), 515
16. Holy Cross (10-3, 6-0 Patriot), 503
17. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4, 6-2 Southland), 440
18. UT Martin (10-3, 5-1 Ohio Valley), 404
19. Delaware (5-6, 3-5 CAA), 401
20. Weber State (6-5, 5-3 Big Sky), 391
21. Northern Iowa (6-6, 4-4 Missouri Valley), 289
22. Rhode Island (7-4, 4-4 CAA), 242
23. Mercer (7-3, 6-2 Southern), 215
24. Richmond (6-5, 4-4 CAA), 166
25. UC Davis (8-4, 5-3 Big Sky), 153

26. South Dakota (7-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley) 151
27. Eastern Kentucky (7-4, 4-2 ASUN-WAC) 129
28. Florida A&M (9-3, 7-1 SWAC) 78
29. William & Mary (6-5, 4-4 CAA) 66
30. Dartmouth (9-1, 6-1 Ivy) 59
31. Monmouth (7-4, 6-1 Big South) 23
32. Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy) 19
33. Princeton (9-1, 6-1 Ivy) 18
34. Central Arkansas (5-6, 3-3 ASUN-WAC) 14
35. Furman (6-5, 4-4 Southern) 14
36. South Carolina State (7-5, 5-0 MEAC) 13
37. Sacred Heart (8-4, 6-1 Northeast) 12
38. Elon (6-5, 5-3 CAA) 8
39. North Carolina A&T (5-6, 3-4 Big South) 4

[DungeonRealm]

Sept. 17 Furman @ ETSU
Feels like a huge game to put us back on the FCS map
https://www.espn.com/college-football/g ... /401421157


Very possible they will be 2-0 and ranked Top 10

Also very possible a loss here would put us at 1-2

Gotta get this one!

[FUBeAR]

Sept. 17 Furman @ ETSU
Feels like a huge game to put us back on the FCS map
https://www.espn.com/college-football/g ... /401421157


Very possible they will be 2-0 and ranked Top 10

Also very possible a loss here would put us at 1-2

Gotta get this one!

Yep - but if ‘chalk’ plays out prior, and the Unranked 1-1 Dins do go into Johnson City and whip the 2-0 TopTen Bucs, ETSU will drop to #24 and FU will move up one spot in ORV from #35 to #34.

And Chatt & Mercer will drop a few spots too because the voters will say those 2 were only rated that high because of their 2021 ‘relationship’ with ETSU.

[gofurman]

The great thing is that it will be decided on the field, very soon!

Not exactly. Rankings matter when at-large Playoff berths are determined. And At-Large Playoff berths can lead to great things…

…For example, in this millennium, an At-Large Playoff Team played in the National Championship Game in…
2021
2018
2016
2014
2013
2012
2010*§
2008*
2007*§
2004*
2002*
2001#

* At-Large won National Championship
§ Both Finalists were At-Large Teams
# At-Large Finalist was Furman

So…14 Teams since 2001 ended up in the FCS National Championship Game after ‘not exactly’ getting the opportunity to participate in the Playoffs “on the field.” If these Teams’ rankings had not been ‘right’ in the pre-season, maybe they wouldn’t have been granted that ‘not exactly’ shot to go win it “on the field” in the Playoffs.

EXACTLY. Spot on FUBeAR. Sure, if you can win most (9 or so) you are ok.. but that 8-3 7-4 record gets dicey and is much more likely to get at an at-large if you were ranked in the PREseason.

As Many here know, it's easier to stay in the top 25 than get in the top 25. Damn pre-determined... Shouldn't rank anyone until early October if you ask me. Or do pre-season polls for fun but have 'the poll' come out about 10/10

[gofurman]

getting old - remind me which polls "count most". I know AGS has a pretty good record of picking playoff participants...

But of the STATS FCS or the FCS Coaches does one count more (or better track the playoff participants) than the other? thanks in advance.

GF

[FUBeAR]

getting old - remind me which polls "count most". I know AGS has a pretty good record of picking playoff participants...

But of the STATS FCS or the FCS Coaches does one count more (or better track the playoff participants) than the other? thanks in advance.

GF

Don’t know about relative predictive value, but Coaches & STATS are the 2 polls that the Playoff Selection is supposed to consider when determining Seed and At-Large Teams.

“The committee will use criteria to select the field including, but not limited to, overall record, record against Division I opponents, record against opponents from other automatic qualifying conferences, record against FBS opponents, head-to-head record, common opponents' record, FCS Coaches Poll, NCAA Simple Rating System data and input from regional advisory committees.”

Oops - just re-read above. Thought STATS Poll was in there…prolly cuz it is included on the NCAA’s FCS page along with the Coaches Poll and the SRS rankings (a formula-based ranking…don’t know the formula - which is not updated publicly until after the Committee makes their selections…and they didn’t even do they last year or the 2021 Spring Season - hasn’t been updated since after selection day 2019.) So…even though not stated in their criteria verbiage, gotta think they are using it since it’s right there on the NCAA page and … even the (apparent) dullards on the Playoff Selection Committee know the Coach’s Poll is whack and completed mostly by SID’s/DFO’s…who may be great at their SID or DFO jobs…but knowing/comparatively ranking College Football Teams is certainly not in their job qualifications criteria.

[Yadkin]

At least one of the “national” voting reps in the STATS poll is a CAA stool pigeon, so that’s a minimum four voters for that league.

[FUBeAR]

At least one of the “national” voting reps in the STATS poll is a CAA stool pigeon, so that’s a minimum four voters for that league.

Not sure he’s a “stool pigeon,” but wouldn’t argue if you called him a “CAA Promoter” or a “CAA Apologist.” He’s also a JMU fan, so how much is he going to be focusing on FCS vs. living/dying with the Suck Blech Conference and thinking about his Fav’s chances to play in the ScottsCheapFlights Erectile Dysfunction Cure Bowl in Sioux Falls, SD on Christmas Morning or in the MyPillow / MySlippers RotoRooter Bowl in Muscle Shoals, AL at 10 PM on 12/12?

[FUBeAR]

CBS Sports FCS Rankings - https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... -rankings/
These are Emory Hunt’s (AKA The Czar of the Playbook) rankings. His ‘takes’ are often considered controversial by other FCS pundits/fans. Jackson State (last seen getting blowed the, um, heck out by a SC State Team that lost to, handily-Furman-vanquished NC A&T, by double digits) @ #7 will be one such take that is laughed out of the bar.

FCS POWER RANKINGS

1. North Dakota State
The reigning national champions boast the best fullback in football with Hunter Luepke and enter the season with more confidence at QB with Cam Miller. The Bison finally get another FBS opponent on the schedule (at Arizona) and are unbeaten in their last four FBS matchups.

2. South Dakota State
The Jackrabbits still have one of the FCS' best backfields, led by RB Isaiah Davis, and two tremendous wideouts in the Janke twins. Now, they're healthier at QB. This team has a great chance to get back to the FCS championship game.

3. Montana State
I still believe that if QB Tommy Mellott was healthy for the full FCS championship game vs North Dakota State, the outcome would've been different. A healthy Mellott gives the Bobcats a shot, but they will have to replace some studs on defense.

4. Missouri State
What a remarkable job coach Bobby Petrino has done with this Bears program. Look for QB Jason Shelley to be a Walter Payton Award finalist this year.

5. Montana
The Grizzlies will hang their hats on defense. What that group did last season to Washington was flat-out disrespectful. Look for more "disrespectful" performances this season.

6. Southern Illinois
The Salukis are the latest Missouri Valley team to grace my top 10 and justifiably so. I called them the "Cardiac Salukis" over the last couple of seasons because they are never out of a game thanks to their dynamic offense.

7. Jackson State
Regarding his team last season, coach Deion Sanders said "What you saw in the spring [of 2021], you won't see in the fall." Boy, was he right. This year he's saying last year's offensive line isn't this year's offensive line. I have no choice but to believe in #TheeILove.

8. Villanova
Replacing QB Daniel Smith will be challenging, but whoever steps in will be well-protected up front thanks to a strong offensive line unit led by preseason FCS All-American OL Michael Corbi.

9. Stephen F. Austin
I like the job that coach Colby Carthel is doing with the Lumberjacks. SFA has a challenging schedule but still should be viewed as one of the favorites in the WAC. I'm a big fan of QB Trae Self.

10. Kennesaw State
Owls signal-caller Xavier Shepherd spearheads one of the best rushing offenses in the FCS. Between a ball-control option game and an aggressive defense, playoff appearances have become an annual thing for Brian Bohannon's squad.

11. Incarnate Word
The Cardinals lose former Jerry Rice Award winner Cameron Ward, who transferred to Washington State, but they replace him with an equally exciting and dynamic QB in Lindsey Scott Jr. Defensively, they should be solid once again. UIW opens up with back-to-back challenging and exciting matchups at SIU and Nevada.

12. Chattanooga
Defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell, a two-time FCS All-American and All-Southern Conference performer, leads a strong defensive unit for the Mocs. If the passing game improves, they could be a darkhorse for the FCS playoffs.

13. Holy Cross
Coach Bob Chesney has done a phenomenal job with the Crusaders. Can they replicate last year's successful 10-3 record? We'll learn a lot about this year's team within their first three games (at Merrimack, at Buffalo, vs. Yale).

14. Sacramento State
The Hornets have been good under coach Troy Taylor, and they're arguably one of the more consistent squads in the Big Sky. That won't change as they head into the 2022 season.

15. Rhode Island
I love the resurgence in recents seasons from the Rams. They are consistently a tough out for opponents. QB Kasim Hill brings both talent and veteran leadership to the table. The Rams could make a big statement in their opener vs. conference foe Stony Brook.

16. Weber State
The Wildcats are usually strong on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I expect that to be the case this year – just as I expect RB Josh Davis to return to health and ball out in the process.

17. Florida A&M
Coach Willie Simmons has done an excellent job building up this program. A one-point loss last year in the Orange Blossom Classic was the only thing that kept the Rattlers from the Celebration Bowl. FAMU is set up to play postseason ball again this year, whether that's in the Celebration Bowl or, like last season, the FCS playoffs.
team

18. Richmond
Adding WR Jakob Herres this offseason was a huge get for the Spiders. Unfortunately, they lost their best DL in Kobie Turner to Wake Forest. The transfer portal giveth and taketh away. It doesn't matter, the Spiders will still find a way to stay stout on that side of the ball.

19. William & Mary
I'm a Mike London guy. He's a championship-winning coach that has quietly built up a strong program. The Tribe are ready to take a major step forward this season.

20. Mercer
The Bears were on the cusp of an FCS playoff berth last season, and they fully expect to get there this year. Keep an eye on WR Devron Harper, who dazzled in his debut season after coming over from Gardner-Webb. He'll push for All-America honors when it's all said and done.

21. East Tennessee State
Jacob Saylors gives the Bucs a foundational running back to build around while also softening the blow of losing star tailback Quay Holmes to graduation. Saylors and the Bucs made the FCS playoffs last year and new coach George Quarles hopes to do the same.

22. Delaware
If Nolan Henderson can stay healthy for a full season, the Blue Hens will definitely fly up this list. He's one of the more exciting QBs in the FCS.

23. Southeastern Louisiana
Replacing former Walter Payton Award QB Cole Kelley will be a challenge, but the Lions always do a great job in reloading in a talent-rich state like Louisiana.

24. Eastern Kentucky
Defense should once again be the calling card for the Colonels entering 2022. They'll need a little bit more consistency from the offense if they want to reach their full potential.

25. Eastern Washington
Who steps in at QB for the 2021 Walter Payton Award winner and record-setting QB Eric Barriere will be the storyline to watch. The Eagles have to catch fire after a tough early part of the schedule.