Top FCS Teams

[purplehorse123]

Some very good teams at top. At present I think there is a gap between Furman and NDSU, SDSU, and Montana State. Maybe a few other teams but I think those 3 are very strong.

Of course I am hoping UIW beats UNDS and I think they can do it.

[FUBeAR]

Some very good teams at top. At present I think there is a gap between Furman and NDSU, SDSU, and Montana State. Maybe a few other teams but I think those 3 are very strong.

Of course I am hoping UIW beats UNDS and I think they can do it.

If you think UIW can beat NDSU, why would you think there is a “gap” between Furman and NDSU? Furman was a brief, light tug on the back of a jersey away from beating UIW.

[purplehorse123]

Some very good teams at top. At present I think there is a gap between Furman and NDSU, SDSU, and Montana State. Maybe a few other teams but I think those 3 are very strong.

Of course I am hoping UIW beats UNDS and I think they can do it.

If you think UIW can beat NDSU, why would you think there is a “gap” between Furman and NDSU? Furman was a brief, light tug on the back of a jersey away from beating UIW.

Good question. Seems contradictory a little even to me.

I don’t think NDSU is quite as good this year based on my non-expert opinion of the NDSU-Sammy game. Their offense is largely a grind-it-out run over pass. I just think UIW with their more explosive offense can beat NDSU. I think UIW matches up well with NDSU.

As far as the 3 superior teams of NDSU, SDSU and Montana State I think I am mixing in the evaluation of their programs also. No doubt they are all loaded with talent. They were all in the semis last year. SDSU has been in semis 5 of last 6 and 3 in a row. We all know about NDSU 9 of the last 11. Montana State was in championship game last year and of course they are extremely tough to beat in Bozeman. It just seems program and recent history wise, they are the top teams. Who knows what UIW will be next year without coach, Lindsey Scott etc.

Again with my non-expert opinion, I wonder if FU would do better against NDSU this year (and would have a chance to beat them) vs Montana State (weather factored in) or SDSU. I think the “gap” with NDSU is more program, history, maybe overall talent than the score of a single NDSU-FU game per se this year. I think we would have a chance.

That may or may not explain my thoughts more clearly.

Anyway, I would love to see UIW win it all and I think they could do it.

[FUBeAR]

Some very good teams at top. At present I think there is a gap between Furman and NDSU, SDSU, and Montana State. Maybe a few other teams but I think those 3 are very strong.

Of course I am hoping UIW beats UNDS and I think they can do it.

If you think UIW can beat NDSU, why would you think there is a “gap” between Furman and NDSU? Furman was a brief, light tug on the back of a jersey away from beating UIW.

Good question. Seems contradictory a little even to me.

I don’t think NDSU is quite as good this year based on my non-expert opinion of the NDSU-Sammy game. Their offense is largely a grind-it-out run over pass. I just think UIW with their more explosive offense can beat NDSU. I think UIW matches up well with NDSU.

As far as the 3 superior teams of NDSU, SDSU and Montana State I think I am mixing in the evaluation of their programs also. No doubt they are all loaded with talent. They were all in the semis last year. SDSU has been in semis 5 of last 6 and 3 in a row. We all know about NDSU 9 of the last 11. Montana State was in championship game last year and of course they are extremely tough to beat in Bozeman. It just seems program and recent history wise, they are the top teams. Who knows what UIW will be next year without coach, Lindsey Scott etc.

Again with my non-expert opinion, I wonder if FU would do better against NDSU this year (and would have a chance to beat them) vs Montana State (weather factored in) or SDSU. I think the “gap” with NDSU is more program, history, maybe overall talent than the score of a single NDSU-FU game per se this year. I think we would have a chance.

That may or may not explain my thoughts more clearly.

Anyway, I would love to see UIW win it all and I think they could do it.

Fair enough. Good answer.

Gotta get those 3 out of their natural habitats in December, at least half the time, to fairly gauge them against FU et al.

[purplehorse123]

Some very good teams at top. At present I think there is a gap between Furman and NDSU, SDSU, and Montana State. Maybe a few other teams but I think those 3 are very strong.

Of course I am hoping UIW beats UNDS and I think they can do it.

If you think UIW can beat NDSU, why would you think there is a “gap” between Furman and NDSU? Furman was a brief, light tug on the back of a jersey away from beating UIW.

Good question. Seems contradictory a little even to me.

I don’t think NDSU is quite as good this year based on my non-expert opinion of the NDSU-Sammy game. Their offense is largely a grind-it-out run over pass. I just think UIW with their more explosive offense can beat NDSU. I think UIW matches up well with NDSU.

As far as the 3 superior teams of NDSU, SDSU and Montana State I think I am mixing in the evaluation of their programs also. No doubt they are all loaded with talent. They were all in the semis last year. SDSU has been in semis 5 of last 6 and 3 in a row. We all know about NDSU 9 of the last 11. Montana State was in championship game last year and of course they are extremely tough to beat in Bozeman. It just seems program and recent history wise, they are the top teams. Who knows what UIW will be next year without coach, Lindsey Scott etc.

Again with my non-expert opinion, I wonder if FU would do better against NDSU this year (and would have a chance to beat them) vs Montana State (weather factored in) or SDSU. I think the “gap” with NDSU is more program, history, maybe overall talent than the score of a single NDSU-FU game per se this year. I think we would have a chance.

That may or may not explain my thoughts more clearly.

Anyway, I would love to see UIW win it all and I think they could do it.

Fair enough. Good answer.

Gotta get those 3 out of their natural habitats in December, at least half the time, to fairly gauge them against FU et al.

Amen! And our performance in playoffs this year will help us heading into next year. The system is flawed for sure but we have to play by the rules. I will be extremely disappointed if they don’t make some changes in the playoffs after the “exposure” this year.

First round-7-1
Second round 8-0
Third round 3-1

That is 90 % of the teams at home this year have won. Seeding headed into playoffs is important whether determined by performance on field or monetary bids etc .

[cavedweller2]

At the least we should be pre season top 5 in ‘23

[FUBeAR]

At the least we should be pre season top 5 in ‘23

Top 5 in the SoCon. FUBeAR is confident you are correct about that…National Top 10…

This seems more likely…

NDSU
SDSU
MontSt
SacSt
WeberSt
Mont
W&M
HC
UIW
NDak
YoungstownSt
Idaho
Samford
New Hampshire
UC Davis
Chattanooga
1-16 Above (in no particular order)
17. Furman

[Affirm]

At the least we should be pre season top 5 in ‘23

Top 5 in the SoCon. FUBeAR is confident you are correct about that…National Top 10…

This seems more likely…

NDSU
SDSU
MontSt
SacSt
WeberSt
Mont
W&M
HC
UIW
NDak
YoungstownSt
Idaho
Samford
New Hampshire
UC Davis
Chattanooga
1-16 Above (in no particular order)
17. Furman

I “should be careful what I wish for”, but at least I wish to note that (1) it is good we get to play at least 2 of those 16 next year, and (2) we get a third one, W&M, onto our schedule in 2024.
It is also interesting to me that of those 16 in your list, the ONLY ones within a 6.5 hour drive of Furman are Chattanooga, Samford, and W&M. Youngstown State is 9 hours. Holy Cross is 14 hours. All of the remaining schools are out west or at least are west of the Mississippi, and I believe more than or much more than 14 hours.
PS:
Not sure how I view our having to play [or getting to play (?)]South Carolina 2 games from now. Chances are they’ll be on a 4-game winning streak over UT, CU, ND, and UNC; or else seeking to revive themselves and prove themselves again after a loss to at least 1 of the latter 2, in their first home game. They will be going the week immediately after us to play UGA in Athens.

[AstroDin]

FuBear… are you pulling our leg - picking Chatty ranked above Furman pre-season 2023? Heck, what do I know? UIW, will probably get the benefit of this season but don't they lose almost the entire team to graduation?

IMO, W&M doesn't belong in any top ten discussions-they got boat-raced. HC proved they belonged. You're probably right, though, about YSU. I bet they get a ton of pre-season love.

I hope we see Furman in or near the top 10. Sadly, I think Weber gets in the top ten over the Dins.

[Davemeister]

UIW, will probably get the benefit of this season but don't they lose almost the entire team to graduation?

UIW has a graduation rate of 47% for all students, maybe lower for the Team. They will prolly lose more players to Eligibility and The Portal than to Cap & Gown.

[FUBeAR]

FuBear… are you pulling our leg - picking Chatty ranked above Furman pre-season 2023? Heck, what do I know? UIW, will probably get the benefit of this season but don't they lose almost the entire team to graduation?

IMO, W&M doesn't belong in any top ten discussions-they got boat-raced. HC proved they belonged. You're probably right, though, about YSU. I bet they get a ton of pre-season love.

I hope we see Furman in or near the top 10. Sadly, I think Weber gets in the top ten over the Dins.

Not FUBeAR’s rankings; FUBeAR’s expectations of what the rankings will be.

Chatt is always able to convince themselves and others that their talent is leaps & bounds ahead of any other SoCon Team. It’s not.

[apaladin]

FuBear is correct. We like to think that a lot of thought and effort is/wiil be put into preseason rankings but in reality itis not. They will take the end of season poll, may or may not tweak it a little and that will be the preseason rankings. We are fooling ourselves if we think they look at who a certain team is losing or how they finished 2022, coaching changes
etc.

[gman84]

What stands out to me about these top FCS teams, NDSU, SDSt and Montana State is they don’t beat themselves. They are not flashy. They run the ball extremely well and they almost never shoot themselves in the feet. I know it sounds basic but that is a major reason for their repeated success, and the fact that they almost NEVER go on the road.

[cavedweller2]

Upon further review I put down my purple glasses and see it. Bear is more than likely spot on.

[FurmanATT]

What stands out to me about these top FCS teams, NDSU, SDSt and Montana State is they don’t beat themselves. They are not flashy. They run the ball extremely well and they almost never shoot themselves in the feet. I know it sounds basic but that is a major reason for their repeated success, and the fact that they almost NEVER go on the road.

It's been a while since Furman has matched up as well against such teams. The Paladins play that way. -- MD