FCS pre-season poll
That’s a fair ranking and a good start for FU. Hopefully the other polls that matter will be similar.
I agree. Furman spent most of last season in the mid-teens, returns much of the roster, and should be the SoCon front runner.
A bit surprising that the Citadel starts off in the top 25 and Wofford fell out of the poll.
That paragraph on NDSU brings a wave of nausea over me. I have no clue how anyone will beat them this year. Or even come close. Except Oregon. Maybe.
It is my argument that NDSU, while extremely good, has benefitted from massive changes to the college football landscape.
The Bison became playoff eligible (2011) at roughly the same time Georgia Southern and App State departed the division (2013). NDSU never played App State. They did play Georgia Southern, but did so only as the Eagles were transitioning back to the option under Jeff Monken.
At the same time, the FCS Playoffs expanded to eventually 24 teams from 16. The post season now became a great deal more watered down, formerly undeserving teams were now granted at large bids, and the overall level of competition dropped (my opinion).
NDSU also plays in a conference where they simply are the best team. No one can consistently beat them, almost guaranteeing that they will get a top seed in a watered down playoff system without two former top 5 programs to deal with.
Now, would NDSU win multiple national titles under different facts? Probably. Would they be as dominant under the prior system with prior teams still prowling the FCS? Arguably not.
Admittedly, Trey Lance is a beast. He may end up the single most impressive player the FCS has produced in a while. Odds are they will keep winning.
That said, the program that actually steps up and knocks off NDSU will have their song sung through the ages in all the great mead halls