Season 134 Kickoff
Win, Lose, Survive! The balance has shifted, check out who is up next!
For the first time in 4 seasons, Cheyney nails the #1 full roster Guess Rankings. Current top five for this season lists as follows -
#1 Cheyney 79.80 #2 Texas A&M-Commerce 78.64 #3 Northern Michigan 76.26 #4 Winona State 75.26 #5 West Chester 73.74
Cheyney has a pretty sizeable lead over #5 West Chester, but Texas A&M and N. Michigan are both within striking distance. Will this season come down to a Cheyney vs Texas A&M-Commerce Showdown? Or will Northern Michigan return to glory?
The hype surrounds both teams, but good teams can crash hard in Rockne. I think West Chester is in store for a good year and it's always difficult to rule out the GLIAC, let's take a look at how the conferences break down.
GLIAC
Northern Michigan (spthibodeau) 76.26 Ferris State (coachoatie) 72.85 Saginaw Valley State (ojpick) 71.00 Hillsdale (omcs1981) 60.34 Findlay (bobbybd) 55.62 Ashland (trajon12) 39.13
Favorite: NMU X-Factor: Ferris St.
NMU is going to be the front runner this year, even with coachoatie having an excellent NC run last year. Ferris St. is really good and going to be looking at the NC also. I would not be surprised if we saw a NMU vs FSU NC game.
Northern Michigan is coming off a down year, they ended up bringing in the #15th recruit class which is the first time in 12 seasons. I think it's just a distraction at the moment and will return to glory. Ferris State is good, but they lost a key piece of their offense at RB (who was a beast). They still have some serious weapons, but their linebacker group is going to be suspect in quality depth. NMU is still stacked nicely on the defensive side and with the #1 QB, #2 RB and #2 WR, this high powered offense is a favorite to reach the National Championship.
Ferris State recruited #5 and had their average recruit rating in the history of the program. Coachoatie has put in good work here and his game planning gives this team a good shot at making the final four. Not much in the way of weakness, but they are a bit thing in quality depth at linebacker. They are going to also be a favorite this season after proving they can win it last year.
SAC
Presbyterian (rposborne) 72.85 Shepherd (dawgnuts) 69.48 Tusculum (clememp) 67.47 W. Virginia Tech (bigpapamatt) 53.98 Lenoir-Rhyne (starfinder77) 52.48 Wingate (heelboy) 44.43
Favorite: Sheperd X-Factor: Tusculum
I was on the Presbyterian train last season, but I can't do it again unless I see a change in their offense. The offense does not put up a lot of points and it could be an issue this year. I really like Tusculum, but their young quarterback play I think will hurt them in the big games. Shepherd looks like the team to beat if they can put together some solid game plans to get passed the other two.
Presbyterian led by rposborne brought in another great class at #4, but had a disappointing season last year. They have a good offense, but not great and will be carried by their defense. I expect a lot of close games and the division could be up for grabs.
Tusculum won the conference last season, but are not a shoe in as they drop a spot in the full roster rankings to #16. They will also have some issues at Quarterback with 3 very young QB's and lead by a redshirt sophomore.
CIAA
Virginia State (coral_reefer) 71.23
North Carolina Central (dakjd901) 67.84
Winston-Salem State (wfudd77) 55.56 Bowie State (vikesrule69) 55.50
Favorite: Virginia State X-Factor: North Carolina Central
I would normally have thrown in Winston-Salem State, but they just got hit with a recruiting violation and are no longer playoff eligible. Virginia State is the clear front runner and I believe coral_reefer will sweep their division.
VSU has been steady with coral_reefer at the helm having recruited back to back top ten classes. They still have some holes in the secondary and their offense isn't a power house but good enough to compete in the playoffs. With a couple more seasons, they should be ready to compete on the national stage.
NC Central has a new head coach dakjd901 who took over a program that was very competitive but was not able to get inside the top ten. The first year coach landed the #23 recruit class which is down from the previous coach, but it can be difficult to recruit in Rockne as a first year coach. NCC will have the #10 QB throwing to a few WR's inside the top 100. Their secondary and linebacker groups look very competitive but the only have 6 offensive lineman. I would expect to see this offense pass quite a bit.
LSC
Texas A&M-Commerce (akua29) 78.64 Angelo State (jawz) 62.76 SE Oklahoma-Durant (Springer0432) 59.91 Tarleton State (munchnugget) 47.33
Favorite: Texas A&M-Commerce X-Factor: Angelo State
TAMC is going to enter this year with the best core rated team that I've had since joining Rockne. It's sort of boom or bust for me (not really) with high expectations buzzing around the campus. Angelo State is expected to be very competitive again, but lost the 1-2 RB combo they had last year.
Texas A&M-Commerce brought in the #1 recruit class and has made it to the semi-finals 2 out of 3 seasons and once to the NC in a loss. We come in this season at #2 and will have our first test versus N. Alabama in Week 4 of out of conference.
Angelo State led by jawz has the tools at head coach to utilize talent. Last season was a testament to a good coach using his two best play makers to reach the 2nd round. While most of his players are going to be good but need development, this coach is going to find a way to win some games.
GSC
Valdosta State (champ83) 71.16 North Alabama (Fazbear05) 65.90 Henderson State University (t_roy84) 51.75
Favorite: Valdosta State X-Factor: North Alabama
It's difficult to pick anyone other then Valdosta St. Champ83 has proven time and time again that he can get to the final four without having the top rated talent. I like seeing Fazbear05 at North Alabama, this should be an incredible year there with his solid game planning ability. Is it enough to take down VSU? I don't think so.
Valdosta St. led by champ83 has had 2 back to back recruit classes outside the top 10. This doesn't mean a whole lot as his growth potential is likely really good and he can produce results. Last season they came in ranked #14 and made it to the semi-finals. This year they have top ten QB, RB, WR and TE at their disposal. Defense is where they usually stand out and this year is no exception with great talent across the board.
North Alabama hired Fazbear05 to take over the reigns who was a SIM last season but recruited the #8 class 4 seasons ago. This gives Fazbear05 the tools this season to be competitive and build this team up. They have solid QB, RB and WR's and while their flaws are very few, there could be some on the defensive side of the ball. The secondary is going to be very weak once you get past #5 DB Christopher Hamm and the defensive line may not be able to generate enough pressure. I think his game planning ability will allow him to over-come the issue and he should have a great season.
NSIC Winona State (kwheeler) 75.26 W. Liberty State (Neans90) 62.61
Favorite: Winona State X-Factor: W. Liberty State
There is not a lot of competition in this division, but for these two teams there are. Winona St. was the heavy favorite last season and was upset by W. Liberty. It could happen again, but Winona has probably one of the best secondary in Division 2. W. Liberty St. has slowly been improving and they look even better this season. It's a close pick, but Winona should take it.
Winona State led by 2nd year coach kwheeler, took over a team on the rise and then lost the CC and in the 1st round. This season, they are fielding the #4 best roster and are stacked from top to bottom. They look nasty on both sides of the ball and will come down to game planning to make a deep run AND win their division.
W. Liberty State is an up and coming team going into their 4th season. Neans90 pulled off quite an upset last year to win the CC and made it to the 2nd round. I'd say that is pretty good for coming ranked #28 at preseason. This year, they are ranked #22 and while there are no stand out players, it will be interesting to see if they can duplicate their success.
MIAA Cheyney (waregl72) 79.80 Missouri-Rolla (olrdneck) 61.20 Central Missouri State (AZHawg) 47.53
Favorite: Cheyney X-Factor: Missouri-Rolla
There is no competition in the MIAA to Cheyney, they are miles ahead of their division. Cheyney will look to return to glory after they sweep their conference. Entering season 134 with the highest rated core since season 94, it is boom or bust for them. Missouri-Rolla should not have any problems clearing the rest of the conference while olrdneck is fielding his best team since taking over Missouri.
Cheyney is top to bottom an elite program and enters the year ranked #1. The only weakness that might be found is at wide receiver but having the 5th best senior WR and 6th best junior WR is hardly a weakness. When teams reach this level, it really just comes down to match-up and game planning tweaks. This is one of the favorites for the NC.
Missouri-Rolla led by olrdneck has consistently produced 12 win seasons and just needs to get deeper in the playoffs to increase their recruit vision. With their strength of schedule, they could win 12 games again but they will likely have to win in the playoffs to do it.
SIAC Saint Joseph's (tutank) 72.69 Albany State (fbuckster) 56.02 Kentucky State (lsumedici) 55.48 Morehouse (sportsdouche) 53.05
Favorite: Saint Joseph's X-Factor: Albany St.
I think Saint Joseph's is the obvious favorite here and made the quartefinals last season. They recruited well and will make another solid playoff run. Albany St. should be the x-factor as Morehouse has to get past Saint Joseph's to reach the CC. Albany's season isn't going to be pretty, but they should make the big game.
Saint Joseph's recruited the #6 class this year and will field the #8 best team. They are lacking some studly play makers on offense which may slow them down in big games but their great defense is going to help keep the score down. They have a sold defensive line and their secondary is lights out.
RMAC Midwestern State (Linux_Box) 69.18 Fort Lewis (jong44) 63.05 W. New Mexico (tmelonhead) 62.08 Mesa State (rich4cards) 53.66 Chadron State (alex_cap) 49.84
Favorite: Midwestern State X-Factor: W. New Mexico
MSU just came off one of their best recruit classes despite it being ranked #11. They are fielding a very competitive team and should win their division. They have the #4 QB and #6 RB so the potential is there to put up some points. Defensively they look fairly strong at the line and in the secondary but the linebacker group are really young.
W. New Mexico led by tmelonhead just had their best recruit class at #19. He will also field his best team since arriving at W. New Mexico and will rely on his #24 RB Roy Penn. They are still young on both sides of the ball, but I can see these guys making some noise very soon.
NCC
Humboldt State (maldito) 69.08 Nebraska-Omaha (jbob23) 54.50 Central Washington (AJ_Scarlato) 53.36
Favorite: Humboldt State X-Factor: Nebraska-Omaha
Humboldt State is looking to return to the playoffs and should sweep their division this season. Last year, they faced a tough Central Washington team which will likely not be the case this year. Nebraska-Omaha is the only other team to choose with CWU receiving more recruiting violations.
Humboldt State recruited top ten classes for the last 7 seasons but will field lesser talent then last year. They are going to have to hope for a good seed to get a break in the playoffs as their team is very good but not quite elite. The strength of their team has to be a really nice linebacker senior class.
Nebraska-Omaha is in the beginning of a rebuild and coach jbob23 brought in the #34 recruit class. He is going to have his hands full as there is nothing pretty about this team. I look forward to watching it grow.
PSAC
West Chester (2000champou) 73.74 Edinboro (vhoward415) 53.05 Bloomsburg (jms245) 49.81 Kutztown (mrincubus) 50.14
Favorite: West Chester X-Factor: Edinboro
West Chester has emerged on the national stage after an excellent playoff run last season. Nailing the 2nd best recruit class and his seniors are from top 5 class four years ago, this is going to be quite the run. 2000champou is fielding the #5 ranked best team and will throw to the #5 WR Greg Lopez who enters his senior season. Their defense has to be the strong point versus the run, but their secondary could be the question mark.
Edinboro is a slow building unit of low cores but high potential. This team is not pretty but has excellent potential to grow over the next coming seasons.
NE-10 Southern Connecticut State (notAbot) 63.57 Long Island (dmac1213) 60.27 Pace (jpnroos) 58.40 Saint Anselm (pg99) 55.93 Bentley (reigny) 27.73
Favorite: Southern Connecticut St. X-Factor: Long Island
Long Island still has some nice weapons and they have won the CC two years running, but they also have a lot of underclassmen and I think it's going to hurt them. notAbot brought in a nice class at Southern Connecticut St and will look to challenge the title this season.
Southern Connecticut has arrived and nonAbot took charge with the 12th best recruit class. They won't be a flashy team this season, but they do have a good balance of upper classmen and that will likely be the difference vs Long Island this year.
Long Island is going to be ranked #26 and head coach dmac1213 has been performing well with less talent. They have some good play makers in their key positions, but this team is REALLY young and that could hinder their season some. The senior class is the highlight and dmac1213 is going to have hide some of the underclassmen in the big games.