Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll

[GoCats18]

Wonder who gave the Cats a first place vote? I would have them 3rd.

And I am gonna plant my flag that the gris should be down around Idaho. They have questions on both defensive and offensive lines and at QB. Maybe they are good, maybe they aren't. That the amount of preseason love they are getting with those very significant ???'s is on par with the xDSU's is crazy. They haven't earned that benefit of the doubt.

My top 10:
1 SDSU
2 NDSU
3 MSU
4 USD
5 'Nova
6 gris
7 Sac St
8 Idaho
9 Southern Illinois
10 Chattanooga

They played their last game in January. I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt, at least until teams learn you don't actually have to kick the ball right to Junior Bergen.

Any special teams coach that doesn’t have their punter try and punt the ball to the sideline and getting the ball out of bounds…..is definitely special.

[Monymony]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

[Monymony]

Wonder who gave the Cats a first place vote? I would have them 3rd.

And I am gonna plant my flag that the gris should be down around Idaho. They have questions on both defensive and offensive lines and at QB. Maybe they are good, maybe they aren't. That the amount of preseason love they are getting with those very significant ???'s is on par with the xDSU's is crazy. They haven't earned that benefit of the doubt.

My top 10:
1 SDSU
2 NDSU
3 MSU
4 USD
5 'Nova
6 gris
7 Sac St
8 Idaho
9 Southern Illinois
10 Chattanooga

They played their last game in January. I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt, at least until teams learn you don't actually have to kick the ball right to Junior Bergen.

Any special teams coach that doesn’t have their punter try and punt the ball to the sideline and getting the ball out of bounds…..is definitely special.

SDSU punted sure showed all teams how to properly kick away from Bergen and stuff them inside the 10.

[tetoncat]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

I think SDSU has more seniors than MSU.

[luckyirishguy25]

Wonder who gave the Cats a first place vote? I would have them 3rd.

And I am gonna plant my flag that the gris should be down around Idaho. They have questions on both defensive and offensive lines and at QB. Maybe they are good, maybe they aren't. That the amount of preseason love they are getting with those very significant ???'s is on par with the xDSU's is crazy. They haven't earned that benefit of the doubt.

My top 10:
1 SDSU
2 NDSU
3 MSU
4 USD
5 'Nova
6 gris
7 Sac St
8 Idaho
9 Southern Illinois
10 Chattanooga

They played their last game in January. I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt, at least until teams learn you don't actually have to kick the ball right to Junior Bergen.

I told the Bison guy sitting next to me when the game was on, they better not kick to him...

[BleedingBLue]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

[Monymony]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

True but I think this will be the first year Gronowski won’t have incredible wr/te, we saw how McCutcheon made passers look much better and we could see a similar thing. Might be a little tougher to have the great air attack that has helped them in the past. But if I remember correctly they had a very skilled freshman/sophomore who scored their final touchdown against us so maybe he will be their main target.

[BleedingBLue]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

True but I think this will be the first year Gronowski won’t have incredible wr/te, we saw how McCutcheon made passers look much better and we could see a similar thing. Might be a little tougher to have the great air attack that has helped them in the past. But if I remember correctly they had a very skilled freshman/sophomore who scored their final touchdown against us so maybe he will be their main target.

Wilde will be a sophomore this year and definitely the go to guy. He will be an All-conference guy, I think. They also churn out pro TEs all the time somehow.

[Monymony]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

True but I think this will be the first year Gronowski won’t have incredible wr/te, we saw how McCutcheon made passers look much better and we could see a similar thing. Might be a little tougher to have the great air attack that has helped them in the past. But if I remember correctly they had a very skilled freshman/sophomore who scored their final touchdown against us so maybe he will be their main target.

Wilde will be a sophomore this year and definitely the go to guy. He will be an All-conference guy, I think. They also churn out pro TEs all the time somehow.

Yeah it will be interesting this year. Definitely not as invincible as they were last year, NDSU game will be very good

[94VegasCat]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

True but I think this will be the first year Gronowski won’t have incredible wr/te, we saw how McCutcheon made passers look much better and we could see a similar thing. Might be a little tougher to have the great air attack that has helped them in the past. But if I remember correctly they had a very skilled freshman/sophomore who scored their final touchdown against us so maybe he will be their main target.

Wilde will be a sophomore this year and definitely the go to guy. He will be an All-conference guy, I think. They also churn out pro TEs all the time somehow.

Yeah it will be interesting this year. Definitely not as invincible as they were last year, NDSU game will be very good

The Cats were mere inches away from taking down SDSU and NDSU last season. We’re fully capable. I would feel comfortable picking any one of them out of a hat to make out a top 3. um has too soft of an all home schedule to make me even consider them.

[Monymony]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

True but I think this will be the first year Gronowski won’t have incredible wr/te, we saw how McCutcheon made passers look much better and we could see a similar thing. Might be a little tougher to have the great air attack that has helped them in the past. But if I remember correctly they had a very skilled freshman/sophomore who scored their final touchdown against us so maybe he will be their main target.

Wilde will be a sophomore this year and definitely the go to guy. He will be an All-conference guy, I think. They also churn out pro TEs all the time somehow.

Yeah it will be interesting this year. Definitely not as invincible as they were last year, NDSU game will be very good

The Cats were mere inches away from taking down SDSU and NDSU last season. We’re fully capable. I would feel comfortable picking any one of them out of a hat to make out a top 3. um has too soft of an all home schedule to make me even consider them.

I think the griz not having an FBS team on the schedule could hurt their chances of a top seed. Obviously Oklahoma St and Colorado won’t be easy but the cats having UNM is going to help us come selection day assuming we can win.

[CodyCat]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

True but I think this will be the first year Gronowski won’t have incredible wr/te, we saw how McCutcheon made passers look much better and we could see a similar thing. Might be a little tougher to have the great air attack that has helped them in the past. But if I remember correctly they had a very skilled freshman/sophomore who scored their final touchdown against us so maybe he will be their main target.

Wilde will be a sophomore this year and definitely the go to guy. He will be an All-conference guy, I think. They also churn out pro TEs all the time somehow.

Yeah it will be interesting this year. Definitely not as invincible as they were last year, NDSU game will be very good

The Cats were mere inches away from taking down SDSU and NDSU last season. We’re fully capable. I would feel comfortable picking any one of them out of a hat to make out a top 3. um has too soft of an all home schedule to make me even consider them.

I think the griz not having an FBS team on the schedule could hurt their chances of a top seed. Obviously Oklahoma St and Colorado won’t be easy but the cats having UNM is going to help us come selection day assuming we can win.

FBS wins help. But FBS don’t hurt any FCS teams on Selection Sunday

[MSU01]

The FCS has become so watered down these days that for teams like MSU, UM, NDSU, and SDSU strength of schedule has become nearly meaningless for getting a top seed. Win your conference and beat your rival and there you go, it doesn't matter one bit if you played a bunch of Pioneer teams in September. It was different back when the Big Sky and MVFC schools were also competing for top seeds with James Madison, App State, Sam Houston, etc.

[94VegasCat]

The FCS has become so watered down these days that for teams like MSU, UM, NDSU, and SDSU strength of schedule has become nearly meaningless for getting a top seed. Win your conference and beat your rival and there you go, it doesn't matter one bit if you played a bunch of Pioneer teams in September. It was different back when the Big Sky and MVFC schools were also competing for top seeds with James Madison, App State, Sam Houston, etc.

Agreed. My thoughts were more along the lines of ‘iron sharpens iron’. Their play dough schedule won’t help much when ‘big man month’ rolls around. November will be tough on em.

[Justwinbaby]

Wonder who gave the Cats a first place vote? I would have them 3rd.

And I am gonna plant my flag that the gris should be down around Idaho. They have questions on both defensive and offensive lines and at QB. Maybe they are good, maybe they aren't. That the amount of preseason love they are getting with those very significant ???'s is on par with the xDSU's is crazy. They haven't earned that benefit of the doubt.

My top 10:
1 SDSU
2 NDSU
3 MSU
4 USD
5 'Nova
6 gris
7 Sac St
8 Idaho
9 Southern Illinois
10 Chattanooga

They played their last game in January. I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt, at least until teams learn you don't actually have to kick the ball right to Junior Bergen.

This. Although I agree they have a ton of question marks and I don’t think they’ll be all world this year, the bottom line is that they played for a natty last year, you can pencil them in for a top 4 spot in the first ranking of the following year. And when another one of those top 4 is a team you destroyed head on, you’ll get the nod to at least #3.

Unfortunately their schedule is so damn easy, they are likely to stay in that top 4 all year.

Here’s to hoping it’s 11-0 vs 11-0 on Nov 23rd and we see a repeat of Cat/griz 2022.

Plus you can't really put the reigning BSC champ and national title game participant below both their rival that they blew out (as you said), who lost guys on both sides of the line and has a starting QB that can't make it through a season, the #3 team in the MVFC and any east coast team.

Unfortunately, because they don't play anyone this year, they'll almost definitely go into Cat/griz as the #3 team in the country at worst. Probably #2 if NDSU loses the marker again.

I wouldn't put the Cats above the Gris because of the results of last season, but to say we lost guys on both sides of the ball and nothing more is a bit disingenuous. Reimer and Omar are gone sure, but their replacements started in 2022. The entire O Line has started a number of games for the Cats the last 2 years. On the other side we lost Valdez and Seymour. Seymour was a guy on the field taking up space most of the time. There are 7 guys on the D Line who either started last year or have played significant snaps the last 2 years. But you know that.

The good - experience on the defensive side of the ball.
The bad - experience on the defensive side of the ball.

Cats need to jump levels on D. Gradual experience of a year gained is insufficient. Maybe the coordinator change is the spark.

[allcat]

I think SDSU has just as many question marks. They lost RB, Janke’s, TE, and I’m sure other’s I don’t know. I think they are very beatable this year. I predict winner of MVFC will be #1 going into playoffs and winner of BSC will be #2. I think the gris will be tested by WCU, UND, Weber, EW, UCD, and Cats. If they survive all they will be #2 but if they drop 1-2 I would expect a 4-6 seed or maybe even just lower. I think cats have a great chance this year to get er done but it’s going to come down to a healthy Tommy and consistency. I appreciate Sean Anderson in giving the cats some respect and I think behind Daly this defense can return to its normal dominance. I used to think the gris would be bad after watching the offense in the playoffs and the defense graduating so many studs, but after talking to gris fans I think Gilman, the 3 wr, and Grossman might be the best skill players but it will come down to the o-line and quarterback play. I expect gris to lose 1-2 games and cats ~1. Brawl will almost 100% determine BSC champs and #2 seed and I love our chances.

SDSU may have lost some guys on offense, but they brought in an Oklahoma transfer OL and a first team all-conference OL from UND to replace guys lost. SDSU is like MSU in terms of RBs, they keep churning out studs. 8 of their top 13 tacklers are back, plus Adam Bock who wasn't healthy most of last year. WR is their only question mark.

True but I think this will be the first year Gronowski won’t have incredible wr/te, we saw how McCutcheon made passers look much better and we could see a similar thing. Might be a little tougher to have the great air attack that has helped them in the past. But if I remember correctly they had a very skilled freshman/sophomore who scored their final touchdown against us so maybe he will be their main target.

Wilde will be a sophomore this year and definitely the go to guy. He will be an All-conference guy, I think. They also churn out pro TEs all the time somehow.

Yeah it will be interesting this year. Definitely not as invincible as they were last year, NDSU game will be very good

The Cats were mere inches away from taking down SDSU and NDSU last season. We’re fully capable. I would feel comfortable picking any one of them out of a hat to make out a top 3. um has too soft of an all home schedule to make me even consider them.

I think the griz not having an FBS team on the schedule could hurt their chances of a top seed. Obviously Oklahoma St and Colorado won’t be easy but the cats having UNM is going to help us come selection day assuming we can win.

They will always get a higher seed than the record indicates. They sell the most tickets. The stadium views from drones and such always look nice on TV.

[MSU01]

The FCS has become so watered down these days that for teams like MSU, UM, NDSU, and SDSU strength of schedule has become nearly meaningless for getting a top seed. Win your conference and beat your rival and there you go, it doesn't matter one bit if you played a bunch of Pioneer teams in September. It was different back when the Big Sky and MVFC schools were also competing for top seeds with James Madison, App State, Sam Houston, etc.

Agreed. My thoughts were more along the lines of ‘iron sharpens iron’. Their play dough schedule won’t help much when ‘big man month’ rolls around. November will be tough on em.

I doubt there's much of a correlation between non-conference schedule and how a team plays in November and December. I could even make an argument that cupcake games help a team since they'll be able to get significant game action for their second and third stringers who might need to become starters later in the season if and when injuries hit. As much as we hate to say it, UM was playing better than MSU at the end of last season and they played nobody in their non-conference schedule while MSU played SDSU on the road.

[tetoncat]

The FCS has become so watered down these days that for teams like MSU, UM, NDSU, and SDSU strength of schedule has become nearly meaningless for getting a top seed. Win your conference and beat your rival and there you go, it doesn't matter one bit if you played a bunch of Pioneer teams in September. It was different back when the Big Sky and MVFC schools were also competing for top seeds with James Madison, App State, Sam Houston, etc.

Agreed. My thoughts were more along the lines of ‘iron sharpens iron’. Their play dough schedule won’t help much when ‘big man month’ rolls around. November will be tough on em.

I doubt there's much of a correlation between non-conference schedule and how a team plays in November and December. I could even make an argument that cupcake games help a team since they'll be able to get significant game action for their second and third stringers who might need to become starters later in the season if and when injuries hit. As much as we hate to say it, UM was playing better than MSU at the end of last season and they played nobody in their non-conference schedule while MSU played SDSU on the road.

I would agree defensively. Offensively not so much. QB change gave them life when needed, Rolled the Cats then playoffs I would say we're average at best.

[TomCat88]

The FCS has become so watered down these days that for teams like MSU, UM, NDSU, and SDSU strength of schedule has become nearly meaningless for getting a top seed. Win your conference and beat your rival and there you go, it doesn't matter one bit if you played a bunch of Pioneer teams in September. It was different back when the Big Sky and MVFC schools were also competing for top seeds with James Madison, App State, Sam Houston, etc.

Agreed. My thoughts were more along the lines of ‘iron sharpens iron’. Their play dough schedule won’t help much when ‘big man month’ rolls around. November will be tough on em.

I doubt there's much of a correlation between non-conference schedule and how a team plays in November and December. I could even make an argument that cupcake games help a team since they'll be able to get significant game action for their second and third stringers who might need to become starters later in the season if and when injuries hit. As much as we hate to say it, UM was playing better than MSU at the end of last season and they played nobody in their non-conference schedule while MSU played SDSU on the road.

I don't think there's much of a correlation between getting 2nd and 3rd stringers playing time early in the year and how well you play against good teams late in the season. I think the most important thing you can do in blow out games is try new things to expand your attack. When you're blowing someone out put your players in situations that they're going to need to be able to handle against good teams.

UM was playing better than MSU the last 5 games of the regular season and first game of playoffs. They were on a roll, on offense, but came back to earth in the playoffs from Furman on. They had great timing last year to go along with great defense and Bergen's ST exploits.

[catgradtimes2]

The FCS has become so watered down these days that for teams like MSU, UM, NDSU, and SDSU strength of schedule has become nearly meaningless for getting a top seed. Win your conference and beat your rival and there you go, it doesn't matter one bit if you played a bunch of Pioneer teams in September. It was different back when the Big Sky and MVFC schools were also competing for top seeds with James Madison, App State, Sam Houston, etc.

Agreed. My thoughts were more along the lines of ‘iron sharpens iron’. Their play dough schedule won’t help much when ‘big man month’ rolls around. November will be tough on em.

I doubt there's much of a correlation between non-conference schedule and how a team plays in November and December. I could even make an argument that cupcake games help a team since they'll be able to get significant game action for their second and third stringers who might need to become starters later in the season if and when injuries hit. As much as we hate to say it, UM was playing better than MSU at the end of last season and they played nobody in their non-conference schedule while MSU played SDSU on the road.

I don't think there's much of a correlation between getting 2nd and 3rd stringers playing time early in the year and how well you play against good teams late in the season. I think the most important thing you can do in blow out games is try new things to expand your attack. When you're blowing someone out put your players in situations that they're going to need to be able to handle against good teams.

UM was playing better than MSU the last 5 games of the regular season and first game of playoffs. They were on a roll, on offense, but came back to earth in the playoffs from Furman on. They had great timing last year to go along with great defense and Bergen's ST exploits.

Health is another thing that’s maybe overlooked here. This is a game of attrition. The Gris were generally healthy at the end of last season. The Cats were not and it showed.