Strongest and Weakest in FCS

[rowdy]

Just wondering who you all think are the toughest and weakest conferences in FCS and why

[AppGuy04]

Strongest- CAA
Weakest- MEAC

[ToTheLeft]

Strongest this year:
1. CAA
2. MVFC

Weakest:
1. Pioneer
2. SWAC
3. MEAC

[rowdy]

CAA is a very talented and deep league, but I also like the MVFC; they are really starting to show the depth in that league,

SWAC and MEAC I would agree with those as worst. Mainly because there arent too many stable teams in either league

[JayJ79]

How many strong teams does it take to make the whole conference "strong"?

Or I should ask, what percentage of teams? (because 3 teams in the CAA is only 1/4 the conference, while 3 teams in the MVFC is 1/3, and 3 teams is over half in the GWC)

[Col Hogan]

How many strong teams does it take to make the whole conference "strong"?

Or I should ask, what percentage of teams? (because 3 teams in the CAA is only 1/4 the conference, while 3 teams in the MVFC is 1/3, and 3 teams is over half in the GWC)

And I guess we have to define "strong"...is it ranking in a poll that is just fans voting...is it the computer polls...

The GPI (wait for it....the haters will come) is one way to measure conferences as it takes a number of rankings and polls and comes up with a composite ranking

The Colonial Athletic Association, the largest league in the FCS has seven teams in the top 25; the Big Sky Conference has four; the Missouri Valley Football Conference has three; the Great West, Ohio Valley, Southern, and Southland Conferences have two each; and the Big South and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conferences plus the Patriot League have one each

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/stat ... 02gpi.html

I'm not a big fan of the GPI, but I don't know of a better way to rank a conference...I am open for suggestions for a better source...

[CatMom]

But isn't the GPI based on someone feeding a computer with it/them considering a CAA team a stronger opponent to begin with?

[Col Hogan]

But isn't the GPI based on someone feeding a computer with it/them considering a CAA team a stronger opponent to begin with?

It's a combination of computer rankings, and the coaches poll and a poll from a place I cannot mention...so it's not just raw "computer" stuff...but subjective votes...

A value is given to each, and out the other end spits the GPI...

As I said, I'm not a big fan, but I don't know of a better system that at least tries to level out bias...

[Mvemjsunpx]

My subjective observation for this year:


Best

1. CAA
2. Missouri Valley
3. Big Sky


Worst (not counting Indies)

1. Pioneer League
2. NEC
3. Ivy League


Most Improved

SWAC


Biggest Drop

1. Ivy League
2. SoCon

[JayJ79]

No matter what criteria are used, such rankings will always be subjective to a fairly high degree.

There are "strong" teams in many conferences, but those conferences also have some fairly "weak" members.

[the paw]

No matter what criteria are used, such rankings will always be subjective to a fairly high degree.

There are "strong" teams in many conferences, but those conferences also have some fairly "weak" members.

every league has its "bottom feeders"

most know the caa is the strongest but after that the big sky, soco,and mv are about equal!

[89Hen]

Most Improved

SWAC

Curious?

Do you realize the SWAC Championship game will feature a non-winning team?

[danefan]

I think there are pretty clearly a couple of tiers in FCS this year.

Top Tier:
Big Sky
CAA
MVFC
SoCon

Second Tier
Great West
Ohio Valley
Southland

Third Tier
Big South
Ivy
MEAC
NEC
Patriot
Pioneer
SWAC

The Third Tier could probably be broken down further, but its hard to do because there is great disparity in these leagues.

I couldn't really argue against someone saying that the SWAC, NEC, Ivy and PFL would be at the lower end of Tier 3 this year because Liberty, Lafayette (and to some extent Holy Cross) and South Carolina State could prop up the Big South, MEAC and Patriot Leagues. However, the bottoms of these leagues are all very weak this year.

[89Hen]

this year

Pretty consistant year to year. Southland is always threatening to move up.

[danefan]

this year

Pretty consistant year to year. Southland is always threatening to move up.

I think the one that thing has happened is that the 3rd tier teams seem to be getting closer together.

3 or 4 years ago I think there was a pretty clear delination into a 4th tier with the NEC, MAAC and PFL. I'm not so sure its easy to do that anymore.

[Hambone]

I think there are pretty clearly a couple of tiers in FCS this year.

Top Tier:
Big Sky
CAA
MVFC
SoCon

Second Tier
Great West
Ohio Valley
Southland

Third Tier
Big South
Ivy
MEAC
NEC
Patriot
Pioneer
SWAC

The Third Tier could probably be broken down further, but its hard to do because there is great disparity in these leagues.

I couldn't really argue against someone saying that the SWAC, NEC, Ivy and PFL would be at the lower end of Tier 3 this year because Liberty, Lafayette (and to some extent Holy Cross) and South Carolina State could prop up the Big South, MEAC and Patriot Leagues. However, the bottoms of these leagues are all very weak this year.

With Southern Utah playing some pretty good ball this year, the Great West hopefully will get better with time and the Dakota schools ramping up through the transition. I think you have the conference rated pretty good right now. Hopefully they can move up to a top tier conference......

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I think there are pretty clearly a couple of tiers in FCS this year.

Top Tier:
Big Sky
CAA
MVFC
SoCon

Second Tier
Great West
Ohio Valley
Southland

Third Tier
Big South
Ivy
MEAC
NEC
Patriot
Pioneer
SWAC

The Third Tier could probably be broken down further, but its hard to do because there is great disparity in these leagues.

I couldn't really argue against someone saying that the SWAC, NEC, Ivy and PFL would be at the lower end of Tier 3 this year because Liberty, Lafayette (and to some extent Holy Cross) and South Carolina State could prop up the Big South, MEAC and Patriot Leagues. However, the bottoms of these leagues are all very weak this year.

With Southern Utah playing some pretty good ball this year, the Great West hopefully will get better with time and the Dakota schools ramping up through the transition. I think you have the conference rated pretty good right now. Hopefully they can move up to a top tier conference......

I'd say that the Great West is right on the bubble of being a top-tier conference, if they aren't already. Cal Poly is a perennial playoff contender, UC-Davis may not always get the wins, but they're tough as nails, and SUU, USD and UND have made some big strides this year. Isn't the Great West ranked the 2nd highest in the GPI?

[89Hen]

I'd say that the Great West is right on the bubble of being a top-tier conference, if they aren't already. Cal Poly is a perennial playoff contender, UC-Davis may not always get the wins, but they're tough as nails, and SUU, USD and UND have made some big strides this year. Isn't the Great West ranked the 2nd highest in the GPI?

Maybe on the verge of being on the trail to becoming a bubble of being a top-tier.

Cal Poly is clearly the top program historically, but that's only a 7 year history with 2 trips to the playoffs (1-2 record).

UD-Davis is #2 and they're looking at their 7th straight sub 7 win season.

SUU is improving, but they are 0-9 vs the Big Sky since 2004.

USD and UND... Who knows? The jury is still out on them.

[tampajag]

My subjective observation for this year:


Best

1. CAA
2. Missouri Valley
3. Big Sky


Worst (not counting Indies)

1. Pioneer League
2. NEC
3. Ivy League


Most Improved

SWAC


Biggest Drop

1. Ivy League
2. SoCon

how do you figure, unless you're saying they're so bad they can't help but improve. the SWAC is at an all time low.

[LastMinuteman]

This thread needs stats. Here's the CAA's:

Non-conference record: 22-12 (2 games remaining: Richmond @Georgetown and Delaware @Navy)
FCS non-conference record: 16-5 (Richmond @Georgetown remaining)

Records vs. Individual Conferences
6-0 vs. Big South
4-1 vs. NEC
2-2 vs. ACC
2-1 vs. MAC
2-1 vs. Ivy
2-1 vs. Patriot (can probably pencil in 3-1)
2-1 vs. MEAC
0-2 vs. Big East
0-1 vs. Big Ten
0-1 vs. Big 12
0-1 vs. MVFC

Best 8 Non-Conference Opponents Defeated
Villanova @Temple
William & Mary @Virginia
Richmond @Duke
New Hampshire @Ball State
...
James Madison @Liberty
Villanova @Penn
UMass/Hofstra vs. Stony Brook
William & Mary @Norfolk State

Worst 8 Non-Conference Opponents Defeated By
Towson @Morgan State
Maine @Albany
Rhode Island @Brown
Northeastern vs. Youngstown State
Northeastern vs. Holy Cross
...
Hofstra @Western Michigan
James Madison @Maryland
Maine @Syracuse

Comments: The drop-off between the FBS wins and the best FCS wins is pretty steep, but I'm curious to see how the other major FCS conferences compare. There was very little interaction between the CAA and the other top tier FCS conferences, just Northeastern's loss to Youngstown State. Given that Youngstown State played the CAA's worst and the MVFC's worst back-to-back and had a much harder time with Northeastern (leading by only 3 with 7 minutes left in the 4th quarter), I'm not sure that can be used against the CAA.

[Mvemjsunpx]

how do you figure, unless you're saying they're so bad they can't help but improve. the SWAC is at an all time low.

SWAC FCS non-conference record

2008: 1-12
2009: 6-4


The SWAC still isn't all that good, but it's way better than last year's dismal performance

[DJH]

With Southern Utah playing some pretty good ball this year, the Great West hopefully will get better with time and the Dakota schools ramping up through the transition. I think you have the conference rated pretty good right now. Hopefully they can move up to a top tier conference......

I'd say that the Great West is right on the bubble of being a top-tier conference, if they aren't already. Cal Poly is a perennial playoff contender, UC-Davis may not always get the wins, but they're tough as nails, and SUU, USD and UND have made some big strides this year. Isn't the Great West ranked the 2nd highest in the GPI?

ND lost to an NAIA this year. USD was demolished by UNI by 60 points...

No way are they even close to being considered with the other top conferences at this point.

[CatMom]

Note all the games against the other "Power" conferences

Records vs. Individual Conferences
6-0 vs. Big South
4-1 vs. NEC
2-2 vs. ACC
2-1 vs. MAC
2-1 vs. Ivy
2-1 vs. Patriot (can probably pencil in 3-1)
2-1 vs. MEAC
0-2 vs. Big East
0-1 vs. Big Ten
0-1 vs. Big 12
0-1 vs. MVFC

BSC, SoCon, SLC - all 0 and 1 MVFC.

Looks like some of us out here need to start scheduling some games against those conferences so we can gloat too.

[danefan]

Note all the games against the other "Power" conferences

Records vs. Individual Conferences
6-0 vs. Big South
4-1 vs. NEC
2-2 vs. ACC
2-1 vs. MAC
2-1 vs. Ivy
2-1 vs. Patriot (can probably pencil in 3-1)
2-1 vs. MEAC
0-2 vs. Big East
0-1 vs. Big Ten
0-1 vs. Big 12
0-1 vs. MVFC

BSC, SoCon, SLC - all 0 and 1 MVFC.

Looks like some of us out here need to start scheduling some games against those conferences so we can gloat too.

Uhh......????????

[CatMom]

We'll take some of those teams, yes. Try #4 TCU next time, then we'll talk. It's why I don't put much stock in UCA's win over WKU either.