Phil Steele's Top 25

[DJH]

It's ridiculous to have UNI that high.

[Big McLargehuge]

Don't let the loss of AE fool you. ASU was a national champion before AE and has plenty of talent back. Look at their offense. They only lose two players (AE and OT Mario Acitelli). They have 3 preseason All-SoCon OL, entire backfield back and healthy, and the top receiving unit in the SoCon. On defense they lost their DTs but have some young players with potential stepping in. THey return their All-SoCon DEs. At LB they must replace Jacque Roman but DJ Smith is a great one and the other LBs are suppose to be stars and no reason to believe they won't be with ASU's success at developing LBs. In the secondary they have a two-time All-American in LeGree with All-SoCon CB Ed Gainey and will have a healthy Dominique McDuffie. They only have to replace CB Gilbert and 3 other starters. With 7 back on defense and 9 on offense along with both the punter, kicker, LS, and return men they should be a top 3-4 team for sure. You could argue anywhere from #2 to #6 IMO.

Couldn't have said it better myself

Fair enough, I'm truly hoping that Appalachian State can be a contender this year. Any way you cut it I'll be rooting for Appalachian State more than anyone sans Montana out there, so here's to a great season from the Mountaineers.

[NuJerzBullDog]

how does sc state drop all the way to 22

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Here is my top 30:

1. Villanova
2. Appalachian State
3. Montana
4. Southern Illinois
5. New Hampshire
6. Elon
7. South Dakota State
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. McNeese State
10. South Carolina State
11. Jacksonville State
12. James Madison
13. Wofford
14. Richmond
15. Eastern Washington
16. Penn
17. Missouri State
18. Delaware
19. William & Mary
20. Northern Arizona
21. Cal Poly
22. Liberty
23. Eastern Kentucky
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Prairie View A&M
26. UC Davis
27. Northern Iowa
28. Lehigh
29. Colgate
30. Furman

[89Hen]

#15 Delaware
#14 Cal Poly
#13 Illinois State
#11 Wofford

Awfully high for teams that were a combined 19-25 last year.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Here is my top 30:

1. Villanova
2. Appalachian State
3. Montana
4. Southern Illinois
5. New Hampshire
6. Elon
7. South Dakota State
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. McNeese State
10. South Carolina State
11. Jacksonville State
12. James Madison
13. Wofford
14. Richmond
15. Eastern Washington
16. Penn
17. Missouri State
18. Delaware
19. William & Mary
20. Northern Arizona
21. Cal Poly
22. Liberty
23. Eastern Kentucky
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Prairie View A&M
26. UC Davis
27. Northern Iowa
28. Lehigh
29. Colgate
30. Furman

Looks pretty good SCFBF... the only qualm I would have with it is no Montana State.

[LeadBolt]

I'm afraid that the #1 rating for W&M will turn out to be like the #1 FBS preseason rating for UGA in 2008. The schedule doesn't set up well for #1 at the end of the season. I'm hoping we can finish in the 6-12 range.

That being said Steele probably made his picks before it was known that Matt Szczur was returning to Villanova and made an incorrect guess. There is no way they shouldn't be #1 pre-season, even though they may not end up there. App. St., Montana and UNH are awfully solid looking. Several other schools could be in the mix for the top as well. Thats why they play the games.

The anticipation is building for a great year through out FCS land.

[andy7171]

So Phil Steele is picking W&M #1 and SCFBF has them #19?

Either way, when W&M rolls into ODU on 9/18, will the stadium flood from the tears? I hope they put in good drainage.

[SDHornet]

Here is my top 30:

1. Villanova
2. Appalachian State
3. Montana
4. Southern Illinois
5. New Hampshire
6. Elon
7. South Dakota State
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. McNeese State
10. South Carolina State
11. Jacksonville State
12. James Madison
13. Wofford
14. Richmond
15. Eastern Washington
16. Penn
17. Missouri State
18. Delaware
19. William & Mary
20. Northern Arizona
21. Cal Poly
22. Liberty
23. Eastern Kentucky
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Prairie View A&M
26. UC Davis
27. Northern Iowa
28. Lehigh
29. Colgate
30. Furman

Looks pretty good SCFBF... the only qualm I would have with it is no Montana State.

My qualm would be having "the farm extension" at the 26 spot. Their returning senior QB Denham quit and they lost their top two leading receivers (Grant & Carter). Sure they won the GWC but they finished 6-5 (5 D-1 wins, one of which was Winston Salem State).

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

#25 Liberty
#24 Penn
#23 Colgate
#22 Jacksonville State
#21 SC State
#20 Montana St
#19 Eastern Illinois
#18 So Dakota St
#17 Richmond
#16 Weber State
#15 Delaware
#14 Cal Poly
#13 Illinois State
#12 Stephan F. Austin
#11 Wofford
#10 McNeese State
#9 Northern Arizona
#8 James Madison
#7 Southern Illinois
#6 Elon
#5 Northern Iowa
#4 Montana
#3 Released July 18
#2 Released July 19
#1 Released July 20

No UNH?

[SpeedkingATL]

how does sc state drop all the way to 22

It's the "name brand" and recognition factor. Outside of FCS fanatics like the people on this board, little is known about SC State. The impression of their conference and competition, right or wrong is also at issue. They will be in the Top 10-15 soon enough.

Where is UNH? That's a good question too.

[NuJerzBullDog]

how does sc state drop all the way to 22

It's the "name brand" and recognition factor. Outside of FCS fanatics like the people on this board, little is known about SC State. The impression of their conference and competition, right or wrong is also at issue. They will be in the Top 10-15 soon enough.

Where is UNH? That's a good question too.

thats a D@mn shame... we finished the season 7th and preseason(unofficially start at 22nd sheesh, but i do see what your sayin as far as the whole conference thing..i guess we gotta stick to the bulldog motto "shut up and play" if we do that ur right we will be there...

[ASUG8]

I'm not going to get too worked up about this poll - there are some problems with it IMO, but I doubt I could do much better at this point. Week 3 or 4 we'll have a much better perspective on things.

[S F State Gaters]

He's new to doing FCS i think, but stoked to see Cal Poly in top 15 let's see if they can do better than that...

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Here is my top 30:

1. Villanova
2. Appalachian State
3. Montana
4. Southern Illinois
5. New Hampshire
6. Elon
7. South Dakota State
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. McNeese State
10. South Carolina State
11. Jacksonville State
12. James Madison
13. Wofford
14. Richmond
15. Eastern Washington
16. Penn
17. Missouri State
18. Delaware
19. William & Mary
20. Northern Arizona
21. Cal Poly
22. Liberty
23. Eastern Kentucky
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Prairie View A&M
26. UC Davis
27. Northern Iowa
28. Lehigh
29. Colgate
30. Furman

Looks pretty good SCFBF... the only qualm I would have with it is no Montana State.

I have them #32. I lowered them more than others because they lost a few key players. Dane Fletcher was a huge part of that defense. I also believe they will lost 2-3 Big Sky games this year and if they win just 7 games I don't believe they will finish in the top 25. Although they could surprise me and lose just one and end up in the playoffs.

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Looks pretty good SCFBF... the only qualm I would have with it is no Montana State.

My qualm would be having "the farm extension" at the 26 spot. Their returning senior QB Denham quit and they lost their top two leading receivers (Grant & Carter). Sure they won the GWC but they finished 6-5 (5 D-1 wins, one of which was Winston Salem State).

How about this as an adjustment since I did do this before Denham quit several weeks ago. Here it is to reflect the loss of Denham.

1. Villanova
2. Appalachian State
3. Montana
4. Southern Illinois
5. New Hampshire
6. Elon
7. South Dakota State
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. McNeese State
10. South Carolina State
11. Jacksonville State
12. James Madison
13. Wofford
14. Richmond
15. Eastern Washington
16. Penn
17. Missouri State
18. Delaware
19. William & Mary
20. Northern Arizona
21. Cal Poly
22. Liberty
23. Eastern Kentucky
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Prairie View A&M
26. Montana State
27. Northern Iowa
28. Lehigh
29. Colgate
30. Furman

[Screamin_Eagle174]

My qualm would be having "the farm extension" at the 26 spot. Their returning senior QB Denham quit and they lost their top two leading receivers (Grant & Carter). Sure they won the GWC but they finished 6-5 (5 D-1 wins, one of which was Winston Salem State).

How about this as an adjustment since I did do this before Denham quit several weeks ago. Here it is to reflect the loss of Denham.

1. Villanova
2. Appalachian State
3. Montana
4. Southern Illinois
5. New Hampshire
6. Elon
7. South Dakota State
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. McNeese State
10. South Carolina State
11. Jacksonville State
12. James Madison
13. Wofford
14. Richmond
15. Eastern Washington
16. Penn
17. Missouri State
18. Delaware
19. William & Mary
20. Northern Arizona
21. Cal Poly
22. Liberty
23. Eastern Kentucky
24. Eastern Illinois
25. Prairie View A&M
26. Montana State
27. Northern Iowa
28. Lehigh
29. Colgate
30. Furman

I think that looks pretty solid my man!

[blueballs]

Its nice to see NAU get some Top 10 recognition...I really think that team could rip things up this year.



As for the top 3...Appalachian State top 3? I'm certain they'll do extremely well this year as always but they don't particularly strike me as top 5 quality this year. I'd love to be proven wrong, but that seems awfully high a pre-season ranking in my eyes. W&M, if getting #1, will be an interesting pick...on paper its hard to argue against it though. Villanova, wherever they go, in my eyes deserves #1 considering the championship and the fact that [Polish word for rat] is returning.

Don't let the loss of AE fool you. ASU was a national champion before AE and has plenty of talent back. Look at their offense. They only lose two players (AE and OT Mario Acitelli). They have 3 preseason All-SoCon OL, entire backfield back and healthy, and the top receiving unit in the SoCon. On defense they lost their DTs but have some young players with potential stepping in. THey return their All-SoCon DEs. At LB they must replace Jacque Roman but DJ Smith is a great one and the other LBs are suppose to be stars and no reason to believe they won't be with ASU's success at developing LBs. In the secondary they have a two-time All-American in LeGree with All-SoCon CB Ed Gainey and will have a healthy Dominique McDuffie. They only have to replace CB Gilbert and 3 other starters. With 7 back on defense and 9 on offense along with both the punter, kicker, LS, and return men they should be a top 3-4 team for sure. You could argue anywhere from #2 to #6 IMO.

App is looooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaded everywhere but QB, and I don't see a whole lot of competition for them in the So so Con this year. Elon will be decent and should be a playoff team, Furman will be okay, but after that not a whole lot to challenge App. 9-2 worst case and most likely a seed.