Fully Debatable Prestige Rankings - FCS

[rebla 49er]

--Unassuming FCS Prestige Rankings --

1. Appalachian State -- Won 3 straight FCS titles in a row and finished in the top 8 the last 3 years. A big win over Michigan put them on the national radar.

2. Montana -- Synonymous with the FCS, and the most widely reputed Big Sky team. Even the mascot "Grizzlies" are well recognized.

3. Delaware -- A hot spot for FBS transfers and quasi-celebs VP Biden & Joe Flacco. A team that can typically compete for a national title.

4. Georgia Southern -- Nobody has won more national titles at the FCS level, and the Eagles still compete in the playoffs.

5. Northern Iowa -- Probably the most consistently good team in a competitive league.
____________

6. UMass
7. James Madison
8. Eastern Washington (the turf is a big deal and last year's national champs)
9. Grambling (awesome bands & a great SWAC team)
10. Penn (top Ivy team)

[Silenoz]

McNeese over the last 3, possibly YSU too

[Silenoz]

...severe lack of NDSU conglomerate too. They're like spots 1-5 alone

[rebla 49er]

I also want to accommodate for who has the best cheerleaders.

[Kadeezy]

Pretty accurate list IMO. Sac State wins the cheerleader division, hands down.

[AZGrizFan]

McNeese over the last 3, possibly YSU too

McNeese over Grambling? I think not...

[PenthouseClosedEnd]

I won't argue with the Top 5, although I would be inclined to put Montana ahead of App State.

6-10 is another story. Umass? EWU, so prestigious that they get 4 homes games on the Tampon Turf? Teams that don't even participate in the playoffs like Penn and Grambling?

McNeese definitely belongs on the list. Youngstown, NDSU, Richmond, William and Mary, Furman, Wofford, Lehigh, Colgate would all probably be better candidates than several on there.

[Skjellyfetti]

Georgia Southern too low. And I fucking hate them.

[AZGrizFan]

I won't argue with the Top 5, although I would be inclined to put Montana ahead of App State.

6-10 is another story. Umass? EWU, so prestigious that they get 4 homes games on the Tampon Turf? Teams that don't even participate in the playoffs like Penn and Grambling?

McNeese definitely belongs on the list. Youngstown, NDSU, Richmond, William and Mary, Furman, Wofford, Lehigh, Colgate would all probably be better candidates than several on there.

If Montana had won even ONE of the last two NC appearances I'd be inclined to agree with you. But ASU's 3-peat, along with their Michigan victory I think give them the leg up. ANd I don't think eligiblity for the playoffs has a thing to do with prestige. I'd put Harvard and Yale on the list just because of their national name recognition and longevity. NDSU has only been FCS for 3 years...they're hardly ready for these rankings.

[CAA Flagship]

Pretty accurate list IMO. Sac State wins the cheerleader division, hands down.

[tampajag]

--Unassuming FCS Prestige Rankings --

1. Appalachian State -- Won 3 straight FCS titles in a row and finished in the top 8 the last 3 years. A big win over Michigan put them on the national radar.

2. Montana -- Synonymous with the FCS, and the most widely reputed Big Sky team. Even the mascot "Grizzlies" are well recognized.

3. Delaware -- A hot spot for FBS transfers and quasi-celebs VP Biden & Joe Flacco. A team that can typically compete for a national title.

4. Georgia Southern -- Nobody has won more national titles at the FCS level, and the Eagles still compete in the playoffs.

5. Northern Iowa -- Probably the most consistently good team in a competitive league.
____________

6. UMass
7. James Madison
8. Eastern Washington (the turf is a big deal and last year's national champs)
9. Grambling (awesome bands & a great SWAC team)
10. Penn (top Ivy team)

Grambling has a great tradition thanks the Baton Rouge's own Eddie Robinson, but their band is absolute trash. That's the best statement I can make about them.

[houndawg]

Pretty accurate list IMO. Sac State wins the cheerleader division, hands down.

You haven't seen theSaluki Shakers then...

[houndawg]

I won't argue with the Top 5, although I would be inclined to put Montana ahead of App State.

6-10 is another story. Umass? EWU, so prestigious that they get 4 homes games on the Tampon Turf? Teams that don't even participate in the playoffs like Penn and Grambling?

McNeese definitely belongs on the list. Youngstown, NDSU, Richmond, William and Mary, Furman, Wofford, Lehigh, Colgate would all probably be better candidates than several on there.

If Montana had won even ONE of the last two NC appearances I'd be inclined to agree with you. But ASU's 3-peat, along with their Michigan victory I think give them the leg up. ANd I don't think eligiblity for the playoffs has a thing to do with prestige. I'd put Harvard and Yale on the list just because of their national name recognition and longevity. NDSU has only been FCS for 3 years...they're hardly ready for these rankings.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Once we repeat as National Champs this year, we're bumping UNI or UD out of the top 5.

[OL FU]

--Unassuming FCS Prestige Rankings --

1. Appalachian State -- Won 3 straight FCS titles in a row and finished in the top 8 the last 3 years. A big win over Michigan put them on the national radar.

2. Montana -- Synonymous with the FCS, and the most widely reputed Big Sky team. Even the mascot "Grizzlies" are well recognized.

3. Delaware -- A hot spot for FBS transfers and quasi-celebs VP Biden & Joe Flacco. A team that can typically compete for a national title.

4. Georgia Southern -- Nobody has won more national titles at the FCS level, and the Eagles still compete in the playoffs.

5. Northern Iowa -- Probably the most consistently good team in a competitive league.
____________

6. UMass
7. James Madison
8. Eastern Washington (the turf is a big deal and last year's national champs)
9. Grambling (awesome bands & a great SWAC team)
10. Penn (top Ivy team)

you need to identify the criteria used or it is going to be all over the place. Time frame (if it is history of FCS/I-AA then you aren't close)for example EWU wouldn't make the list. and GSU sits firmly on the top. James Madison might be in the top ten but I doubt it.

If it is the last five years, then things change dramatically and Grambling goes out.

PS Northern Iowa should not be in the top ten period. sorry, great program but there are many more than have been much more succesful. My alma mater would be one of them

[ArmyOfDarkness]

--Unassuming FCS Prestige Rankings --

1. Appalachian State -- Won 3 straight FCS titles in a row and finished in the top 8 the last 3 years. A big win over Michigan put them on the national radar.

2. Montana -- Synonymous with the FCS, and the most widely reputed Big Sky team. Even the mascot "Grizzlies" are well recognized.

3. Delaware -- A hot spot for FBS transfers and quasi-celebs VP Biden & Joe Flacco. A team that can typically compete for a national title.

4. Georgia Southern -- Nobody has won more national titles at the FCS level, and the Eagles still compete in the playoffs.

5. Northern Iowa -- Probably the most consistently good team in a competitive league.
____________

6. UMass
7. James Madison
8. Eastern Washington (the turf is a big deal and last year's national champs)
9. Grambling (awesome bands & a great SWAC team)
10. Penn (top Ivy team)

I wouldn't put EWU on there. No disrespect the the eags, but if they are on it then a lot of schools should be tied with them at slot 8.

Also, I agree with what OL FU was saying about the criteria.

[rebla 49er]

you need to identify the criteria used or it is going to be all over the place. Time frame (if it is history of FCS/I-AA then you aren't close)for example EWU wouldn't make the list. and GSU sits firmly on the top. James Madison might be in the top ten but I doubt it.

If it is the last five years, then things change dramatically and Grambling goes out.

I apply the lawyer's pornography test. You know it when you see it. Just kidding.

In all seriousness, I think it would tough to develop criteria for prestige. I tried to imply that with my cheerleader quip.

Obviously, we are going to value the number of FCS championships, playoff appearances (if they participate), institution's media attention, FBS upsets, and so forth. Special significance ought to be placed upon success in those areas in the past 3-5 years, etc.. Beyond this, and doing surveys, I don't see myself being much more help in this area.

[guinzone]

UNI has won 0 national titles.. I don't care how many MVFC titles they have won, they haven't won the big one ever.

YSU is top 10, but even them should not be top 5 in my eyes.

[rebla 49er]

Youngstown State is reputable, but I have this distasteful feeling that it's sort of "all-in-the-past". It's a very "what have you done lately for me" culture.

To me, YSU is like the Notre Dame of the FCS. I wouldn't put the Irish in my top 10 either. No offense of course.

[JohnStOnge]

To me if you've paid attention to I-AA/FCS football over time Georgia Southern is clearly number 1. 6 national titles under 3 different head coaches and in the semis again last year after a few atypical seasons. Appalachian State is, relatively, a flash in the pan. Not that it hasn't been a good program all along. But, basically, Appalachian State had one good run in terms of being at the very top. Georgia Southern won 6 national championships with 15 years separating the first and the last and it looks like the Eagles are a factor again.

[PenthouseClosedEnd]

I won't argue with the Top 5, although I would be inclined to put Montana ahead of App State.

6-10 is another story. Umass? EWU, so prestigious that they get 4 homes games on the Tampon Turf? Teams that don't even participate in the playoffs like Penn and Grambling?

McNeese definitely belongs on the list. Youngstown, NDSU, Richmond, William and Mary, Furman, Wofford, Lehigh, Colgate would all probably be better candidates than several on there.

If Montana had won even ONE of the last two NC appearances I'd be inclined to agree with you. But ASU's 3-peat, along with their Michigan victory I think give them the leg up. ANd I don't think eligiblity for the playoffs has a thing to do with prestige. I'd put Harvard and Yale on the list just because of their national name recognition and longevity. NDSU has only been FCS for 3 years...they're hardly ready for these rankings.

We're splitting hairs here. I would vote Montana ahead of App State because the have been an elite FCS program far longer than App State has. You take Armanti Edwards out of the equation and the Apps fall several notches down this list. You take Dave Dickenson out of the equation and Montana probably doesn't even drop.

There have been a couple compelling arguments that Ga Southern should be ahead of both. Interesting Topic.

[JBB]

you need to identify the criteria used or it is going to be all over the place. Time frame (if it is history of FCS/I-AA then you aren't close)for example EWU wouldn't make the list. and GSU sits firmly on the top. James Madison might be in the top ten but I doubt it.

If it is the last five years, then things change dramatically and Grambling goes out.

I apply the lawyer's pornography test. You know it when you see it. Just kidding.

In all seriousness, I think it would tough to develop criteria for prestige. I tried to imply that with my cheerleader quip.

Obviously, we are going to value the number of FCS championships, playoff appearances (if they participate), institution's media attention, FBS upsets, and so forth. Special significance ought to be placed upon success in those areas in the past 3-5 years, etc.. Beyond this, and doing surveys, I don't see myself being much more help in this area.

Excellent post. You also need to compare their ranking on the "Elite Program Registry". From some of the latest and most accurate results we have GSU ranking higher than recent success would justify. Past success is a big reason. Prestige ranking might be implicated.

Montana ranks a perfect 25 on some elite registry ballots. Prestige ranking?

NDSU ranks a 24. I dont see them getting any gifts. Definitely not a prestige ranking for The BISON. They are gritty, they are workmanlike, they are blue collar and will earn what they get.

UNI is a prestige ranking but within 3 places. They lost to Lehigh and Lehigh is getting a little respect for the win.

If you look at programs like YSU they still rank high in the "Elite Program Registry" mainly because of past program success. This implies "Prestige Ranking".

[clenz]

And the retard shows up

[SuperHornet]

That's not true, TJ. Unfortunately, you have no choice but to say that. To acknowledge how awesome Grambling's band is would be tantamount to forfeiting your Southern man card.



(Of course, the same thing applies to Grambling folk in reverse....)

[OL FU]

someone needs to dig up Mountaineers thread on playoff success. It is best objective measurement I have ever seen. Of course it leaves out the SWAC and IVY, but it isn't the other teams fault that they don't participate in the playoffs.