Next Years FCS Championship Game - Early Predictions

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Some good teams coming back next year.

Furman
Montana
UNI

That would imply they were good this year.

I think these will be right up there at the end of the regular season.

[JoltinJoe]

Coastal vs EIU vs Fordham

Fordham finished No. 9 in the final poll and returns just about everyone. Yes, a deep run in the playoffs is easily foreseeable.

Take your CAA tainted glasses off.

[SeattleGriz]

On second thought, Montana could possibly have a good team next year.

We have a pretty brutal schedule next year, but if we do well enough with it to earn a playoff berth, we should be able to make some noise. We return pretty much all of our key starters on an offense that showed it can put up EWU-like numbers when the coaches take the reigns off it...just need the defense to figure out how to stop teams before the 3rd quarter.

Montana needs some continuity and we might finally see that this upcoming year.

Taken from a Montana fan's blog:

Here are some statistics since 2009:
1. Three head Coaches: Hauck (2009), Pflugrad (2010-11), Delaney (2012-13)
2. Five Offensive Coordinators: Phenecie (2009), Pflugrad (2010), Smith (2011), Rosenbach (2012), Hynson (2013)
3. Three Defensive Coordinators: Paulson (2009), Breske (2010-11), Gregorak (2012-13)
4. Three offensive styles
5. Three defensive styles
6. Four quarterbacks

Montana has the talent, now we just need the coaching staff to remain intact for a little while.

[Mvemjsunpx]

We have a pretty brutal schedule next year, but if we do well enough with it to earn a playoff berth, we should be able to make some noise. We return pretty much all of our key starters on an offense that showed it can put up EWU-like numbers when the coaches take the reigns off it...just need the defense to figure out how to stop teams before the 3rd quarter.

Montana needs some continuity and we might finally see that this upcoming year.

Taken from a Montana fan's blog:

Here are some statistics since 2009:
1. Three head Coaches: Hauck (2009), Pflugrad (2010-11), Delaney (2012-13)
2. Five Offensive Coordinators: Phenecie (2009), Pflugrad (2010), Smith (2011), Rosenbach (2012), Hynson (2013)
3. Three Defensive Coordinators: Paulson (2009), Breske (2010-11), Gregorak (2012-13)
4. Three offensive styles
5. Three defensive styles
6. Four quarterbacks

Montana has the talent, now we just need the coaching staff to remain intact for a little while.

Smith was the OC in '10 & '11, at least technically. I think Pflugrad was calling the plays both years, though I really don't know. I'm guessing Smith was more of a glorified QB coach, like Rosenbach was supposed to be before Pflugrad was fired.

[89Hen]

CAAn't

Big talk from a Big Fluffy fan.

[AZGrizFan]

CAAn't

Big talk from a Big Fluffy fan.

Big talk from a fan of a team with two playoff appearances in 9 years.

[89Hen]

Big talk from a Big Fluffy fan.

Big talk from a fan of a team with two playoff appearances in 9 years.

The fact that you don't get it speaks volumes.

[OL FU]

Some good teams coming back next year.

Furman
Montana
UNI

That would imply they were good this year.

Looking at the entire season Furman wasn't a really good team but by the time the season ended we seemed to be about as good as anyone else that played NDSU

[AZGrizFan]

Big talk from a fan of a team with two playoff appearances in 9 years.

The fact that you don't get it speaks volumes.

That fact that you don't get it speaks volumes.

[SACCAT]

The fact that you don't get it speaks volumes.

That fact that you don't get it speaks volumes.

I don't get it...

[Ivytalk]

Harvard v. Grambling.

[AZGrizFan]

That fact that you don't get it speaks volumes.

I don't get it...

Well, THAT'S not surprising.

[BDKJMU]

Predictions at this point in the year are as worthless as tits on a bull.....

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Harvard v. Grambling.

Brown v Prairie View....

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

That would imply they were good this year.

Looking at the entire season Furman wasn't a really good team but by the time the season ended we seemed to be about as good as anyone else that played NDSU

I was impressed with Furman watching them against the Bison this year. They are really young and should be in contention next year IMO.

[Cap'n Cat]

Montana vs UNI

[BDKJMU]

Montana vs UNI

Yeah, but doesn't UNI always choke in the semis, like 1-5 or something?

[89Hen]

That fact that you don't get it speaks volumes.

I don't get it...

Z had no response. He fails to realize the CAA is a lot more than Delaware. That's the whole point he completely whiffed on.

[89Hen]

That would imply they were good this year.

Looking at the entire season Furman wasn't a really good team but by the time the season ended we seemed to be about as good as anyone else that played NDSU

HOLY COW!! An OL sighting. Good to see you buddy.

[OL FU]

Looking at the entire season Furman wasn't a really good team but by the time the season ended we seemed to be about as good as anyone else that played NDSU

HOLY COW!! An OL sighting. Good to see you buddy.

They let me stop working every once in a while

[Screamin_Eagle174]

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10. Towson (13-3; 2) - The national runner-up Tigers will find it hard to replace 2,500-yard running back Terrance West as he heads off early to the 2014 NFL Draft. Coach Rob Ambrose has built up the Tigers' talent base, but West's understudy, Darius Victor, is not quite at the same level, and the offense loses starting quarterback Peter Athens and much of the offensive line. The defense, to be led by defensive end Ryan Delaire, already is suffering key losses at linebacker.

9. South Dakota State (9-5; 13) - Running back Zach Zenner will chase a third straight 2,000-yard season (fortunately for him, only one of the games will be against North Dakota State). Quarterback Austin Sumner and wide receiver Jason Schneider will team up again, but coach John Stiegelmeier has to fill some big holes on the offensive and defensive lines. There won't be an easy transition period because the non-conference schedule includes trips to Missouri and Southern Utah and a home date against Cal Poly.

8. Montana (10-3; 8) - The Grizzlies will face Bohl in his debut at Wyoming and later face his old team at North Dakota State. Coach Mick Delaney's team will be really strong in the skills positions with quarterback Jordan Johnson, all- purpose Ellis Henderson and running backs Jordan Canada and Travon Van back. Defensive end Zack Wagenmann returns, but the losses at linebacker are huge.

7. Northern Iowa (7-5; Not Ranked) - The Panthers will be much improved with a healthier David Johnson and Sawyer Kollmorgen at running back and quarterback, respectively. The defense will get back linebacker Jake Farley, coach Mark Farley's son, from injury, and 6-foot-4, 311-pound Xavier Williams is a beast at defensive tackle. The Panthers will play two FBS opponents, Iowa and Hawaii.

6. Jacksonville State (11-4; 10) - No defender should be anxious to tackle big running back DaMarcus James and the offense got even better when redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Jenkins blossomed in the playoffs. Coach Bill Clark was the right tonic for this past season's team. His second squad will return 17 starters and it has added some SEC transfers, including defensive end LaMichael Fanning from Alabama The Gamecocks will replace Eastern Illinois as the Ohio Valley Conference favorite, and they have Michigan State and Chattanooga on their non-conference schedule.

5. Villanova (6-5; Not Ranked) - After going belly-up as the CAA Football favorite, the Wildcats have to come back strong behind dual-threat quarterback John Robertson and running back Kevin Monangai. The biggest holes are on the defensive line, but coach Andy Talley has stocked the overall talent with recent recruiting classes. In non-conference action, the Wildcats will head to Syracuse and look for revenge against Fordham.

4. New Hampshire (10-5; 5) - After a surprising run to the FCS semifinals, the Wildcats will return a superb offense and a fast-improving defense. Two has been better than one at quarterback with Sean Goldrich and Andy Vailas, and the pair will benefit from a 1,000-yard rusher (Nico Steriti) and two 1,000-yard wide receivers (R.J. Harris and Justin Mello). The defense boasts leading tacklers Akil Anderson and Shane McNeely at linebacker as well as fast-rising safety Casey DeAndrade. Coach Sean McDonnell's squad will visit Toledo and host Lehigh.

3. Southeastern Louisiana (11-3; 6) - Coach Ron Roberts has rebuilt quickly with transfers like do-everything quarterback Bryan Bennett from Oregon. Rasheed Harrell and Xavier Roberson are exciting players offensively, while many of the standouts on defense, including pass-rushing linebacker Isiah Corbett, also are back. A trip to Tulane will highlight the Lions' non- conference schedule.

2. North Dakota State (15-0; 1) - The aura surrounding the Bison will depart with a senior class that won 52 games as well as the three national titles over the last four seasons. New coach Chris Klieman will still have a strong defense with the likes of linebacker Carlton Littlejohn and safety Colten Heagle, but it will not be nearly as dominant. Junior-to-be quarterback Carson Wentz could take over the lead role from Brock Jensen and will have go- to weapons in wide receiver Zach Vraa and running back John Crockett. Opponents will play even harder knowing the Bison are vulnerable. In addition to the Montana game, the Bison will play Iowa State in non-conference action.

1. Eastern Washington (12-3; 3) - Opposing defenses must pick their poison in defending Walter Payton Award runner-up Vernon Adams and his favorite weapons, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and running back Quincy Forte. As the offense scores in bunches, linebacker Ronnie Hamlin is expected to be back to lead the defense, which must improve. Of course, coach Beau Baldwin doesn't take it easy with his schedule, and the non-conference games include Washington, Sam Houston State, and, yes, Montana State in a game that won't count toward the Big Sky Conference standings.

[Ivytalk]

Coastal vs EIU vs Fordham

Fordham finished No. 9 in the final poll and returns just about everyone. Yes, a deep run in the playoffs is easily foreseeable.

Take your CAA tainted glasses off.

Heh-heh-heh! He said "taint"!

[YoUDeeMan]

Any poll that lists a team as number 1, and has the phrase, "...the defense, which must improve", is useless.

And JSU as top 10? Too funny.

[89Hen]

Coastal vs EIU vs Fordham

Fordham finished No. 9 in the final poll and returns just about everyone. Yes, a deep run in the playoffs is easily foreseeable.

Take your CAA tainted glasses off.

Fordham was overranked all season. A deep run would be pretty novel for a PL team.

[CID1990]

I must say I am a little surprised

that we havent heard from UTC or CSU yet

Surely one of those will sniff the natty this year