Next Years FCS Championship Game - Early Predictions

[Grizalltheway]

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

They will, just not the natty you're thinking of...or maybe it is.

[Gil Dobie]

Sounds like NDSU may be getting a FBS transfer

The Bison had recruited King Frazier prior to walking on at Nebraska. Frazier still has 3 years left and will add depth to the RB position.

Nebraska Rivals Link

[Gil Dobie]

http://sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform. ... /index.htm

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.

Montana St?

[Grizalltheway]

http://sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform. ... /index.htm

Montana St?

breathe

[Gil Dobie]

Montana St?

breathe

I just saw the coaches poll for this year and Montana St was still at #20.

[Grizalltheway]

breathe

I just saw the coaches poll for this year and Montana St was still at #20.

So the fact that they lose their second-best-ever QB, their starting RB, and a Buch winner means they should be top-10 next year?

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Montana St?

breathe

[htownbearkat]

NDSU and somebody else........................

I'd say that now goes in the "not likely" category. That's because NDSU had a special nucleus of players who were the core for those three championship runs. Now they're gone and it will truly be a completely different team.

I said the same kind of thing about Sam Houston State when BearKat fans were saying they'd be in the championship game again this year even even though Sam Houston State only had 11 starters coming back, had lost four of its five secondary starters, and had lost their defensive coordinator. Now, at least according to an "unofficial" depth chart I found, NDSU is going to graduate 14 starters including both cornerbacks, their quarterback, and that all world offensive tackle they have.

It's always possible they could go on without missing a beat but I sure wouldn't bet on it. The chances of them still being a quality team are good but the chances of them being at the level they've been at with that core of players that graduates now are not. PLUS they're losing their head coach and most of their current coaching staff.

Never happened. By all means prove me wrong. You may have it confused with the SLC title.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

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.

Please don't ever stop posting. Reading your pretentious, perpetual butt-hurt is highly entertaining.

[Gil Dobie]

I just saw the coaches poll for this year and Montana St was still at #20.

So the fact that they lose their second-best-ever QB, their starting RB, and a Buch winner means they should be top-10 next year?

Like Denny Green always says, It's the program!

Well he said some other things too.

[Grizalltheway]

Well, their "program's" recent history suggests that ranking them top 10 preseason would be quite foolish.

[dal4018]

Southeastern Louisiana vs Towson!!!!!

[DSUrocks07]

Southeastern Louisiana vs Towson!!!!!

Bookmarked

[keydet21]

Savannah State vs. Northern Colorado. I'm calling it.

[dal4018]

Savannah State vs. Northern Colorado. I'm calling it.

No way Savannah St gets there must run things in their own house(MEAC) first.

[keydet21]

Savannah State vs. Northern Colorado. I'm calling it.

No way Savannah St gets there must run things in their own house(MEAC) first.

Seeing as you are a SC State (MEAC) fan you may have taken this seriously but, it was in fact sarcasm.

[dal4018]

No way Savannah St gets there must run things in their own house(MEAC) first.

Seeing as you are a SC State (MEAC) fan you may have taken this seriously but, it was in fact sarcasm.

No kidding sir I know you hate those schools

[Gil Dobie]

Seeing as you are a SC State (MEAC) fan you may have taken this seriously but, it was in fact sarcasm.

No kidding sir I know you hate those schools

How does SC State look for next year dal?

[SACCAT]

breathe

[DSUrocks07]

Savannah State vs. Northern Colorado. I'm calling it.

Savannah State = sleeping giant

[kemajic]

It will be EWU's to lose.

[89Hen]

Southeastern Louisiana vs Towson!!!!!

What happened to Tennessee State?

[dal4018]

No kidding sir I know you hate those schools

How does SC State look for next year dal?

I will have to ask around on twitter

[dal4018]

Southeastern Louisiana vs Towson!!!!!

What happened to Tennessee State?

They must get by Eastern Illinois.

[Gil Dobie]

What happened to Tennessee State?

They must get by Eastern Illinois.

Should be able to do that next year with EIEIU losing their coach and all-world QB.