Should NDSU Be Ranked #1?

[clenz]

Last season has zero bearing on this season.


Iowa State is terrible. UNI really could have named that score last season. The 28-20 final score is deceiving as UNI outgained Iowa State, led the entire game, ran for 228 yards, fumbled on the 1 yard line going in with less than 1 minute in the game (would have made it 35-20) and had UNI kept their foot on the throats of Iowa State that whole game it probably would have been 40-10/13. Then again, the UNI team from the first 5 weeks of the season would have beaten NDSU (well, in week 6 they lead NDSU for 58 minutes and NDSU got some help from a very generous PI call late in the game to give them a first down on the go a head score drive).

Iowa State isn't good.

That schedule is VERY weak upfront...

What they did last season doesn't mean they are the best team this season. This poll isn't "A look back at 2013" or Towson would be #2. Are you voting Towson number 2? Why not?

It's not the toughest schedule but it's far from weak up front. All DI, one FCS, and three OOC games against power conferences...

@ Iowa State
3-9...absolutely terrible. wins were Tulsa, and 2 dog shit B12 teams in WVU and Kansas

@ Weber State
2-10 finished ahead of only Northern Co in standings. Wins over a 1 BSC win ISU and a 2 D1 win SFA team

Incarnate Word
6-5 but had zero D1 wins and played only 3 D1 games. AMAF avg score of D1 games was 49-10

Montana
This is a good game

@ Western Illinois
4-8 but only 3 D1 wins...over Hampton, Indiana State (possibly one of the worst non-HBCUs in the nation), and USD. Lost their 8 games by an average of 15ppg...only 1 was within single digits

Southern Illinois
Decent game. SIU is probably a 4th or 5th place MVFC team this season

Indiana State
1-11 last season...0-11 vs D1. Scored just 178 points in D1 games. Lost by an average score of 40-15 gave up point totals of 73 38 35 55 56 49 29 and 31 in 8 of their 11 games. Scored more than 14 just 3 times against D1 opponents. Likely the worst non-HBCU in the nation...for sure the worst scholarship team in the nation.


They'll likely win all of those games. Doesn't make me believe they are a #1 team.

[mgbison]

My take on the NDSU - UNI game.

NDSU tried to give the game to UNI, and UNI still couldn't get the W.
1. We had a make shift oline to start the game. One guy got hurt on the thurs in practice and the other got a concussion when car hit him on his moped after team meetings on friday.
2. We fumbled two kickoffs at the 20 yard line. Maybe UNI kickoff team is amazing, but losing two fumbles on kickoffs doesn't happen very often. UNI was only able to get 6 points off those turnovers.
3. Besides Johnson's one long run, the UNI offense was super non-threatning. I give props to their quarterback, because he got the shit beat out of him. I don't think he had a clue where he was in the fourth quarter.
4. The pass interference was questionable, I agree. However, we would've gotten the ball back after another 3 and out and punched it in. UNI was gassed on defense and getting pushed all over the field.
5. UNI would not have beaten us earlier in the year.


Back top the topic,

I would rank EWU #1 to start the season. They have a lot of players returning on an very good team from last year. However, NDSU is gonna have the best defense in the land again and it should get us back to Frisco. Once in Frisco, everyone knows its a bison home game.

[bluehenbillk]

I'd put EWU there. Sure NDSU has won the past couple years, but they have a new HC & many key players have gone. NDSU will still be there come the postseason but winning last year doesn't give you a birthright to the preseason top spot. I applaud people for using their heads & not acting like a robot.

[YoUDeeMan]

UD is #1.

We'll win every game 63-62.

Get ready to bask in the gloryful (yeah, that's a new word) return of the Hens.

Fear the Bird!

[JohnStOnge]

There's really no way to know so why not? Doesn't matter anyway.

Really, there was a really solid basis for ranking NDSU #1 each of the past two years going into the seasons because each time they'd won the national championship and had a bunch of starters including the QB coming back. Now it's different. To me there's no iron clad basis for ranking anyone #1. So just pick somebody.