Does BSC have a Top Ten caliber team?

[TomCat88]

We're probably embarking on the least talented season in the BSC since ???? Will a BSC team finish in the Top 10 in any of the major polls?

PSU was 10th in the Coaches and STATS polls and 7th in the SRS poll last year.

[luckyirishguy25]

We're probably embarking on the least talented season in the BSC since ???? Will a BSC team finish in the Top 10 in any of the major polls?

PSU was 10th in the Coaches and STATS polls and 7th in the SRS poll last year.

I think NAU is going to be a lot better this year. UND and PSU will both be solid, and I'm sure the grizzles, EWU and CP are going to be tough teams. I think the top half or better of the BSC will be really competitive with each other. It will be interesting to see the early OOC play this fall, it will probably be a barometer for how the playoffs will go for BSC contenders.

[TomCat88]

We're probably embarking on the least talented season in the BSC since ???? Will a BSC team finish in the Top 10 in any of the major polls?

PSU was 10th in the Coaches and STATS polls and 7th in the SRS poll last year.

I think NAU is going to be a lot better this year. UND and PSU will both be solid, and I'm sure the grizzles, EWU and CP are going to be tough teams. I think the top half or better of the BSC will be really competitive with each other. It will be interesting to see the early OOC play this fall, it will probably be a barometer for how the playoffs will go for BSC contenders.

Yes. Lots of teams with a shot, but hard to say which one. I can't say with confidence which team will break through, because they all look like 8-3, 7-4 teams to me. I'm sure someone will get to 9-2, but I doubt two teams do. NAU looks 0-2 out of the gate. EWU has a beast schedule. Mostly there just aren't any teams with a wealth of talent. No one looks remotely like a quarterfinal team.

[Montanabob]

We will have at least 4 teams in top 10 this season.
6 in top 25.
NAU, MSU, EWU, PSU.
Add UND and Davis for top 25.

[wbtfg]

I don't think there's any way MSU is a top 10 team this year. It certainly COULD happen, but I don't think it's likely.....too many question marks.


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[GRIZ1STCATS2ND]

".....least talented season in the BSC since...."

Yes and no. It may seem that way as the old powers are seeing some competition from teams that have had their down and outs. Surely a season of unknowns, more so than most years. I'm really uncertain who will finish in the top of the BSC this year and who has the potential to make some Impact in the playoffs.

I have an idea, but nothing would surprise me this season.

[Silenoz]

We will have at least 4 teams in top 10 this season.
6 in top 25.
NAU, MSU, EWU, PSU.
Add UND and Davis for top 25.

...

[JDoub]

Yes the Big Sky will have a top 10 team at the end of the season, just don't know which one. I don't think there will be a top 5 team though.


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[catbooster]

Yes the Big Sky will have a top 10 team at the end of the season, just don't know which one. I don't think there will be a top 5 team though.


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This is where I'd put my money if I were making a bet. I think there are a number of teams that could be the top of the conference, but they all have question marks so I have a hard time deciding who it will be.

[Cat Grad]

Weber, North Dakota and Portland State all are changing the way the conference plays football so I think we'll see all three in the Top Ten throughout the year. Nobody is going to shut down Cal Poly but I don't think they can do what they do all season long (once again). There just aren't enough kids available to take the kind of beating their offense subjects their kids to over an 11 game schedule. ISU is my pick to surprise all of us this year.

I'm also thinking the conference has a better showing in the playoffs than the last three years because of the shift in offensive philosophy of several of our schools. At least I hope so because I'm really tired of watching junior high sandlot football.

[iaafan]

I hope you're right about that Cat Grad. I agree it would be nice to see some football that resembles football in the BSC.

[95bcfb]

I think that from a pure roster perspective you have to respect what NAU has coming back but I have never been that impressed with their coaching - (I would rate them at upper middle of the pack as far as coaching). When I look at who the top teams in the conference will be I always look at their coaching. PSU may have been just a flash in the pan but I was really impressed with what their coaches accomplished last year and I see no reason to think that they won't be good again. I have never been that impressed with ISU or the Big Human so I would expect them to be mid to lower mid pack. EWU is always well coached offensively but I think they have a serious problem defensively and I don't see any reason to believe that will change. Their offense may do well enough to win in the Big Sky but not in the post season unless they really turn things around. We really don't know about MSU or SU yet (coaching wise). I really like Choate's philosophy and think that he will be great but until we see it on the field we really don't know. I thought that UM did better than expected for what they had last year but I am still not sold on them and don't know why so many think they will be so good - but I would say they will likely be mid to upper pack (I am biased on this one, I know). So when I look at the Big Sky I really don't see anything that makes me supper impressed. I do think that there will be a surprise or two though like last year, but right now I am picking PSU just from a 1 year coaching record.

[seataccat]

We will have at least 4 teams in top 10 this season.
6 in top 25.
NAU, MSU, EWU, PSU.
Add UND and Davis for top 25

Replace MSU with Weber State and you might just be right. Eastern does have a brutal schedule as many have pointed out before.

[iaafan]

We'll probably have a top ten team in the rankings, but I don't think we'll have a top ten team in reality. I think Richmond, William&Mary, James Madison, NDSU, No. Iowa, Ill. State, Sam Houston State, McNeese State, Chattanooga, Wofford, Jacksonville State are all ahead of anyone in the Big Sky.

[bertram]

Nobody is going to shut down Cal Poly but I don't think they can do what they do all season long (once again). There just aren't enough kids available to take the kind of beating their offense subjects their kids to over an 11 game schedule.

A major part of that Offense, Chris Brown is no longer there. Dano Graves is a very capable replacement QB though. They lost a high production LB on defense as well (Burton De Koning). It will be interesting to see what kind of football Cal Poly brings to the table this year.

[iaafan]

Athlon FCS Poll (no BSC teams in the Top 10, but five in top 25)

1. North Dakota State
2. Sam Houston State
3. Northern Iowa
4. Richmond
5. Jacksonville State
6. Charleston Southern
7. Chattanooga
8. South Dakota State
9. Coastal Carolina
10. The Citadel
11. Illinois State
12. Eastern Washington
13. William & Mary
14. James Madison
15. North Dakota
16. Montana
17. McNeese State
18. Towson
19. Western Illinois
20. Villanova
21. Portland State
22. Youngstown State
23. Colgate
24. Northern Arizona
25. Eastern Kentucky

[luckyirishguy25]

Athlon FCS Poll (no BSC teams in the Top 10, but five in top 25)

1. North Dakota State
2. Sam Houston State
3. Northern Iowa
4. Richmond
5. Jacksonville State
6. Charleston Southern
7. Chattanooga
8. South Dakota State
9. Coastal Carolina
10. The Citadel
11. Illinois State
12. Eastern Washington
13. William & Mary
14. James Madison
15. North Dakota
16. Montana
17. McNeese State
18. Towson
19. Western Illinois
20. Villanova
21. Portland State
22. Youngstown State
23. Colgate
24. Northern Arizona
25. Eastern Kentucky

Pretty good poll IMO, but I'd swap NAU & EWU and PSU & UND.

[iaafan]

Yeah, it's a good poll. As for the BSC teams you can arrange in any order you want right now. I don't think anyone can make an especially strong case for being the top team in the conference. I see 7-8 teams with a shot at winning it this year.