Realistic expectations for this year

[Bobcat Sig]

Semifinal appearance is my expectation, and that might be high after losing Tommy. I think everywhere else is at least the same, and the lines seems to have more depth which means only a few FCS teams can match those position groups.

10-2 overall record seems realistic to me. Depends on seeding for the playoffs after that in terms of getting to Nashville.

This could be the Cats’ Tee Martin year. If you know, you know.

Oh, I know. And I like the cut of your jib, mister!

[MSUBobcat04]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

[PapaG]

Semifinal appearance is my expectation, and that might be high after losing Tommy. I think everywhere else is at least the same, and the lines seems to have more depth which means only a few FCS teams can match those position groups.

10-2 overall record seems realistic to me. Depends on seeding for the playoffs after that in terms of getting to Nashville.

This could be the Cats’ Tee Martin year. If you know, you know.

You don’t know how many times I’ve had that same thought.

My highest expectations are lower than what I think will happen. It’s up to the new QB to just not turn the ball over, basically, and the wins will pile up.

SDSU is somewhat in the same spot, but they lost so many good players to the portal that this seems like an off year for them to compete for a title. Losing all of those Senior contributors, and then adding the portal players other than Gronowski, is a huge ask for a new coach to make happen in one year. I expect them to drop off to a road semifinal team, possibly quarterfinal on the road.

[The Butcher]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

[Catsrgrood]

Semifinal appearance should be the expectation.

Winning that game and then ultimately determining if they have a shot at the championship is a different question. But, between the FCS being pretty thin at the top these days and the Cats clearly having built a damn strong program over the last decade, anything less than being in that final 4 should be disappointing.

I feel like this is just rinse and repeat from the last 10+ years, but NDSU is the clear favorite going into the season. At least right now, it seems like it’s a race to see who gets to go to Nashville to be runner up again.

That next tier is fairly small, probably 5-6 teams. And I expect the Cats to be among the best of those 5-6.

[coloradocat]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

We'll be favored and should win but the only reason there will be any question marks is because we open week 1 on the road against a top 5 FBS team while SDSU opens week 1 at home against a borderline top 5 BSC team that is full of transfers and a new coaching staff. We may be beat up and without a good idea of what we have at QB while they should win and get to feel out their new staff and roster.

[Catsrgrood]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

[kwcat]

USD should probably be in the discussion in the Missouri valley as well.
UND always seems to have talent. Good friend of mine that played their things. Maybe they’ll put something little better together this year

A bit of a tangent.

Montana State’s success will depend on serviceable qb’s replacing TM , linebacker needed improvements, and replacing secondary (including depth at nickel).
I believe all other positions will be as good as last year

[TomCat88]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

SDSU is loaded with great athletes and they know how to develop them. That’s why they are picked #2 in the MVFC. USD could very easily be a threat in the conference as well. They’re also loaded. I just don’t know if they are completely bought into the system. Sure looked like it last year. UCD is in the same boat but maybe a little ahead of USD. Plough is an excellent coach and really appears to know his stuff. I expect them to be better this year than they were last year.

[Joe Bobcat]

To heck with being realistic, we're winning them all this year!

[Cataholic]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

SDSU is going to be a middle of the pack MVFC team this year. You don’t lose that much talent to the portal and maintain status as a top 10 team. Cats will win big in Bozeman in front of 22,000 fans.

[BelligerentBobcat]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

SDSU is going to be a middle of the pack MVFC team this year. You don’t lose that much talent to the portal and maintain status as a top 10 team. Cats will win big in Bozeman in front of 22,000 fans.

You think they’ll finish 5th or 6th in their conference? I’d put money on that.

[seataccat]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

SDSU is going to be a middle of the pack MVFC team this year. You don’t lose that much talent to the portal and maintain status as a top 10 team. Cats will win big in Bozeman in front of 22,000 fans.

You think they’ll finish 5th or 6th in their conference? I’d put money on that.

I think they finish 3rd or worse. I'll definitely put up as much as you want to bet that they lose in Bozeman.

[BelligerentBobcat]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

SDSU is going to be a middle of the pack MVFC team this year. You don’t lose that much talent to the portal and maintain status as a top 10 team. Cats will win big in Bozeman in front of 22,000 fans.

You think they’ll finish 5th or 6th in their conference? I’d put money on that.

I think they finish 3rd or worse. I'll definitely put up as much as you want to bet that they lose in Bozeman.

Oh heck no. I’m not betting against the Cats! I just think they’ll still be a good team.

[TomCat88]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

SDSU is going to be a middle of the pack MVFC team this year. You don’t lose that much talent to the portal and maintain status as a top 10 team. Cats will win big in Bozeman in front of 22,000 fans.

Who’s going to finish ahead of them?

[GoldstoneCat]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

I would agree. SDSU lost a lot of talent and backfilling that much in one offseason seems unlikely.

100% agree. They very well may be really good, but they’re as big of an unknown as anyone right now. Normally a head coaching change at a strong program like that is tough, but not insurmountable. But a second coaching change in 2 years, with all of the staff that left also, AND losing 20+ players to graduation and portal is a mighty big thing to overcome, especially early.

SDSU is going to be a middle of the pack MVFC team this year. You don’t lose that much talent to the portal and maintain status as a top 10 team. Cats will win big in Bozeman in front of 22,000 fans.

Who’s going to finish ahead of them?

They're far from the middle of the pack imo. I think they'll be 3rd behind the evil empire and the yotes.

[MSUBobcat04]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SDSU game and not sure why everyone is lumping them in the same category with NDSU (yes, I'm aware they were just picked #2 in the MVFC preseason poll). Jimmy Rogers did his alma mater DIRTY, taking basically his ENTIRE coaching staff (only the RB coach wasn't on his staff last year in Brookings), and SIXTEEN players. That's on top of the 5 others that transferred to other FBS teams. They did bring in 12 FBS transfers, but that amount of turnover on the coaching staff AND contributing players is going to be hard to gel as a group, IMO, especially being just the second game in. Combine that with playing in Bozeman... I have to think the Bobcats would be favored in the game.

We'll be favored and should win but the only reason there will be any question marks is because we open week 1 on the road against a top 5 FBS team while SDSU opens week 1 at home against a borderline top 5 BSC team that is full of transfers and a new coaching staff. We may be beat up and without a good idea of what we have at QB while they should win and get to feel out their new staff and roster.

Iron sharpens iron and I'm not expecting a lot out of Suck St. I think getting a strong challenge is more beneficial that a walkthrough game, provided of course there are no injuries. Playing FBS teams, especially highly ranked ones, injuries are definitely a big risk.