AGS Top 25 - How They Fared - Week 11, Fall 2024

[Preferred Walk-On]

With two games remaining on the Week 11 slate, I present to you this week's How They Fared. CLICK HERE (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KDyOeu9uEGGaHeljK239spLBOCXyfH1HT7wdCbCXa2k/edit?usp=sharing) to see what has happened so far, and the remaining games will be updated after their completion.

Just a few things: (1) #6 Southeast Missouri State took a loss to unranked Lindenwood, (2) #11 Rhode Island took their first FCS loss to Delaware by a FG, (3) #20 Central Arkansas, #22 William & Mary, and #23 Western Carolina each took losses with potentially catastrophic consequences, and (4) #25 North Dakota took a loss that barring a complete 360 in their last two games, effectively eliminates them from playoff contention.

At least all teams but one (and one currently playing and winning by 3 scores) in the ORV won today, making them some potential candidates to make the top 25. Happy voting!

[wapiti]

UND can still get to 7 div 1 wins. Which should get them consideration for playoffs. They must win their next 2 games.

[caribbeanhen]

Harvard moving up towards top 15?

[Preferred Walk-On]

UND can still get to 7 div 1 wins. Which should get them consideration for playoffs. They must win their next 2 games.
While I would normally agree with you, losses to Youngstown State (see Southern Illinois' comeback win yesterday against the Penguins) and Indiana State look bad. Watched yesterday's game against South Dakota State (I know, the Jackrabbits make a lot of teams look bad), and that was a Fighting Hawks team that was struggling. North Dakota will finish with South Dakota and Illinois State, and I suppose that if they were to win both of those, they might get some consideration as one of the final bubble teams. I just don't think the stars are going to align in that fashion.

[Preferred Walk-On]

Harvard moving up towards top 15?
I suppose any team that is lower than #15 that may move up a spot is moving "towards" top 15. ;)

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Harvard moving up towards top 15?

They were already in my Top 15 last week. xthumbsupx

[caribbeanhen]

They were already in my Top 15 last week. xthumbsupx

I saw that and agree with you.... maybe someday after a few days off last week, Harvard will get involved with the FCS playoffs

[smilo]

I had Western Carolina higher than the consensus last week and I'm inclined to keep them in despite the record. Better resume and recent results than North Dakota.

I'm not inclined to rank Dartmouth or Duquesne just yet personally so probably have to pick between Western Carolina, Southern Utah and Towson. The head to heads over Eastern Kentucky and William and Mary get them the edge despite being a game back.

[KPSUL]

I had Western Carolina higher than the consensus last week and I'm inclined to keep them in despite the record. Better resume and recent results than North Dakota.

I'm not inclined to rank Dartmouth or Duquesne just yet personally so probably have to pick between Western Carolina, Southern Utah and Towson. The head to heads over Eastern Kentucky and William and Mary get them the edge despite being a game back.

Your vision seems a bit myopic, why do you have to pick between WCU, So. Utah and Towson? How about, teams in the ORV with better records like No. AZ, and UNH. I also don't see discounting 7-1 Dartmouth, they are 2nd in the Ivy, their only loss a very close one to Harvard. And Harvard will end up near the Top 15 now that C-Hen has decreed it so.

[smilo]

Your vision seems a bit myopic, why do you have to pick between WCU, So. Utah and Towson? How about, teams in the ORV with better records like No. AZ, and UNH. I also don't see discounting 7-1 Dartmouth, they are 2nd in the Ivy, their only loss a very close one to Harvard. And Harvard will end up near the Top 15 now that C-Hen has decreed it so.

New Hampshire is in my poll and Northern Arizona has been in my top 20 most of the season.

Harvard has a loss to Brown. They are certainly nowhere near my top 15 in the current state of the Ivy although they are in my poll.

Thus, it comes down to WCU, SUU and Towson to take the 25th spot. One could argue for SLU which isn't much difference (except based on two close losses instead of any quality wins). And as mentioned in my original post, H2H loss with weaker resume kills EKU and W&M.

The other options are: Dartmouth, Duquesne, Jackson State, and SC State (and apparently Tennessee State which pulls this soft frontloaded schedule every other year) . I wouldn't judge others for including them (especially Dartmouth), but these really are not top 25 teams this year. Dartmouth has 5 narrow escapes against mediocre competition at best (and often worse than mediocre). Jackson has bad loss to Grambling. Duquesne has won convincingly but no resume. I guess with SC State you could say we have no idea how good they might be but based on history, it's probably not in the top 30.

[Outsider1]

New Hampshire is in my poll and Northern Arizona has been in my top 20 most of the season.

Harvard has a loss to Brown. They are certainly nowhere near my top 15 in the current state of the Ivy although they are in my poll.

Thus, it comes down to WCU, SUU and Towson to take the 25th spot. One could argue for SLU which isn't much difference (except based on two close losses instead of any quality wins). And as mentioned in my original post, H2H loss with weaker resume kills EKU and W&M.

The other options are: Dartmouth, Duquesne, Jackson State, and SC State (and apparently Tennessee State which pulls this soft frontloaded schedule every other year) . I wouldn't judge others for including them (especially Dartmouth), but these really are not top 25 teams this year. Dartmouth has 5 narrow escapes against mediocre competition at best (and often worse than mediocre). Jackson has bad loss to Grambling. Duquesne has won convincingly but no resume. I guess with SC State you could say we have no idea how good they might be but based on history, it's probably not in the top 30.

Coming from one of the few UAC people here, and one who had been including SUU in my 23-25 range, I finally dropped them and inserted EKU for the first time this week. Yes, SUU has had the harder schedule. Yes, they have the same conference record. No, they have not had the recent success and skill as EKU in the last few weeks. EKU struggled early but have really been coming together lately. Are they going to make the playoffs? No, not really. They do consider a top 25, at least for now, over SUU even with the H2H loss to SUU earlier. It's a six of one, half dozen of the other at this point but EKU has the win over both UCA and Tarleton, as well as the better overall record at this point.

[caribbeanhen]

Coming from one of the few UAC people here, and one who had been including SUU in my 23-25 range, I finally dropped them and inserted EKU for the first time this week. Yes, SUU has had the harder schedule. Yes, they have the same conference record. No, they have not had the recent success and skill as EKU in the last few weeks. EKU struggled early but have really been coming together lately. Are they going to make the playoffs? No, not really. They do consider a top 25, at least for now, over SUU even with the H2H loss to SUU earlier. It's a six of one, half dozen of the other at this point but EKU has the win over both UCA and Tarleton, as well as the better overall record at this point.

I like your team

Sam Hicks

-

[Outsider1]

I like your team

Sam Hicks

-

Hicks has been one of the biggest surprises this year, and we have had several with our transfers.

[ngineer]

Your vision seems a bit myopic, why do you have to pick between WCU, So. Utah and Towson? How about, teams in the ORV with better records like No. AZ, and UNH. I also don't see discounting 7-1 Dartmouth, they are 2nd in the Ivy, their only loss a very close one to Harvard. And Harvard will end up near the Top 15 now that C-Hen has decreed it so.

I would humbly add that Holy Cross lost to Harvard 34-35 at Harvard, and lost at home to Lehigh 7-10. “Just sayin’ “😉

[caribbeanhen]

Hicks has been one of the biggest surprises this year, and we have had several with our transfers.

talent all over the place


Blayne Taylor 71 Yd pass from Maverick McIvor--- saw that

#23 RB Isahai Johnson

[Outsider1]

talent all over the place


Blayne Taylor 71 Yd pass from Maverick McIvor--- saw that

#23 RB Isahai Johnson

Got talent out the wazoo. That hasn't been our issue. It's been consistency, focus and discipline.

[KPSUL]

New Hampshire is in my poll and Northern Arizona has been in my top 20 most of the season.

Harvard has a loss to Brown. They are certainly nowhere near my top 15 in the current state of the Ivy although they are in my poll.

Thus, it comes down to WCU, SUU and Towson to take the 25th spot. One could argue for SLU which isn't much difference (except based on two close losses instead of any quality wins). And as mentioned in my original post, H2H loss with weaker resume kills EKU and W&M.

The other options are: Dartmouth, Duquesne, Jackson State, and SC State (and apparently Tennessee State which pulls this soft frontloaded schedule every other year) . I wouldn't judge others for including them (especially Dartmouth), but these really are not top 25 teams this year. Dartmouth has 5 narrow escapes against mediocre competition at best (and often worse than mediocre). Jackson has bad loss to Grambling. Duquesne has won convincingly but no resume. I guess with SC State you could say we have no idea how good they might be but based on history, it's probably not in the top 30.

Good explanation! I held off on ranking UNH this week, I hate to move a team into the top 25, and then drop them down the next. If we can't beat Stony Brook at home, we are definitely not a Top 25 team. I think SC St belongs in the top 25, they have one reasonably tough game left to play @ Morgan St, and could end up 9-2 and the favorite in the Celebration Bowl. The SWAC is a mess in terms of picking the best team(s). I wouldn't rank any of them at the moment.

[KPSUL]

I would humbly add that Holy Cross lost to Harvard 34-35 at Harvard, and lost at home to Lehigh 7-10. “Just sayin’ “

Too many separations in your transitive Property of Equality for me. Lehigh needs to be praying for the Jesuits from Worchester to beat Bucknell this Saturday so you'll have the Head to Head in the PL tie-breaker. That's your best road into the playoffs. Of course, this being the post Chesney/Sluka Patriot League, we'll likely see 3 or 4 more twists, turns and permutations to the PL auto-bid.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Just under an hour left to vote and we are missing 5 to 10 of you from the season average so far so let's get the vote in ASAP.