TSN Preseason Top 25

[GeauxLions94]

Cue the angry posts in 3,2 ...

The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Preseason Top-25 College Football Poll
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Eastern Washington Eagles (90) 13-2 3,377 1
2. Appalachian State Mountaineers (14) 10-3 3,142 4
3. William & Mary Tribe (20) 8-4 3,110 10
4. Georgia Southern Eagles (11) 10-5 3,095 5
5. Delaware Blue Hens (2) 12-3 2,806 20
6. Montana State Bobcats 9-3 2,623 11
7. Northern Iowa Panthers 7-5 2,452 19
8. Wofford Terriers 10-3 2,357 6
9. Jacksonville State Gamecocks 9-3 2,028 12
10. New Hampshire Wildcats (1) 8-5 2,025 7
11. North Dakota State Bison 9-5 1,720 9
12. Montana Grizzlies 7-4 1,668 20
13. Lehigh Mountain Hawks 10-3 1,351 14
14. Villanova Wildcats (2) 9-5 1,262 3
15. James Madison Dukes 6-5 1,247 NR
16. Richmond Spiders 6-5 987 NR
17. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 9-3 969 8
18. Central Arkansas Bears 7-4 961 NR
19. Southern Illinois Salukis 5-6 934 NR
20. McNeese State Cowboys 6-5 701 NR
21. Chattanooga Mocs 6-5 672 NR
22. Liberty Flames 8-3 630 21
23. South Carolina State Bulldogs 9-3 628 16
24. Sacramento State Hornets 6-5 587 NR
25. Massachusetts Minutemen 6-5 519 NR
Others receiving votes: Penn 456, Bethune-Cookman 425, Southeast Missouri State 341, Murray State 315, Western Illinois 247, Southern Utah 240, Jacksonville 215, Cal Poly 168, Stony Brook 163, Grambling State 146, Eastern Kentucky 139, Jackson State 76, Florida A&M 76, Colgate 75, Sam Houston State 75, Harvard 54, Indiana State 51, UC Davis 48, South Dakota State 40, Youngstown State 28, Central Connecticut State 26, Coastal Carolina 25, Dayton 21, Northwestern State 20, Northern Arizona 18, Elon 16, Yale 15, Weber State 13, Illinois State 12, Tennessee Tech 12, Rhode Island 11, Maine 10, Albany 10, Texas Southern 10, Northern Colorado 10, Furman 10, Brown 8, South Dakota 7, Old Dominion 5, Columbia 5, Missouri State 2, Robert Morris 2, Hampton 1, Duquesne 1, UT Martin 1.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lots of love for Lehigh, the pressure is certainly building.

2 first place votes for Villanova? Seriously?

[TheRevSFA]

Eh..I'm okay with it

[danefan]

At first glance I think UNI and Lehigh are both too high.

And as someone said - 2 first place votes for Nova?

[eiu1999]

Looks okay.

[ngineer]

The preseason polls reflect last year's success and how many starters/experience players are returning, and that's about it. Lehigh had a strong showing last year and returns a lot of key skill position people on offense, and the virtually the entire front seven on defense. The kicking game is a complete question mark, but I like our position. I my own view, I had us in the 12-15 range.

[StorminASU]

I hate to say it, but App is overrated. Too many questions we need to answer on the field before we get a top 5 spot. After the first three weeks (Va. Tech, then two "gimmes" at home), we'll see how we're doing, but right now we need to earn that spot.

[crossfire07]

2 first place votes for Villanova? Seriously?

I noticed that too! I think this poll is a good starting point compared to some of the others out there.

[THE HERD]

I think NDSU is about right, possibly a little high. I say 10-15 range. At least Stony Brook isn't in this one like in Steele's poll, they were like 14th or something.....WTH!

[Apphole]

"we stand atop a mountain with NOEQUAL"....except last year's champs

[crossfire07]

After the first three weeks (Va. Tech, then two "gimmes" at home), we'll see how we're doing, but right now we need to earn that spot.

App is SUPPOSED to win against A&T but if they don't keep Mayhew in check, things could get ugly. This kid is not an NFL prospect for nothing.

[StorminASU]

App is SUPPOSED to win against A&T but if they don't keep Mayhew in check, things could get ugly. This kid is not an NFL prospect for nothing.

That is true, but if this team proves to be like Mountaineers of the past, they thrive on shutting down a (nearly) one dimensional offense. All the wofford fans were saying how Breninsten (I don't care how you spell it) was going to crush us last year and we held him to like 39 yds on 17 carries.

Also, that's why I quoted gimmes because no game is a gimme, but if App plays up to the level they have in the past, this game should go in our favor.

[Apphole]

App is SUPPOSED to win against A&T but if they don't keep Mayhew in check, things could get ugly. This kid is not an NFL prospect for nothing.

We'll beat them by 30+ be serious

[Bogus Megapardus]

This must be the first time in 30 years that the Columbia Lions have showed up in "others receiving votes."

[blueballs]

We'll beat them by 30+ be serious

You should but in the first game anything can happen...

[asumike83]

ASU is a top ten team without question, but #2 is a bit lofty in my opinion. We could develop into a team of that caliber but at this point, it's all about reputation.

[katstrapper]

The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Preseason Top-25 College Football Poll
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Eastern Washington Eagles (90) 13-2 3,377 1
2. Appalachian State Mountaineers (14) 10-3 3,142 4
3. William & Mary Tribe (20) 8-4 3,110 10
4. Georgia Southern Eagles (11) 10-5 3,095 5
5. Delaware Blue Hens (2) 12-3 2,806 20
6. Montana State Bobcats 9-3 2,623 11
7. Northern Iowa Panthers 7-5 2,452 19
8. Wofford Terriers 10-3 2,357 6
9. Jacksonville State Gamecocks 9-3 2,028 12
10. New Hampshire Wildcats (1) 8-5 2,025 7
11. North Dakota State Bison 9-5 1,720 9
12. Montana Grizzlies 7-4 1,668 20
13. Lehigh Mountain Hawks 10-3 1,351 14
14. Villanova Wildcats (2) 9-5 1,262 3
15. James Madison Dukes 6-5 1,247 NR
16. Richmond Spiders 6-5 987 NR
17. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 9-3 969 8
18. Central Arkansas Bears 7-4 961 NR
19. Southern Illinois Salukis 5-6 934 NR
20. McNeese State Cowboys 6-5 701 NR
21. Chattanooga Mocs 6-5 672 NR
22. Liberty Flames 8-3 630 21
23. South Carolina State Bulldogs 9-3 628 16
24. Sacramento State Hornets 6-5 587 NR
25. Massachusetts Minutemen 6-5 519 NR
Others receiving votes: Penn 456, Bethune-Cookman 425, Southeast Missouri State 341, Murray State 315, Western Illinois 247, Southern Utah 240, Jacksonville 215, Cal Poly 168, Stony Brook 163, Grambling State 146, Eastern Kentucky 139, Jackson State 76, Florida A&M 76, Colgate 75, Sam Houston State 75, Harvard 54, Indiana State 51, UC Davis 48, South Dakota State 40, Youngstown State 28, Central Connecticut State 26, Coastal Carolina 25, Dayton 21, Northwestern State 20, Northern Arizona 18, Elon 16, Yale 15, Weber State 13, Illinois State 12, Tennessee Tech 12, Rhode Island 11, Maine 10, Albany 10, Texas Southern 10, Northern Colorado 10, Furman 10, Brown 8, South Dakota 7, Old Dominion 5, Columbia 5, Missouri State 2, Robert Morris 2, Hampton 1, Duquesne 1, UT Martin 1.

Looks like the Southland Conference could be making some noise in 2011. It is definitely going to be a black and blue conference this year!!

[Squealofthepig]

OK, since no one else is saying it, as a Montana homer I have to say - we're too high. I think we have a good core, and have the potential to have another great year. But under Pflugrad's first year, we had a tendency to cough up the ball at really bad times - and some of the play-calling was just flat-out weird.

That being said, I love seeing some love given to Lehigh and Liberty, and a return for Richmond's Spiders. Plus - Penn, Harvard, Yale, Brown and Columbia all received votes!

[StorminASU]

You should but in the first game anything can happen...

Good thing it's not our first game then.

[bleedblue]

I don't think UD can be that high with losing what they lost on D. We all know last year's D for UD is what took them to TX. Not to mention losing Devlin. Still top 15 though.

[GaSouthern]

I hate to say it, but App is overrated. Too many questions we need to answer on the field before we get a top 5 spot. After the first three weeks (Va. Tech, then two "gimmes" at home), we'll see how we're doing, but right now we need to earn that spot.

App reloads they don't have questions, you have quesions when you rebuild. GSU will be rebuilding again next season.

[Pard4Life]

The preseason polls reflect last year's success and how many starters/experience players are returning, and that's about it. Lehigh had a strong showing last year and returns a lot of key skill position people on offense, and the virtually the entire front seven on defense. The kicking game is a complete question mark, but I like our position. I my own view, I had us in the 12-15 range.

Are you serious?! What a joke... 13! No kidding it's based on last year and you shouldn't have even been that high then. Too many questions for Lehigh to warrant this rank. In the same class as NDSU? Right... nearly ten spots above Liberty? Right... you are going to have a game with Monmouth, forget these teams. The rank is solely based upon what you did more than ten years ago!

[GannonFan]

I don't think UD can be that high with losing what they lost on D. We all know last year's D for UD is what took them to TX. Not to mention losing Devlin. Still top 15 though.

Well, and also a really good OL and a top notch running back helped last year as well, and those components are back. UD's going to be a playoff team, so that's at least top 20. Somebody's got to be ranked high and everyone has question marks versus what they lost from last year. And at the end of the day, it's just a preseason poll - rankings change significantly in the first 4-5 weeks of the season so there'll be plenty of movement.

[WestCoastAggie]

Is 'Bill & Mary the strongest team in the CAA this year?

[GannonFan]

Is 'Bill & Mary the strongest team in the CAA this year?

Coming into the year, sure, but the gap between them and UD and others isn't terribly great. No runaway favorite this year (and anyway, last year's runaway favorite, nova, finished 7-4 in the regular season).

[Bam]

Fathead! 'nuf said.

[RichH2]

Poll seems OK. Lu at 13 nice ego boost but I think a bit high. P4L we were 10-3 last yr, more likely a reason for high ranking this yr not for our run of 10 yrs ago. Being so vitriolic preseason leaves you no place to go once the season starts. Lots can happen when the whistle blows. Preseason polls are just guesses . Who would have expected Nova to get 1st place votes?

[Skjellyfetti]

Who is Delaware's QB this year?

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

Is 'Bill & Mary the strongest team in the CAA this year?

On paper, in August ... Yes.

[wmmii]

Is 'Bill & Mary the strongest team in the CAA this year?

That's hard to say. UD, UNH, JMU, UR and W&M are all pretty close. It's probably going to come down to injuries, turn overs and a few bounces as to who has the better year.

[GannonFan]

Who is Delaware's QB this year?

Sasek appears to be the guy. First HS recruit to start the season under Keeler. Apparently felt good enough about the kid (he's a sophomore this year so his 3rd year in the program) that he never pursued a transfer. Sasek did start and win against Duquesne last year and he was also the QB for 99% of UD's win against JMU on the road last year after Devlin got knocked out two plays in. Led UD on two scoring drives late in the game in that one - not too shabby for on the road against that defense without getting the reps as a starter for that week's practice. With UD's offensive line (4 of the starting 5 are back) and AP back, Sasek could look pretty good while not being called on to do too much.

[LUHawker]

Are you serious?! What a joke... 13! No kidding it's based on last year and you shouldn't have even been that high then. Too many questions for Lehigh to warrant this rank. In the same class as NDSU? Right... nearly ten spots above Liberty? Right... you are going to have a game with Monmouth, forget these teams. The rank is solely based upon what you did more than ten years ago!

Ahh, I see that you are once again obsessing over Lehigh. Yes, everyone is voting on Lehigh's record from 10 years ago, not it's PL title in '10 or it's playoff WIN - oh that little thing that Lafayette has never had. Please, you are quibbling over maybe one or two spots.

[TwoFeathers]

Is 'Bill & Mary the strongest team in the CAA this year?

In terms of returning starters and all-CAA nods, yes. RB Grimes is the most decorated player in CAA history. However, every conference game is going to be tough, regardless of ranking.

[Justin Observation]

Robert Morris gets two votes? Seriously? At least the NDSU fans would say that with our QB returning and many others, that that is too low. Heck, it was 20-17 mid 4th quarter before the wheels fell off in NDSU (with a 7-6 lead at half). I don't understand....

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

RB Grimes is the most decorated player in CAA history.

Did you really have to go here? xeyebrowx

[ASU_MBA]

Is 'Bill & Mary the strongest team in the CAA this year?

With Ryan Moody out, I think WR will be a huge question mark for them and could cause problems for that side of the ball. Their defense has been tough the past few years, but they need to bring some flash to the O - Grimes can't do it alone if they want to win a Nat'l Championship. Which Paulus will the Tribe get...the one that played against Delaware and got benched or the one that showed promise and focus against UNC and somewhat against Villanova?

[Screamin_Eagle174]

At least they got #1 right... :D