Many Sun Belt teams end up being much better than the ESPN algorithm's original pre-season analysis. Generally, the ESPN FPI tends to have a P5 bias and that's not just me being a homer. If I'm a better, I'm buying the top four on this list, would consider buying Georgia State and Troy, wouldn't make a bet on Coastal or Louisiana Monroe as they seem like true wildcards to me, and would hold on South Alabama and Texas State.

61. Louisiana
75. Appalachian State
87. Arkansas State
99. Georgia Southern
107. Georgia State
110. Troy
112. Coastal Carolina
113. Louisiana Monroe
114. South Alabama
125. Texas State

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...-breakdown

App was 63 last year and ULL was 100, I imagine they’ll miss both by quite a bit again. ULL could get ranked at some point this year.

FPI is highly reactive to recent events where as SP+ retains a lot of historical data, especially for preseason. That's why Troy isn't being "punished" in the SP+ for a bad year...it's seen as more of a fluke right now.

I imagine App is getting the "new head coach" treatment they got last year along with losing some production from Evans.

Also ULM will have a new OC so not sure what they'll look like this year. Hopefully 37 year old Caleb Evans (HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN THERE?) is finally gone.

Louisiana at 61 makes me laugh.

We are way too high.

(02-18-2020 06:41 AM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  We are way too high.

If this is based off last year and what out coach has done at South up to this point, we are also to high.

In other news, if we aren’t at least bowl eligible, we better be getting a new coach for 2021.

TXST will end up over 100 this year. The turn around should finally begin in earnest.

(02-18-2020 07:45 AM)Usajags Wrote:  In other news, if we aren’t at least bowl eligible, we better be getting a new coach for 2021.

"At least" bowl eligible? Heck, getting 6 wins next season will be a miracle. I'm seeing 4 wins max

(02-18-2020 09:35 AM)MobileBama1 Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 07:45 AM)Usajags Wrote:  In other news, if we aren’t at least bowl eligible, we better be getting a new coach for 2021.

"At least" bowl eligible? Heck, getting 6 wins next season will be a miracle. I'm seeing 4 wins max

If South doesn’t win at least 5 games in 2020, we should consider FCS.

(02-18-2020 08:08 AM)slycat Wrote:  TXST will end up over 100 this year. The turn around should finally begin in earnest.

With half your recruiting class being made of JuCo's, I'd hope that's the case. If it isn't, the majority of a year would be wasted and depth washed out even further.

(02-18-2020 10:07 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 08:08 AM)slycat Wrote:  TXST will end up over 100 this year. The turn around should finally begin in earnest.

With half your recruiting class being made of JuCo's, I'd hope that's the case. If it isn't, the majority of a year would be wasted and depth washed out even further.

I agree, actually.

These JUCO guys better pan out and contribute immediately or things aren't going to get better in San Marcos any time soon.

I think they will though. And I agree with slycat that we start to turn things around this year. I know everyone says this when ranked as low as 125 in a ranking like this, but I don't see any way in which we're that bad in 2020. We finished 2019 at 120th and I definitely don't expect regression in year 2 under Spav.

(02-18-2020 10:44 AM)_x_ Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 10:07 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 08:08 AM)slycat Wrote:  TXST will end up over 100 this year. The turn around should finally begin in earnest.

With half your recruiting class being made of JuCo's, I'd hope that's the case. If it isn't, the majority of a year would be wasted and depth washed out even further.

I agree, actually.

These JUCO guys better pan out and contribute immediately or things aren't going to get better in San Marcos any time soon.

I think they will though. And I agree with slycat that we start to turn things around this year. I know everyone says this when ranked as low as 125 in a ranking like this, but I don't see any way in which we're that bad in 2020. We finished 2019 at 120th and I definitely don't expect regression in year 2 under Spav.

I hope the defense doesn't regress too much with all the loss to graduation at LB or other positions. Offense should be better if the transfers pan out quickly.

(02-18-2020 10:01 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 09:35 AM)MobileBama1 Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 07:45 AM)Usajags Wrote:  In other news, if we aren’t at least bowl eligible, we better be getting a new coach for 2021.

"At least" bowl eligible? Heck, getting 6 wins next season will be a miracle. I'm seeing 4 wins max

If South doesn’t win at least 5 games in 2020, we should consider FCS.

If Trotter was the starter all year, I think we could have won 4 or 5 last year. If we win 4 or 5 And are in games not getting blowed out it will be an improvement. I think we will better next year. If we have another year like last year then we will need changes. I think the sunbelt has improved the last couple of years.

ULM just lost their OC

I imagine ULM will look similar as last year play calling wise. Viator is a 50/50 run pass guy especially with Josh Johnson coming back. We got REALLY lucky that Straughter at CB, who was named 2nd team All American, Josh Pederson, who entered the transfer portal and had very high profile offers including Alabama, but decided to stay, and Josh Johnson, who is the ranked 2nd RB on 1 or 2 draft boards I have seen, all decided to come back. When we’re in serious trouble had they not. Have to shore that defense up somehow though. At QB it will be a battle between Colby Suits, who has been the heir apparent, and a new JUCO QB that looks similar to Evans and is eligible in the Spring.

(02-19-2020 07:47 AM)Arrowhead Wrote:  I imagine ULM will look similar as last year play calling wise. Viator is a 50/50 run pass guy especially with Josh Johnson coming back. We got REALLY lucky that Straughter at CB, who was named 2nd team All American, Josh Pederson, who entered the transfer portal and had very high profile offers including Alabama, but decided to stay, and Josh Johnson, who is the ranked 2nd RB on 1 or 2 draft boards I have seen, all decided to come back. When we’re in serious trouble had they not. Have to shore that defense up somehow though. At QB it will be a battle between Colby Suits, who has been the heir apparent, and a new JUCO QB that looks similar to Evans and is eligible in the Spring.

I just hope ULM can finally turn the corner and make a bowl game. I keep pulling for you guys to gain some traction. The talent is there.

ESPN released their way too early top 25 today. App was 24th.

(02-19-2020 01:00 PM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  ESPN released their way too early top 25 today. App was 24th.

Congrats! This is huge in having a better shot at the NYE6 bowl.

(02-19-2020 12:57 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(02-19-2020 07:47 AM)Arrowhead Wrote:  I imagine ULM will look similar as last year play calling wise. Viator is a 50/50 run pass guy especially with Josh Johnson coming back. We got REALLY lucky that Straughter at CB, who was named 2nd team All American, Josh Pederson, who entered the transfer portal and had very high profile offers including Alabama, but decided to stay, and Josh Johnson, who is the ranked 2nd RB on 1 or 2 draft boards I have seen, all decided to come back. When we’re in serious trouble had they not. Have to shore that defense up somehow though. At QB it will be a battle between Colby Suits, who has been the heir apparent, and a new JUCO QB that looks similar to Evans and is eligible in the Spring.

I just hope ULM can finally turn the corner and make a bowl game. I keep pulling for you guys to gain some traction. The talent is there.

Thank you. Trust me, we do too. We invent ways not to make bowl games.

I'm fine with GS at 99. That's where we deserve to be until we can prove that we can improve.