Congratulations to Marshall at No. 40, but the next conference member is North Texas at No. 86. It appears that Athlon doesn’t think too much of Conference USA, and none of us should be thrilled with how the conference as a whole is perceived and ranked. Here are the Athlon preseason rankings:

40. Marshall
86. NTU
87. Rice
89. UTSA
90. MTSU
91. FAU
92. WKU
109. UAB
112. LA Tech
115. USM
116. ODU
117. UTEP
127. FIU

No disrespect to your thread, but Athlon sports rankings are a joke.

Check the Orlando Sentinel to see what a Real football ranking looks like.

(06-03-2014 04:04 PM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  No disrespect to your thread, but Athlon sports rankings are a joke.

No offense taken, SB .

Phil Steel is probably the best for the G5 types. Most all others spend all their time/staff/effort on the P5 teams

40 feels a bit low. I think we probably finished around 40 last season, and we'll be better this season with a weaker schedule

(06-03-2014 03:59 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  Congratulations to Marshall at No. 40, but the next conference member is North Texas at No. 86. It appears that Athlon doesn’t think too much of Conference USA, and none of us should be thrilled with how the conference as a whole is perceived and ranked. Here are the Athlon preseason rankings:

40. Marshall
86. NTU
87. Rice
89. UTSA
90. MTSU
91. FAU
92. WKU
109. UAB
112. LA Tech
115. USM
116. ODU
117. UTEP
127. FIU

See how tightly he groups the top half of the conference together, as well as the bottom half?
I'd bet (without looking it up) that between the two main halves of CUSA we'll find most of the:
Bottom half of MWC
Bottom half of AAC
Top half of MAC
Top half of SBC
And then, lets say, promote the top team or two by a lot, and demote the bottom team.

Anyway that's how it appears he ranked the CUSA teams.

And as simplistic as it sounds... Kind of hard to argue with a preseason prediction poll.
But as the OP mentioned, it is one reflection of perception of the conference. Just one data point though.

(06-03-2014 03:59 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  Congratulations to Marshall at No. 40, but the next conference member is North Texas at No. 86. It appears that Athlon doesn’t think too much of Conference USA, and none of us should be thrilled with how the conference as a whole is perceived and ranked. Here are the Athlon preseason rankings:

40. Marshall
86. NTU
87. Rice
89. UTSA
90. MTSU
91. FAU
92. WKU
109. UAB
112. LA Tech
115. USM
116. ODU
117. UTEP
127. FIU

All three have to find new QBs this season. I'm sure that caused all of us to fall in their rankings.

(06-03-2014 06:53 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(06-03-2014 03:59 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  Congratulations to Marshall at No. 40, but the next conference member is North Texas at No. 86. It appears that Athlon doesn’t think too much of Conference USA, and none of us should be thrilled with how the conference as a whole is perceived and ranked. Here are the Athlon preseason rankings:

40. Marshall
86. NTU
87. Rice
89. UTSA
90. Middle Tennessee
91. FAU
92. WKU
109. UAB
112. LA Tech
115. USM
116. ODU
117. UTEP
127. FIU

All three have to find new QBs this season. I'm sure that caused all of us to fall in their rankings.

Middle Tennessee has to determine a new starter at QB as well.

Conference has a long way to go regarding football. There are 7-8 teams who could be really, bottom of the barrel bad this year. Southern Miss included obviously.

I don't hold much stock to this rankings. I'm predicting a higher place for my Miners.

(06-03-2014 05:00 PM)blazerwkr Wrote:  Phil Steel is probably the best for the G5 types. Most all others spend all their time/staff/effort on the P5 teams

Completely true. Phil Steele likes to get it right and he doesn't leave anyone behind. He has the best football magazine, by far.

I would enjoy Phil Steele's analysis more if he didn't try to put 10,000 words in 4-point type on every page. The website is better but it's kinda painful in its own unique way. But the main is comprehensive, for sure.