Didn't see anyone do one yet, so I will go ahead and leave myself open to get roasted.

Tier 1:
WMU and UT - no analysis needed
Tier 2:
CMU is 4-2 with a top 25 win. Ugly loss to WMU (with plenty of injuries) and a loss to a UVA team that seems to be on the rise.
Tier 3:
I feel as if Akron/OU/EMU should all be lumped together. I'm not going to complain to lump CMU in here, but CMU has a top 25 win with their wins having a 9-9 record + FCS game. Akron = 3-14 + FCS. Hammered by Wisconsin and competitive loss to App State.
OU = 2-15 + FCS. They played Tenn well, but lost to 2-3 Texas State who is fairly new to FBS.
EMU = 7-11 + FCS. Hammered by Mizzou but looked solid in a 35-20 loss against UT who is the class of the MAC along with WMU.
Not saying anyone is better or worse, but they have benefited from weak schedules. Akron and OU will probably reach 8 wins because the MACE sucks and EMU probably won't because they still have to go through the gauntlet of the MACW.
Tier 4:
NIU, BSU, and KSU. These teams seem to be bad, but not terrible. Hard to read any of them really. I would expect BSU to get to 6 wins while NIU is showing improvement. KSU is bad but not tier 5 bad.
Tier 5:
Miami, BG, and UB. Don't see any debating this.

WMU was ranked #24 in the AP Poll today. I kind of feel like that puts them in a tier of their own.

Despite the record, I doubt that EMU is any better than NIU.

(10-10-2016 01:15 PM)broncos1123 Wrote:  WMU was ranked #24 in the AP Poll today. I kind of feel like that puts them in a tier of their own.

I mean, I cant really disagree but I do believe Toledo is very good. I think they are close enough to WMU to be in the same tier. Their lone loss is to a BYU team that has played a hell of a schedule and nearly beat WVU and Utah who are both ranked. I'm not completely sure WMU beats BYU, maybe they do but it's a hypothetical.

(10-10-2016 01:20 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Despite the record, I doubt that EMU is any better than NIU.

I really don't know, but thus far, they deserve to be in a tier above.

(10-10-2016 01:15 PM)broncos1123 Wrote:  WMU was ranked #24 in the AP Poll today. I kind of feel like that puts them in a tier of their own.

I agree.

I would do say 1a and 1b.

Truth be told, I would have no trouble with WMU Tier 1, Toledo Tier 2.

Start seeding the rest as Tier 3 and below.

One way to think of it:

WMU - top 25 team (Tier I)

Toledo - top 40 team (Tier 2)

Ohio - top 65 team
Other Tier 3 teams say in 41 - 80 range.

and so on...

(10-10-2016 01:39 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(10-10-2016 01:15 PM)broncos1123 Wrote:  WMU was ranked #24 in the AP Poll today. I kind of feel like that puts them in a tier of their own.

I agree.

I would do say 1a and 1b.

Truth be told, I would have no trouble with WMU Tier 1, Toledo Tier 2.

Start seeding the rest as Tier 3 and below.

One way to think of it:

WMU - top 25 team (Tier I)

Toledo - top 40 team (Tier 2)

Ohio - top 65 team
Other Tier 3 teams say in 41 - 80 range.

and so on...

Given that this is supposed to be based on performance to this point in the year, I would have to agree that WMU has a better resume than Toledo and is deserving of a number 1 spot. That being said, being in the top 25 in any poll is not really a reason to have their "own tier."

The teams they have beaten include NW who lost to Illinois State, Illinois who just lost to Purdue, and GA Southern who has since lost to Arkansas State. Not too belittle their achievements because it has been a fantastic year, no doubt. Guess I'm just not convinced anyone in the conference is a world beater just yet. Not even mentioning how much Toledo's top 25 ranking meant to them in conference play last year...

(10-10-2016 01:20 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Despite the record, I doubt that EMU is any better than NIU.

Should we compare common opponents like Wyoming?

(10-10-2016 01:15 PM)broncos1123 Wrote:  WMU was ranked #24 in the AP Poll today. I kind of feel like that puts them in a tier of their own.

I disagree.
Toledo is a very good team that should have beaten BYU and if they were given a second chance (this time at home) then I believe that they would win by at least 2 scores.
As things stand now, I see UT being in Tier 1

(10-10-2016 02:23 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(10-10-2016 01:20 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Despite the record, I doubt that EMU is any better than NIU.

Should we compare common opponents like Wyoming?

EMU is improved this year, by a lot. I am the first to rip their attendance and futility over the past 20 years. But this year they are a pretty solid team and will likely go bowling. They beat WYO who is a team NIU lost to. Doesn't matter the circumstances. NIU is 1-5 while EMU is 4-2 and EMU would have a better record than 1-5 if they played NIUs schedule.

Akron got stomped by the #8 team in the country. Not by a team that maybe won't even make it to a bowl game. I'd put EMU below OU and Akron.

(10-10-2016 02:23 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(10-10-2016 01:20 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Despite the record, I doubt that EMU is any better than NIU.

Should we compare common opponents like Wyoming?

I doubt they're any better NOW, on a neutral field. But yes, for now I can't argue with putting EMU above us in the rankings. Still, EMU won by 3 at home and we lost by 3 in triple OT on the road. Pretty close.

(10-10-2016 02:38 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Akron got stomped by the #8 team in the country. Not by a team that maybe won't even make it to a bowl game. I'd put EMU below OU and Akron.

Well you have to look at the big picture. Who has Akron beaten? Sure EMU had cupcakes with MVSU/Charlotte/BG who are all really really bad this year. But they beat WYO who is 4-2 and looks decent. Akron's best win is.....1-4 Marshall? It's only the half way point with plenty of games to be played. Obviously things will change.

Massey Rankings

#24 WMU
#36 UT
#68 CMU
#77 UA
#82 OU
#94 EMU
#100 BSU
#103 NIU
#106 BGSU
#112 Kent
#123 Buffalo
#124 Miami

(10-10-2016 02:23 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(10-10-2016 01:20 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Despite the record, I doubt that EMU is any better than NIU.

Should we compare common opponents like Wyoming?

It isn't even an argument worth having really. Both teams will play each other and it will be settled then. Only thing I want for our program is to move forward by firing Carey. This is a lost season for us and the decline under Carey's watch begun a couple years ago.

(10-10-2016 03:56 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-10-2016 02:23 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(10-10-2016 01:20 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Despite the record, I doubt that EMU is any better than NIU.

Should we compare common opponents like Wyoming?

It isn't even an argument worth having really. Both teams will play each other and it will be settled then. Only thing I want for our program is to move forward by firing Carey. This is a lost season for us and the decline under Carey's watch begun a couple years ago.

Yea we'll at least have a better idea after a couple more weeks of conference play, not that it matters too much.

Post Week 5
Western Michigan
Toledo
Eastern Michigan
Central Michigan
Ohio
Akron
Ball St
Buffalo
Northern Illinois
Bowling Green St
Kent St
Miami

Post Week 6
Western Michigan
Toledo
Central Michigan
Akron
Ohio
Eastern Michigan
Ball St
Kent St
Buffalo
Northern Illinois
Bowling Green St
Miami


The West coming down to UT and WMU. Akron should be the clear favorite in the East.
The bottom 5 teams realistically could all be last.
This week's matchup should determine EMU's positioning with Ohio.

Post Week 5
Western Michigan
Toledo
Eastern Michigan
Central Michigan
Ohio
Akron
Ball St
Buffalo
Northern Illinois
Bowling Green St
Kent St
Miami

Post Week 6
Western Michigan
Toledo
Central Michigan
Akron
Ohio
Eastern Michigan
Ball St
Kent St
Buffalo
Northern Illinois
Bowling Green St
Miami


The West coming down to UT and WMU. Akron should be the clear favorite in the East.
The bottom 5 teams realistically could all be last.
This week's matchup should determine EMU's positioning with Ohio.

I dont think EMU lost ground after playing pretty good D and only losing by 2 scores. I wouldn't have had them 3rd after beating BG by 3 either...