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They have Western 3rd highest in MAC at #83. Central trails Eastern, 106 & 102 respectively. They have Toledo highest (69) followed by Miami (78). Our week 1 opponent is #5. I think they have Sparty too high at 49. Preseason rankings are a guess at best.
http://athlonsports.com/college-football...teams-2017

I feel like the MAC will be stronger than last year. Most of these preseason rankings seem to have the whole conference rated worse than last year. Hoping for some major OOC wins for the conference.

I think the MAC can be stronger, too. I think the East certainly will, with Miami-OH looking to be real good -- and Ohio solid and decent at least... and I'd have to say Buffalo can only get better, and I actually think Akron is going to improve a bit... and Kent State with their good D, IMO, will only improve on O.

CMU is a bit up in the air losing their star QB, but they'll be having a good D again -- and I think their problem on O was their line, which I can only think will get better. I think BSU's O will be better at their passing game, and Toledo's going to be solid. NIU? A real test for their coach Carey. If he's worthy of being HC, they'll be a Tougher team than last year.

WMU -- it's really tough to say how much of a lesser "reloading" year it'll be. You lose your game-winning coaching staff, your star QB, your #1 CFB WR + 2 senior WRs, and a lineman to the draft... and the FG kicker gone. Also, the new HC not having any D1 HC experience and having a short stint as an OC for a low-end ACC team that ended up having a coaching change after a short while. This has all the makings of just being a 1-hit-wonder of 2016. However...

- The new HC was a star QB at WMU -- so dedication is on overdrive, and he wants to carry the motivational baton that was left before he got there, and I do believe the setting is right for that.
- The OC brought on is a proven good one
- The new HC being a star QB indicates that he will better help remedy any shaky new-QB situation
- 2 great RBs + a great 3rd set to play
- 2 very good OLine & DLine
- Good coverage players

I could see WMU going 6-6 getting adjusted with some frustrating loses, but being more-dangerous-than-record-indicates, with our turnover-dominance from last year not being there At All this year... OR all the way to WMU going to 9-3/7-1 with the ball bouncing our way and the adjustment getting situated in the non-conference season and squeaking by Idaho, while stomping Wagner getting everything set in optimal condition.

Who knows. All I AM confident is, is that we will be a tough team in the MAC -- but then again, you can have a not-so-great record and some disappointing losses on a reloading/readjustment year, and overall considered a tough team, too.

Athlon Sports ranking of all head coaches in 2017. Lester comes in at 120 according to them.

(06-27-2017 12:28 PM)WesternSkillet Wrote:  Athlon Sports ranking of all head coaches in 2017. Lester comes in at 120 according to them.

saw that yesterday. figure there are always a handful or so on the hot seat (RichRod) going into a season and other new HCs. what really matters is how he's regarded near the end of the season.

The MAC has to start winning some bowl games before the national media will take them seriously.

(06-27-2017 12:28 PM)WesternSkillet Wrote:  Athlon Sports ranking of all head coaches in 2017. Lester comes in at 120 according to them.

I think Lester's rating has more to do with the fact that he is an unknown quantity to the voters, than anything else.

He has had two HC stops at lower levels and won conference coach of the year at both. No doubt in my mind he will prove himself far better than the ranking.