Heading into college football, what's got everyone's attention? Here's some of my thoughts in no particular order.

I'd like to have a discussion on these and your thoughts to help prime for the season.

• NY6 contenders in Troy and APP, and possibly Arkansas State if they can score an upset or two vs Nebraska / Miami.

• SBC Week 1 and Week 2 statement games for OOC. Its no secret these two weeks are the most viewed weeks in college football and give us the most visibility. APP at UGA, Troy at Boise, South at Ole Miss, Arkansas State at Nebraska to name a few.

• SBC contenders Arkansas State, Appalachian State, and Troy. Darkhorses in Idaho and Georgia Southern with South Alabama getting the sleeper/shocker pick if they can avoid injuries and play with a chip on their shoulders.

• Arkansas State removing Buster Faulkner from his offensive coordinator position and Georgia Southern moving back to a true triple option offense.

• Nearly the entire conference looks to improve this year. Eyes are on Georgia State, Texas State, and Louisiana Monroe, especially.

• Louisiana and New Mexico State are two teams we aren't sure will be improved. Big question marks surrounding Louisiana. Improvement could be on the horizon, but there's turnover to be addressed alongside some off the field issues. New Mexico State would benefit from a healthy Larry Rose III and a senior QB in Tyler Rogers, but can Doug Martin take his program to a mid level SBC team this year?

• Can Idaho keep their chip on their shoulder this year? After they proved all the doubters wrong they ended the season with a 9-4 record and absolutely manhandled what many see as the preseason MWC Champ for 2017.

• Veteran QBs from Troy, APP, and Idaho getting one last shot. Silvers, Lamb, and Linehan are the embodiment of SBC football all having been four year starters. Other senior QBs Justice Hansen Tyler Rogers and Conner Manning are other names to keep an eye on.

• Marquee Conference Games: APP vs GS, GS vs GSU, TROY vs ARKST, TROY vs USA, IDAHO vs APP and TROY, GS vs TROY, ARKST vs LOUISIANA. Add your suggestions to this list.

• SBC vs CUSA. Matchups aren't great with our lower level programs playing their mid level and top level programs. Will be great if we can win this series.

• Coastal Carolina enters the fray as a pretty strong FCS program with lots of turnover going into SBC play. Head coach is also out for the season.

• SBC position within the G5. Outlook is good, but can the SBC realize its potential this year?

• SBC High Octane Offenses: Troy and Arkansas State look to lead the way, but don't leave out Idaho, GS, and APP.

• SBC Stiff Defenses: APP and Arkansas State lead the way with Troy in the mix. Louisiana and GSU have a chance to be in this group.

Some Questions to answer

1. Can App really become the first SBC Team to win 11 regular season games? With a Senior QB and a defense that is going to be at or near the top of the league, and an extremely favorable schedule, the time is ripe.

2. With several Seniors leading the offense, Troy has the potential to score record numbers of points this year. But with graduation, and the likelihood of Neal Brown getting a P5 job always lurking, can Troy take advantage of the window they have now and win the league.

3. How much did Arkansas State actually address its weaknesses from last year. With most of their skill players back, and a receiving corps that is one of the best in the league, the potential is there to score a lot of points. But can they overcome the brand new offensive line, and replacing a few key players on defense to pull off another League Title run

4. With all the attention on the Big 3, Idaho has quietly sat to the side as the sleeper in the league. With App coming to Moscow, and a game at Troy, the Vandals are going to be able to have their say on the league race. Can they play with the chip on their shoulder as a non wanted team in its final year of FBS and make a surprise league title run, or could a few losses deflate confidence and allow the team to fade meekly into obscurity?

5. South Alabama has dominated OOC play the last couple years, posting several impressive victories for the league, but major struggles in league play have kept them from challenging for the top. Is this the year? Can they shock one of the Big 3 with an experienced team returning, or will the league struggles continue?

6. Can Georgia Southern return to the patented Eagles Football we all have heard about for years, or will the program hit another poor season and mark the end of the Tyson Summers era in Statesboro?

7. Georgia State has new digs, and a team that is almost certainly going to be better. With an actual stadium to call their own, will the Panthers actually become a legitimate force at home that people struggle with, or will empty seats lead Turner field awkward looking and cavernous, and provide little threat to visiting teams.

8. Is the Matt Viator revolution ready to begin in Monroe, or will a difficult schedule doom the Warhawks to another long, miserable season?

9. Coastal Carolina prepares for its first FBS Season. Can the chants come in and make a name for themselves like the last two former FCS programs to come in, or will they struggle to cope with the realities of a difficult FBS slog and finish near the bottom?

10. Can the Cajuns find a QB, and will they find a realistic way to replace the production of Elijah McGuire? With so many key players gone, the earmarks of their for struggles in Lafayette this year.

11. Can NMSU really enjoy a renaissance led by two strong offensive players in Rogers and Rose, or will the Aggies struggles in almost all other phases of the game cost them again.

12. It can't get any worse for Texas State, right? The long rebuild continues in San Marcos, but the question remains, can they do it fast enough that they don't fall years behind the rest of the league on the recruiting front?

Hanson is a junior.

(08-18-2017 02:59 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Some Questions to answer

1. Can App really become the first SBC Team to win 11 regular season games? With a Senior QB and a defense that is going to be at or near the top of the league, and an extremely favorable schedule, the time is ripe.

2. With several Seniors leading the offense, Troy has the potential to score record numbers of points this year. But with graduation, and the likelihood of Neal Brown getting a P5 job always lurking, can Troy take advantage of the window they have now and win the league.

3. How much did Arkansas State actually address its weaknesses from last year. With most of their skill players back, and a receiving corps that is one of the best in the league, the potential is there to score a lot of points. But can they overcome the brand new offensive line, and replacing a few key players on defense to pull off another League Title run

4. With all the attention on the Big 3, Idaho has quietly sat to the side as the sleeper in the league. With App coming to Moscow, and a game at Troy, the Vandals are going to be able to have their say on the league race. Can they play with the chip on their shoulder as a non wanted team in its final year of FBS and make a surprise league title run, or could a few losses deflate confidence and allow the team to fade meekly into obscurity?

5. South Alabama has dominated OOC play the last couple years, posting several impressive victories for the league, but major struggles in league play have kept them from challenging for the top. Is this the year? Can they shock one of the Big 3 with an experienced team returning, or will the league struggles continue?

6. Can Georgia Southern return to the patented Eagles Football we all have heard about for years, or will the program hit another poor season and mark the end of the Tyson Summers era in Statesboro?

7. Georgia State has new digs, and a team that is almost certainly going to be better. With an actual stadium to call their own, will the Panthers actually become a legitimate force at home that people struggle with, or will empty seats lead Turner field awkward looking and cavernous, and provide little threat to visiting teams.

8. Is the Matt Viator revolution ready to begin in Monroe, or will a difficult schedule doom the Warhawks to another long, miserable season?

9. Coastal Carolina prepares for its first FBS Season. Can the chants come in and make a name for themselves like the last two former FCS programs to come in, or will they struggle to cope with the realities of a difficult FBS slog and finish near the bottom?

10. Can the Cajuns find a QB, and will they find a realistic way to replace the production of Elijah McGuire? With so many key players gone, the earmarks of their for struggles in Lafayette this year.

11. Can NMSU really enjoy a renaissance led by two strong offensive players in Rogers and Rose, or will the Aggies struggles in almost all other phases of the game cost them again.

12. It can't get any worse for Texas State, right? The long rebuild continues in San Marcos, but the question remains, can they do it fast enough that they don't fall years behind the rest of the league on the recruiting front?

I hadn't considered that 11 win thing. That would be impressive.

Buster Faulkner is still A-States offensive coordinator.

Georgia Southern has the talent the coaching is the only question mark.

(08-18-2017 03:42 PM)JCGSU Wrote:  Georgia Southern has the talent the coaching is the only question mark.

I've been sneaking a peak as they load in the data in the 247 Team Rankings for 2017 (you can click on a team under their 2016 rankings and see the rankings of new players being added for 2017) , and they seem to agree with you. Lots of "stars" in there.

USA looks impressive also.

(08-18-2017 02:59 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Some Questions to answer

1. Can App really become the first SBC Team to win 11 regular season games? With a Senior QB and a defense that is going to be at or near the top of the league, and an extremely favorable schedule, the time is ripe.

2. With several Seniors leading the offense, Troy has the potential to score record numbers of points this year. But with graduation, and the likelihood of Neal Brown getting a P5 job always lurking, can Troy take advantage of the window they have now and win the league.

3. How much did Arkansas State actually address its weaknesses from last year. With most of their skill players back, and a receiving corps that is one of the best in the league, the potential is there to score a lot of points. But can they overcome the brand new offensive line, and replacing a few key players on defense to pull off another League Title run

4. With all the attention on the Big 3, Idaho has quietly sat to the side as the sleeper in the league. With App coming to Moscow, and a game at Troy, the Vandals are going to be able to have their say on the league race. Can they play with the chip on their shoulder as a non wanted team in its final year of FBS and make a surprise league title run, or could a few losses deflate confidence and allow the team to fade meekly into obscurity?

5. South Alabama has dominated OOC play the last couple years, posting several impressive victories for the league, but major struggles in league play have kept them from challenging for the top. Is this the year? Can they shock one of the Big 3 with an experienced team returning, or will the league struggles continue?

6. Can Georgia Southern return to the patented Eagles Football we all have heard about for years, or will the program hit another poor season and mark the end of the Tyson Summers era in Statesboro?

7. Georgia State has new digs, and a team that is almost certainly going to be better. With an actual stadium to call their own, will the Panthers actually become a legitimate force at home that people struggle with, or will empty seats lead Turner field awkward looking and cavernous, and provide little threat to visiting teams.

8. Is the Matt Viator revolution ready to begin in Monroe, or will a difficult schedule doom the Warhawks to another long, miserable season?

9. Coastal Carolina prepares for its first FBS Season. Can the chants come in and make a name for themselves like the last two former FCS programs to come in, or will they struggle to cope with the realities of a difficult FBS slog and finish near the bottom?

10. Can the Cajuns find a QB, and will they find a realistic way to replace the production of Elijah McGuire? With so many key players gone, the earmarks of their for struggles in Lafayette this year.

11. Can NMSU really enjoy a renaissance led by two strong offensive players in Rogers and Rose, or will the Aggies struggles in almost all other phases of the game cost them again.

12. It can't get any worse for Texas State, right? The long rebuild continues in San Marcos, but the question remains, can they do it fast enough that they don't fall years behind the rest of the league on the recruiting front?

We were the worst team in CFB last year and we still out recruited all of y'all... I'd like to think we'll be okay. Eventually.

(08-19-2017 12:33 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(08-18-2017 02:59 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Some Questions to answer

1. Can App really become the first SBC Team to win 11 regular season games? With a Senior QB and a defense that is going to be at or near the top of the league, and an extremely favorable schedule, the time is ripe.

2. With several Seniors leading the offense, Troy has the potential to score record numbers of points this year. But with graduation, and the likelihood of Neal Brown getting a P5 job always lurking, can Troy take advantage of the window they have now and win the league.

3. How much did Arkansas State actually address its weaknesses from last year. With most of their skill players back, and a receiving corps that is one of the best in the league, the potential is there to score a lot of points. But can they overcome the brand new offensive line, and replacing a few key players on defense to pull off another League Title run

4. With all the attention on the Big 3, Idaho has quietly sat to the side as the sleeper in the league. With App coming to Moscow, and a game at Troy, the Vandals are going to be able to have their say on the league race. Can they play with the chip on their shoulder as a non wanted team in its final year of FBS and make a surprise league title run, or could a few losses deflate confidence and allow the team to fade meekly into obscurity?

5. South Alabama has dominated OOC play the last couple years, posting several impressive victories for the league, but major struggles in league play have kept them from challenging for the top. Is this the year? Can they shock one of the Big 3 with an experienced team returning, or will the league struggles continue?

6. Can Georgia Southern return to the patented Eagles Football we all have heard about for years, or will the program hit another poor season and mark the end of the Tyson Summers era in Statesboro?

7. Georgia State has new digs, and a team that is almost certainly going to be better. With an actual stadium to call their own, will the Panthers actually become a legitimate force at home that people struggle with, or will empty seats lead Turner field awkward looking and cavernous, and provide little threat to visiting teams.

8. Is the Matt Viator revolution ready to begin in Monroe, or will a difficult schedule doom the Warhawks to another long, miserable season?

9. Coastal Carolina prepares for its first FBS Season. Can the chants come in and make a name for themselves like the last two former FCS programs to come in, or will they struggle to cope with the realities of a difficult FBS slog and finish near the bottom?

10. Can the Cajuns find a QB, and will they find a realistic way to replace the production of Elijah McGuire? With so many key players gone, the earmarks of their for struggles in Lafayette this year.

11. Can NMSU really enjoy a renaissance led by two strong offensive players in Rogers and Rose, or will the Aggies struggles in almost all other phases of the game cost them again.

12. It can't get any worse for Texas State, right? The long rebuild continues in San Marcos, but the question remains, can they do it fast enough that they don't fall years behind the rest of the league on the recruiting front?

We were the worst team in CFB last year and we still out recruited all of y'all... I'd like to think we'll be okay. Eventually.

Exactly. Plus we are top three or so this year after that crap season.

The real question for TXST is can they get the, I assume, youngest FBS team through the season without major injuries and prepare for 2018 and 2019. Also, screw UTSA, can't wait for that one.