CSNbbs

Quote:Chris, Stewart Mandel refuses to include G5 teams in his Kings and Barons column. As a man of the people, can we get a G5 version? Obviously Cincy, Houston and UCF would be the Kings for now, but who would join them?

This is not necessarily a ranking of the best programs, either now, in the past or in the future. It’s about the brand. The cachet. It’s what people think when they hear a school’s name, who carries themselves in a different way. That typically comes with on-field success, but that’s not all of it.

So let’s look at the first edition of the G5 tiers.

Kings: Boise State, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF

Barons: Air Force, Appalachian State, Army, Fresno State, Louisiana, Marshall, Memphis, Navy, Northern Illinois, San Diego State, SMU, UAB

The second tier is the group that hasn’t found the top-level success of the Kings...Northern Illinois and Marshall don’t have as much success in recent years as in previous runs, but there is a history of success to lean on.

Knights: Arkansas State, Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, Colorado State, East Carolina, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Hawaii, Kent State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Middle Tennessee, Nevada, North Texas, Ohio, Temple, Toledo, Troy, Tulane, Tulsa, USF, UTSA, Utah State, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Wyoming

This is the largest group. Teams in this bunch have had some level of success, but not consistently high success for extended periods of time...Nine of 12 MAC schools are in this group because the league is so even across the board.

Peasants: Akron, Bowling Green, Charlotte, FIU, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Old Dominion, UTEP, Rice, San Jose State, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, UConn, ULM, UMass, UNLV

Quote:Most talented G5 RB heading into the upcoming season? — Cole H.

Central Michigan’s Lew Nichols III might be the most underrated running back in the country. He led the nation in rushing with 1,848 yards as a second-year player, one season after being the MAC freshman of the year. He also led the nation with 341 carries, and he’ll be the bell cow again after Kobe Lewis transferred to Purdue. Many people thought Nichols would transfer out after the season. Big Ten schools were interested. But he’s stuck with Jim McElwain and the Chippewas, a credit to Nichols and the CMU environment. Maybe he’ll get more national respect this year, and he’ll be eligible for next year’s NFL Draft.

Quote:Do you think that Tuesday night MACtion will be something long-term? Or do you see another option that fits ESPN’s vision for a Group of 5 college slot? — Ryan V.

At this point, MACtion is so ingrained in the brand of the league that I don’t see it changing.

No schools really want to do it. It’s not good for fans, it’s not good for atmosphere. It’s only a TV move, and the leagues that feel good about their TV situations don’t want to leave Saturdays...But the AAC won’t do it, and the Mountain West isn’t contracted with ESPN.