ESPN released it's preseason (kind of) SP+ rankings and NIU leads the MAC, ranked 73rd out of 130 FBS teams. Nonconference opponents: Vanderbilt (49), Nebraska (39), Utah (18).

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...-using-sp+
https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...ps-clemson

Quote:TEAM (RANK) AVG. PROJ. WINS AVG. PROJ. CONF. WINS SOS RANK
Northern Illinois (73) 6.9 5.4 91
Toledo (78) 7.9 5.6 124
Ohio (80) 7.8 5.4 129
Western Michigan (88) 6.9 4.8 104
Miami (Ohio) (93) 6.2 4.8 76
Eastern Michigan (95) 7.0 4.8 123
Buffalo (103) 6.3 4.4 109
Ball St. (109) 4.5 2.9 114
Kent St. (113) 3.9 3.3 71
Akron (121) 3.6 2.4 130
Central Michigan (123) 3.4 2.1 90
Bowling Green (128) 3.0 1.9 100

First-year coaching effects could play a role in the MAC race, too, as the top projected team -- the extremely high-continuity Northern Illinois Huskies -- are undergoing a culture change of their own after losing Rod Carey to Temple. Toledo's schedule gives the Rockets the slightest of edges in the West division, but with three of the top four teams in the West, that might make Ohio, with star QB Nathan Rourke, your MAC favorite.

(08-21-2019 06:58 PM)NILAW Wrote:  In the Hustle Belt Top 25 MAC Players of 2019, Tre Harbison is #12 and Jack Heflin is #19.

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/20/208...son-rb-niu

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/13/207...lin-dt-niu

Her's the list so far:

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/7/2075...-list-2019

Spencer Tears is in the "best of the rest" https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/6/2075...-rest-2019

I would expect to see Antonio Jones-Davis in the top 10.

Kyle Pugh came in at # 4 in the Hustle Belt Top 25 MAC Players of 2019

https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/...ugh-lb-niu

Antonio Jones-Davis will have to be in the top 3 players.

Very impressive - 2 of the top 4 players in the MAC (according to Hustle Belt at least) will be 2 of our linebackers!

Short but good video on Coach Hammock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6UMWIkqEGs

I don't know how he will do, but his passion for NIU football, the relationship between him and the players, and the buzz he has created all point way up! Really what one would expect from a guy that says being the NIU HC is his "dream job"!

(08-28-2019 09:29 PM)NILAW Wrote:  

(08-21-2019 06:58 PM)NILAW Wrote:  In the Hustle Belt Top 25 MAC Players of 2019, Tre Harbison is #12 and Jack Heflin is #19.

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/20/208...son-rb-niu

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/13/207...lin-dt-niu

Her's the list so far:

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/7/2075...-list-2019

Spencer Tears is in the "best of the rest" https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/6/2075...-rest-2019

I would expect to see Antonio Jones-Davis in the top 10.

Kyle Pugh came in at # 4 in the Hustle Belt Top 25 MAC Players of 2019

https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/...ugh-lb-niu

Antonio Jones-Davis will have to be in the top 3 players.

Very impressive - 2 of the top 4 players in the MAC (according to Hustle Belt at least) will be 2 of our linebackers!

Antonio Jones-Davis came in at # 2 in the Hustle Belt Top 25 MAC Players of 2019!

https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/...vis-lb-niu

That gives NIU 4 players in the top 25 - congrats to all 4!

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/8/7/2075...-list-2019

The Ohio QB (Nathan Rourke) will be #1, a big reason most pick Ohio to win the MAC.