Mac East
1. Kent St
2. Buffalo
3. Miami
4. Ohio U.
5. Akron
6. BG

Mac West
1. Ball St
2. Toledo
3. Western
4. Central
5. Eastern
6. NIU

(01-17-2021 07:52 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  Mac East
1. Kent St
2. Buffalo
3. Miami
4. Ohio U.
5. Akron
6. BG

Mac West
1. Ball St
2. Toledo
3. Western
4. Central
5. Eastern
6. NIU

EMU is ranked way too low.

We have a very deep team with almost no losses to transfer or not using the extra year of eligibility. We have at least 3 transfers entering the program. So we are a net positive on transfers. (think we lose one who didn't play in 2020).

As always under C.C. we could easily go 7 - 5 (or even 8 - 4) OR 5 - 7 if we lose some of those nail biters.

The big thing is QB: Preston Hutchinson starts his 2nd season as a starter and is a very solid QB. We pick up a grad transfers QB, with 3 years elig., from Cincy who could very well have won the starting job (was 'neck and neck' at Cincy).

I think we picked up some 'high value' recruits at key positions, e.g., Carter Evans (DE), Swindle (DT), and the aforementioned, Bryant (QB). All three could have signed higher than the MAC.

(01-18-2021 12:12 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(01-17-2021 07:52 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  Mac East
1. Kent St
2. Buffalo
3. Miami
4. Ohio U.
5. Akron
6. BG

Mac West
1. Ball St
2. Toledo
3. Western
4. Central
5. Eastern
6. NIU

EMU is ranked way too low.

We have a very deep team with almost no losses to transfer or not using the extra year of eligibility. We have at least 3 transfers entering the program. So we are a net positive on transfers. (think we lose one who didn't play in 2020).

As always under C.C. we could easily go 7 - 5 (or even 8 - 4) OR 5 - 7 if we lose some of those nail biters.

The big thing is QB: Preston Hutchinson starts his 2nd season as a starter and is a very solid QB. We pick up a grad transfers QB, with 3 years elig., from Cincy who could very well have won the starting job (was 'neck and neck' at Cincy).

I think we picked up some 'high value' recruits at key positions, e.g., Carter Evans (DE), Swindle (DT), and the aforementioned, Bryant (QB). All three could have signed higher than the MAC.

I'd say top 5 in MAC west are a tossup. As for EMU I wouldn't say the transfers will make a difference. Toledo has repeatedly added transfers from big name programs and few of them are impact players. They have had a couple SEC o-linemen work out, for example, but most of their transfers are role players or don't see the field.

(01-18-2021 05:44 PM)pono Wrote:  

(01-18-2021 12:12 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(01-17-2021 07:52 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  Mac East
1. Kent St
2. Buffalo
3. Miami
4. Ohio U.
5. Akron
6. BG

Mac West
1. Ball St
2. Toledo
3. Western
4. Central
5. Eastern
6. NIU

EMU is ranked way too low.

We have a very deep team with almost no losses to transfer or not using the extra year of eligibility. We have at least 3 transfers entering the program. So we are a net positive on transfers. (think we lose one who didn't play in 2020).

As always under C.C. we could easily go 7 - 5 (or even 8 - 4) OR 5 - 7 if we lose some of those nail biters.

The big thing is QB: Preston Hutchinson starts his 2nd season as a starter and is a very solid QB. We pick up a grad transfers QB, with 3 years elig., from Cincy who could very well have won the starting job (was 'neck and neck' at Cincy).

I think we picked up some 'high value' recruits at key positions, e.g., Carter Evans (DE), Swindle (DT), and the aforementioned, Bryant (QB). All three could have signed higher than the MAC.

I'd say top 5 in MAC west are a tossup. As for EMU I wouldn't say the transfers will make a difference. Toledo has repeatedly added transfers from big name programs and few of them are impact players. They have had a couple SEC o-linemen work out, for example, but most of their transfers are role players or don't see the field.

Bryant is the key for EMU (among the transfers). He is a top notch QB prospect and is great insurance for Hutchinson.

I do want to make a comment about Transfers 2021.

There are supposedly ~1K FBS players in the transfer portal. NCAA still has not given blanket free year transfer.

I think a lot of non-grad transfers will go FCS because one can go FBS --> FCS without sitting out a season.

The SWAC (HBCU conference in the South) is picking up a lot, led by Jackson State.

I'm not seeing a rush for players to transfer from P5 to G5.

Never too early to talk some football.

It still looks weird to see NIU in last place in the MAC West. How long do they stay at the bottom? Even if they're there, I'd never sleep on the Huskies...Dustin Crum returning to Kent State is huge - he had a draft grade range of 6th-7th round entering the 2020 season. I expect a big senior season will catapult his stock to 2nd-3rd round range...Overall, the East looks tough with Miami and OU predicted 3rd and 4th...Going to be very tough to take down the defending MAC champs who return the starting QB, the stud WR, AND the head coach.

Someone will be ranked next year. It's a good league. Finally climbing out of the 2017-2018-2019 hole compared to the G5.

(01-18-2021 12:12 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(01-17-2021 07:52 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  Mac East
1. Kent St
2. Buffalo
3. Miami
4. Ohio U.
5. Akron
6. BG

Mac West
1. Ball St
2. Toledo
3. Western
4. Central
5. Eastern
6. NIU

EMU is ranked way too low.

We have a very deep team with almost no losses to transfer or not using the extra year of eligibility. We have at least 3 transfers entering the program. So we are a net positive on transfers. (think we lose one who didn't play in 2020).

As always under C.C. we could easily go 7 - 5 (or even 8 - 4) OR 5 - 7 if we lose some of those nail biters.

The big thing is QB: Preston Hutchinson starts his 2nd season as a starter and is a very solid QB. We pick up a grad transfers QB, with 3 years elig., from Cincy who could very well have won the starting job (was 'neck and neck' at Cincy).

I think we picked up some 'high value' recruits at key positions, e.g., Carter Evans (DE), Swindle (DT), and the aforementioned, Bryant (QB). All three could have signed higher than the MAC.

Greg Kelley has got to be one of the more intriguing transfers at EMU and in the MAC. If he plays a significant role on the team it deserves national attention. If you've not seen Outcry on Showtime, you should.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports...840503002/

(01-19-2021 05:20 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  If you've not seen Outcry on Showtime, you should.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports...840503002/

Very good documentary show and unfortunate circumstances that he was dealt. Watched it when it came out last summer.

The West could go absolutely any way possible

(01-19-2021 10:15 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Someone will be ranked next year. It's a good league. Finally climbing out of the 2017-2018-2019 hole compared to the G5.

Improved recruiting is starting to pay dividends.

This will be a particularly challenging season to predict across all conferences (other than the usual Ohio State and Alabama type of shoe-ins).

Usually you have year to year continuity to analyze and rely on. But this past season was so messy and different, and with widely varying schedules and games played. Then this idea of everyone eligible to come back, if they so choose.

For WMU, I'll go out on a limb and say we'll be in the thick of it come mid-November, on the cusp of a MACC, then Lester will blow it somehow.

(01-20-2021 02:23 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  The West could go absolutely any way possible

I think Phil Steele had BSU #4 in the West for 2020.

(01-17-2021 07:52 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  Mac East
1. Kent St
2. Buffalo
3. Miami
4. Ohio U.
5. Akron
6. BG

Mac West
1. Ball St
2. Toledo
3. Western
4. Central
5. Eastern
6. NIU

NIU at #6? Don't poke the bear...