Official conference standing after the end of the 2021 season. The whole picture kinda shows how tough SBC East is compared to the West so far.

SBC East
1) App St. (7-1)
2) GSU (6-2)
3) *Coastal (6-2)
4) Troy (3-5)
5) GS (2-6)
*tiebreaker loss to GSU

SBC West
1) UL (8-0)
2) TXST (3-5)
3) ULM (2-6)
4) *USA (2-6)
5) Ark State (1-7)
*tiebreaker loss to ULM


My best guess at the combined ranking between the two divisions.
1) Louisiana (8-0)- the unbeaten. enough said.
2) App State (7-1)- dominated everyone but UL. The anticipated rematch vs UL should be a good one.
3) Georgia State (6-2)- undefeated in conference.. except for the two teams playing in the SBC Championship. with almost every starter eligible to return yet again next year, can they finally claim that title in 2022? 2nd place in the toughest G5 division is certainly a good confidence booster.
4) Coastal Carolina (6-2)- lost the mojo since losing to App State, but still very well-coached and efficient team.
5) Troy (3-5)- talented but underachieving roster. but the highly touted defense only bended its knees to the offenses of GSU, App, Louisiana, and Coastal.
6) USA (2-6)- horrible running game but upward trending elsewhere. The defense passes the eye test. On offense, Bentley was perhaps top 3 QB in the league.
7) GS (2-6)- bad offense despite having some great RBs. above average defense that appeared stout at times. the record wasnt helped by playing in the competitive East, which led to the dismissal of its HC.
8) TXST (3-5)- Spavital may get another year to fix this. good news, had some close winnable games and could build on it. must recruit better talents in the trenches. bringing more QB competition couldn't hurt either.
9) ULM (2-6)- building for the future with young talent. very up and down team that's inconsistent. very hard team to judge but Bowden and Rodriguez are proven successful program builders.
10) Ark State (1-7)- everyone's favorite punching bag of the 2021 season. it's not all bad however. FBS's statistically worst defense showed signs of improving as the guys started to buy into the new scheme. showed glimpses being highly competitive vs the likes of Louisiana at times. Butch Jones seems to be installing his system, his philosophy, and more disciplined approach to the game. there are signs of his guys responding. could be .500 team by next season.

(11-27-2021 07:18 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  Official conference standing after the end of the 2021 season. The whole picture kinda shows how tough SBC East is compared to the West so far.

SBC East
1) App St. (7-1)
2) GSU (6-2)
3) *Coastal (6-2)
4) Troy (3-5)
5) GS (2-6)
*tiebreaker loss to GSU

SBC West
1) UL (8-0)
2) TXST (3-5)
3) ULM (2-6)
4) *USA (2-6)
5) Ark State (1-7)
*tiebreaker loss to ULM


My best guess at the combined ranking between the two divisions.
1) Louisiana (8-0)- the unbeaten. enough said.
2) App State (7-1)- dominated everyone but UL. The anticipated rematch vs UL should be a good one.
3) Georgia State (6-2)- undefeated in conference.. except for the two teams playing in the SBC Championship. with almost every starter eligible to return yet again next year, can they finally claim that title in 2022? 2nd place in the toughest G5 division is certainly a good confidence booster.
4) Coastal Carolina (6-2)- lost the mojo since losing to App State, but still very well-coached and efficient team.
5) Troy (3-5)- talented but underachieving roster. but the highly touted defense only bended its knees to the offenses of GSU, App, Louisiana, and Coastal.
6) USA (2-6)- horrible running game but upward trending elsewhere. The defense passes the eye test. On offense, Bentley was perhaps top 3 QB in the league.
7) GS (2-6)- bad offense despite having some great RBs. above average defense that appeared stout at times. the record wasnt helped by playing in the competitive East, which led to the dismissal of its HC.
8) TXST (3-5)- Spavital may get another year to fix this. good news, had some close winnable games and could build on it. must recruit better talents in the trenches. bringing more QB competition couldn't hurt either.
9) ULM (2-6)- building for the future with young talent. very up and down team that's inconsistent. very hard team to judge but Bowden and Rodriguez are proven successful program builders.
10) Ark State (1-7)- everyone's favorite punching bag of the 2021 season. it's not all bad however. FBS's statistically worst defense showed signs of improving as the guys started to buy into the new scheme. showed glimpses being highly competitive vs the likes of Louisiana at times. Butch Jones seems to be installing his system, his philosophy, and more disciplined approach to the game. there are signs of his guys responding. could be .500 team by next season.

Spot on, 100%

Point of order, we fired Lunsford before he even played an East game this year.

We will get better, defense showed a lot of positive signs towards the end of the year. Would have looked even better had we not thrown 4.000 pick 6's against App.

Offense needs a complete overhaul however.

While the East looks stronger than the West this year, the addition of Troy and Marshall to the West should immediately boost competition. This is going to be a very competitive and tough league, I love it

(11-28-2021 09:09 AM)ODU12 Wrote:  While the East looks stronger than the West this year, the addition of Troy and Marshall to the West should immediately boost competition. This is going to be a very competitive and tough league, I love it

Marshall isn't going to the West, but Troy is. West gains Troy/USM.

(11-28-2021 09:11 AM)eaglewraith Wrote:  

(11-28-2021 09:09 AM)ODU12 Wrote:  While the East looks stronger than the West this year, the addition of Troy and Marshall to the West should immediately boost competition. This is going to be a very competitive and tough league, I love it

Marshall isn't going to the West, but Troy is. West gains Troy/USM.

Yep. East is only going to get stronger.

As far as “power rankings” go - seems pretty obvious if only looking at conference games. The final standings tell the story. Looking at OOC may look a bit different.

I don’t expect USA, Troy, and Ark St to be down long.

(11-28-2021 09:54 AM)rokamortis Wrote:  As far as “power rankings” go - seems pretty obvious if only looking at conference games. The final standings tell the story. Looking at OOC may look a bit different.

Imo Troy sliding over to the West will help their initial rebuild tremendously. The cupboard isnt bare. Could see almost an instant rebound as the 2nd place team in the west division with 6 or 7 wins

(11-28-2021 10:11 AM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  Imo Troy sliding over to the West will help their initial rebuild tremendously. The cupboard isnt bare. Could see almost an instant rebound as the 2nd place team in the west division with 6 or 7 wins

Agreed. Both Troy and USM will do well there eventually. We were talking with all our seat mates last night, and everyone is excited to have them both, but especially USM.

I think it’s hard to argue that Coastal is any worse than #3.

GSU beat us narrowly in a game where we were missing our starting QB.

If McCall plays that game, we win. So looking at overall power rankings for the season, Coastal is at worst #3. At best, #2.

“3) Georgia State (6-2)- undefeated in conference.. except for the two teams playing in the SBC Championship. “

Totally agree.

(11-28-2021 10:49 AM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  I think it’s hard to argue that Coastal is any worse than #3.

GSU beat us narrowly in a game where we were missing our starting QB.

If McCall plays that game, we win. So looking at overall power rankings for the season, Coastal is at worst #3. At best, #2.

there's always another chance to pay us back next year at our house.

(11-28-2021 10:49 AM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  I think it’s hard to argue that Coastal is any worse than #3.

GSU beat us narrowly in a game where we were missing our starting QB.

If McCall plays that game, we win. So looking at overall power rankings for the season, Coastal is at worst #3. At best, #2.

If 'ifs' and 'buts' were candy and nuts ...

I think Georgia St will absolutely push hard for that top spot in the East next year.

(11-28-2021 10:49 AM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  I think it’s hard to argue that Coastal is any worse than #3.

GSU beat us narrowly in a game where we were missing our starting QB.

If McCall plays that game, we win. So looking at overall power rankings for the season, Coastal is at worst #3. At best, #2.

Except your offense put up the same amount of points as they normally do.

GSU at #3 is truth.


And just imagine, Panama wants Elliot fired.

(11-28-2021 11:25 AM)iStoopify Wrote:  

(11-28-2021 10:49 AM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  I think it’s hard to argue that Coastal is any worse than #3.

GSU beat us narrowly in a game where we were missing our starting QB.

If McCall plays that game, we win. So looking at overall power rankings for the season, Coastal is at worst #3. At best, #2.

Except your offense put up the same amount of points as they normally do.

Shhh. That doesn't fit the narrative.

(11-28-2021 11:25 AM)iStoopify Wrote:  

(11-28-2021 10:49 AM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  I think it’s hard to argue that Coastal is any worse than #3.

GSU beat us narrowly in a game where we were missing our starting QB.

If McCall plays that game, we win. So looking at overall power rankings for the season, Coastal is at worst #3. At best, #2.

Except your offense put up the same amount of points as they normally do.

Yea, and our backup QB threw a pick 6 and also fumbled inside of our own 20 yard line.

14 of GSU’s points were directly attributable to our backup QB making blunders.