We're less than a month out from the start of the season! I thought I'd start a new thread to focus on season-related media, discussion, etc.

ASUN Football Preseason All-Conference Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State
Defensive Player of the Year: Matthew Jackson, Eastern Kentucky

OFFENSE
QB | Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State, Jr., Nashville, Tenn.
RB | Darius Hale, Central Arkansas, So., Pearland, Texas
RB | Parker Driggers, North Alabama, So., Brantley, Ala.
TE | Corson Swan, North Alabama, Gr., Spanish Fort, Ala.
WR | Drae McCray, Austin Peay, So., Tallahassee, Fla.
WR | Takairee Kenebrew, North Alabama, Jr., Childersburg, Ala.
WR | Cortez Hall, North Alabama, Gr., Hoover, Ala.
OL | Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky, So., Columbus, Ohio
OL | Zion Katina, Kennesaw State, Sr., Franklin, Tenn.
OL | Jaylin Hendrix, Central Arkansas, Sr., Everman, Texas
OL | Terrell Paxton, Kennesaw State, Sr., Stone Mountain, Ga.
C | Howard Watkins Jr., Eastern Kentucky, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio
C | Matt Olson, Kennesaw State, Gr., Cumming, Ga.

DEFENSE
DL | *Logan Jessup, Central Arkansas, Jr., Wynne, Ark.
DL | Kelton Dawson, Eastern Kentucky, Sr., Stockbridge, Ga.
DL | Chuck Manning, Austin Peay, Gr., Durham, N.C.
DL | Jaylen Swain, Jacksonville State, So., Oxford, Ala.
DL | Micah Bland, North Alabama, Jr., Louisville, Ky.
LB | *Matthew Jackson, Eastern Kentucky, Sr., Nashville, Tenn.
LB | Stevonte Tullis, Jacksonville State, Sr., Dothan, Ala.
LB | Markail Benton, Jacksonville State, Sr., Phenix City, Ala.
LB | Eli Hairston, Eastern Kentucky, Jr., Columbus, Ohio
DB | Tamuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas, So., Bryant, Ark.
DB | Joseph Sayles, Eastern Kentucky, Sr., Alpharetta, Ga.
DB | Kyree Fields, North Alabama, Sr., Columbus, Miss.
DB | Shamari Simmons, Austin Peay, Jr., Ashland, Ala.

SPECIAL TEAMS
K | Maddux Trujillo, Austin Peay, So., Flowery Branch, Ga.
P | Jack Dawson, Jacksonville State, So., Sylvania Waters, Australia
RS | Kobe Warden, North Alabama, So., Killen, Ala.

- A tie in voting resulted in a 29-man Preseason All-Conference Team
* - Unanimous Selection to Preseason All-Conference Team

2022 Preseason Football Coaches Poll
Place Team (1st-Place Votes) Points
1. Kennesaw State (4) 34
T2. Central Arkansas (1) 25
T2. Eastern Kentucky 25
4. Jacksonville State 19
5. Austin Peay (1) 15
6. North Alabama 8

Additionally, the ASUN took to social media to poll the fans for the conference preseason superlative awards. A total of 2,690 votes were cast for student-athletes across the league. North Alabama running back Parker Driggers (389 votes) was named the Fan-Voted Offensive Player of the Year while UNA defensive back Kyree Fields (570 votes) garnered the Fan-Voted Defensive Player of the Year nod.

https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2022...0719hjy33c

Less than 3 weeks until ASUN vs. WAC!!

https://montgomerykickoffgames.com/fcskickoff/

Got my tickets today see y’all in montegomery

Still no word on how the AQ will be determined in the alliance.

It's pretty obvious, regardless of what it is, that the ASUN needs to win every crossover game it can against the WAC - especially against SFA. Even with JSU not technically in the alliance, they will certainly provide a link to the other ASUN teams as far as having a common opponent with SFA.

There could be a lot riding on the line for the brand new ASUN in this very first FCS contest of the season!

HERO Sports’ Power Ranking

Because the renewed partnership wasn’t announced until May, these teams are not all playing each other. We don’t currently know how the auto-bid will be decided if two teams share the same record. So instead of doing our usual Predicted Order of Finish here, we will rank the playoff-eligible teams.

1. Stephen F. Austin
2. Kennesaw State
3. Eastern Kentucky
4. Central Arkansas
5. Austin Peay
6. Abilene Christian
7. North Alabama
8. Southern Utah

herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-asun-wac-football-preview-bzbz/

(08-11-2022 04:22 PM)unalions Wrote:  HERO Sports’ Power Ranking

Because the renewed partnership wasn’t announced until May, these teams are not all playing each other. We don’t currently know how the auto-bid will be decided if two teams share the same record. So instead of doing our usual Predicted Order of Finish here, we will rank the playoff-eligible teams.

1. Stephen F. Austin
2. Kennesaw State
3. Eastern Kentucky
4. Central Arkansas
5. Austin Peay
6. Abilene Christian
7. North Alabama
8. Southern Utah

herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-asun-wac-football-preview-bzbz/

We play SUU Oct 1 plus Sam Houston Oct 15.

The AFCA Preseason Top 25 poll has been released. Four ASUN teams were mentioned.

American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll – August 15, 2022
Rank School (1st votes) | Record | Points

1. North Dakota St. (24) | 14-1 | 624
2. Montana | 10-3 | 567
3. South Dakota St. (1) | 11-4 | 566
4. Montana St. | 12-3 | 560
5. Villanova | 10-3 | 493
6. Kennesaw St. | 11-2 | 453
7. Sacramento St. | 9-3 | 452
8. Missouri St. | 8-4 | 405
9. Southern Illinois | 8-5 | 379
10. Stephen F. Austin | 8-4 | 362
11. East Tennessee St. | 11-2 | 352
12. Eastern Washington | 10-3 | 337
13. Chattanooga | 6-5 | 294
14. UIW | 10-3 | 277
15. UT Martin | 10-3 | 257
16. Southeastern Louisiana | 9-4 | 254
17. Jackson St. | 11-2 | 245
18. Holy Cross | 10-3 | 184
19. Delaware | 5-6 | 172
20. Weber St. | 6-5 | 141
21. Northern Iowa | 6-6 | 119
22. UC Davis | 8-4 | 101
23. Mercer | 7-3 | 78
T24. Rhode Island | 7-4 | 66
T24. Richmond | 6-5 | 66

Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota, 49; Florida A&M, 44; Harvard, 38; South Carolina St., 38; Princeton, 29; Central Arkansas, 23; Eastern Kentucky, 18; Dartmouth, 17; Nicholls, 8; Furman, 6; North Carolina A&T, 6; William & Mary, 6; Murray St., 5; Davidson, 3; Fordham, 3; Southeast Missouri St., 3; North Dakota, 2; Utah Tech, 2; Austin Peay, 1; Elon, 1.



https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2022...0815ipfdb1

(08-15-2022 02:58 PM)unalions Wrote:  Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota, 49; Florida A&M, 44; Harvard, 38; South Carolina St., 38; Princeton, 29; Central Arkansas, 23; Eastern Kentucky, 18; Dartmouth, 17; Nicholls, 8; Furman, 6; North Carolina A&T, 6; William & Mary, 6; Murray St., 5; Davidson, 3; Fordham, 3; Southeast Missouri St., 3; North Dakota, 2; Utah Tech, 2; Austin Peay, 1; Elon, 1.

My $0.02...

I think SFA and KSU are both locks for the playoffs. A 3rd bid is likely for the ASUN/WAC, and I feel like it's going to go to an ASUN team.

Peay is incredibly underrated. They'd crush teams like SEMO, Murray, and Nicholls.

I think the Govs will be in a dog fight with UCA and EKU for that 3rd playoff bid. If things go well, we might even sneak in a 4th. (It will also come from the ASUN. With SHSU ineligible, I think the WAC is a one-bid league.)

(08-18-2022 10:51 AM)whupemall Wrote:  

(08-15-2022 02:58 PM)unalions Wrote:  Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota, 49; Florida A&M, 44; Harvard, 38; South Carolina St., 38; Princeton, 29; Central Arkansas, 23; Eastern Kentucky, 18; Dartmouth, 17; Nicholls, 8; Furman, 6; North Carolina A&T, 6; William & Mary, 6; Murray St., 5; Davidson, 3; Fordham, 3; Southeast Missouri St., 3; North Dakota, 2; Utah Tech, 2; Austin Peay, 1; Elon, 1.

My $0.02...

I think SFA and KSU are both locks for the playoffs. A 3rd bid is likely for the ASUN/WAC, and I feel like it's going to go to an ASUN team.

Peay is incredibly underrated. They'd crush teams like SEMO, Murray, and Nicholls.

I think the Govs will be in a dog fight with UCA and EKU for that 3rd playoff bid. If things go well, we might even sneak in a 4th. (It will also come from the ASUN. With SHSU ineligible, I think the WAC is a one-bid league.)

Our season will be interesting.
ASUN schedule with one FBS transition team
2 WAC games to include their FBS transition team
2 MAC games
@SEMO
Charleston So.

Who will be the surprise team?

(08-18-2022 12:10 PM)lion1983 Wrote:  Who will be the surprise team?

Kennesaw obviously isn't surprising anyone. They're a known quantity.

The next tier is probably EKU, UCA, and Peay. As I said earlier, that'll be a dogfight. EKU has been steadily improving, and UCA and Peay both had uncharacteristically down years in 2021.

If any one of the above overtakes the Owls, I wouldn't consider it a surprise.

That leaves UNA as the only candidate to be a true "surprise" team. And, well, I've known the Lions too freaking long to be surprised by any success they achieve.

All I have to say is, the ASUN had better perform out of conference. Parity is an awesome thing when your conference has 5 teams in the Top 25. But it can be a hindrance when you have one Top 10 team and a cluster of "Others Receiving Votes". If you don't win the non-conference games, every league loss is just an express ticket out of the playoffs.

And this year's edition of the ASUN will definitely embody the phrase "beating ourselves up".

And yes, even though we're playoff ineligible with a foot out the door, Jax State has to win its non-conference games as well, for the benefit of the ASUN... especially our games against probable playoff teams SFA, Davidson, SELA, and Nicholls.

ASUN football starts tomorrow with APSU and JSU!

Jax State has had a round of bad/odd press this week. I just hope they win that game for the rest of the conference to potentially have the upper hand for the AQ.

(08-26-2022 07:51 PM)unalions Wrote:  ASUN football starts tomorrow with APSU and JSU!

Jax State has had a round of bad/odd press this week. I just hope they win that game for the rest of the conference to potentially have the upper hand for the AQ.

APSU ends up losing 38-27 to WKU.

Jax St down 7-0 to SFA late in yhe first.

Jax state is looking really good. I thought rich rod was a weird hire but that offense is rolling and fun to watch.

KSU we’re coming for you.

JSU started slow but looking great. Weather Delay now.

Congrats on the win Gamecocks! 42-17!

(08-27-2022 05:31 PM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  KSU we’re coming for you.

yeah we go work to do

The ASUN has announced that Jax State is ineligible for the conference title.

Is there a link?
That’s a sudden reversal. The direct opposite of what was said from the beginning.
So what has changed? Other than the complete dismantling of the 10 ranked SFA.