Outside of your rival(s), whats your most anticipated game this year?

[ASU33]

Outside of Alabama A&M and Tuskegee our most anticipated game is October 7th at home vs. Alcorn State. We haven't beaten Alcorn State since 2013 and we've developed a nice little rivalry with them since then. Alcorn represented the Eastern division of the SWAC in the Conference title game 4 years in a row. We've led Alcorn going into the 4th quarter the last two seasons before two 4th quarter collapses in both games. Lately the series as turn into a highly attended game between us with the last 3 meetings getting over the 20,000 mark.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

NDSU's 3 OOC games:


Miss Valley State
Eastern Washington
Robert Morris

2 will be complete blowouts but out of the 3, EWU is probably the game most anticipated.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Villanova!

Lehigh has a chance to make an early statement when the Wildcats come to visit. The Mountain Hawks need to get back over the CAA hump. Their last win over a Top 25 CAA team was UNH in 2013.

[ST_Lawson]

We don't really have a true "rival" (if any, I guess it'd be Illinois State...this year will be our 100th meeting). Probably my most anticipated game this year is against South Dakota, for a couple of reasons. It's Homecoming, which is always fun, but also, it will be the first time that Coach Nielson will return to Hanson Field for a game since he bolted for South Dakota immediately following the end of the 2015 season. The band will be right behind the middle of the visiting team, so it could get interesting.

[citdog]

Klempsin

[Catatonic]

Abilene Christian closes with back-to-back games against Sam Houston and UCA. I expect the Wildcats will gain momentum as the season goes along and our team becomes more comfortable with our new coaches and schemes. The Sam and UCA games will be a good barometer of how far we have come and how far we need to go to be competitive in the conference and beyond.

Other than this, there is a lot we are looking forward to this fall. New Mexico-First game under our new HC. Everyone is eager to see the new look. Colorado State--Fort Collins. New Stadium. The Mountains. Houston Baptist. First home game in our new stadium. First time we have played on campus in 50 years.

[Daytripper]

Easy. Richmond.

[KPSUL]

@ JMU. Big reach I know, but I think JMU will lose one CAA game this year, it might as well be against UNH.

[Catamount87]

Easy choice, our road(air) trip to Hawai'i to start the season!

[Sammy94]

Richmond

[Evolution Prime]

Drake










J/K Probably UNI since its on Hobo Day.

[BEAR]

I'm not sure UCA has established a rival in the SLC. We're kind of set apart from the other two states who have established their rivals after years of playing each other.

Sam has SFA IMO.

So with that as my qualifier, I'd say McNeese at homecoming this year. Last year we blew them out 35-0 after a tragedy with the head coach. They are better than that we know. I don't look forward to top 20 FBS Kansas State. Nor do I look forward to Murray State though I will be going. So I guess McNeese so we can tailgate and raise food donations for the hungry in both our states.

[RootinFerDukes]

ECU but I always look forward to the UR, WM, VU and UD games (unless I sense it'll be lopsided against my team). Obviously I look forward to the playoffs, but I suppose that doesn't count here.

[DirtyDukes]

@ JMU. Big reach I know, but I think JMU will lose one CAA game this year, it might as well be against UNH.

Can't hurt that you will also be in attendance, huh? Should be a great game.

I'm stoked to beat ECU. Massey has us as 7 point favorites.

[Bisonator]

Definitely EWU although I'm gonna need some new shades before we play on that awful turf.xcoolx

[Thundar]

Frisco

[slostang]

For Cal Poly it would be between hosting Colgate in the Kickoff Classic on ESPNU and traveling to take on Northern Iowa.

[McNeese75]

I'm not sure UCA has established a rival in the SLC. We're kind of set apart from the other two states who have established their rivals after years of playing each other.

Sam has SFA IMO.

So with that as my qualifier, I'd say McNeese at homecoming this year. Last year we blew them out 35-0 after a tragedy with the head coach. They are better than that we know. I don't look forward to top 20 FBS Kansas State. Nor do I look forward to Murray State though I will be going. So I guess McNeese so we can tailgate and raise food donations for the hungry in both our states.

I will exclude the UCA game because that WILL be a rivalry game this year after the xasswhipxlast year xnodx. Otherwise I would say nothing is really anticipated. The OOC games are Alcorn State and Florida Tech so overall the schedule is plain vanilla and weak.

[Iridebikes]

Definitely EWU although I'm gonna need some new shades before we play on that awful turf.xcoolx

I'll agree with you on the game. EWU-NDSU was a really good game last year in Fargo. It will be fun and should be a great game this year in Cheney. And while I like the RED, it will really clash with your green and gold. Anyway, lets have a good game and enjoy FCS football!!

[SactoHornetFan]

Cal Poly

[Panther88]

PVAMU has 3 OOC games vs SHSU(our place), Nicholls(A), and IWU(A); all Southland conf schools + 1 addt'l OOC vs a sub-D-1 (NAIA for HC'ing).

All 3 OOC D-Is are very important since we all recruit in the same footprint (La/Tx) and the proximity between PVAMU and SHSU is a mere 1hr 12min drive.

FTR, I saw both spring games (SHSU and PVAMU). SHSU is ridiculously physically gifted (fast, big + Briscoe + GREAT OL + JWebb <was on PV's campus last year anticipating txfer from uofh during Herman's last stint but we couldn't get him in> ).

[dewey]

Like many other Bison fans the most anticipated game for me (outside of SDSU and UNI) is going to be EWU.

Dewey

[Redbird 4th & short]

Nov 18th, week 11, we have NDSU at home on our Senior Day .. could be game that determines top 8 seed for us or not .. of course our students will be home for 1 week break starting that day .. ISU Frisco Ticketgate II coming soon to a stadium near you !!!

[Yote 53]

Non-conference - North Dakota. We owe those guys a full on beat down.

In conference - all the games are important.

[F'N Hawks]

Non-conference - North Dakota. We owe those guys a full on beat down.


xlolx Rinse, repeat.

[Redbird 4th & short]

Nov 18th, week 11, we have NDSU at home on our Senior Day .. could be game that determines top 8 seed for us or not .. of course our students will be home for 1 week break starting that day .. ISU Frisco Ticketgate II coming soon to a stadium near you !!!

Non-conference wise and equally important to our playoff chances and seed potential is our game 5, Oct 7th at Northern Arizona .. they have their stud QB back and healthy. We need this road win to make our climb in rankings.

[Grizalltheway]

MSU and EWU are both rivals, so I guess UND or NAU.

[GetEmGriz]

My most anticipated game this year would be against Washington. Yeah, we're going to get slaughtered... but it's going to be fun attending a Pac12 game.

[Yote 53]

xlolx Rinse, repeat.

The last several times USD has played UND, and this goes back to the GWFC days, the Yotes have literally grasped defeat out of the jaws of victory. I don't know why it keeps happening but USD comes in and starts blowing the doors off of UND and then, for some inexplicable reason, goes down the path of self-destruction and just hands the game over. Clean that up this year in the Dome and you guys are staring at a blowout.

[F'N Hawks]

The last several times USD has played UND, and this goes back to the GWFC days, the Yotes have literally grasped defeat out of the jaws of victory. I don't know why it keeps happening but USD comes in and starts blowing the doors off of UND and then, for some inexplicable reason, goes down the path of self-destruction and just hands the game over. Clean that up this year in the Dome and you guys are staring at a blowout.

xthumbsupx It's always a good game down to the end, that much is guaranteed.

[wapiti]

SDSU in Bozeman should be a good one.

[phoenix3]

Furman

[jmufan999]

probably Villanova. they only got to see Schor play for 1 quarter. I want to see him for the full game at home. ECU and UNH are also up there.

[bobcathpdevil56]

SDSU should be a great measuring stick to see if we have improved over the off-season. Also, Wazzu, just because my little brother went there and it would bring me great joy to continue the Big Sky streak against WSU.

[Fordhamanhattan]

The Rams of Fordham have two big games to start the year. The Black Knights of the Hudson up in West Point to start the season and then two weeks later hosting Eastern Washington at Fordham's bucolic Rose Hill campus in the Bronx.

[citdog]

Furman


sucks

[JSUSoutherner]

Man. Choosing between Austin Peay and Georgia Tech is really difficult. xcoffeex

[UNDColorado]

I am heading out to SLC to watch UND take on Utah. Rice Eccles looks like a cool stadium and only a 6 hour drive for me. Should be a fun weekend...bringing our own beer because 3.2 beer is just fizzy water.

[Ivytalk]

Rhode Island. Definitely Rhode Island.

[SFA 93]

The first one. SMU

[citdog]

Rhode Island. Definitely Rhode Island.

Before now said no one EVER...

xnodx

[Schism55]

sucks
Never change bud, never change :D

[clenz]

None. I already want the season over

[BisonFan02]

UNI

[NorthChuckSouth]

Either Kennesaw State, eventhough they are becoming our rival, or Mississippi State

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

UNI


UNI always plays the Bison tough but I think this year, in our house, it wont be close.

[JSUSoutherner]

UNI always plays the Bison tough but I think this year, in our house, it wont be close.

*loses*

[The Cats]

Easy choice, our road(air) trip to Hawai'i to start the season!


I'd say the easy choice would be our first ever trip to Chapel Hill


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSQ0Xvnk25E/VecVp7-oaTI/AAAAAAAACz4/FB13UrbwsOA/s296/unc.JPG

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

*loses*


I suppose you are trying to refer to a Bison loss?

[TheKingpin28]

I suppose you are trying to refer to a Bison loss?

Championship Game

37-10

/thread

[JSUSoutherner]

I suppose you are trying to refer to a Bison loss?
No, I was actually talking about the Atlanta Braves.

They lose a lot. xcoffeex

[Gangtackle11]

Obvious choices would be Temple or JMU, but I think Richmond game is going to tell me more about Nova this season.

[ngineer]

Villanova!

Lehigh has a chance to make an early statement when the Wildcats come to visit. The Mountain Hawks need to get back over the CAA hump. Their last win over a Top 25 CAA team was UNH in 2013.

No question this lead-off game is greatly anticipated. The problem is the first games can be very misleading in either direction. Some teams don't mesh as early as others. Some are much more experienced than others so that a match up in November can be very different than the same teams in early September. Both teams have a lot of material coming back this year, so one would expect a very good, and close game similar to last year's on the Main Line. I would be inclined to pick Lehigh by field goal with the home field "points" being the difference. Other than Nova, the confrontation with Fordham should be for the PL Championship. Rams have their QB returning, and Edmonds has his last rodeo. Should be a great game in the Bronx.

[jmufan999]

Obvious choices would be Temple or JMU, but I think Richmond game is going to tell me more about Nova this season.

how's the QB situation? seems like that's been the missing piece the last few years, at least from the games I've watched. defense is great as usual.

[Gangtackle11]

how's the QB situation? seems like that's been the missing piece the last few years, at least from the games I've watched. defense is great as usual.

Well, our starter is back for his junior season. He's statistically top 4-5 QB in CAA, but he's played small in big games. The hope is he will improve as he's now a junior, but anyone who watches Villanova football closely thinks he won't be anymore than a run 1st QB.

Talley consistently tried to convince the public & media that he is a big time talent, but most fans don't share that opinion. Villanova lost 4 games last season to Pitt, Richmond, JMU, & SDSU. They scored 0,0,7,7 from the offense in those games. The offense is stale under long time OC Sam Venuto. Team is very predictable and has little game breaking speed at WR position. They rely on smurf like receivers to make YAC plays, but it hasn't worked against the best of the CAA/FCS to date.

Our QB has happy feet. He's a very good runner, but he's too quick to take off. Missed a lot of big plays because he doesn't see secondary options often. That said, he's only behind Schor & Lauletta in the CAA as far as QB talent.

They did sign a FBS offered QB in this class that a lot of people are excited about his future. Time will tell.

[carney2]

For Lafayette it has to be the opener at Monmouth. If Frank Tavani were still pacing the Leopard sideline I'd pencil this into the loss column with confidence. But the new coaching staff places a serious new wild card into the mix. Can the coaches cook up some chicken soup out of the chicken feathers they've been left with on offense? It will be exciting to see.

Oh wait, I probably won't see it. With Monmouth's revamped stadium getting its first game and still only able to handle a small high school "crowd," tickets for visitors may be in short supply. Add to that the fact that Monmouth has taken a page out of the Georgetown playbook and has refused permission for the reliable and entertaining Lafayette Sports Network to televise, and this game might just as well be played in the Holland Tunnel at midnight.

[Fordham]

Eastern Washington coming to the Bronx on 9/16

[centraljerseycat]

Very well stated on the QB situation and his primary backup last year did absolutely nothing in his limited action...but I wouldn't be surprised if redshirt frosh Schetelich or true frosh McCloskey challenge both for playing time before the year is over.
Plus I think a couple of last year's freshmen receivers (namely Hodge & Kerxton) will become the gamebreakers the offense sorely needs.

[Gangtackle11]

Very well stated on the QB situation and his primary backup last year did absolutely nothing in his limited action...but I wouldn't be surprised if redshirt frosh Schetelich or true frosh McCloskey challenge both for playing time before the year is over.
Plus I think a couple of last year's freshmen receivers (namely Hodge & Kerxton) will become the gamebreakers the offense sorely needs.

Backup QB has moved to WR. Schetelich has John Robertson's like qualities. Like him a lot. The incoming frosh is coming in with great anticipation.

Hodge flashed above average ability when he came back from camp injury. Tall (6'1") WR. Needs to show that he's a dependable go to guy this season.

[Iridebikes]

Eastern Washington coming to the Bronx on 9/16rri

I'm worried about this one for EWU. Traveling across the country one week after having NDSU at home and then going back on the road the next week to Missoula for a game with the Griz. Always a big one. Hope we don't overlook Fordham.

[Thumper 76]

Probably Montana State, hopefully they are much improved over last year or SDSU's OOC is going to be weaker than wet tissue paper.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

rri

I'm worried about this one for EWU. Traveling across the country one week after having NDSU at home and then going back on the road the next week to Missoula for a game with the Griz. Always a big one. Hope we don't overlook Fordham.

One would think if there was a year the PL was going to break through this would be the year. On paper, Fordham and Lehigh are loaded with offensive talent. Some of the top skill guys in FCS reside on these two rosters. The Lehigh-Villanova and Fordham-EWU games (both home games for the PL team) will paint a better picture of what scholarship PL is. Both have the potential to be Top 10 good.

Lehigh has a few key 5th year scholarship guys. There's no excuses. Both of these teams have built up talent bases that should be able to do damage.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Probably Montana State, hopefully they are much improved over last year or SDSU's OOC is going to be weaker than wet tissue paper.

Montana State and Delaware are two teams that will reemerge on the national scene imo. The Bobcats are finally ready to compete again after getting bogged down by Coach Ash's "mehness".

[Iridebikes]

Montana State and Delaware are two teams that will reemerge on the national scene imo. The Bobcats are finally ready to compete again after getting bogged down by Coach Ash's "mehness".

I'm in agreement with you, I think the Bobcats are going to be a lot better this year. I think they won their last three games last year and were coming on. Young quarterback has another off- year to spend with the new coaching staff. I'm glad that we have them in Cheney this year. Would not be surprised if the played Washington State really tough. Not holding my breath but I think they will have a shot a winning that one.

[McNeese72]

I will exclude the UCA game because that WILL be a rivalry game this year after the xasswhipxlast year xnodx. Otherwise I would say nothing is really anticipated. The OOC games are Alcorn State and Florida Tech so overall the schedule is plain vanilla and weak.

Agreed! Nothing on the schedule stands out.

Doc

[Fordham]

rri

I'm worried about this one for EWU. Traveling across the country one week after having NDSU at home and then going back on the road the next week to Missoula for a game with the Griz. Always a big one. Hope we don't overlook Fordham.
Didn't realize we scheduled this one so well! We'll still be big dogs

you making it out here, bikes?

[Go...gate]

For Lafayette it has to be the opener at Monmouth. If Frank Tavani were still pacing the Leopard sideline I'd pencil this into the loss column with confidence. But the new coaching staff places a serious new wild card into the mix. Can the coaches cook up some chicken soup out of the chicken feathers they've been left with on offense? It will be exciting to see.

Oh wait, I probably won't see it. With Monmouth's revamped stadium getting its first game and still only able to handle a small high school "crowd," tickets for visitors may be in short supply. Add to that the fact that Monmouth has taken a page out of the Georgetown playbook and has refused permission for the reliable and entertaining Lafayette Sports Network to televise, and this game might just as well be played in the Holland Tunnel at midnight.

Unbelievable. LSN is a great network. Does Monmouth have any cable outlet?

[DFW HOYA]

Oh wait, I probably won't see it. With Monmouth's revamped stadium getting its first game and still only able to handle a small high school "crowd," tickets for visitors may be in short supply. Add to that the fact that Monmouth has taken a page out of the Georgetown playbook and has refused permission for the reliable and entertaining Lafayette Sports Network to televise, and this game might just as well be played in the Holland Tunnel at midnight.

Wasn't there a little known codicil in the Patriot League by-laws that any refusal to broadcast the reliable and entertaining Lafayette Sports Network was grounds for double secret probation?

[JALMOND]

Portland State out of conference---Oregon State. Always fun to play the Beavers.
Portland State in conference---Montana. Playing the Griz in Portland before the weather starts to get rainy.

Both games should be a lot of fun.

[Go...gate]

Wasn't there a little known codicil in the Patriot League by-laws that any refusal to broadcast the reliable and entertaining Lafayette Sports Network was grounds for double secret probation?

No, but there should be. That is a very good network.

[Iridebikes]

Didn't realize we scheduled this one so well! We'll still be big dogs

you making it out here, bikes?

Thanks for asking but no. That big city stuff makes me nervous. Trip over to Missoula the next week end will be nice however. Tamaracks will be turning gold, makes the mountains look like a football game at Lambeau field, all green and gold.

[carney2]

Wasn't there a little known codicil in the Patriot League by-laws that any refusal to broadcast the reliable and entertaining Lafayette Sports Network was grounds for double secret probation?

If there isn't, there should be. I hereby nominate Bogie as our very own Robert S. Mueller III to get to the bottom of this travesty. All in favor ...

[Fordham]

Thanks for asking but no. That big city stuff makes me nervous. Trip over to Missoula the next week end will be nice however. Tamaracks will be turning gold, makes the mountains look like a football game at Lambeau field, all green and gold.
Sounds amazing in Missoula. You should give it a shot. Not as nerve-inducing as you think and some pretty cool stuff to cross off of your bucket list.

[GAD]

South Carolina State- It should be a pretty good game just not to sure about the how the teams will handle the heat. The heat is also why I'm not expecting a huge crowd for this one

[citdog]

South Carolina State- It should be a pretty good game just not to sure about the how the teams will handle the heat. The heat is also why I'm not expecting a huge crowd for this one

Orangeburg, SC feels about what one would think Mercury would. That's a HOT place. The air just don't move.

[kdinva]

... The air just don't move.

How's the air in Greenville? xtroublex

[Grizalltheway]

Sounds amazing in Missoula. You should give it a shot. Not as nerve-inducing as you think and some pretty cool stuff to cross off of your bucket list.

I thought I would hate NYC but spent a week there several years ago and loved it. Cue citdog with the damn Yankee comments.

[ASU33]

South Carolina State- It should be a pretty good game just not to sure about the how the teams will handle the heat. The heat is also why I'm not expecting a huge crowd for this one

A noon kickoff on the Bluff in September is murder!

[citdog]

How's the air in Greenville? xtroublex

Hard to tell with the hog farm like stench from the furman campus...

[ST_Lawson]

Orangeburg, SC feels about what one would think Mercury would. That's a HOT place. The air just don't move.

Idk about that...always felt like Mercury would be more of a "dry heat".
South Carolina in (I assume) late summer always seemed like more of a "here's your complementary snorkel so you can swim to your seat" level of humidity to go along with that heat.

[GAD]

I remember they tried day games a few times in the '80s part of the entertainment became people cheering for the EMTs as they ran around the stadium tending to people who had pasted out