2021 Conference Preseason Polls

[Professor Chaos]

They're starting to come out. I'll update this post as they become available but if you see one released that I haven't updated yet feel free to post a reply and I'll update accordingly.


AQ7 (ASUN + WAC) (https://wacsports.com/sports/fball/2021-22/releases/20210726hqyz4b)
1. Sam Houston (7) 49
2. Central Arkansas 40
3. Jacksonville State 37
4. Stephen F. Austin 27
5. Eastern Kentucky 20
6. Abilene Christian 15
7. Lamar 8


Big Sky (https://bigskyconf.com/news/2021/7/26/football-weber-state-picked-to-win-big-sky-by-coaches-and-media.aspx)

Coaches
1. Weber State (7)
2. Montana (2)
3. Eastern Washington (2)
4. Montana State (1)
5. Sacramento State (1)
6. UC Davis
7. Northern Arizona
8. Idaho
9. Idaho State
10. Portland State
11. Southern Utah
12. Cal Poly
13. Northern Colorado

Media
1. Weber State (14)
2. Montana (4)
3. Eastern Washington (3)
4. Montana State (3)
5. Sacramento State
6. UC Davis
7. Northern Arizona
8. Idaho
9. Idaho State
10. Portland State
11. Southern Utah
12. Northern Colorado
13. Cal Poly


Big South (https://bigsouthsports.com/news/2021/7/26/monmouth-voted-2021-preseason-football-favorite.aspx)
1. Monmouth (16) 141
2. Kennesaw State (1) 117
3. North Carolina A&T 100
4. Charleston Southern (1) 85
5. Campbell 82
6. Gardner-Webb 59
7. Hampton 35
8. Robert Morris 29


CAA (https://caasports.com/news/2021/7/26/james-madison-favored-to-win-caa-football-championship-in-2021.aspx)
1. James Madison (15) 231
2. Delaware (7) 222
3. Villanova 194
4. Richmond (2) 169
5. New Hampshire 135
6. Rhode Island 121
7. Towson 115
8. UAlbany 114
9. Maine 99
10. Stony Brook 73
11. William & Mary 61
12. Elon 50


Ivy League (https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx)
1. Princeton (8) 113
2. Yale (6) 104
3. Dartmouth (1) 88
4. Harvard 87
5. Penn 61
6. Brown 52
7. Columbia (1) 44
8. Cornell 27


MEAC (https://meacsports.com/news/2021/7/29/meac-announces-2021-football-predicted-order-of-finish-presented-by-the-home-depot.aspx)
1. South Carolina State (5) 118
2. Norfolk State (2) 96
3. North Carolina Central (2) 78
4. Delaware State (1) 56
5. Morgan State (1) 48
6. Howard (1) 36


MVFC (https://valley-football.org/news/2021/7/26/missouri-valley-football-announces-preseason-team-poll.aspx)
1. South Dakota State (24) 454
2. North Dakota State (18) 435
3. North Dakota 357
4. Southern Illinois 345
5. UNI (1) 311
6. Missouri State 256
7. Illinois State 196
8. South Dakota 163
9. Youngstown State 126
10. Indiana State 112
11. Western Illinois 83


NEC (https://northeastconference.org/news/2021/8/3/fb-21-preseason-story.aspx)
1. Sacred Heart (4)
2T. Duquesne (2)
2T. Central Connecticut (1)
4. Bryant
5. Saint Francis U
6. LIU
7. Wagner


OVC (http://ovcsports.com/news/2021/7/13/murray-state-picked-as-2021-ovc-football-favorites.aspx)
1. Murray State (7) 64
2T. Austin Peay (4) 60
2T. Southeast Missouri (3) 60
4. UT Martin 38
5. Tennessee State 32
6. Tennessee Tech 28
7. Eastern Illinois 12


Patriot League (https://patriotleague.org/news/2021/7/27/patriot-league-announces-2021-football-preseason-honors.aspx)
1. Holy Cross (11) 71
2. Fordham (3) 63
3. Lafayette 44
4. Lehigh 35
5. Bucknell 30
6. Georgetown 28
7. Colgate 23


Pioneer League (http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2020/1643/defending-champion-davidson-edges-san-diego-in-pfl-preseason-coaches-poll/)
1. Davidson (8) 97
2. San Diego (3) 93
3. Drake 67
4. Dayton 62
5. Presbyterian 59
6. Valparaiso 55
7. Morehead St. 51
8. St. Thomas 36
T9. Marist 35
T9. Stetson 35
11. Butler 15


SOCON (https://soconsports.com/news/2021/7/26/football-preseason-all-conference-teams-polls-announced.aspx)

Coaches
1. Chattanooga (4) 59
2. Samford (2) 52
3. VMI (2) 50
4. ETSU (1) 49
5. Furman 34
6. Mercer 29
7. The Citadel 22
8. Wofford 21
9. Western Carolina 8

Media
1. Chattanooga (18) 248
2. VMI (6) 217
T3. ETSU (3) 181
T3. Furman (1) 181
T3. Samford (2) 181
6. Mercer 123
7. Wofford 108
8. The Citadel 79
9. Western Carolina 32


Southland (https://www.southland.org/news/2021/7/22/southeastern-voted-to-top-spot-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx)
1. Southeastern (8) 48
2. Nicholls (4) 43
3. UIW 32
4. McNeese 26
5. Northwestern State 21
6. Houston Baptist 10


SWAC (https://swac.org/news/2021/7/20/swac-announces-2021-preseason-all-swac-football-team-and-predicted-order-of-finish.aspx)

East
1. Alabama A&M (122)
2. Florida A&M (109)
3. Jackson State (80)
4. Alabama State (76)
5. Bethune-Cookman (71)
6. Mississippi Valley State (25)

West
1. Alcorn State (128)
2. Southern (108)
3. Grambling State (85)
4. Prairie View A&M (78)
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (68)
6. Texas Southern (37)

[Professor Chaos]

OVC was the first to drop: http://ovcsports.com/news/2021/7/13/murray-state-picked-as-2021-ovc-football-favorites.aspx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6b1TbTXEAMoraZ?format=jpg&name=large

First time Murray St has been the preseason pick to win the league in 25 years.

[Professor Chaos]

The SWAC announced their preseason poll today: https://swac.org/news/2021/7/20/swac-announces-2021-preseason-all-swac-football-team-and-predicted-order-of-finish.aspx

SWAC Eastern Division
1. Alabama A&M (122)
2. Florida A&M (109)
3. Jackson State (80)
4. Alabama State (76)
5. Bethune-Cookman (71)
6. Mississippi Valley State (25)

SWAC Western Division
1. Alcorn State (128)
2. Southern (108)
3. Grambling State (85)
4. Prairie View A&M (78)
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (68)
6. Texas Southern (37)

[Professor Chaos]

The Southland preseason poll dropped this morning: https://www.southland.org/news/2021/7/22/southeastern-voted-to-top-spot-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E655aL1WEAogXgJ?format=jpg&name=large

[Professor Chaos]

SOCON preseason poll was just released: https://soconsports.com/news/2021/7/26/football-preseason-all-conference-teams-polls-announced.aspx


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7PNeSIXIAY40XN?format=jpg&name=small


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7PNeSHWYAAB5Y_?format=jpg&name=small

[Reign of Terrier]

If you're a gambler, I'll save you some money and tell you to not bet on Wofford finishing in the bottom third of the socon

[Professor Chaos]

Big Sky preseason poll released: https://bigskyconf.com/news/2021/7/26/football-weber-state-picked-to-win-big-sky-by-coaches-and-media.aspx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7PUN5pVIBYyEmm?format=jpg&name=small

[VandalBasher]

Nothing to argue here regarding Idaho's position.

[Professor Chaos]

The CAA preseason poll is the first to drop this morning: https://caasports.com/news/2021/7/26/james-madison-favored-to-win-caa-football-championship-in-2021.aspx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7Te9v8WYAAUcoi?format=jpg&name=small

[POD Knows]

Big Sky preseason poll released: https://bigskyconf.com/news/2021/7/26/football-weber-state-picked-to-win-big-sky-by-coaches-and-media.aspx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7PUN5pVIBYyEmm?format=jpg&name=small
What am I missing on Montana and MSU?? Got to admit I have not followed it that close, with all of the transfers and all the crap going on but I have MSU ahead of Montana on my poll

[Professor Chaos]

What am I missing on Montana and MSU?? Got to admit I have not followed it that close, with all of the transfers and all the crap going on but I have MSU ahead of Montana on my poll
Montana did look really good in the spring... granted it was against a D2 team and Portland St but I've got Montana really high... I might be overvaluing the coaching effect but Hauck is in year 4 of being back and it sure seems like he's got them on the trajectory to be back to where they were when he first left which is national title contenders. As for Montana St I'm not sold on Vigen... never cared for him much at NDSU. Seemed very predictable as an OC and apparently that didn't change much at his time in Wyoming. Maybe he'll be better as a HC but I'm going to wait and see.

[Professor Chaos]

MVFC preseason poll: https://valley-football.org/news/2021/7/26/missouri-valley-football-announces-preseason-team-poll.aspx


https://valley-football.org/images/2021/7/26/preseason_poll_MVFC.jpg?width=720&height=405&mode=crop

[caribbeanhen]

Montana did look really good in the spring... granted it was against a D2 team and Portland St but I've got Montana really high... I might be overvaluing the coaching effect but Hauck is in year 4 of being back and it sure seems like he's got them on the trajectory to be back to where they were when he first left which is national title contenders. As for Montana St I'm not sold on Vigen... never cared for him much at NDSU. Seemed very predictable as an OC and apparently that didn't change much at his time in Wyoming. Maybe he'll be better as a HC but I'm going to wait and see.

Have you hacked my mind Professor? Lol

[POD Knows]

Montana did look really good in the spring... granted it was against a D2 team and Portland St but I've got Montana really high... I might be overvaluing the coaching effect but Hauck is in year 4 of being back and it sure seems like he's got them on the trajectory to be back to where they were when he first left which is national title contenders. As for Montana St I'm not sold on Vigen... never cared for him much at NDSU. Seemed very predictable as an OC and apparently that didn't change much at his time in Wyoming. Maybe he'll be better as a HC but I'm going to wait and see.
Yea, the coaching thing might be the difference, I still got MSU ahead of Montana but that could be short lived, who knows.

[CenMEBlackBearFan]

CAA preseason poll- from media day.

1. James Madison (15 first-place votes),231

2. Delaware (7), 222

3. Villanova, 194


4. Richmond (2), 169

5. New Hampshire, 135

6. Rhode Island, 121

7. Towson, 115

8. Albany, 114

9. Maine, 99

10. Stony Brook, 73


11. William & Mary, 61

12. Elon, 50

[ursus arctos horribilis]

AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite

DENVER – After lifting the NCAA FCS National Championship trophy in May, the Sam Houston Bearkats are expected to return to the postseason as AQ7 champions as voted on by the seven head coaches of the alliance, which made up on four institutions from the Western Athletic Conference and three from the Atlantic Sun Conference,

The Bearkats earned all seven first place votes to score a perfect 49 points. Central Arkansas was picked second with 40 points, followed closely by Jacksonville State in third with 37 points. Stephen F. Austin is fourth with 27 points, followed by Eastern Kentucky, Abilene Christian and Lamar.

The first game among AQ7 opponents will be on Sept. 25 when top-ranked Sam Houston travels to second-ranked Central Arkansas.

2021 AQ7 Preseason Football Coaches Poll

Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points

1 Sam Houston (7) 49

2. Central Arkansas 40

3. Jacksonville State 37

4. Stephen F. Austin 27

5. Eastern Kentucky 20

6. Abilene Christian 15

7. Lamar 8



- WAC -

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Montana did look really good in the spring... granted it was against a D2 team and Portland St but I've got Montana really high... I might be overvaluing the coaching effect but Hauck is in year 4 of being back and it sure seems like he's got them on the trajectory to be back to where they were when he first left which is national title contenders. As for Montana St I'm not sold on Vigen... never cared for him much at NDSU. Seemed very predictable as an OC and apparently that didn't change much at his time in Wyoming. Maybe he'll be better as a HC but I'm going to wait and see.

I'm very honest about my team and I have never seen so much yourng talent in my life. It has to have something to do with being off for the year but it is really unbelievable to me to see how much bigger and faster the freshmen and Sophmores are from this spring. Maybe it is like that everywhere but the team looks to have taken a very large step forward just as far as the look, let alone what my perception of their capabilities are.

We had a couple of very bad clunker games in 2019 and we were made to look pretty bad in those games. I think this year we may have trouble repeating those bad performances due to what appears to be some very clear depth.

We will see how this looks 6 months down the road but we should be able to stand toe to toe with anyone in FCS.

[Professor Chaos]

Big South preseason poll: https://bigsouthsports.com/news/2021/7/26/monmouth-voted-2021-preseason-football-favorite.aspx

1. Monmouth (16) 141
2. Kennesaw State (1) 117
3. North Carolina A&T 100
4. Charleston Southern (1) 85
5. Campbell 82
6. Gardner-Webb 59
7. Hampton 35
8. Robert Morris 29

[BEAR]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7TlX30XoAgtk5J?format=jpg&name=small

[Professor Chaos]

Add the Pioneer League to the mix (should be the last of today I think): http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2020/1643/defending-champion-davidson-edges-san-diego-in-pfl-preseason-coaches-poll/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7UkD_5XoAI43jD?format=jpg&name=small

[DFW HOYA]

Patriot League (who had Colgate picked last?)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7T34s6WEAwdaF2?format=jpg&name=small

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Patriot League (who had Colgate picked last?)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7T34s6WEAwdaF2?format=jpg&name=small

Surprised Lehigh is 4th! I have the Mountain Hawks in the 2-9/3-8 territory.

Colgate is definitely in the dumps. Hunt was never able to build off of 2015/2018 (which i said numerous times) and cupboard is pretty bare. With that said, they've turned the page so while the jimmy and joes might not be up to snuff the culture might translate to more wins than a preseason poll might suggest.

Also, Georgetown not last. How much money would you have lost on that one DFW? I bet you already had the extended narrative ready for print....

[DFW HOYA]

Also, Georgetown not last. How much money would you have lost on that one DFW? I bet you already had the extended narrative ready for print....

I would not have been surprised if any team which did not play in 2020-21 were sent to the bottom of the list by sheer inactivity. If Bucknell took a break last year, I'd say the same.

That said, what do the other coaches see going on at Colgate?

[Professor Chaos]

MEAC preseason poll: https://meacsports.com/news/2021/7/29/meac-announces-2021-football-predicted-order-of-finish-presented-by-the-home-depot.aspx

1. South Carolina State (5) 118
2. Norfolk State (2) 96
3. North Carolina Central (2) 78
4. Delaware State (1) 56
5. Morgan State (1) 48
6. Howard (1) 36

[Professor Chaos]

NEC preseason poll: https://northeastconference.org/news/2021/8/3/fb-21-preseason-story.aspx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E74FytuWUAE3PlT?format=jpg&name=small

[SDFS]

I would not have been surprised if any team which did not play in 2020-21 were sent to the bottom of the list by sheer inactivity. If Bucknell took a break last year, I'd say the same.

That said, what do the other coaches see going on at Colgate?

To the Patriot League fans - why doesn't Georgetown play in the PFL?

[DFW HOYA]

How many scholarships does Sacred Heart have? At one point, it was below the others.

[DFW HOYA]

NEC question: How many scholarships does Sacred Heart have? At one point, it was below the others.


To the Patriot League fans - why doesn't Georgetown play in the PFL?
It's not an institutional fit. Also, PFL schools can offer merit (academic) aid to players at admission and Georgetown does not.

[aceinthehole]

How many scholarships does Sacred Heart have? At one point, it was below the others.

Honestly, I'm unsure. NEC schools keep a very close hold on their scholarship counts. We only know that every NEC team that has a FBS opponents on the schedule is almost certainly a "bowl counter" and offers at least 57 equivalences between athletic scholarships and grants-in-aid.

With the recent announcement that Sacred Heart will be playing UConn in 2023 (replacing Lafayette), we can surmise that SHU has or will meet that requirement. However, they could have been offering 57+ for a few years and did not to play FBS games for institutional reasons. It almost impossible to know unless you have a source from the NEC office or SHU athletic department.
https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2021/3/11/football-adds-games-against-ole-miss-sacred-heart-and-liberty-to-future-schedule.aspx

Now, every NEC school (including LIU and Merrimack) have or will reach "counter" status.

For the record, the NEC does not have any scholarship minimums. The NEC allows a combination of no more than 45 athletic scholarships and grants-in-aid up to the NCAA limit of 63 equivalencies / 85 players.

[caribbeanhen]

NEC preseason poll: https://northeastconference.org/news/2021/8/3/fb-21-preseason-story.aspx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E74FytuWUAE3PlT?format=jpg&name=small

I guess this means Chestnut will be roasting opposing Defenses on an open fire again

[bonarae]

Any guesses on who gets to be picked as the champion in the Ivy now? I have no clue, honestly. :(

[WestCoastAggie]

It's interesting to see Kennesaw State and my A&T Aggies fall out of the poll.

[MR. CHICKEN]

Any guesses on who gets to be picked as the champion in the Ivy now? I have no clue, honestly. :(


32016............YALE...........BRAWK!

[KPSUL]

32016............YALE...........BRAWK!

Dartmouth !

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

32016............YALE...........BRAWK!

I had Yale 10th and Princeton 18th in my preseason poll. See what happens....

[bonarae]

Princeton seems to be a better and wiser pick for me. But with all Eight taking last year off, it won't be any easier for us to pick... xcoffeex

[caribbeanhen]

I had Yale 10th and Princeton 18th in my preseason poll. See what happens....

A few years ago, I was hot on the Ivies especially Dartmouth and Yale in 2019

but out of sight out of mind as I admit I left them out of Pre-season poll

once I see them could be hot on em again

[KPSUL]

For those picking Yale and Princeton, what factors are you considering selecting either team over Dartmouth? During 2019, Yale and Dartmouth tied for the Ivy title at 6-1, but Dartmouth won the head to head 42-14. They also beat Princeton when the Tigers were ranked #10 27-14.

I had Dartmouth at #19, Yale #23 in my preseason poll - reaching my maximum Ivy Quota of 2 ranked teams.

[MR. CHICKEN]

For those picking Yale and Princeton, what factors are you considering selecting either team over Dartmouth? During 2019, Yale and Dartmouth tied for the Ivy title at 6-1, but Dartmouth won the head to head 42-14. They also beat Princeton when the Tigers were ranked #10 27-14.

I had Dartmouth at #19, Yale #23 in my preseason poll - reaching my maximum Ivy Quota of 2 ranked teams.


........YALE.........QB GRIFFIN O'CONNOR.....WAS TOP IVY ROOKIE..........IN 2018..................AWK!

........PRINCETON........WILL WIN WHIFF DEFENSE..........BRAWK!

.......DARTMOUTH......GRADUATED........ 6 ALL IVY FIRST TEAM PICKS.......FROM 2019.....SQWAD..........DOODLE-DOO!

[KPSUL]

No one from Yale or Princeton graduated during the past 2 years? The majority of 1st team Ivy players in 2019 were Seniors. I'd have to think most have moved on.

[MR. CHICKEN]

No one from Yale or Princeton graduated during the past 2 years? The majority of 1st team Ivy players in 2019 were Seniors. I'd have to think most have moved on.


.........IVY HAS RELAXED .....POLICY.....NOT ALLOWIN' GRAD STUDENTS.....TO PARTICIPATE IN INTER-COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FO'......'2021-2022 SEASON......WHICH MEANS......PLAYERS WHO WERE SENIORS....IN FALL UH 2020....CAN PLAY IN 2021........MAH CHOICE........YALE.......WAS BASED ON WHAT AH'VE READ.........YER GUESS IS....AS GOOD AS MINE.....xsighx......AWK!

.....YOUSE SHOOD HOPE IT'S YALE......AS NEW HAMPSHIRE....HAS TO DEAL WHIFF DARTMOUTH.......DIS SEASON.....BRAWK!

[KPSUL]

.........IVY HAS RELAXED .....POLICY.....NOT ALLOWIN' GRAD STUDENTS.....TO PARTICIPATE IN INTER-COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FO'......'2021-2022 SEASON......WHICH MEANS......PLAYERS WHO WERE SENIORS....IN FALL UH 2020....CAN PLAY IN 2021........MAH CHOICE........YALE.......WAS BASED ON WHAT AH'VE READ.........YER GUESS IS....AS GOOD AS MINE.....xsighx......AWK!

.....YOUSE SHOOD HOPE IT'S YALE......AS NEW HAMPSHIRE....HAS TO DEAL WHIFF DARTMOUTH.......DIS SEASON.....BRAWK!

Because of the Dartmouth at UNH game I checked out Dartmouth's roster a week or so ago. The have 12 players listed as Grad or 5th yr. I agree, primarily guess work on who will win the Ivy. I see a likely UNH win in Durham regardless of how Dartmouth does in the Ivy; but I do have some affinity for the Green, my Uncle played at Dartmouth when they were still wearing leather helmets and Red Blaik was the head coach. It gives you a clue how young I am.

[bonarae]

I'd have to think most have moved on.

Yes; I checked Harvard's roster and most seniors from 2019 have moved on with no NFL plans even for our all-Ivy players. xsighx

[Son of Eli]

Ivy preseason poll is out:

2021 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Princeton – 113 (8)
2. Yale – 104 (6)
3. Dartmouth – 88 (1)
4. Harvard – 87
5. Penn – 61
6. Brown – 52
7. Columbia – 44 (1)
8. Cornell – 27


https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx (https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx)

[bulldog10jw]

Ivy preseason poll is out:

2021 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Princeton – 113 (8)
2. Yale – 104 (6)
3. Dartmouth – 88 (1)
4. Harvard – 87
5. Penn – 61
6. Brown – 52
7. Columbia – 44 (1)
8. Cornell – 27


https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx (https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx)

I think Harvard and Cornell will finish higher than predicted and Brown has the best QB which usually means success.

Then again, I'm basing my thoughts on what I expected would have happened in 2020. There is still no definitive word on what players who would have been seniors in 2020 are returning in 2021.

We could be in for some surprises.

[Katfan]

If ivies don’t participate in the playoffs why does anyone care?

[caribbeanhen]

If ivies don’t participate in the playoffs why does anyone care?

Not many care about either

[aceinthehole]

Ivy preseason poll is out:

2021 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Princeton – 113 (8)
2. Yale – 104 (6)
3. Dartmouth – 88 (1)
4. Harvard – 87
5. Penn – 61
6. Brown – 52
7. Columbia – 44 (1)
8. Cornell – 27


https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx (https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx)

Can someone from the Ivy explain Columbia to me. Finished 7th in the poll, but received one (1) First Place vote.

How good are they? CCSU faces them again this season, but I'm not sure what to expect from the Lions.

[bulldog10jw]

Can someone from the Ivy explain Columbia to me. Finished 7th in the poll, but received one (1) First Place vote.

How good are they? CCSU faces them again this season, but I'm not sure what to expect from the Lions.

I don't think anyone really knows what to expect from any Ivy. Without a 2020 to look back on, and with rosters unsettled, most media people may be looking at who had the (supposedly) best recruiting classes in 2017 and 2018 and are speculating and also listening to rumors coming out of each school.

All the Columbia alums on the Ivy Board are very optimistic, but they usually are. And the program is much better under Bagnoli, but they haven't taken that final step to a title. Maybe it's their history that is keeping the media from believing. Maybe those picking them so low will be proven wrong.

I do wonder who voted them first.

[MR. CHICKEN]

Can someone from the Ivy explain Columbia to me. Finished 7th in the poll, but received one (1) First Place vote.

How good are they? CCSU faces them again this season, but I'm not sure what to expect from the Lions.


........LINDY'S HAS 'EM DEAD LAST......AN' GOES ON TA SAY......."LIONS (3-7).....BEAT HARVARD....ROUTED PENN.....AN' LOST SEVEN GAMES BY DOUBLE DIGITS...IN..2019"......CAIN'T EXPLAIN DUH FIRST PLACE VOTE.....BRAWK!

[caribbeanhen]

Because of the Dartmouth at UNH game I checked out Dartmouth's roster a week or so ago. The have 12 players listed as Grad or 5th yr. I agree, primarily guess work on who will win the Ivy. I see a likely UNH win in Durham regardless of how Dartmouth does in the Ivy; but I do have some affinity for the Green, my Uncle played at Dartmouth when they were still wearing leather helmets and Red Blaik was the head coach. It gives you a clue how young I am.


Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Dartmouth win that game

[Professor]

Add the Pioneer League to the mix (should be the last of today I think): http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2020/1643/defending-champion-davidson-edges-san-diego-in-pfl-preseason-coaches-poll/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7UkD_5XoAI43jD?format=jpg&name=small

St Thomas is way to low

[KPSUL]

Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Dartmouth win that game Not a game on our schedule except for Pittsburg and maybe Lafayette would "surprise" me either way. But UNH is going to disappoint some good teams this season; particularly in Durham which is where we play Dartmouth.

[caribbeanhen]

Not a game on our schedule except for Pittsburg and maybe Lafayette would "surprise" me either way. But UNH is going to disappoint some good teams this season; particularly in Durham which is where we play Dartmouth.

good because the CAA could use some more good teams right now

[Professor Chaos]

St Thomas is way to low
St Thomas will be an interesting case study this year. Their performance will either support or refute the argument that the Pioneer is just a D3 football conference posing as D1. I'm of the opinion that most PFL teams would be elite D3 teams just because of the name recognition of some of the schools from their other sports and the creative accounting some of them use to get around the fact that they can't offer athletic scholarships to recruits. If St Thomas finishes where the coaches say they should that'll reinforce my opinion but if they bubble up the top it'll be an indictment of the quality of play in the Pioneer.

[caribbeanhen]

St Thomas will be an interesting case study this year. Their performance will either support or refute the argument that the Pioneer is just a D3 football conference posing as D1. I'm of the opinion that most PFL teams would be elite D3 teams just because of the name recognition of some of the schools from their other sports and the creative accounting some of them use to get around the fact that they can't offer athletic scholarships to recruits. If St Thomas finishes where the coaches say they should that'll reinforce my opinion but if they bubble up the top it'll be an indictment of the quality of play in the Pioneer.

The only St Thomas I know is about 45 miles east of here in the beautiful USVI, but I also know they ain’t playing college football in the Caribbean

I need to study up

[MR. CHICKEN]

St Thomas will be an interesting case study this year. Their performance will either support or refute the argument that the Pioneer is just a D3 football conference posing as D1. I'm of the opinion that most PFL teams would be elite D3 teams just because of the name recognition of some of the schools from their other sports and the creative accounting some of them use to get around the fact that they can't offer athletic scholarships to recruits. If St Thomas finishes where the coaches say they should that'll reinforce my opinion but if they bubble up the top it'll be an indictment of the quality of play in the Pioneer.

32028

......LINDY'S....HAS 'EM........11 OUTTAH 11......SORRAH TA BREAK YER BUBBLE.......MAYBEAH........COOD CATCH BUTLER......WHOM WERE 0-6 IN SPRING.......@ #10.......AH'D CHECK WHIFF SOME FCS SQWADS........WHOM DREW SAN DIEGO.....IN PLAY-OFFS....TA VERIFY DIII STATUS........DOODLE-DOO-DOO!

[Professor Chaos]

The only St Thomas I know is about 45 miles east of here in the beautiful USVI, but I also know they ain’t playing college football in the Caribbean

I need to study up
They're quite the interesting story. The only direct D3->D1 transition that I'm aware of in NCAA history. They were kicked out of their D3 league essentially for being too good (they had won over half of the conference titles in all sports in the past 5 years)... or at least that's the mainstream story. I still wonder if they were in on it behind the scenes in order to bolster their chances to get their NCAA waiver request to skip D2 granted. They have an undergrad enrollment of over 6000 now which was double any other school in their D3 conference. They've got some real potential as a D1 school IMO since they're the only D1 school in Minnesota outside of UM-Twin Cities, they're based in a top 20 metro in the US, and they have an endowment of over $500M. There was some rumors that they would be looking at full scholarship FCS football at some point since they have the resources but it seems more likely to me that they're angling to be a basketball-centric private school and align with a good D1 conference with some like minded schools (Big East would probably be their ideal destination).

[TheKingpin28]

They're quite the interesting story. The only direct D3->D1 transition that I'm aware of in NCAA history. They were kicked out of their D3 league essentially for being too good (they had won over half of the conference titles in all sports in the past 5 years)... or at least that's the mainstream story. I still wonder if they were in on it behind the scenes in order to bolster their chances to get their NCAA waiver request to skip D2 granted. They have an undergrad enrollment of over 6000 now which was double any other school in their D3 conference. They've got some real potential as a D1 school IMO since they're the only D1 school in Minnesota outside of UM-Twin Cities, they're based in a top 20 metro in the US, and they have an endowment of over $500M. There was some rumors that they would be looking at full scholarship FCS football at some point since they have the resources but it seems more likely to me that they're angling to be a basketball-centric private school and align with a good D1 conference with some like minded schools (Big East would probably be their ideal destination).

I thought it was reported that they agreed to leave the MIAC if they were "forced out" so they could force the NCAA's hand and say this was an "unprecedent situation" and they had no home and that The Summit was the closest home they could find. Wouldn't surprise me to know they did that since now they are in a conference footprint that allows them to recruit the entire Midwest and getting recruits to come to the Twin Cities (travel wise and things to do) is easier than let's say Vermillion/Brookings/Grand Forks/Macomb/etc... Does not hurt they are a nationally ranked school (academics wise) in the top200.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

They're quite the interesting story. The only direct D3->D1 transition that I'm aware of in NCAA history. They were kicked out of their D3 league essentially for being too good (they had won over half of the conference titles in all sports in the past 5 years)... or at least that's the mainstream story. I still wonder if they were in on it behind the scenes in order to bolster their chances to get their NCAA waiver request to skip D2 granted. They have an undergrad enrollment of over 6000 now which was double any other school in their D3 conference. They've got some real potential as a D1 school IMO since they're the only D1 school in Minnesota outside of UM-Twin Cities, they're based in a top 20 metro in the US, and they have an endowment of over $500M. There was some rumors that they would be looking at full scholarship FCS football at some point since they have the resources but it seems more likely to me that they're angling to be a basketball-centric private school and align with a good D1 conference with some like minded schools (Big East would probably be their ideal destination).

Fordham did; D3 in 1988 then D1 Patriot League 1989. I believe there's at least one or two others that were forced up due to the "Dayton Rule".

This is a good read...
COLLEGE DIVISION : Despite Success, Santa Barbara's Season to End - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-07-sp-1055-story.html)

[OhioHen]

Fordham did; D3 in 1988 then D1 Patriot League 1989. I believe there's at least one or two others that were forced up due to the "Dayton Rule".



That was a situation where other sports were already D1 but football was D3. The rule had always been "play all sports at or above your football level" and was changed to "play all sports at or above your football or men's basketball level."

For a while, there was a waiver for the service academies to have their women's programs at D2 despite the men's programs being D1. That went away when the gender mix at the academies moved from just a few women to a more mixed population.

[bonarae]

This is a good read...
COLLEGE DIVISION : Despite Success, Santa Barbara's Season to End - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-07-sp-1055-story.html)

Yeah, it was the start of the end of CFB in California's non-UC state colleges, at least for the next 30 years. Only 5 CSUs still play football today; all are in FBS or FCS. (CP SLO, Sac, Fresno, San Diego, San Jose.)

Omaha comes to mind too. Ironically, the AD who killed football there, is now at UNL.

[caribbeanhen]

They're quite the interesting story. The only direct D3->D1 transition that I'm aware of in NCAA history. They were kicked out of their D3 league essentially for being too good (they had won over half of the conference titles in all sports in the past 5 years)... or at least that's the mainstream story. I still wonder if they were in on it behind the scenes in order to bolster their chances to get their NCAA waiver request to skip D2 granted. They have an undergrad enrollment of over 6000 now which was double any other school in their D3 conference. They've got some real potential as a D1 school IMO since they're the only D1 school in Minnesota outside of UM-Twin Cities, they're based in a top 20 metro in the US, and they have an endowment of over $500M. There was some rumors that they would be looking at full scholarship FCS football at some point since they have the resources but it seems more likely to me that they're angling to be a basketball-centric private school and align with a good D1 conference with some like minded schools (Big East would probably be their ideal destination).

Indeed very interesting and Thanks for posting that

[Professor Chaos]

So apparently the Ivy League preseason poll has been out for a week but I hadn't looked until today: https://ivyleague.com/news/2021/8/9/princeton-named-league-favorite-in-2021-football-preseason-poll.aspx


https://ivyleague.com/images/2021/8/9/1920x1080_web.png?width=960&quality=80


That should be all of them.

EDIT: I see that Son of Eli was on top of it last Monday but I missed it... sorry.