The News & Advance FCS Top 25: Preseason edition

By Chris Lang

Published: August 7, 2008

Here’s an experiment that will only make me a more astute follower of FCS football: A weekly Top 25 ranking. Not a poll, mind you. This is my ranking, and mine alone. I thought it would be fun to take a stab at it and stimulate conversation among local FCS fans.

My experience in covering FCS football has been mainly in the Big South and Big Sky, but I’ve gotten a chance to see my fair share of CAA, Southland and Southern Conference teams in the past decade or so. I’ll update my rankings each Monday during the season and offer predictions for the teams within the top 25 each Saturday.

Feel free to argue with any of the rankings, please. Here’s my preseason Top 25, with the next update coming after the first week of games:

1. APPALACHIAN STATE
Last year: 13-2 (won FCS national championship)
The scoop: Everyone knows Armanti Edwards is one of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks. He had more than 3,500 all-purpose yards and 38 touchdowns last year. App State also features one of the best defensive lines in the FCS. Two areas of concern: ASU loses three All-American offensive linemen and a big piece in the secondary in Corey Lynch. Still, the Mountaineers are the pick until they’re knocked off their perch.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at LSU.

2. NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Last year: 10-1
The scoop: Had the Bison been eligible for the postseason, they most certainly would have garnered a top-four seed last fall. NDSU routed MAC member Central Michigan and beat the Big Ten’s Minnesota. The only blemish: A loss to state rival South Dakota State that cost the Bison the Great West title. They’ve moved on to the Missouri Valley, where they’ve been installed as the favorite in their first year in the league. The big concern is replacing three-year starter Steve Walker at QB.
Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. Austin Peay.

3. RICHMOND
Last year: 11-3 (lost to Appalachian State in FCS semifinals)
The scoop: Mike London replaces Pete Clawson as head coach after Clawson left to become offensive coordinator at Tennessee. London is a fiery guy who helped Virginia build one of the ACC’s better defenses. He has plenty of tools to work with at UR. Eight starters return on each side of the ball. UR must replace tailback Tim Hightower, who ran for 1,924 yards and 20 TDs.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at No. 12 Elon.

4. JAMES MADISON
Last year: 8-4 (lost to Appalachian State in FCS first round)
The scoop: The CAA South is home to three top-10 teams and the best dual-threat quarterback in the nation not named Armanti Edwards. Rodney Landers threw for 1,678 yards and ran for 1,273 last season and scored 25 TDs. The Dukes return four starters on the offensive line, but they must replace free safety Tony LeZotte, the CAA’s defensive player of the year. If the Dukes put up a sterling record, they’ll have earned it. They play Massachusetts and Appalachian State at home in consecutive weeks in September and face Richmond and Delaware as well.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Duke.

5. EASTERN WASHINGTON
Last year: 9-4 (lost to Appalachian State in FCS quarterfinals)
The scoop: Paul Wulff parlayed a 9-4 season into the head coaching gig at Washington State. Beau Baldwin, a former EWU OC, returns to take over for Wulff. The Eagles return every key piece on an offense that averaged 33.6 points and 462 yards per game. Quarterback Matt Nichols threw for 3,744 yards and 34 TDs, and top tailback Dale Morris returns after going for 930 yards and 12 TDs. The concern is on defense, where Eastern must replace its top four tacklers. Defensive end Greg Peach is back, and he led the team with 11 sacks last year. Don’t be surprised if the Eagles start 0-2—they play at Texas Tech and Colorado in the first two weeks. But the showdown for the Big Sky title—Oct. 11 against Montana—is in Cheney, Wash. 
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Texas Tech.

6. MASSACHUSETTS
Last year: 10-3 (lost to Southern Illinois in FCS quarterfinals)
The scoop: QB Liam Coen (3,091 yards, 30 TD, 14 INT) is back, but the top three receivers and top tailback Matt Lawrence (1,585 yards, 16 TD) are gone. Boston College transfer Warren Wilson will provide Coen some help as the rest of the receiving corps gets up to speed. UMass won’t have much of a chance to ease into the season. After a tricky opener against Albany, the Minutemen get Holy Cross, James Madison and Texas Tech—all on the road—before hosting Delaware.
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Albany.

7. NORTHERN IOWA
Last year: 12-1 (lost to Delaware in FCS quarterfinals)
The scoop: Quarterback is the big question mark in Cedar Falls after four-year starter and 2007 Gateway player of the year Eric Sanders graduated. Tailback Corey Lewis (1,513 yards, 16 TD) will have to carry the early load. Six starters return from a defense that held foes to 16.8 points and 304 yards per game. UNI is always in the mix for the Gateway—er, Missouri Valley—title. If the QB situation works itself out, this year should be no different.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at BYU.

8. MONTANA
Last year: 11-1 (lost to Wofford in FCS first round)
The scoop: It seems like borderline blasphemy not to consider the Griz the favorite in the Big Sky. But Eastern Washington returns a loaded team and Montana must rebuild a defense that returns just three starters. The biggest loss is DL Kroy Biermann, who was second in the nation with 15 sacks and earned the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s top defensive player. Montana tends to reload, rather than rebuild, though. A down year in Missoula means being unseeded in the playoffs. The Griz have made 15 straight trips to the postseason.
Season opener: Sept. 6 at No. 9 Cal Poly.

9. CAL POLY
Last year: 7-4
The scoop: Three of the Mustangs’ four losses last year were by seven points or less, and Cal Poly returns the key pieces from an offense that averaged 39.3 points and 487 yards per game. Playing in the stripped-down Great West, Cal Poly will only play three conference games. It avoids DI newcomer North Dakota, which will likely be the second-best team in the conference. Cal Poly will have a chance to prove itself early. The first four games are at San Diego State (where CP won 16-14 in 2006), vs. Montana, at McNeese State, at Northwestern State.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at San Diego State.

10. DELAWARE
Last year: 11-4 (lost to Appalachian State in FCS championship game)
The scoop: Delaware regained its national swagger last year with its stirring run to the FCS title game. The Blue Hens are stacked on defense—the top 10 tacklers from a year ago are back—but they must completely rebuild on offense. UD lost first-round draft pick Joe Flacco at QB and tailback Omar Cuff, who scored a ridiculous 35 touchdowns. The QB situation may not be so dire, though. Ohio State transfer Rob Schoenhoft is expected to fill Flacco’s shoes there.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Maryland.

11. MCNEESE STATE
Last year: 11-1 (lost to Eastern Washington in FCS first round)
The scoop: McNeese has about had it with playing Big Sky teams in the first round of the playoffs. The Cowboys have lost three straight playoff openers, falling 35-3 to Northern Arizona, 31-6 to Montana and 44-15 to Eastern Washington. 
Season opener: Aug. 30 at North Carolina.

12. ELON
Last year: 7-4
The scoop: Scott Riddle quickly joined the list of FCS’ best quarterbacks after a sensational freshman year (3,817 yards, 31 TD, 13 INT). Top target Terrell Hudgins (117 receptions, 1,474 yards, 18 TD) is back, as well as most of the defensive standouts. Maybe that’s not a good thing. The Phoenix allowed 30.4 ppg.
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. No. 3 Richmond.

13. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Last year: 7-4
The scoop: Some publications have tabbed the Penguins the favorites in the Missouri Valley, but they have to replace their all-time leading passer in Tom Zetts and the top four tacklers on defense. Both of the MVC heavyweights—North Dakota State and Northern Iowa—visit Stambaugh Stadium.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Ohio State. 

14. WOFFORD
Last year: 9-4 (lost to Richmond in FCS quarterfinals)
The scoop: One of the smallest schools in Division I, Wofford is always sneaky good and very difficult to defend. Must find answers at quarterback and tailback. Season will be decided in brutal two-week stretch (Oct. 25 at Elon, Nov. 1 at Appalachian State).
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Presbyterian.

15. NEW HAMPSHIRE
Last year: 7-5 (lost to Northern Iowa in FCS first round)
The scoop: The Wildcats are 2-0 against FBS opponents the last two years, beating Northwestern and Marshall. QB Ricky Santos will be difficult to replace, but seven starters return on each side of the ball.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Army.

16. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Last year: 12-2 (lost to Delaware in FCS semifinals)
The scoop: Lots of upheaval in Carbondale as former coach Jerry Kill left for Northern Illinois and the Salukis lose their top tailback, quarterback and top four receivers. I’ll be the first to admit that this ranking is a sign of respect for a program that has made five straight trips to the playoffs. With that much turnover, it’ll be difficult to compete for the title in the very difficult Missouri Valley.
Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. Hampton.

17. EASTERN ILLINOIS
Last year: 8-4 (lost to Southern Illinois in FCS first round)
The scoop: The Ohio Valley is so up for grabs that the three top teams in the media poll—Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State—were separated by a mere five points. Florida transfer RB Cheveran Walker is the man to watch here.
Season opener: Aug. 28 at Central Michigan.

18. EASTERN KENTUCKY
Last year: 9-3 (lost to Richmond in FCS first round)
The scoop: The Colonels must replace a pair of running backs—Bobby Washington and Mark Dunn—who combined for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs. Quarterback Allen Holland was tabbed the OVC’s preseason offensive player of the year. Eastern may be the only FCS team in the country who will host an FBS team, as Western Kentucky visits Richmond in Week 2. Then again, WKU is still making the transition to college’s football’s highest division.
Season opener: Aug. 28 at Cincinnati.

19. HOLY CROSS
Last year: 7-4
The scoop: If there’s ever a year for the Crusaders to break their 25-year playoff drought, this may be it. They return eight starters from an offense that averaged 35.9 points per game and get defending Patriot League champion Fordham at home. The league very well may be decided on the season’s final Saturday, though, when Holy Cross visits Colgate.
Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. No. 6 Massachusetts.

20. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Last year: 7-4
The scoop: The Jackrabbits make the move to the Missouri Valley after stunning rival North Dakota State in last year’s season finale, handing the Bison their only loss and securing the Great West title. That win was an eye-opener for FCS watchers, and six starters return from a defense that held opponents to 22.2 points per game.
Season opener: Aug. 28 at Iowa State.

21. VILLANOVA
Last year: 7-4
The scoop: The sixth CAA team in the rankings could be a league darkhorse. Andy Talley’s Wildcats return eight starters on offense and nine on defense. The schedule sets up nicely, too.
‘Nova gets JMU, New Hampshire and Richmond at home and avoids UMass.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at West Virginia.

22. LIBERTY
Last year: 8-3
The scoop: If the Flames want national respect, they’ll have to play well during a crucial early three-game stretch where they visit Western Carolina, Youngstown State and Coastal Carolina. Rashad Jennings has the potential to be the FCS’ top running back. Linebackers and offensive line need to come together for LU to earn its first trip to the playoffs.
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. North Greenville.

23. HARVARD
Last year: 8-2
The scoop: It’s hard to get a handle on Ivy League teams because they rarely play teams outside of the Ivy or Patriot Leagues. The Crimson’s two losses last year were by a combined 10 points on the road to Holy Cross and Lehigh. Top QB Chris Pizzotti and RB Cheng Ho are back, and Yale visits Cambridge.
Season opener: Sept. 19 vs. No. 19 Holy Cross. 

24. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
Last year: 7-4
The scoop: The Bulldogs are on the cusp of earning a playoff berth just about every season. They return seven offensive starters and nine defensive starters and get Hampton and Norfolk State at home. They must find a replacement for QB Cleveland McCoy, who had more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and scored 16 TDs.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Central Florida.

25. JACKSONVILLE STATE
Last year: 6-5
The scoop: The Gamecocks crack the rankings simply because of the buzz around LSU transfer QB Ryan Perrilloux. He should breathe life into an offense that averaged 27.7 ppg.
Season opener: Aug. 28 at Georgia Tech.

ON THE RADAR (in no particular order): Northern Arizona, Montana State, Coastal Carolina, Hofstra, Yale, Tennessee-Martin, Fordham, Colgate, Grambling State, Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas, Georgia Southern.