Who are the most prominent programs around the FBS conferences heading into 2018?

American Athletic Conference

1. UCF (13-0) in the East
2. Memphis (10-3) in the West

• USF (10-2) and Temple (7-6) are 2-3 in West
• Could one of the them sneak up on UCF, with HC Scott Frost at Nebraska now and former Missouri OC Josh Heupel now head coach for the Knights?
• Houston (7-5) hopes to sneak into the conversation in the West

Atlantic Coast Conference

1. Clemson (12-2) in the Atlantic
2. Miami-FL (10-3) in the Coastal

• both Clemson and Miami-FL are consensus picks in 2018 in the ACC  
• could they repeat again in 2018?
• Notre Dame (10-3) is the Top independent again in 2018 and continues to play five ACC teams 

Big Ten Conference

1. Wisconsin (13-1) in the West
2. Ohio State (12-2) in the East

• No one is picking Michigan (8-5) to win the East outright, but they are expected to be in hunt
• Michigan State (10-3) and Penn State (11-2) could sneak into the East again
• Northwestern (10-3) is picked 3rd ahead of Iowa (8-5), but one site has the Wildcats in the West

Big 12 Conference

1. Oklahoma (12-2)

• Texas (7-6) is picked to be the team to knock out the Sooners in 2018, if anyone does it
• TCU (11-3) is next in line in the Big 12 race in 2018, after playing in the title game last year

Conference USA

1. Florida Atlantic (11-3) in the East
2. North Texas (9-5) in the West

• Marshall (8-5) is the best candidate to challenge FAU in the East
• Louisiana Tech (7-6) and UAB (8-5) are 2-3 in the West pecking order, top challengers to North Texas

Mid American Conference

1. Ohio U (9-4) in the East
2. Northern Illinois (8-5) in the West

• Miami-OH (5-7) and Buffalo (6-6) are 2-3 in the East pecking order, top challenges to Ohio U
• Toledo (11-3) won the West last season and is the best candidate to give NIU a challenge

Mountain West Conference

1. Boise State (11-3) in the Mountain
2. Fresno State (10-4) in the West
3. San Diego State (10-3) in the West

• No real contenders beyond the Top 3 according the experts in the MWC in 2018

Pacific 12 Conference

1. Washington (10-3) in the North
2. USC (11-3) in the South

• Arizona (7-6) could be a surprise in the South, despite new HC Kevin Sumlin
• Stanford (9-5) won the North last season, but Washington is a consensus pick in 2018

Southeastern Conference

1. Alabama (13-1) in the West
2. Georgia (13-2) in the East

• Alabama is a consensus pick in the West, despite Auburn (10-4) knocking them off in 2017
• Florida (4-7) and South Carolina (9-4) are tied for 2nd in the East pecking order, top challenges to Georgia in 2018

Sun Belt Conference

1. Arkansas State (7-5) in the West
2. Appalachian State (9-4) in the East
3. Troy (11-2) in the East

• The Sun Belt finally joins the other conferences with a conference title game this season
• Louisiana Monroe (4-8) is the best candidate in the West to sneak up on Arkansas State

October College Football ... Thursday and Friday Night Lights

October has arrived; many programs are entering conference play ...

Thursday, October 1st

• Miami-FL at Cincinnati 6:30 pm on ESPN - ACC vs. AAC on a Thursday night ...

Friday, October 2nd 

• Memphis at South Florida 6:00 pm on ESPN2 - AAC game on a Friday night ...
• Temple at Charlotte 6:00 pm on CBSSN - AAC vs. C-USA on Friday night ...
• UConn at BYU 9:15 pm on ESPN2 - AAC vs. one of the three lone Independents!

Week 5 favors the road teams on Thursday and Friday nights ...

Friday night College Football

BYU at Utah State 7:00 p.m. CBSSN (HD) - another battle in Utah!

Nevada at San Diego State 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) - MWC tonight in San Diego!

Last night, Texas spoiled the Thursday night party for the Iowa State Cyclones with a last minute touchdown to take a 31-30 lead. The Longhorns move to 2-0 in the Big 12, while the Cyclones open conference play 0-1.

The Cyclones have explosive plays allowed, turnovers and penalties to reflect on in a very competitive game. TD given up by Cyclones ahead of halftime was huge for Longhorns.

Do you really need a rule to cut out playing FCS opponents in College Football?

Earlier this year, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany stated the conference should stop playing FCS Alabama coach Nick Saban is suggesting the SEC follow suit with a nine league schedule and dropping FCS opponents.  Prior to moving the SEC, Saban was a coach in the Big Ten.
opponents, when the conference adopts a nine game league schedule in football in 2016.  Now, earlier this month,

Last year, Florida State opened the 2012 schedule with back to back games vs. FCS opponents, by beating Murray State 69-3, then Savannah State 55-0.  So, lets see who is already playing a pure FBS schedule in College Football in 2013.

Atlantic Athletic Conference (AAC)

• One program in the AAC is playing a non-FCS schedule in 2013
•  UCF is one of example of getting on the non-FCS bandwagon already.  As they did in 2012, Central Florida is playing a pure FBS schedule again in '13, with Akron, @ FIU, @ Penn State and vs. South Carolina, along with the eight conference games in the AAC.   

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

• All 14 ACC teams will play a FCS team this season.
• Hats off to FCS Old Dominion, as the Monarchs will play three ACC teams in the OOC, with games @ Maryland, @ Pittsburgh and @ North Carolina this season.

Big Ten Conference (B1G)

• AD Delany wants the conference teams to drop FCS opponents, so is anyone already playing a non-FCS schedule in '13?
• Michigan will continue to play an all-FCS schedule in 2013, with Central Michigan, Notre Drame, Akron and @ UConn.  Of course, the most famous FCS win over a FBS opponent came in Ann Arbor, when Appalachian State knocked off the Wolverines 34-32 in the 2007 season opener.
• Penn State will play a non-FCS schedule with Syracuse, in the Meadowlands; Eastern Michigan, UCF and Kent State, before kicking off eight games in the Big Ten in '13.
• In 2013, FCS Indiana State will play @ Indiana and @ Purdue, which will help The Valley program make budget.
• One Big Ten AD is looking for exceptions in move away from FCS scheduling.

Big 12 Conference

• The Big 12 already plays a nine game conference schedule, so how many programs avoid scheduling FCS programs?
• Oklahoma will play a non-FCS schedule with ULM, Tulsa and a trip @ Notre Dame in '13.
• Texas, like their Red River Rival, plays a non-FCS schudule with New Mexico State, @ BYU and vs. Ole Miss in '13.
• Kansas State will open the 2013 season vs. back to back FCS champion North Dakota State.
  
  North Dakota State, reigning FCS champions!

Conference USA (C-USA)

• Tulsa opens the 2013 season with a non-FCS schedule, with @ Bowling Green, Colorado State, @ Oklahoma and Iowa State, before opening C-USA play for the season.
• Rice will follow suit in '13, with @Texas A&M, Kansas, vs. Houston at Reliant Stadium and vs. FAU.
• UTEP is next with New Mexico, @ New Mexico State and @ Colorado State, while playing a nine conference game schedule.
• Southern Miss will play a non-FCS schedule with Texas State, @ Nebraska, @ Arkansas and @ Boise State.
• Coach Dan McCarney and the North Texas Mean Green play a non-FCS schedule with Idaho, @ Ohio U, vs. Ball State and @ Georgia in '13.
• UTSA is the sixth program in the new 14 member C-USA to play a non-FCS schedule with @ New Mexico, Oklahoma State and @ Arizona, while playing a nine conference game schedule.
• FCS Independent Old Dominion will play it's fourth FBS opponent, when it opens the 2013 season @ East Carolina.

Mid-America Conference (MAC)

• Miami-OH is the lone MAC team playing a non-FCS schedule, with @ Marshall, @ Kentucky, Cincinnati and @ Illinois before kicking off eight conference games in '13.

Mountain West Confernece (MWC)

• New Mexico is playing a non-FCS schedule, with UTSA, @ UTEP, @ Pittsburgh and New Mexico State, along with eight conference games in '13.
• Hawaii is the other MWC team playing a non-FCS schedule, with USC, @ Oregon State, @ Navy and Army.
• FCS Cal Poly will play two MWC teams in the OOC with games @ Fresno State and @Colorado State in '13.

Pacific 12 Conference (Pac 12)

• The Pac 12 were the first major conference to go to a nine game conference schedule.
• Stanford will continue playing a non-FCS schedule with San Jose State, @ Army and Notre Dame this year.
• UCLA will play again a non-FCS schedule with Nevada, @ Nebraska and New Mexico State in '13.
• USC opens their non-FCS schedule @ USC, with Boston College, Utah State and @ Notre Dame in '13.

Southeast Conference (SEC)

• Each of the 14 SEC teams plays a FCS opponent in '13.

Sun Belt Conference

• Each of the eight Sun Belt teams play at least one FCS opponent in '13, with FBS newcomer Georgia State playing three FCS teams, as the continue transition to offering a college football program.

Independents

• Notre Dame plays 12 FBS programs and doesn't play FCS opponents.  The Fighting Irish don't need to, in order to schedule.
• BYU is moving up to the non-FCS schedule in '13, after playing Weber State in '12.
• Navy and Army each play one FCS opponent again in '13 to lock in another home game.
• FCS Old Dominion's fifth FBS opponent is Idaho in '13. 
• New Mexico State plays Abilene Christian in '13, as their FCS opponent.  

The one thing nice about FBS vs. FCS match ups in 2013... is rooting for the FCS upset!  

Who will be the next Appalachian State in the FCS, with a major upset against a FBS opponent?  

Of course, there will be two less FCS programs in 2014, as Appalachian State and Georgia Southern move up to FBS.  They will play a regular season in '13, but ineligible for both conference and the FCS playoffs in '13.  They will join both Idaho and New Mexico State in the Sun Belt in '14.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend: Let's take a look at the upcoming 2013 College Football Season!

Louisville was crowned the NCAA champions in College Basketball in 2013.  Who will be the next champion in College Football in 2013?

The back to back defending champion Alabama Crimson Tide should be among the major contenders again.  But, before we get started with who is #1, let's take a look at conference realignment, which has certainly reshaped rivalries and conference races.

The Atlantic Coast Conference will welcome Pittsburgh and Syracuse from the Big East to increase its membership to 14 programs in 2013.  Pitt will join the ACC's Coastal Division, while Syracuse will join the ACC's Atlantic Division this season.

• So, does Florida State repeat from the Atlantic division in 2013, with Clemson right behind?
• Virginia Tech looks to be Top 25 candidate, as they seek to take back the Coastal division.
• Could North Carolina be ready to surprise, along with Miami-FL in '13?
• Only Syracuse will play Big Ten teams in the OOC in '13, with games vs. Penn State @ the Meadowlands and @ Northwestern in back to back weeks to open the season.  

The Catholic 7 of the Big East have bolted, with the conference for a non-football conference that will add Butler, Creighton and Xavier to the mix with the seven remaining members, who don't play Major Conference Football.  So, the remaining football members Cincinnati, UConn, Temple and South Florida will begin a new league, with Louisville (joining ACC in '14) and Rutgers (joining Big Ten in '14) remaining for only 2013, while welcoming Houston, Memphis, SMU and CFU to the new league, the Atlantic Athletic Conference (AAC).

• Louisville beat Florida in the Sugar Bowl last year and the Cardinals look to repeat in the conference race and nationally, just like the champion basketball program.
• Rutgers could be a Top 25 candidate in '13.
• Cincinnati finished '12 as one in the USA Today Coaches Poll, but must rebuild for '13 and will play two games vs. Big Ten in '13.  Only three other teams will face Big Ten opponents in '13.
• Central Florida, South Florida will travel to face Big Ten opponents, while UConn hosts in '13. 

The Big 12 and Big Ten remain the same in membership for 2013.  The Big 12 will play a round-robin nine game schedule again.

• Kansas State, Oklahoma and Texas all hope to remain in the Top 25 in '13.
• TCU and Oklahoma State hope to get back into the mix in '13.
• Baylor came up short in the Top 25 in '12.
• It will be a rebuilding year for fifth year coach Paul Rhoads and Iowa State, as the Cy-Hawk game comes to Ames in Week 3.  The lone Big Ten-Big 12 game in '13.
  

As mentioned, Rutgers joins the Big Ten in '14, along with Maryland from the ACC.  So, it will be interesting for Big Ten fans to see how future conference members Rutgers in the AAC and Maryland in the ACC Atlantic play in 2013?  The Big Ten will break up into the Leaders and Legends divisions for one final season in 2013.

• Ohio State went 12-0 in '12, but was ineligible for the BCS, due to one year NCAA sanctions.  ESPN is showing some love for the Big Ten in the post-Spring Top 25.  We shall see.
• Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan all seek to remain in the Top 25 in '13.
• Wisconsin will attempt to win its fourth straight Big Ten title and a possible fourth straight trip to the Rose Bowl, despite an 8-6 record in '12.
• Michigan State ended '12 on a high note with a 17-16 win over TCU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl and hope to rebound after a disappointing 7-6 season.  Here's a look at the '13 schedule.
• Penn State is on NCAA probation for the 2013 season, ineligible again for title and bowls.

The Conference-USA will welcome five new members in 2013, as well.  Florida Atlantic, Florida International and Middle Tennessee join the East division, after leaving the Sun Belt.  The C-USA West gains North Texas from the Sun Belt and UTSA from the WAC to fill the voids from the four members leaving C-USA for the AAC.

• Tulsa was the top C-USA team last year and finished in the USA Today Coaches Poll in '12.
• East Carolina in the C-USA East may be the team to watch in '13, as East rival UCF leaves conference.
• Southern Miss is the only Big Ten opponent in the OOC in '13, traveling to Nebraska in Week 2.

The Mid-American Conference witnessed their best season in the BCS stakes in '12, as Northern Illinois rebound from a season opening loss to win 13 straight games and the conference's first birth in a BCS bowl game.  The MAC will face the Big Ten in 13 non-conference games in 2013.

• The West's Northern Illinois seeks to win third straight MAC title and remain in the Top 25 again in '13.
• The East's Kent State received votes in the final USA Today coaches Poll last season, as they replace new Purdue coach Darrell Hazell, with another former Ohio State assistant, as Paul Haynes takes over as Golden Flashes head coach.
• The East's Ohio U. got off to an outstanding start in '12 with a big win @ Penn State and finished with a nice Independence Bowl win, but struggled going .500 in league play.

The Mountain West Conference welcomes two new members from the WAC in 2013 and will break out divisions.  Utah State will join the Mountain division and San Jose State will join the West division in '13.  The MWC will face off with the Big Ten in four games in '13.

• Boise State looks to repeat as conference champion and Top 25 program in '13.
• Fresno State looks to break into the Top 25 in '13 in coach Tim DeRuyter's second season.
• The WAC has disbanded in College Football as Utah State and San Jose State finished 2012 both ranked in the Top 25.  Both programs will welcome new head coaches in '13, as well.

The Pac 12 Conference and the Southeast Conference remain the same in membership in 2013, after the SEC added two new members in 2012 to reach 14.  The Pac 12 moved to 12 members in 2011.

The Pac 12 certainly can claim the #2 ranking in College Football right now.  The Pac 12 and Big Ten will square off in five games, with California hosting both Northwestern and Ohio State in '13.

• Stanford claimed victory in the Rose Bowl in '12 and seeks fourth straight BCS bowl in '13.
• Oregon finished right behind Stanford and will seek a fifth straight BCS bowl in '13.
• Oregon State looks to remain again in the Top 25 for '13.
•  USC stumpled in '12, but they hope to rebound and be a contender in the Top 25 in '13.
• Many project UCLA as a Top 25 contender for '13, after winning the Pac 12 South in '12.
• Arizona State and Washington both hope to find away into the Top 25 in '13.
• Arizona enters its second season under coach Rich Rodriquez and looks to move up, as well.

The SEC has been the #1 conference in College Football, winning seven straight BCS title games.  The SEC had five teams finish in the nation's Top 10 in '12.  One half or seven, of the 14 SEC teams finished in the Top 25 in '13.

• Alabama has won back to back BCS titles and clearly is worthy of the #1 ranking heading into '13.
• Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Florida all seek to stay in the Top 10 heading into '13.
• LSU finished '12 in the Top 15, after finishing runner-up in the BCS title game in '11.
• Vanderbilt jumped into the Top 25 in '12 in coach James Franklin's second season and looks to repeat.
• Ole Miss is getting some consideration for '13, as coach Hugh Freeze enters year 2 at the helm.
• Tennessee has a new coach in Butch Jones, after a 5-7 record in Derek Dooley's third season in '12.'
• Excitement has hit an all-time high at Kentucky with the hiring of Mark Stoops as head coach for '13.
• Mississippi State went to a bowl game in '12, but lost to Northwestern, who won first bowl game, since 1949.  Coach Dan Mullen enters his fifth season at the helm in a conference that is very good.
• Missouri found the SEC a tough road in year one, unlike fellow newcomer Texas A&M.  It could be an interesting season in Columbia.  The Tigers play @ Indiana in Week 4 in the OOC.
• Auburn dismissed coach Gene Chizik after four years, and two years after winning their first BCS title.  Gus Malzahn is back, this time as head coach, after serving as OC during that BCS title season.

The Sun Belt welcomes two new members in '13, as Georgia State jumps up to FBS, after adding football recently, and Texas State moves over from the former WAC football conference, which has disbanded for football.

• Arkansas State has won back to back Sun Belt titles and will have third coach in three years.
• The Sun Belt will not play any Big Ten teams in the OOC in '13.

The Independents expand from four programs to six programs, as Idaho and New Mexico State join Army, BYU, Navy and Notre Dame, as FBS programs not affiliated with a conference for football.  Though, Notre Dame has aligned with the ACC for all other sports and will begin playing five ACC games each season in '14.

• Notre Dame will face three Big Ten teams in '13, as the BCS runner-ups must regroup now, after the late May announcement that QB Everett Golson has departed school, due to academic related issues.
• BYU will travel to Wisconsin in Week 11.
• Navy will travel to Indiana in Week 2.
• New Mexico State will host Minnesota in Week 2 in Las Cruces.

Fifteen teams have played in the BCS Title Game.  The 2013 College Football Season will be the last season, before the four-team BCS playoff begins in 2014.

• The 2014 National Championship game will be in Pasadena this season.
• 2013 Early Bird Preview that gives a good chart of current conferences in major college football.
• A look at the 2013-14 FBS Bowl Schedule.

It was supposed to be a showdown of two Mountain West teams, but Independence for one as Boise hosts BYU

Both teams BYU and Boise State have been talked about as Top 25 teams in the regular season for 2012.  But, the body of work seems too limited to say either is worthy right now.  Will one rise to the Top 25 after Week 4?

Thursday, September 20th

BYU at Boise State 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)

Both teams have one loss heading into Week 4.  Can the road team pull one off tonight?

Funny road to Independence for 1-4 BYU

The Brigham Young football program will become an Independent in 2011. But, after five games in 2010, the final season in the MWC, the Cougars are 1-4. The weakest start for BYU, since 1973.

BYU has lost four straight games, after losing @ Utah State (2-3) 16-31 on Friday night. Utah State won for the first time in 10 games vs. BYU, in this in-state rivalry.

Is becoming an Independent really the right thing BYU? After all, Notre Dame is 1-3 as an Independent heading into Week 5.

A great Week 5 in College Football is coming up on Saturday!

peace

EagleBank Bowl: Navy (8-4) vs. Wake Forest (7-5) in 2008 rematch

The Navy Midshipmen (8-4, independent) tackle the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-5, tied for 3RD in ACC Atlantic Division) in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in Washington D.C. to kickoff the 2008-09 bowl season on ESPN today. The Midshipmen beat the Demon Deacons 24-17 on the road during the regular season.

Rematches are typically difficult in College Football,, which makes this one a little interesting to call. Navy lost 32-35 in the Poinsettia Bowl in '07 to Utah, while Wake Forest defeated UConn 24-10 in last year's Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Wake Forest is playing in three consecutive bowl games, a school record. This is Navy's sixth consecutive bowl, but has lost two straight by a total of four points.

Navy was projected by Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview to make this bowl. On the other hand, many projected Wake Forest to have a stronger season in '08. Navy lost to Boston College in '06 in the Meineke Bowl, the last time they faced an ACC opponent in a bowl. Look for Navy to reverse the tide in the '08 EagleBank Bowl.

Cidsports prediction:

Navy 25

Wake Forest 24

http://twitter.com/cidsports

peace

College Football '07 - The Division I-A Independents

3 remain today as Independents in all of College Football in Division I-A. Notre Dame is the #1 independent, along with Navy and Army.

I thought it would be interesting to see what the skyline was like 25 years ago. Pulling information from my 1982 issue of Street and Smith Official Yearbook for College.

Opening to page 114, coverage of the Atlantic Coast. There were seven ACC teams in 1982. Georgia Tech was not eligible for the championship in 1982 and would make 8 ACC teams.

The Independents in the Atlantic Coast region were 9 teams, not all Division I-A teams today:

1. Virginia Tech
2. South Carolina
3. East Carolina
4. William & Mary
5. Richmond
6. James Madison
7. Wofford
8. Guilford
9. Towson State

In the West (page 26), I will not mention any of the 7 teams, since they are all Division I-AA type teams. By the way, there were 10 teams in the Pac Ten in 1982.

Turning next to the Midwest on page 67. There are three independents in the Midwest:

1. Notre Dame
2. Cincinnati
3. Dayton

By the way, the talk in the Big Ten was the ending of the "Ohio State-Michigan monopoly" in the Big Ten. During the 1981 season, Iowa finished first with Ohio State and won the trip to Pasadena and the 1982 Rose Bowl. Illinois was projected as the next team to watch.

Now, on to the Deep South on page 92. The SEC had 10 teams back in 1982. The Independents in the Deep South in 1982 were:

1. Miami-FL
2. Florida State
3. Tulane
4. Southern Mississippi
5. Louisville
6. Memphis State
7. Tennessee State

Turning to the Big Eight on page 133, there were no mention of any Independents in this region, but the Missouri Valley Conference still existed with 8 teams: Wichita State, Tulsa, Indiana State, Drake, Southern Illinois, West Texas State, New Mexico State and Illinois State. fwiw

Moving to the East Section on page 148. A haven for Independents in 1982:

1. Pittsburgh
2. Penn State
3. West Virginia
4. Syracuse
5. Boston College
6. Navy
7. Rutgers
8. Temple
9. Army
10. Colgate
11. Holy Cross

Finally, the Rockies and again, no Independents. The Western Athletic Conference and Big Sky Conference were highlighted. BYU and Boise State, respectively, were picked as the top teams in each conference. Not much different than last year's MWC and WAC, respectively, for BYU and Boise State.

If you are keeping score:

1982 : 30 schools mentioned

Today: 3 schools, who were also Independents back in 1982

This season's top Independent schools:

1. Notre Dame
2. Navy
3. Army

peace