MWC now has a guaranteed path into the College Football Playoffs...

[M-I-Coug]

Mountain West preview: What to know about WSU’s upcoming opponents​

Jon Wilner Aug. 15, 2024 at 10:05 am
The Mountain West did not expand or contract its membership during the offseason. It did not change commissioners or how the championship game participants are determined. Sure, there are several new coaches, and rosters have undergone multiple makeovers. But despite adding more games with the Washington State Cougars and Oregon State Beavers, the underlying structure of Mountain West football is the same as last year.

And yet, this season will be unlike anything the conference has experienced. Ever.

For the first time, the Mountain West has a guaranteed path into the College Football Playoff. That doesn’t mean it will be represented in the expanded, 12-team event that begins in mid-December. But the new format carves out one berth for the highest-ranked champion from the Group of Five leagues.

The Mountain West winner will be matched against the top teams from the American, Conference USA, Mid-American and Sun Belt in a résumé showdown judged by the CFP selection committee.

“The piece that was most important to us was access,” Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez told the Hotline earlier this year, after the CFP announced the format change.

The highest-ranked team from the Group of Five will join the winners of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC as the automatic qualifiers. The only difference: Whereas the Power Four winners receive opening-round byes, the Group of Five participant will play a road game, likely against the No. 5 seed.

But at least there’s a spot at the table.

“The five top conference champions are in the playoff,” Nevarez said. “That is something we are aiming for, that we work for, that we talk about and that we hope to position for.”

Boise State is the conference’s best hope to claim the Group of Five berth. But if the Broncos stumble, a handful of contenders lurk.

Our projections for the Mountain West race:

1. Boise State: An easy call thanks to the best offensive line in the conference, a veteran defense, plenty of playmakers and a favorable schedule — the Broncos don’t play Air Force, Fresno State or Colorado State. Yes, they have a quarterback competition between returnee Maddux Madsen and USC transfer Malachi Nelson, a former five-star prospect. We view Nelson as the front-runner, but does it matter? Compared with the rest of the conference, Boise State’s depth chart is loaded.

2. Fresno State: The Bulldogs lost head coach Jeff Tedford, who stepped down in July due to health concerns. The transition to interim coach Tim Skipper should be smooth given the winning culture and long list of returnees — a list that starts with quarterback Mikey Keene. Fresno State doesn’t play Boise State, but road games at UNLV and Air Force will be daunting.

3. Colorado State: The Rams rate higher on the Hotline than they did in the MW preseason poll (fifth), with our relatively optimistic outlook rooted in returning quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a veteran secondary and a handful of narrow losses in 2023. Had a few bounces gone differently, the Rams would have won eight games and entered this fall as a top-tier contender.

4. UNLV: The Rebels were one of the top turnaround stories of the 2023 season — they won nine games under first-year coach Barry Odom — but won’t have the element of surprise this fall. Instead, UNLV will assume the role of favorite more often than not. Odom needs a quarterback to replace Jayden Maiava, who skipped town to USC, but should have enough talent elsewhere to maintain the momentum.

5. Air Force: Troy Calhoun and his triple-option attack are back, but most everything else on offense is new for the Falcons, who return just two starters on that side of the ball. (The situation on defense is similar, with only four returning starters.) Air Force doesn’t play Boise State or UNLV, which helps. But we can’t forget the collapse from last November and wonder if the bad vibes will carry over.

6. San Diego State: The lost season is a distant memory for the Aztecs, who replaced Brady Hoke with Sean Lewis in one of the shrewdest coaching moves in the country. Before his ill-fated stint as Colorado’s offensive coordinator last fall — a hopeless situation given the personnel in Boulder — Lewis guided Kent State to multiple seven-win seasons and typically maxed out his personnel. If not for a challenging road schedule, the Aztecs would be slotted even higher.

7. Utah State: Perhaps the most difficult team in the conference to project. The Aggies’ roster is plenty capable of contending for a top-half finish, but the coaching situation — Blake Anderson was fired in July, with defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling named interim head coach — adds a megadose of uncertainty in Logan. Don’t be surprised if Utah State finishes third … or 10th.

8. Hawaii: It’s tempting (extremely tempting) to project a rosier position than eighth for the Rainbow Warriors, who return 15 starters, including quarterback Brayden Schager, and have stability within their coaching staff. But a hint of skepticism remains nonetheless: Is third-year coach Tommy Chang capable of lifting the program to its first winning season of the decade?

9. Wyoming: Admittedly, the Hotline could look foolish with this projection. The Cowboys are well-stocked where it matters most, on the lines of scrimmage. But so much of their success in the past decade was rooted in the brilliance of coach Craig Bohl, who retired last winter. His replacement, Jay Sawvel, served as Wyoming’s defensive coordinator under Bohl but has never been a head coach.

10. San Jose State: Yet another team with a new head coach as the Spartans lost Brent Brennan to Arizona and hired Ken Niumatalolo, the former Navy boss with a triple-option background. SJSU is committed to a modern passing game under playcaller Craig Stutzmann, a practitioner of the run-and-shoot. But there are myriad holes on the depth chart (hello, offensive line), and the schedule is among the most difficult in the conference.

11. Nevada: We debated whether to peg the Wolf Pack for last place — the race to the bottom could be highly competitive — but have a generally favorable view of new coach Jeff Choate and his dual-threat quarterback, Brendon Lewis, a second-year starter who transferred from Colorado. There are returning starters on both lines of scrimmage, but we aren’t convinced that’s a positive given the performance up front last season.

12. New Mexico: Bronco Mendenhall, who led Brigham Young for a decade (before jumping to Virginia), takes over the foundering program in Albuquerque. The Lobos haven’t been bowling since the Obama administration and face a long, steep climb back to the postseason. (They have three conference wins in the past three years.) Does Mendenhall have the energy required for the multiyear reclamation project?

Jon Wilner: jwilner@bayareanewsgroup.com

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Mountain West preview: What to know about WSU’s upcoming opponents​

Jon Wilner Aug. 15, 2024 at 10:05 am
The Mountain West did not expand or contract its membership during the offseason. It did not change commissioners or how the championship game participants are determined. Sure, there are several new coaches, and rosters have undergone multiple makeovers. But despite adding more games with the Washington State Cougars and Oregon State Beavers, the underlying structure of Mountain West football is the same as last year.

And yet, this season will be unlike anything the conference has experienced. Ever.

For the first time, the Mountain West has a guaranteed path into the College Football Playoff. That doesn’t mean it will be represented in the expanded, 12-team event that begins in mid-December. But the new format carves out one berth for the highest-ranked champion from the Group of Five leagues.

The Mountain West winner will be matched against the top teams from the American, Conference USA, Mid-American and Sun Belt in a résumé showdown judged by the CFP selection committee.

“The piece that was most important to us was access,” Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez told the Hotline earlier this year, after the CFP announced the format change.

The highest-ranked team from the Group of Five will join the winners of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC as the automatic qualifiers. The only difference: Whereas the Power Four winners receive opening-round byes, the Group of Five participant will play a road game, likely against the No. 5 seed.

But at least there’s a spot at the table.

“The five top conference champions are in the playoff,” Nevarez said. “That is something we are aiming for, that we work for, that we talk about and that we hope to position for.”

Boise State is the conference’s best hope to claim the Group of Five berth. But if the Broncos stumble, a handful of contenders lurk.

Our projections for the Mountain West race:

1. Boise State: An easy call thanks to the best offensive line in the conference, a veteran defense, plenty of playmakers and a favorable schedule — the Broncos don’t play Air Force, Fresno State or Colorado State. Yes, they have a quarterback competition between returnee Maddux Madsen and USC transfer Malachi Nelson, a former five-star prospect. We view Nelson as the front-runner, but does it matter? Compared with the rest of the conference, Boise State’s depth chart is loaded.

2. Fresno State: The Bulldogs lost head coach Jeff Tedford, who stepped down in July due to health concerns. The transition to interim coach Tim Skipper should be smooth given the winning culture and long list of returnees — a list that starts with quarterback Mikey Keene. Fresno State doesn’t play Boise State, but road games at UNLV and Air Force will be daunting.

3. Colorado State: The Rams rate higher on the Hotline than they did in the MW preseason poll (fifth), with our relatively optimistic outlook rooted in returning quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a veteran secondary and a handful of narrow losses in 2023. Had a few bounces gone differently, the Rams would have won eight games and entered this fall as a top-tier contender.

4. UNLV: The Rebels were one of the top turnaround stories of the 2023 season — they won nine games under first-year coach Barry Odom — but won’t have the element of surprise this fall. Instead, UNLV will assume the role of favorite more often than not. Odom needs a quarterback to replace Jayden Maiava, who skipped town to USC, but should have enough talent elsewhere to maintain the momentum.

5. Air Force: Troy Calhoun and his triple-option attack are back, but most everything else on offense is new for the Falcons, who return just two starters on that side of the ball. (The situation on defense is similar, with only four returning starters.) Air Force doesn’t play Boise State or UNLV, which helps. But we can’t forget the collapse from last November and wonder if the bad vibes will carry over.

6. San Diego State: The lost season is a distant memory for the Aztecs, who replaced Brady Hoke with Sean Lewis in one of the shrewdest coaching moves in the country. Before his ill-fated stint as Colorado’s offensive coordinator last fall — a hopeless situation given the personnel in Boulder — Lewis guided Kent State to multiple seven-win seasons and typically maxed out his personnel. If not for a challenging road schedule, the Aztecs would be slotted even higher.

7. Utah State: Perhaps the most difficult team in the conference to project. The Aggies’ roster is plenty capable of contending for a top-half finish, but the coaching situation — Blake Anderson was fired in July, with defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling named interim head coach — adds a megadose of uncertainty in Logan. Don’t be surprised if Utah State finishes third … or 10th.

8. Hawaii: It’s tempting (extremely tempting) to project a rosier position than eighth for the Rainbow Warriors, who return 15 starters, including quarterback Brayden Schager, and have stability within their coaching staff. But a hint of skepticism remains nonetheless: Is third-year coach Tommy Chang capable of lifting the program to its first winning season of the decade?

9. Wyoming: Admittedly, the Hotline could look foolish with this projection. The Cowboys are well-stocked where it matters most, on the lines of scrimmage. But so much of their success in the past decade was rooted in the brilliance of coach Craig Bohl, who retired last winter. His replacement, Jay Sawvel, served as Wyoming’s defensive coordinator under Bohl but has never been a head coach.

10. San Jose State: Yet another team with a new head coach as the Spartans lost Brent Brennan to Arizona and hired Ken Niumatalolo, the former Navy boss with a triple-option background. SJSU is committed to a modern passing game under playcaller Craig Stutzmann, a practitioner of the run-and-shoot. But there are myriad holes on the depth chart (hello, offensive line), and the schedule is among the most difficult in the conference.

11. Nevada: We debated whether to peg the Wolf Pack for last place — the race to the bottom could be highly competitive — but have a generally favorable view of new coach Jeff Choate and his dual-threat quarterback, Brendon Lewis, a second-year starter who transferred from Colorado. There are returning starters on both lines of scrimmage, but we aren’t convinced that’s a positive given the performance up front last season.

12. New Mexico: Bronco Mendenhall, who led Brigham Young for a decade (before jumping to Virginia), takes over the foundering program in Albuquerque. The Lobos haven’t been bowling since the Obama administration and face a long, steep climb back to the postseason. (They have three conference wins in the past three years.) Does Mendenhall have the energy required for the multiyear reclamation project?

Jon Wilner: jwilner@bayareanewsgroup.com

OK, so we can ruin BSU and FSU's CFP hopes by beating them. The rest of Wilner's commentary ranks right up there with the other breaking news that Mt. St. Helen's blew. But hey - WSU could have been right there competing for the slot.

 

[95coug]

Downside of a 12 team CFP is that now teams like BSU, UNLV, Toledo, and Liberty will claw through their seasons hoping to reach a point where some network execs and CFP functionaries decide which of them deserves a shot.

And that shot will be the opportunity to be a 12 seed, they’ll most likely be ranked around #20, and they’ll be matched up against the 5 seed. Probably a team ranked in the top 7-8, and they’ll play on that team’s home field. If they somehow win that - which will hardly ever happen - they get to play the #1 seed.

The token G5 team isn’t going to be much more than a speed bump on the way to the semifinal for blue blood teams. And yet, the G5 thinks they’ve won something.

 

[CougPatrol]

Downside of a 12 team CFP is that now teams like BSU, UNLV, Toledo, and Liberty will claw through their seasons hoping to reach a point where some network execs and CFP functionaries decide which of them deserves a shot.

And that shot will be the opportunity to be a 12 seed, they’ll most likely be ranked around #20, and they’ll be matched up against the 5 seed. Probably a team ranked in the top 7-8, and they’ll play on that team’s home field. If they somehow win that - which will hardly ever happen - they get to play the #1 seed.

The token G5 team isn’t going to be much more than a speed bump on the way to the semifinal for blue blood teams. And yet, the G5 thinks they’ve won something.

Not sure why you think this isn't a win for the MWC. The #5 seed will have their hands full against the top G5 program.

Once you get past the top-4 programs in the BIG and SEC, teams level out. Are you saying that championship teams from Boise State or Fresno State wouldn't have a shot against the likes of Oklahoma State, Arizona, BYU, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, etc, etc.? Hell yes they would. As far as the semi-finals are concerned, then yes, that will be daunting, but it's also going to be challenging the P4 at-large teams who make it into the semis.

Top-end G5 football programs are very competitive. Over the past 20 years, the MWC champion was every bit as good as the P12 #3 seed.

 

[95coug]

Not sure why you think this isn't a win for the MWC. The #5 seed will have their hands full against the top G5 program.

Once you get past the top-4 programs in the BIG and SEC, teams level out. Are you saying that championship teams from Boise State or Fresno State wouldn't have a shot against the likes of Oklahoma State, Arizona, BYU, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, etc, etc.? Hell yes they would. As far as the semi-finals are concerned, then yes, that will be daunting, but it's also going to be challenging the P4 at-large teams who make it into the semis.

Top-end G5 football programs are very competitive. Over the past 20 years, the MWC champion was every bit as good as the P12 #3 seed.

I don't disagree with your comparison in your last line, but it isn't really relevant. You're right, the MWC champs would probably go toe-to-toe with the P12 #3. But that's not who they'll match against in the CFP. They'll be looking at the #1 or #2 from a power conference.

In most years, the highest ranked G5 champ will have little chance against the 5 seed. Most of the time, it's going to be a team that has gone 10-2 or 11-1 against the G5 with a game or two against P4. They'll usually be ranked in the high teens. The 5 seed is going to be a P4 team that went 11-1 against the P4, with a game or two against G5. They've probably both played an FCS team. The 5 seed is going to be ranked somewhere between 3 and 7, and they're going to be a very good team that was a decent contender for a first round bye. Most of the time, they're going to dominate the G5 champ - a lot of those games will be blowouts.

There will be exceptions - there are sometimes G5 champs that can play with highly ranked P4 teams. 2017 Central Florida beat #7 Auburn. 2007 Boise State beat #7 Oklahoma. 2008 Utah beat #4 Alabama. 2010 TCU beat Wisconsin. But the reason I can list examples is because it's rare. In football, 12 seeds are going to win the first round game about as often as 14-15 seeds do in basketball (roughly 10%).

 

[Loyal Coug1]

I don't disagree with your comparison in your last line, but it isn't really relevant. You're right, the MWC champs would probably go toe-to-toe with the P12 #3. But that's not who they'll match against in the CFP. They'll be looking at the #1 or #2 from a power conference.

In most years, the highest ranked G5 champ will have little chance against the 5 seed. Most of the time, it's going to be a team that has gone 10-2 or 11-1 against the G5 with a game or two against P4. They'll usually be ranked in the high teens. The 5 seed is going to be a P4 team that went 11-1 against the P4, with a game or two against G5. They've probably both played an FCS team. The 5 seed is going to be ranked somewhere between 3 and 7, and they're going to be a very good team that was a decent contender for a first round bye. Most of the time, they're going to dominate the G5 champ - a lot of those games will be blowouts.

There will be exceptions - there are sometimes G5 champs that can play with highly ranked P4 teams. 2017 Central Florida beat #7 Auburn. 2007 Boise State beat #7 Oklahoma. 2008 Utah beat #4 Alabama. 2010 TCU beat Wisconsin. But the reason I can list examples is because it's rare. In football, 12 seeds are going to win the first round game about as often as 14-15 seeds do in basketball (roughly 10%).

Which begs 2 questions, First, why the big lust for an away CFP game that the G5 is bound to lose? I know the answer, money. Second, why are P4 teams continuing to schedule FCS teams at all? Even Alabama keeps playing one. Yet Liberty plays -0- P4 teams. I know that answer as well - to pad the win column.

FBS teams, G5 included, should be playing NO FCS schools. That should be a rule, which would benefit everyone. A good paying (mostly away) game for G5 schools, a higher interest game for the P4's. I see that at least Michigan only plays G5's this year.

Finally, if the Pac-2 wises up and joins the MW, and the MW adopts a 9-game league schedule with divisions, WSU could schedule 3 of the traitors in non-con. Hopefully with some being home and home. And I am becoming resigned to the likelihood that there will be no Alaska Air PacMtn Conference. So we can kiss our year 3-6 NCAA ~$30M away. But better that than paying $65M to lure 6 teams into a lame Pac-8. Making G5 the G6.

Peruse the OOC schedules for some of these heavyweights. Alabama vs Mercer?

FBSchedules.com | College and Pro Football Schedules

A fan site for college football schedules (FBS and FCS), pro football schedules (NFL, XFL, USFL, and CFL), future schedules, and more.

fbschedules.com

 

[CougSinceBirth]

The big draw for G5 teams is getting into the CFP and making more $$$.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

The big draw for G5 teams is getting into the CFP and making more $$$.

Thanks for repeating exactly what I said in my post.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

Thanks for repeating exactly what I said in my post.

I agree with you, Mighty Loyal!

 

[425cougfan]

The big draw for G5 teams is getting into the CFP and making more $$$.

Yep, that and being able to tell (and show) recruits that there is a realistic chance to be in the CFP. These teams are almost guaranteed to get smoked, but they'll be able to say they have access and can convince recruits there is a puncher's chance, as opposed to if they were to choose to play at one of the bottom feeders in a P5.

 

[CougPatrol]

I don't disagree with your comparison in your last line, but it isn't really relevant. You're right, the MWC champs would probably go toe-to-toe with the P12 #3. But that's not who they'll match against in the CFP. They'll be looking at the #1 or #2 from a power conference.

In most years, the highest ranked G5 champ will have little chance against the 5 seed. Most of the time, it's going to be a team that has gone 10-2 or 11-1 against the G5 with a game or two against P4. They'll usually be ranked in the high teens. The 5 seed is going to be a P4 team that went 11-1 against the P4, with a game or two against G5. They've probably both played an FCS team. The 5 seed is going to be ranked somewhere between 3 and 7, and they're going to be a very good team that was a decent contender for a first round bye. Most of the time, they're going to dominate the G5 champ - a lot of those games will be blowouts.

There will be exceptions - there are sometimes G5 champs that can play with highly ranked P4 teams. 2017 Central Florida beat #7 Auburn. 2007 Boise State beat #7 Oklahoma. 2008 Utah beat #4 Alabama. 2010 TCU beat Wisconsin. But the reason I can list examples is because it's rare. In football, 12 seeds are going to win the first round game about as often as 14-15 seeds do in basketball (roughly 10%).

What do you mean it isn't really relevant? The ceiling for WSU (and 9 other traditional P12 programs) is the scenario you just described. Sneak into the college football playoff and maybe steal one game. As money continues to become more and more a factor in college football, how many programs do you think have a shot at winning 2 games in the college football playoff?

The G5 qualifier faces the same odds as most of the P4 conference at-large programs.

 

[95coug]

What do you mean it isn't really relevant? The ceiling for WSU (and 9 other traditional P12 programs) is the scenario you just described. Sneak into the college football playoff and maybe steal one game. As money continues to become more and more a factor in college football, how many programs do you think have a shot at winning 2 games in the college football playoff?

The G5 qualifier faces the same odds as most of the P4 conference at-large programs.

"Over the past 20 years, the MWC champion was every bit as good as the P12 #3 seed."

It's not relevant because the P12 #3 will not be in the playoff. In a lot of years, the P12 #2 won't be there, and certainly won't be the 5 seed. The 5 seed to the playoff is going to be a team that's top 8 in the nation, not top 3 in the P12.

And, while I admit that my own outlook doesn't match a lot of recruits, if a team sneaks into the 12 seed and gets their asses handed to them by a team that really is good, I'm not impressed. I really take it more as evidence that they didn't belong there in the first place. I look at the NCAA tournament, where the 16 seeds are 2-150 all time, losing the average game by 25 points. If I'm a fan of one of those schools, I'd rather go to the NIT and maybe play a few games and be competitive, instead of getting crushed in one game and my tournament experience is over in 2 hours. In March Madness, I'd be all in favor of reducing the tournament to 48 teams. Seed 47 of them. Play the NIT tournament all the way through, and then seed the NIT champion into the tournament. I've always felt that the teams that make the NIT final four - and certainly the team that wins it - probably deserve the NCAA berths more than the 16 seeds do.

 

[mikalalas]

Which begs 2 questions, First, why the big lust for an away CFP game that the G5 is bound to lose? I know the answer, money. Second, why are P4 teams continuing to schedule FCS teams at all? Even Alabama keeps playing one. Yet Liberty plays -0- P4 teams. I know that answer as well - to pad the win column.

FBS teams, G5 included, should be playing NO FCS schools. That should be a rule, which would benefit everyone. A good paying (mostly away) game for G5 schools, a higher interest game for the P4's. I see that at least Michigan only plays G5's this year.

Finally, if the Pac-2 wises up and joins the MW, and the MW adopts a 9-game league schedule with divisions, WSU could schedule 3 of the traitors in non-con. Hopefully with some being home and home. And I am becoming resigned to the likelihood that there will be no Alaska Air PacMtn Conference. So we can kiss our year 3-6 NCAA ~$30M away. But better that than paying $65M to lure 6 teams into a lame Pac-8. Making G5 the G6.

Peruse the OOC schedules for some of these heavyweights. Alabama vs Mercer?

FBSchedules.com | College and Pro Football Schedules

A fan site for college football schedules (FBS and FCS), pro football schedules (NFL, XFL, USFL, and CFL), future schedules, and more.

fbschedules.com

65 mil is easy. WSU. OSU, PAC gets 7 mil per team, per year, and the PAC gets 7 mil, as part of a 21 mil media deal the PAC has right now.

Add to that the CFP money, Better Bowl money, and NCAA/NIT money to the 250 mil PAC already has right now.

If PAC spends 65 mil to get:

BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, Memphis, Tulane, UTSA or UNLV, with WSU, OSU, that conference would be almost equal to Big 12, ACC, would be the 5th best conference, would get 5 to 7 to 9 to 11 mil from CFP, would get the better to semi best bowls, and bowl money, and would easily get about 17 to 19 to 21 mil per team per year, media deal, which better then all the G5 combined, and almost at the level of the 30 mil per team, per year that Kliavkoff turned down.

All that money will be added to the 250 mil PAC has right now, and that money would easily replenish 65 mil in about 3 years.

And the PAC 8 with BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, UNLV, Memphis, Tulane, WSU, OSU, would be insanely tough conference, conference would be semi guaranteed to get 1 of the 12 cfp spots every year, as long as go 9-3, 10-2, 11-1, etc, and the MWC, AAC, MAAC, C-USA, G5 champs, would not be chosen for CFP over PAC, even if 12-0, 11-1, like can happen with MWC, even if reverse merger, join MWC happen.

So it's worth the 65 mil GOOD INVESTMENT, for the PAC to only get BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, UNLV, Memphis, Tulane, to rebuild PAC 8.

And Scott Barnes, Teresa Goulds is rightly trying to do this. And Gloria isn't going to be able to stop it.

And it's likely to happen as BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, Memphis, Tulane, UNLV would love to join, be a part of a insanely tough good conference that had BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, UNLV, Memphis, Tulane, WSU, OSU, that have a Guaranteed conference champ make CFP every year, that get 5 mil to 13 mil from CFP, that get about 16 to 18 to 20 to 22 mil per team per year media deal, that get better bowls, better bowl money, etc.

So your wrong.

 

[LoveJeffersonFanClub]

Which begs 2 questions, First, why the big lust for an away CFP game that the G5 is bound to lose? I know the answer, money. Second, why are P4 teams continuing to schedule FCS teams at all? Even Alabama keeps playing one. Yet Liberty plays -0- P4 teams. I know that answer as well - to pad the win column.

FBS teams, G5 included, should be playing NO FCS schools. That should be a rule, which would benefit everyone. A good paying (mostly away) game for G5 schools, a higher interest game for the P4's. I see that at least Michigan only plays G5's this year.

Finally, if the Pac-2 wises up and joins the MW, and the MW adopts a 9-game league schedule with divisions, WSU could schedule 3 of the traitors in non-con. Hopefully with some being home and home. And I am becoming resigned to the likelihood that there will be no Alaska Air PacMtn Conference. So we can kiss our year 3-6 NCAA ~$30M away. But better that than paying $65M to lure 6 teams into a lame Pac-8. Making G5 the G6.

Peruse the OOC schedules for some of these heavyweights. Alabama vs Mercer?

FBSchedules.com | College and Pro Football Schedules

A fan site for college football schedules (FBS and FCS), pro football schedules (NFL, XFL, USFL, and CFL), future schedules, and more.

fbschedules.com

My wish would be a simple point system for teams. A road win vs a P4 team is worth 4 pts, a road win vs G5 is 3 pts, a home win vs P4 is 2 pts, a home win vs a G5 is 1 pt, any win vs an FCS team is 0.5 pts. Neutral site games would split the points for a home and road game for a team, for example the Apple Cup at Lumen would be a 2.5 pt game for UW and a 3 pt game for WSU. Teams get 4 extra points for winning their league an no points for their league championship game. The top point getters get in to the playoffs. The 4 league Champs could still get byes and highest ranked G5 gets in. Teams could still play 8 home games and 8 vonference games but it could be to their detriment. It would encourage P4s to get out and play teams on the road. Thos will not happen.

 

[425cougfan]

One thing that may be clear to most but perhaps not: the #5 seed most years will be a monster from the SEC or B1G that lost its conference title game, since the top 4 seeds only go to conference champs from the P4. Even if that team is still ranked #2 or #3 by the CFP, it's going to be the 5th seed.

This usually will be something like Ohio State, Michigan, Bama, or Georgia, or whoever are programs of that ilk in future years. So you've got a true road game in the stadium of one of those monsters in a playoff (where that team would be motivated, there wouldn't be opt-outs, or whatever).

The good news, though:

- If by some miracle the G of 5 team wins that game, they'd then play the #4 seed, which would be the lowest-ranked P4 champ. They don't have to play the #1 seed in the quarterfinals. This #4 seed will still be a good team, and might even be great and actually the 4th-best team, but it is possible for it to be something like a #12 Oklahoma State or something like that. Maybe even worse if something fluky happens in a title game.

- Because those first-round games will be insane mismatches, if any team can go in and win that first-round game, it will get tons of play out of that, possibly for years. There could be a lot of embarrassing losses, too, but it's pretty much one of those situations where it's all upside. Nobody will be surprised if a 20th-ranked G of 5 goes in and loses 56-7 to Georgia or something like that. The focus will be on having gotten there.

 

[CougPatrol]

And, while I admit that my own outlook doesn't match a lot of recruits, if a team sneaks into the 12 seed and gets their asses handed to them by a team that really is good, I'm not impressed. I really take it more as evidence that they didn't belong there in the first place. I look at the NCAA tournament, where the 16 seeds are 2-150 all time, losing the average game by 25 points. If I'm a fan of one of those schools, I'd rather go to the NIT and maybe play a few games and be competitive, instead of getting crushed in one game and my tournament experience is over in 2 hours.

I don't agree with you on this. In football, if WSU wins their G5 conference and advances to the NCAA playoff against a program like Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Penn State, or Michigan, it would be worth a trillion times more than an NIT type playoff game vs. Tulsa.

You have to think this through little more. The build up our fan base would enjoy before an NCAA playoff game would immediately make it one of the top-3 moments in WSU football history. It's the type of things our "Go Cougs" fanbase would eat like candy.

 

[Coug90]

I don't agree with you on this. In football, if WSU wins their G5 conference and advances to the NCAA playoff against a program like Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Penn State, or Michigan, it would be worth a trillion times more than an NIT type playoff game vs. Tulsa.

You have to think this through little more. The build up our fan base would enjoy before an NCAA playoff game would immediately make it one of the top-3 moments in WSU football history. It's the type of things our "Go Cougs" fanbase would eat like candy.

You make a good point. A UW team that shoulda been 8-4 and playing in the sun bowl last year sure didn’t mind rubbing peoples faces in their NCG run, even though they didn’t belong on the same field as Michigan.

 

[KRUSTYtheCOUG]

I don't agree with you on this. In football, if WSU wins their G5 conference and advances to the NCAA playoff against a program like Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Penn State, or Michigan, it would be worth a trillion times more than an NIT type playoff game vs. Tulsa.

You have to think this through little more. The build up our fan base would enjoy before an NCAA playoff game would immediately make it one of the top-3 moments in WSU football history. It's the type of things our "Go Cougs" fanbase would eat like candy.

Yes. These scenarios play out the same at the FCS level where you have your powerhouses and big underdogs.

All lower-tier programs need is hope. Most of all cougar football Fandom had been based on hope. All you really want is a punchers chance. If WSU made it and played texas and won and then got rolled the next week against Georgia, I gotta believe that would go down as a memorable and successful season that would generate fan enthusiasm and revenue for years.

And then we'd also lose our head coach whomever that would be. That's all I have to say about that.

 

[95coug]

Yes. These scenarios play out the same at the FCS level where you have your powerhouses and big underdogs.

All lower-tier programs need is hope. Most of all cougar football Fandom had been based on hope. All you really want is a punchers chance. If WSU made it and played texas and won and then got rolled the next week against Georgia, I gotta believe that would go down as a memorable and successful season that would generate fan enthusiasm and revenue for years.

And then we'd also lose our head coach whomever that would be. That's all I have to say about that.

And our entire roster would be gutted through the portal, so whatever “hope” we briefly had would be quickly ripped away, and replaced by the hope that we could go 6-6 the next season.

 

[CougPatrol]

And our entire roster would be gutted through the portal, so whatever “hope” we briefly had would be quickly ripped away, and replaced by the hope that we could go 6-6 the next season.

I'm actually not worried about our program getting gutted through the portal. At least, not any more worried than fan bases at 90% of other programs. Look at UW. Play in the NC game, lose a coach, lose 35 players to transfer. That can happen to anyone.

Some will say this is a Crimson colored glasses outlook, but I have a lot of respect for our campus and our University. The vast majority of students and athletes who visit and attend WSU fall in love with the place. If we end up getting relegated to the MWC or a similarly rebuilt "PacWest" conference, our campus vibe will be among the best in that league. Of course we'll lose some players and coaches to the highest bidder, but kids like attending WSU. It's a really fun place.

Throughout many of my 40+ years of following WSU, I've questioned how we've been able to have the success we've had against schools with so much more to offer in terms of their size, location, budget, and academic prestige. I came to realize that the answer to that is Pullman's uniqueness. When we find coaches who know how to identify the right kids and sell that, we win. I've mentioned before that my career has allowed me to work with most of the schools on the West coast. Of course I'm biased, but I'll put WSU's campus and student life up against any school out West.

 

[95coug]

I'm actually not worried about our program getting gutted through the portal. At least, not any more worried than fan bases at 90% of other programs. Look at UW. Play in the NC game, lose a coach, lose 35 players to transfer. That can happen to anyone.

Some will say this is a Crimson colored glasses outlook, but I have a lot of respect for our campus and our University. The vast majority of students and athletes who visit and attend WSU fall in love with the place. If we end up getting relegated to the MWC or a similarly rebuilt "PacWest" conference, our campus vibe will be among the best in that league. Of course we'll lose some players and coaches to the highest bidder, but kids like attending WSU. It's a really fun place.

Throughout many of my 40+ years of following WSU, I've questioned how we've been able to have the success we've had against schools with so much more to offer in terms of their size, location, budget, and academic prestige. I came to realize that the answer to that is Pullman's uniqueness. When we find coaches who know how to identify the right kids and sell that, we win. I've mentioned before that my career has allowed me to work with most of the schools on the West coast. Of course I'm biased, but I'll put WSU's campus and student life up against any school out West.

I agree with a lot of what you say about WSU and the campus. But it’s a new world in football, and I don’t see that liking the campus and/or people really matters. The good players will go where they’ll get paid to go. The players who are our depth may leave to go somewhere where they can start. There will be exceptions, but the days of continuity and being able to expect improvement next season as our roster matures are over.

 

[mikalalas]

Yes. These scenarios play out the same at the FCS level where you have your powerhouses and big underdogs.

All lower-tier programs need is hope. Most of all cougar football Fandom had been based on hope. All you really want is a punchers chance. If WSU made it and played texas and won and then got rolled the next week against Georgia, I gotta believe that would go down as a memorable and successful season that would generate fan enthusiasm and revenue for years.

And then we'd also lose our head coach whomever that would be. That's all I have to say about that.

But what if that happened, and either didn't lose HC, or if HC decided to stay, turn down the more money?

Yeah that's not realistic. Yeah HC would probably leave WSU. But it can happen that HC stays, and has stayed.

Example Mark Few. Mark Few stayed at Gonzaga, at a time where everyone thought that Mark Few would surely leave Gonzaga, at a time Where Gonzaga was a stepping stone program back then, where Mark Few built Gonzaga into a destination program, because he chose to stay.

While that's not likely to happen at WSU, it can technically, theoretically happen at WSU too, just like it unlikilyed happened at Gonzaga.

If it can happen to Gonzaga, it can happen to WSU, etc.

And if there was ever a WSU coach that could, would stay at WSU, turn down the money, career advancement, stay at WSU, build WSU into a Gonzaga type, but for football, instead of basketball, it would probably be Dickert, that from a WSU, Pullman type of Wyoming under Wyoming's about 15 to 20 to 23 year HC, and because Dickert from either a small Wyoming town or A small rural Wisconsin town, if remember right.

Not saying Dickert would stay, and not saying Dickert would succeed at the Mark Few level if stayed, and it would not surprise me if Dickert left, etc, but if ever there was a WSU HC that MIGHT stay, MIGHT do something similar to Mark Few, it would probably be Dickert.

 

[mikalalas]

And our entire roster would be gutted through the portal, so whatever “hope” we briefly had would be quickly ripped away, and replaced by the hope that we could go 6-6 the next season.

Since Kyle Smith consistently rebuilt, reloaded year after year, and despite that consistently went to the NIT, it's possible that Dickert could possibly do the same.

Yes it's harder to do that in football, but IF Dickert goes 12-0, 11-1, 10-2, 9-3, and IF Dickert were to then stay, Dickert could easily get some extremely good replacements thru Grad Transfers, Transfer Portal, JC Transfer, HS recruits, etc, as some recruits would want to be a part of 12-0, 11-1, 10-2, and since Dickert, staff, good salesmen, recruiters, real, honest, genuine, good at developing recruiting relationships, etc, and since Dickert has already done fantastic job recruiting HS kids, and transfer portal, and JC transfers, etc, on paper, recruit rankings wise, and recruiting class rankings wise, etc, the last 1,2 years, after WSU's roster was semi gutted by the Transfer Portal, graduations, early departures, not staying for 5th, 6th year, etc.

 

[mikalalas]

I agree with a lot of what you say about WSU and the campus. But it’s a new world in football, and I don’t see that liking the campus and/or people really matters. The good players will go where they’ll get paid to go. The players who are our depth may leave to go somewhere where they can start. There will be exceptions, but the days of continuity and being able to expect improvement next season as our roster matures are over.

WSU doesn't need to get the better, real good, 4 stars, 5 stars, etc.

Dickert the last 1,2,1.5 year(s), has gotten a lot, a mix of semi good 2.75 stars, 3 stars, 3.25 stars, 3.5 stars, 3.75 stars, star ranked players from a mix of HS, Transfer Portal, JC transfers, that he has done a good job in recruiting, selling, evaluating, developing, coaching up within .5 year to 1 year to 1.5 year, and replacing a semi gutted roster, that semi gutted due to Transfer Portal, Graduation, players not staying for 5th, 6th years, etc.

This last season, if WSU had either been in MWC, instead of PAC 12, or if PAC 12 hadn't had one of it's most insanely tough, best years, with 8 teams in top 25, at 1 point, or if Cam hadn't gotten rattled in, by the UCLA game, etc, then WSU, would have probably finished 11-1, 10-2, 10-3, 9-3, 9-4 that season, instead of 5-7, as that's how awesomely Dickert recruited, replaced what was lost from a semi gutted roster.

Since Dickert, Kyle Smith, Riley,(HC)(Bball), etc, all 3 have done that it can, probably will semi easily happen again, especially against the WCC, MWC.

And so all WSU needs is a mix of 2.85 star to 3 star to 3.15 star to 3.25 star to 3.5 star to 3.65 star, starred, ranked mix of players, that well evaluated, well recruited, well developed, etc, from a mix of Transfer Portal, JC Transfer, HS, etc.

It's not as bad as you think.

 

[95coug]

WSU doesn't need to get the better, real good, 4 stars, 5 stars, etc.

Dickert the last 1,2,1.5 year(s), has gotten a lot, a mix of semi good 2.75 stars, 3 stars, 3.25 stars, 3.5 stars, 3.75 stars, star ranked players from a mix of HS, Transfer Portal, JC transfers, that he has done a good job in recruiting, selling, evaluating, developing, coaching up within .5 year to 1 year to 1.5 year, and replacing a semi gutted roster, that semi gutted due to Transfer Portal, Graduation, players not staying for 5th, 6th years, etc.

This last season, if WSU had either been in MWC, instead of PAC 12, or if PAC 12 hadn't had one of it's most insanely tough, best years, with 8 teams in top 25, at 1 point, or if Cam hadn't gotten rattled in, by the UCLA game, etc, then WSU, would have probably finished 11-1, 10-2, 10-3, 9-3, 9-4 that season, instead of 5-7, as that's how awesomely Dickert recruited, replaced what was lost from a semi gutted roster.

Since Dickert, Kyle Smith, Riley,(HC)(Bball), etc, all 3 have done that it can, probably will semi easily happen again, especially against the WCC, MWC.

And so all WSU needs is a mix of 2.85 star to 3 star to 3.15 star to 3.25 star to 3.5 star to 3.65 star, starred, ranked mix of players, that well evaluated, well recruited, well developed, etc, from a mix of Transfer Portal, JC Transfer, HS, etc.

It's not as bad as you think.

Yes it is.

It’s accurate that WSU coaches don’t have to get the highly rated recruits, and for the most part they never have. But the issue isn’t really recruiting. The problem is that when we sign those kids out of high school and then they come to Pullman, train up and have a good season as a freshman or sophomore (or junior)…now other teams can come get them, and they will.

In today’s version of CFB, kids like Will Derting, Jason Gesser, and Gabe Marks probably aren’t on our roster anymore as juniors (or even sophomores). Any kids who have a breakout season for us are going to field offers from other teams…some of which will pay more. There will be some exceptions, but most kids are going to take the money.

 

[mikalalas]

Yes it is.

It’s accurate that WSU coaches don’t have to get the highly rated recruits, and for the most part they never have. But the issue isn’t really recruiting. The problem is that when we sign those kids out of high school and then they come to Pullman, train up and have a good season as a freshman or sophomore (or junior)…now other teams can come get them, and they will.

In today’s version of CFB, kids like Will Derting, Jason Gesser, and Gabe Marks probably aren’t on our roster anymore as juniors (or even sophomores). Any kids who have a breakout season for us are going to field offers from other teams…some of which will pay more. There will be some exceptions, but most kids are going to take the money.

So you misunderstood, didn't remember where I said, suggested, implied, meant, etc, that SO WHAT, that Dickert can, should, will probably, etc, do a semi very good job REPLACING year after year what lose, lost year after year via transfer portal, graduation, by successfully doing a semi very good job of rebuilding, reloading, replacing what lose, lost, year after year, just like he has already done.

It's not even close to being as bad as you think, as it's going to be ok, semi semi good, etc, and not even close to being as bad as you think.

 

[mikalalas]

Yes it is.

It’s accurate that WSU coaches don’t have to get the highly rated recruits, and for the most part they never have. But the issue isn’t really recruiting. The problem is that when we sign those kids out of high school and then they come to Pullman, train up and have a good season as a freshman or sophomore (or junior)…now other teams can come get them, and they will.

In today’s version of CFB, kids like Will Derting, Jason Gesser, and Gabe Marks probably aren’t on our roster anymore as juniors (or even sophomores). Any kids who have a breakout season for us are going to field offers from other teams…some of which will pay more. There will be some exceptions, but most kids are going to take the money.

IF IF IF IF most 2.75 star to 3 star, to 3.25 star, to 3.5 star kids were to, are, etc, going to take the better money elsewhere, instead of coming to WSU via the Transfer Portal, JC transfers, etc, year after year, THEN Dickert would NOT have been able to replace the semi gutted roster due to Portal, graduation, etc, with a mix of 2.75 star, 3 star, 3.25 star, 3.5 star kids, from a mix of Portal, JC transfers, because back then players would have also taken the money elsewhere, and not come to WSU, via Portal, JC ranks, back then.

It's not as bad as you think.

 

[BiggsCoug]

I agree with a lot of what you say about WSU and the campus. But it’s a new world in football, and I don’t see that liking the campus and/or people really matters. The good players will go where they’ll get paid to go. The players who are our depth may leave to go somewhere where they can start. There will be exceptions, but the days of continuity and being able to expect improvement next season as our roster matures are over.

It is not about development over 4-5 years any more. You have kids for 3 seasons at most. If they’re good enough for $$$, gone to NFL or somewhere else.

This is about how fast you can coach a kid up to be successful. The days of redshirting and then playing special teams for 2 seasons before moving into a more significant role are over.

This is free agent football. The schools have not forced kids to sign multi year NIL deals to hold them in place contractually. Until they do, kids will chase bigger deals every chance they get.

What we are seeing is a reclassification of talent. Kids that have proven they can play high level football are moving up. Kids that are depth are moving down. You don’t get 3 years to show what you can do at high $$$ schools. They have a constant flow of 4-5 star talent moving in and a constant flow of former 4-5 star talent that couldnt develop at a fast pace moving out.

 

[95coug]

It is not about development over 4-5 years any more. You have kids for 3 seasons at most. If they’re good enough for $$$, gone to NFL or somewhere else.

This is about how fast you can coach a kid up to be successful. The days of redshirting and then playing special teams for 2 seasons before moving into a more significant role are over.

This is free agent football. The schools have not forced kids to sign multi year NIL deals to hold them in place contractually. Until they do, kids will chase bigger deals every chance they get.

What we are seeing is a reclassification of talent. Kids that have proven they can play high level football are moving up. Kids that are depth are moving down. You don’t get 3 years to show what you can do at high $$$ schools. They have a constant flow of 4-5 star talent moving in and a constant flow of former 4-5 star talent that couldnt develop at a fast pace moving out.

Even worse, there’s going to be kids who quit mid-season. Someone who’s having a monster year for a smaller school is going to shut themselves down after 7-8 games to avoid getting hurt, and then they’re going to portal somewhere else for a big NIL deal.

That sort of thing will be rampant in bowl season. Teams like us will see kids pulling out of bowl games to avoid injury that will jeopardize the NIL deal they’re signing with someone else.

Some of this will be due to tampering - the boosters from wherever they’re going will tell them the deal is conditioned on their health. Sure, there are rules against tampering, but there’s no real mechanism or desire to enforce them, and even if there was…it’s all about money now, so people will break them.

 

[NMBRCRNCHR]

Even worse, there’s going to be kids who quit mid-season. Someone who’s having a monster year for a smaller school is going to shut themselves down after 7-8 games to avoid getting hurt, and then they’re going to portal somewhere else for a big NIL deal.

That sort of thing will be rampant in bowl season. Teams like us will see kids pulling out of bowl games to avoid injury that will jeopardize the NIL deal they’re signing with someone else.

Some of this will be due to tampering - the boosters from wherever they’re going will tell them the deal is conditioned on their health. Sure, there are rules against tampering, but there’s no real mechanism or desire to enforce them, and even if there was…it’s all about money now, so people will break them.

And when they quit, scholarship goes bye bye and they can figure out room and board on their own.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Even worse, there’s going to be kids who quit mid-season. Someone who’s having a monster year for a smaller school is going to shut themselves down after 7-8 games to avoid getting hurt, and then they’re going to portal somewhere else for a big NIL deal.

That sort of thing will be rampant in bowl season. Teams like us will see kids pulling out of bowl games to avoid injury that will jeopardize the NIL deal they’re signing with someone else.

Some of this will be due to tampering - the boosters from wherever they’re going will tell them the deal is conditioned on their health. Sure, there are rules against tampering, but there’s no real mechanism or desire to enforce them, and even if there was…it’s all about money now, so people will break them.

Not having multi yr NIL contracts is foolish for schools. The absolute dumbest shit ever is allowing kids to be free agents yr over yr. Seriously. Who tf is making these deals??? Oh wait! It isnt the schools. It’s some random whoever in charge of the collective. Who tf at schools thought this was smart? Have someone else pay your labor? Cool. Have zero control over them at a university level? Zero ability to fire them? What happens if your collective guy takes the $$$, buys crypto, boards a plane to Brazil??? You have payroll to meet…. lol And these people have admin jobs at major universities. Wow.

WSU has already seen a kid walk at halftime of the bowl game with a NIL deal in hand from another school.

Cap rosters at 70 players all in.
Have multi yr enforceable NIL contracts.
No in conference transfers.
No same level 2nd transfers. You go down a div.
You can take the NIL $ or the scholarship, not both.

The NCAA hasnt done anything to slow this because the schools that benefit the most from it are happy with it. Why would wealthy SEC or B10 schools want rules? They have 4-5 star kid after 4-5 star kid showing up AND $$$ for portal kids. Why would they want rules preventing them from having such heavy handed advantages???

 

[95coug]

Not having multi yr NIL contracts is foolish for schools. The absolute dumbest shit ever is allowing kids to be free agents yr over yr. Seriously. Who tf is making these deals??? Oh wait! It isnt the schools. It’s some random whoever in charge of the collective. Who tf at schools thought this was smart? Have someone else pay your labor? Cool. Have zero control over them at a university level? Zero ability to fire them? What happens if your collective guy takes the $$$, buys crypto, boards a plane to Brazil??? You have payroll to meet…. lol And these people have admin jobs at major universities. Wow.

WSU has already seen a kid walk at halftime of the bowl game with a NIL deal in hand from another school.

Cap rosters at 70 players all in.
Have multi yr enforceable NIL contracts.
No in conference transfers.
No same level 2nd transfers. You go down a div.
You can take the NIL $ or the scholarship, not both.

The NCAA hasnt done anything to slow this because the schools that benefit the most from it are happy with it. Why would wealthy SEC or B10 schools want rules? They have 4-5 star kid after 4-5 star kid showing up AND $$$ for portal kids. Why would they want rules preventing them from having such heavy handed advantages???

I would argue that JDL walked before halftime. He was on the field, but he wasn’t playing.

“Officially” the NIL deals aren’t managed by the schools, and any contracts aren’t running through them. In reality, I’d bet that most - if not all - of the collectives are getting their instructions directly from the coaching staff. And, yes, it would make sense to offer multi-year deals…except that the big schools with deep pockets won’t, so it’ll be easy for recruits to pick a 1 year deal from one school over a 2 or 3 year deal from another.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

I would argue that JDL walked before halftime. He was on the field, but he wasn’t playing.

“Officially” the NIL deals aren’t managed by the schools, and any contracts aren’t running through them. In reality, I’d bet that most - if not all - of the collectives are getting their instructions directly from the coaching staff. And, yes, it would make sense to offer multi-year deals…except that the big schools with deep pockets won’t, so it’ll be easy for recruits to pick a 1 year deal from one school over a 2 or 3 year deal from another.

Didn't the NCAA just change the rule so that NIL can be coordinated directly by the schools?

 

[95coug]

Didn't the NCAA just change the rule so that NIL can be coordinated directly by the schools?

Now that you mention it, I think I heard that the NCAA had caved and decided to accept what was clearly going to happen anyway. But as far as I know, the schools still aren’t allowed to actually contribute the money.

Could be wrong, I haven’t followed it closely. I care less about CFB every time they make a decision. At this point the NFL offers better year to year team continuity, and they at least honest about their priorities.

 

[BiggsCoug]

I would argue that JDL walked before halftime. He was on the field, but he wasn’t playing.

“Officially” the NIL deals aren’t managed by the schools, and any contracts aren’t running through them. In reality, I’d bet that most - if not all - of the collectives are getting their instructions directly from the coaching staff. And, yes, it would make sense to offer multi-year deals…except that the big schools with deep pockets won’t, so it’ll be easy for recruits to pick a 1 year deal from one school over a 2 or 3 year deal from another.

And that’s why you cap rosters. This isnt like MLB and the Yankee’s have all the $$$ and can pay the best players…. This is MLB and the Yankee’s can have 200 players on the roster if they want.

 

[95coug]

And that’s why you cap rosters. This isnt like MLB and the Yankee’s have all the $$$ and can pay the best players…. This is MLB and the Yankee’s can have 200 players on the roster if they want.

Yeah, I'm on board with roster limits. Except at this point I'd probably prefer to make them 60-65, not 70.

 

[CougPatrol]

And that’s why you cap rosters. This isnt like MLB and the Yankee’s have all the $$$ and can pay the best players…. This is MLB and the Yankee’s can have 200 players on the roster if they want.

It’s already been announced that they’re going to expand rosters in the next year or so.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Yeah, I'm on board with roster limits. Except at this point I'd probably prefer to make them 60-65, not 70.

I think they need at least a 3 deep on each side of the ball. Kicker and punter makes it 68. Next best 2 any way they wanna slice it.

The talent spreads instantly. Much more competitive games.

The portal slows down significantly. Kids aren’t gonna give up their spot for literally what is behind door #2.

 

[95coug]

I think they need at least a 3 deep on each side of the ball. Kicker and punter makes it 68. Next best 2 any way they wanna slice it.

The talent spreads instantly. Much more competitive games.

The portal slows down significantly. Kids aren’t gonna give up their spot for literally what is behind door #2.

I see your logic. But I still say shave it to 65. OL can play in different spots, you can split out an RB as a receiver.

Either way, it’s a huge impact. It reduces the number of roster spots in FBS by more than 2,000.

I’m toying with the idea of a graduated limit - 65 for P4 teams, 70 for G5 teams, 80 for FCS. That should help reduce the impact of higher levels poaching from lower ones.

 

[BiggsCoug]

I see your logic. But I still say shave it to 65. OL can play in different spots, you can split out an RB as a receiver.

Either way, it’s a huge impact. It reduces the number of roster spots in FBS by more than 2,000.

I’m toying with the idea of a graduated limit - 65 for P4 teams, 70 for G5 teams, 80 for FCS. That should help reduce the impact of higher levels poaching from lower ones.

At 65 kids all in it could be tough to run a practice. Even the NFL has a 52 man roster and practice squad to help run a practice.

They are still kids. At less than a 3 deep you will see some gross physicsl mismatches that get kids hurt.

You would find out who can coach and who is just collecting the most talent to cover up their bad coaching quickly.