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St. Francis (PA) – easy win Michigan State – Loss. We aren’t ready to beat a Big 10 program in Game #2 of the Moorhead Era. Tennessee – Loss. Similar to Michigan State. Liberty – Bowden’s ULM team beat these guys last year. Why not the Zips? Probably because we don’t yet have the horses. I’ll bet on an entertaining, high-scoring game. Zips cover, but lose. Bowling Green – If Arth beat these clowns in successive seasons, the 2022 Zips roll too. Win. Ohio – These guys miss Solich. Zips win. Central Michigan – Not a MAC team the Zips want to face. We aren’t at CMU’s level yet. Loss. Kent State – Their defense blows. Joe knows what this game means to the program, and Kent will be WAY overconfident. Rivalry game, and the first signature win of Joe’s HC tenure at Akron. Win. Will the Beacon send a reporter? Miami (OH) – These guys aren’t very good, and we’ve got them at home. Zips win. Eastern Michigan – It’s @ Akron. But EMU will be favored. Heart says Zips, but head says Eagles. Loss. Buffalo – Buffalo’s falling apart. November will be quittin’ time for many of the remaining Bulls. Zips pull off a road stunner. Win. Northern Illinois – Loss. Captain’s Choice: 6-6 6 wins would be awesome, as when October 2022 rolls around, the Zips will have beaten ZERO Division 1 opponents not named Bowling Green in the previous 4 calendar years combined (Last non-BG, FBS win was October 27th, 2018 – CMU)!

Agree on the NFL comparisons and I don’t like where it is going... but at the very least if it has to go this way can they create a playoff that resembles the NFL... win your conference and in and seeded ahead of any wild cards... that would be something.. would be interesting to see something like a MAC champ hosting a power conference runner up in a December playoff game. Yes, I know it will never happen but that would align with the NFL model.

Perusing twitter I found this nice photo of George Washington's arena.  The JAR could look a lot like this.

I hope not, 5-6 last year in FCS, I’m hoping we blow them out for a confidence booster

Two things would be signals of success to me. One: for the team to play entertaining enough football that attracts enough spectators to each home game so that the university doesn't have to lie about attendance. Two: that in order to serve the crowds attending each home game the university is effectively forced to open at least a couple more concession stands.

I'm not looking for a final record to determine a successful season. For the last 3 years us fans were subject to some of the worst, non-competitive football in the history of FBS. Success to me would be competing for 4 quarters in every game. Success would be a competent team being in the game so that I want to stay past halftime, heck...even making me want to show up. Success would see our guys focused on the game and supporting each other instead of goofing around on the sidelines trailing by 4 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter. Success would be disciplined football with limited mental gaffes and stupid penalties. That being said, with all the unknowns and variables, I'd be satisfied with 4-5 wins as long as we compete. I'd be ecstatic with 6 or more.

I think it is becoming most like the NFL in that television ratings are driving decisions. The networks aren't asking, "How do we get the die hard fan to watch more NFL?". They are asking, "How do we get the fans of football who see the NFL as their favorite television show to watch more games?". We all know someone who is a die hard fan of NFL Team X and really doesn't watch NFL beyond that team. The NFL is less concerned about this fan and more concerned about attracting a person who will watch any NFL game for 9 hours on Sunday. The Red Zone Network attracts this fan. All of the games attract degenerate gamblers. A lot of these fans just like hanging out with friends in a bar on Sundays watching football and having some beers. OSU vs USC attracts more of this type of fan than OSU vs Indiana or OSU vs Toledo. The television networks know this and since they are running college football (If the networks aren't running college football, who is?), we get the results we are seeing today.

I can't think of a more difficult season to guesstimate an upcoming record. I'm guessing a 4 win season with a team that actually looks like it knows what it is doing. In 2023 I fully expect a bowl season with 2024 competing for the league championship with the final four games being meaningful.