MACTION my Butt...

[Captain Kangaroo]

What brutal beatdowns I'm witnessing tonight.

[ZippyRulz]

Shoddy pass defense by Toledo.

[you am i]

If I was you, I'd turn the Toledo-Cincinnati game back on. It's a 7 point game early in the 4th.

[ZippyRulz]

Whadya know...another TD pass for Cincy.

[you am i]

Cinci has it put away. Moral of the story: Don't fall behind 34-0. The Rockets got it down to a one touchdown game with plenty of time left but could not keep the momentum going.

For some reason, Tuberville decided to throw deep into the end zone with less than two minutes left and ahead by 17. What goes around, comes around, Tommy.

[Captain Kangaroo]

If I was you, I'd turn the Toledo-Cincinnati game back on. It's a 7 point game early in the 4th.

It was a Bludgeoning Sandwich. A bludgeoning, followed by a comeback, sandwiched by another bludgeoning.

The Zips can win the MAC this season. Get the offense going, TB.

[GP1]

There is nothing special about Toledo or Buffalo. In fact, Buffalo is terrible.

Our toughest remaining games are OU and BG. OU is difficult to beat there and I'd like to reserve judgement on them until after their game today against Marshall. We beat Toledo at our place last year, we can beat BG at our place this year.

Absolutely CK, we can win the MAC East. Need a better running game to complement a good passing game and things can really go our way.

[Balsy]

Toledo is short their starting QB, which probably helped in the cincinnati Blowout.

BG is short their starting QB. So I like our chances at home vs BG.

[Zip_ME87]

It was a Bludgeoning Sandwich. A bludgeoning, followed by a comeback, sandwiched by another bludgeoning.

The Zips can win the MAC this season. Get the offense going, TB.

I agree CK and hope that focusing on winning the MAC is the reason TB didn't open up the offense more against PSU, wanting to come out of there with no significant injuries. I hope the Zips are on the path of lose big, lose small, win small, win the MAC, win big.

[Spin]

I still think the MAC is looking better than it's big bro (B1G) right now...

[eguins]

MAC looking better than the Big Ten? The worst team in the Missouri Valley (Indiana State) went into Muncie, IN and beat Ball State last night. Furthermore, the Sagarin has the MVFC ahead of the MAC for yet another week. FCS top 25 poll this week may have 7 of the 10 MVFC teams ranked.

12 MWC-WEST (A) = 64.79 65.07 ( 12) 6 64.98 ( 12)
13 MWC-MOUNTAIN (A) = 63.80 64.06 ( 13) 6 63.93 ( 13)
14 CONFERENCE USA-WEST (A) = 62.00 61.58 ( 15) 6 61.67 ( 15)
15 MISSOURI VALLEY (AA)= 61.77 62.07 ( 14) 10 61.92 ( 14)
16 MAC-WEST (A) = 61.03 60.84 ( 16) 6 61.03 ( 16)
17 CONFERENCE USA-EAST (A) = 60.37 60.50 ( 17) 7 60.47 ( 17)
18 SUN BELT (A) = 56.69 56.32 ( 19) 11 56.42 ( 18)
19 MAC-EAST (A) = 55.96 56.42 ( 18) 7 56.23 ( 19)
20 OHIO VALLEY (AA)= 53.53 52.98 ( 22) 9 53.21 ( 21)
21 COLONIAL (AA)= 53.29 54.00 ( 20) 12 53.73 ( 20)
22 BIG SKY (AA)= 52.68 53.10 ( 21) 13 52.92 ( 22)
23 SOUTHLAND (AA)= 51.07 51.23 ( 23) 11 51.20 ( 23)
24 SOUTHERN (AA)= 50.93 50.21 ( 24) 8 50.58 ( 24)

[zippy5]

cool story bro

[Zipmeister]

There is nothing special about Toledo or Buffalo. In fact, Buffalo is terrible.

Our toughest remaining games are OU and BG. OU is difficult to beat there and I'd like to reserve judgement on them until after their game today against Marshall. We beat Toledo at our place last year, we can beat BG at our place this year.

Absolutely CK, we can win the MAC East. Need a better running game to complement a good passing game and things can really go our way.

I wouldn't take Buffalo or UMass too lightly. I have watched them each in a couple of games and believe if they get a couple of problems sorted out that each is going to beat multiple MAC teams this season.

[Balsy]

MAC looking better than the Big Ten? The worst team in the Missouri Valley (Indiana State) went into Muncie, IN and beat Ball State last night. Furthermore, the Sagarin has the MVFC ahead of the MAC for yet another week. FCS top 25 poll this week may have 7 of the 10 MVFC teams ranked.

12 MWC-WEST (A) = 64.79 65.07 ( 12) 6 64.98 ( 12)

13 MWC-MOUNTAIN (A) = 63.80 64.06 ( 13) 6 63.93 ( 13)

14 CONFERENCE USA-WEST (A) = 62.00 61.58 ( 15) 6 61.67 ( 15)

15 MISSOURI VALLEY (AA)= 61.77 62.07 ( 14) 10 61.92 ( 14)

16 MAC-WEST (A) = 61.03 60.84 ( 16) 6 61.03 ( 16)

17 CONFERENCE USA-EAST (A) = 60.37 60.50 ( 17) 7 60.47 ( 17)

18 SUN BELT (A) = 56.69 56.32 ( 19) 11 56.42 ( 18)

19 MAC-EAST (A) = 55.96 56.42 ( 18) 7 56.23 ( 19)

20 OHIO VALLEY (AA)= 53.53 52.98 ( 22) 9 53.21 ( 21)

21 COLONIAL (AA)= 53.29 54.00 ( 20) 12 53.73 ( 20)

22 BIG SKY (AA)= 52.68 53.10 ( 21) 13 52.92 ( 22)

23 SOUTHLAND (AA)= 51.07 51.23 ( 23) 11 51.20 ( 23)

24 SOUTHERN (AA)= 50.93 50.21 ( 24) 8 50.58 ( 24)

Hardly anyone cares about the MAC, and certainly no-one cares about the MVFC.

Beyond that, Indiana State vs. Indiana is a rivalry game (for some reason)...there's huge motivation to go in there and win.

[GP1]

I wouldn't take Buffalo or UMass too lightly. I have watched them each in a couple of games and believe if they get a couple of problems sorted out that each is going to beat multiple MAC teams this season.

Won't ttake either lightly, but I expect us to win .

[Balsy]

Won't ttake either lightly, but I expect us to win .

Agreed.

[Dr Z]

I still think the MAC is looking better than it's big bro (B1G) right now...

Little Ten numbers to ponder.

The "Big" Ten has lost 14 games already. It's 13-13 against FBS teams in nonconference play. (It's 1-10 against the other power conference teams - the SEC, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Notre Dame. The only win is Rutgers' victory at Washington State in week one.

[GJGood]

MAC looking better than the Big Ten? The worst team in the Missouri Valley (Indiana State) went into Muncie, IN and beat Ball State last night. Furthermore, the Sagarin has the MVFC ahead of the MAC for yet another week. FCS top 25 poll this week may have 7 of the 10 MVFC teams ranked.

12 MWC-WEST (A) = 64.79 65.07 ( 12) 6 64.98 ( 12)

13 MWC-MOUNTAIN (A) = 63.80 64.06 ( 13) 6 63.93 ( 13)

14 CONFERENCE USA-WEST (A) = 62.00 61.58 ( 15) 6 61.67 ( 15)

15 MISSOURI VALLEY (AA)= 61.77 62.07 ( 14) 10 61.92 ( 14)

16 MAC-WEST (A) = 61.03 60.84 ( 16) 6 61.03 ( 16)

17 CONFERENCE USA-EAST (A) = 60.37 60.50 ( 17) 7 60.47 ( 17)

18 SUN BELT (A) = 56.69 56.32 ( 19) 11 56.42 ( 18)

19 MAC-EAST (A) = 55.96 56.42 ( 18) 7 56.23 ( 19)

20 OHIO VALLEY (AA)= 53.53 52.98 ( 22) 9 53.21 ( 21)

21 COLONIAL (AA)= 53.29 54.00 ( 20) 12 53.73 ( 20)

22 BIG SKY (AA)= 52.68 53.10 ( 21) 13 52.92 ( 22)

23 SOUTHLAND (AA)= 51.07 51.23 ( 23) 11 51.20 ( 23)

24 SOUTHERN (AA)= 50.93 50.21 ( 24) 8 50.58 ( 24)

I won't get into a debate about one conference versus another because I believe it is all about strengths and weaknesses of a team against the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent that day.

I will say, however, that I think the top FCS conferences are getting closer to the FBS conferences, particularly the "Group of 5" conferences. In my opinion this is because they continue to allow FCS wins count toward bowl eligibilty for FBS teams. This really is a terrible thing for the G5 schools when you look at the big picture. We all know that most recruits prefer to go to power conference schools. What happens, however, when those schools don't come calling? If a recruit has to choose between a G5 school or a good FCS program what advantage does the bigger school really have? Both schools get the paychecks and exposure now for playing the big boys but only the FCS school will ever be admitted into a championship playoff at the end of a highly successful season. It only stands to reason that as more and more recruits embrace that reality that they will see FCS schools as more viable options. With the new autonomy, the rule allowing FCS wins for bowl eligibility, the not having to sit out a year when transferring from FBS to FCS rule, the droppong of the 7-win priority for at-large bowl eligibilty, etc... it is the non-power conference FBS schools that are getting the shaft.

Don't get me wrong I have nothing aginst FCS schools, they are only doing what is best for them, and I enjoy watching their teams and games but I still think that 85 scholarship teams should only play other 85 scholarship teams and 63 scholly teams should only play other 63 scholarship teams. Some FCS teams could be successful in FBS leagues but they still are composed differently and play for a different national championship while taking away opportunities for those lesser-known FBS programs to continue to prove themselves and close the gap in their own level of play.

At the very least if FBS vs. FCS games are going to be played they should not count toward bowl eligibility. If that were the case I think they would be scheduled much less often.

I don't mean for this post to offend any FCS followers, it just seems that the priorities of the CFB powers now seem to be #1 FBS power conferences and then #2 protect the little guy (but usually when they say little guy they mean FCS and not FBS non-power conference).

[Buckzip]

I thought the FCS games didn't count towards bowl eligibility. Perhaps I am remembering wrong.

[Dave in Green]

To become eligible for postseason play in any FBS bowl game, a team must have a minimum 6 wins in a 12-game schedule, or 7 wins in a 13-game schedule, or be the champion of its conference, and not be on probation that specifically stipulates exclusion from postseason play. One win over a FCS team can count toward the win total each year provided the FCS team has supplied financial aid for football averaging out to at least 56.7 full scholarships (90% of the limit of 63 allowed to FCS schools) over "a rolling two-year period" that can include the current season.

Link

[g-mann17]

The main reason the FCS schools are improving is because there is no waiting period for a player to transfer from FBS to FCS. So instead of a highly touted recruit who gets bumped at Alabama going to FIU, he would go to Sam Houston and be able to keep playing.

That's it, it comes down to the transfer rule. Do I sit out a year and play at FIU or Akron (some still do but that is part of the secondary recruiting market) or do I go to a competitive team where I can play immediately.

[GP1]

Good post g-mann17. It used to be that a transfer could only avoid sitting out if they went to DIII. My only caution would be using computer rankings to determine that one division or another is getting better. The same IAA teams that make the playoffs every year are probably attracting better transfers. The vast majority that don't, probably aren't.

Another way to look at it is, a guy can transfer to a IAA school and if that school is good have a chance to play for a national championship in a playoff system. The guy who transfers to a MAC school has to sit out a year and then have a chance to play for a birth in the Motor City Bowl the day after Christmas. Driving to Detroit in December to watch UofA play isn't that appealing to me. Driving to Akron to watch the Zips play in a national playoff does appeal to me.

This is another reason among many to get out of the same class designation as the BCS-like conferences and rewrite some of our own rules to make our level of football better. Better players = better entertainment. Screw the bowls. Start our own division with our own chance of winning some sort of national championship.

[GJGood]

_{The main reason the FCS schools are improving is because there is no waiting period for a player to transfer from FBS to FCS. So instead of a highly touted recruit who gets bumped at Alabama going to FIU, he would go to Sam Houston and be able to keep playing.}

_{That's it, it comes down to the transfer rule. Do I sit out a year and play at FIU or Akron (some still do but that is part of the secondary recruiting market) or do I go to a competitive team where I can play immediately.}

_{I certainly agree that is a big one and it could conceivably be the biggest reason but just not the only one. You still get the high profile non-conference game or games and then actually have a chance to win a majr championship at a good FCS school. I think the fact that every recruit knowing that an undefeated season means virtually nothing nationally for a MAC-like team hurts the recruiting versus FCS schools where you can have two or three losses and still win a national title.}

[zippy5]

Ask NIU if going undefeated meant nothing 2 years ago.

[GP1]

Ask NIU if going undefeated meant nothing 2 years ago.

I'd rather focus on the now. What does it mean today? Today, it will mean nothing because there is a committee in charge of who makes the playoffs. Thanks to NIU's performance two years ago, I doubt going undefeated will mean much today for a MAC-like conference school.