FWIW: FCS Preseason Poll: STATS.com

[IdaGriz01]

Have not seen this posted here (only the Coaches' Poll), so ... for what it's worth:
Rankings as of 8/10/2015
Rank, School, Votes, Prev
1 North Dakota State (0-0) 3671 (144) NR
2 Illinois State (0-0) 3423 (3) NR
3 Sam Houston State (0-0) 3264 NR
4 Villanova (0-0) 3249 NR
5 Coastal Carolina (0-0) 2900 NR
6 Eastern Washington (0-0) 2830 NR
7 Jacksonville State (0-0) 2705 NR
8 Chattanooga (0-0) 2590 NR
9 New Hampshire (0-0) 2570 NR
10 UNI (0-0) 2212 NR
11 Montana State (0-0) 2038 NR
12 James Madison (0-0) 1766 NR
13 Montana (0-0) 1710 NR
14 Youngstown State (0-0) 1662 NR
15 Liberty (0-0) 1623 NR
16 South Dakota State (0-0) 1390 NR
17 Eastern Kentucky (0-0) 1073 NR
18 Richmond (0-0) 1016 NR
19 Southeastern Louisiana (0-0) 791 NR
20 Fordham (0-0) 663 NR
21 Indiana State (0-0) 635 NR
22 Idaho State (0-0) 627 NR
23 Harvard (0-0) 620 NR
24 Stephen F. Austin (0-0) 554 NR
25 McNeese State (0-0) 440 NR
Others: Eastern Illinois (431) , William & Mary (225) , Cal Poly (189) , Alcorn State (144) , South Carolina State (126) , North Carolina A&T (108) , Northern Arizona (74) , Western Carolina (65) , Bethune-Cookman (56) , Sacred Heart (46) , Charleston Southern (40) , Samford (38) , Southern Illinois (26) , Western Illinois (23) , Jackson State (19) , Jacksonville (16) , Lehigh (15) , Delaware (14) , Bryant (11) , San Diego (10) , Bucknell (9) , Northwestern State (9) , Lamar (9) , Towson (8) , Dartmouth (6) , Grambling State (6) , Central Arkansas (6) , Yale (5) , Southern University (4) , Wagner (3) , Duquesne (2) , Maine (2) , Mercer (2) , Missouri State (1) , Tennessee State (1) , Furman (1) , Abilene Christian (1) , South Dakota (1) , North Carolina Central (1)

I see the Griz ranking as about right, or even a touch high, all things considered. McNeese is a bit of a surprise, being ranked -- given the losing streak they had to end last season.

 

[CV Griz Fan]

I don't get MSU being that high. Maybe I'm just missing something.....

 

[77matcat]

If last years defensive performance was an anomaly that corrects this year, then probably about right. If not......... Your probably right

 

[Spanky]

Maybe the beginning of the season Ash claims of winning a national championship have an influence on the pollsters?

 

[orygunbison]

I don't get MSU being that high. Maybe I'm just missing something.....

I totally agree. I have been seeing that same thing for the last several years. In 2010, we beat their asses pretty badly in the playoffs in Bozeman*** and then the next year, they were a #4 or so to start the season. Each year since, I swear they have been a top 10 every year when in fact they don't really win any tough games...and play poorly when it counts most in the playoffs. I am not sure what the pollsters keep seeing.

***That said, those Bobcat fans were good hosts to us that weekend. I barely bought any drinks all weekend as they consistently arrived at out table before we could buy.

 

[doc3kgt]

I don't get MSU being that high. Maybe I'm just missing something.....

I totally agree. I have been seeing that same thing for the last several years. In 2010, we beat their asses pretty badly in the playoffs in Bozeman*** and then the next year, they were a #4 or so to start the season. Each year since, I swear they have been a top 10 every year when in fact they don't really win any tough games...and play poorly when it counts most in the playoffs. I am not sure what the pollsters keep seeing.

***That said, those Bobcat fans were good hosts to us that weekend. I barely bought any drinks all weekend as they consistently arrived at out table before we could buy.

To be fair, the Cats have been decimated by injuries the past few years....I think more so than the typical wear and tear you would expect to see. Having 3 different OC's hasn't helped either. I think the pollster's see a team that has all the tools (defense is coming along, I think we will see the defense closer to normal this year), and feel the Cats consistently have the POTENTIAL to be a contender. Obviously, defensive improvement remains to be seen. Offensively, the Cats can hang with anyone in the nation (when healthy).