CUSA Ranking

[topstraight]

Moneyball, 2024

Just last year, NEW MEXICO STATE received $1.85 million to visit Auburn and then abruptly Upset the Tigers>>31-10.

This year, Auburn is paying another school from The Land of Enchantment — this time the New Mexico Lobos — $1.9 million to play at Jordan-Hare Stadium. That amount ties as the biggest payday for a visiting team, along with Georgia and Alabama.

Here’s a look at the highest amounts paid to visiting teams this season:

Alabama: $1.9 million to Western Kentucky, Aug. 31 ***
Auburn: $1.9 million to New Mexico, Sept. 14
Georgia: $1.9 million to UMass, Nov. 23
Michigan: $1.85 million to Fresno State, Aug. 31
Michigan: $1.8 million to Arkansas State, Sept. 14
Ohio State: $1.8 million to Akron, Aug. 31
Ohio State: $1.8 million to Western Michigan, Sept. 7
Texas: $1.8 million to Colorado State, Aug. 31
Texas: $1.7 million* to UTSA, Sept. 14
LSU: $1.65 million to South Alabama, Sept. 28
Nebraska: $1.65 million to UTEP, Aug. 31 ***
Ohio State: $1.6 million to Marshall, Sept. 21
Ole Miss: $1.6 million to Middle Tennessee, Sept. 7 ***
Texas A&M: $1.6 million to Bowling Green, Sept. 21

*Texas is in second year of five-game series with UTSA, with an average payout of $1.7 million per game

From Action Network's Brett McMurphy

***CUSA

[Info Hound]

After the first week of CUSA action, I think that UD, and maybe even more so, Missouri State, will be competitive in year one (2025).

[Caribbean Hen]

After the first week of CUSA action, I think that UD, and maybe even more so, Missouri State, will be competitive in year one (2025).

After reviewing the scores, I was thinking exactly the same!

The opportunity is there for the Hens to captivate the United States of America conference in year one!

Just keep the talent flowing in

[Drunkindeweyagain]

I had written up my observations yesterday on Sat game results and was going to post, but then saw this post this morning from Army56Mike on CUSA Board and its too good to match.
He also added in UD and Mo State into his power rankings below with Sammy #1 and UD #3 (obviously tongue in cheek but very cool based on Week 1 performances):

THE WEEK 1: KNOW-IT-ALL REVIEW & MEANINGLESS POWER RANKING
The Big Sheltowee, Jimmy Mac VanDerslack, the Head Honcho of the Grand Skuhlymuhldur Collegial Pigskin Society picked the wrong chicken in the CCU vs. Jax St. CUSA kickoff game. He watched that one and said those Gamecocks looked a lot more like chicken noodle soup in their 55-27 drubbing. It’s always gonna leave you feather plucking mad when you lose to the dad-gum beach chickens. 03-banghead

At least last thursday wasn’t a total loss, the other chickens in the fight, the Delaware blue kind, took care of business and won their conference opener comfortably 48-17. Super glad there was some fight in one of our conference feathered friends. 04-cheers

(Look, I’ll admit it. I didn’t watch another CUSA game after that except a replay of the Liberty game at 11pm last night because I spent the day with my loving wife on our 28th wedding anniversary. So my words from here on are incredibly random.)

And then came a string of no-shows! The Toppers were thoroughly dominated and overwhelmed from start to finish in that 63-0 debacle at Alabama. We all knew Big Red was gonna geat taken behind the woodshed. But I didn’t think Bama would then lock them in the shed and burn the place down. Big Red ended up more like Grimace. 03-banghead Along came FIU to throw up a real stinker against kings of the BIG mighty Indiana 31-7. Hey sunny city kitties, Hoosier daddy? 03-banghead Not to be outdone, UTEP stumbled into Nebraska and were husked by a score of 40-7. The Head Honcho doesn’t really even know what to say about this. Glad it was only game one. 03-banghead Don’t get it wrong, no one expected any of those teams to win, but dang, they were all complete “no contests.” However, kudos to our CUSA brethren for stepping up and playing that competition!

Since I was just talking about Texas, let’s stick with that subject and talk about Sammy! What a showing am I right!?! The Big Sheltowee called that one, like many of the rest of us did. But dang! Those Kats flexed on the Owls 34-14! Go ahead and pass Sammy the game ball for the week. They deserve it. 04-rock

Stayin’ in the Lone Star state let’s give a shout out to Kenny. Came in to face a tough UTSA team and played them cleat to cleat, pad to pad, and helmet to helmet. It was respectable at least in a 28-16 defeat. 03-banghead

The Liberty Flames sure didn’t start any fires. As a matter of fact, they had just enough sparks to roast those pesky Camels 41-24. Coach Chadwell was anything but pleased with such a poor win. So expect him to put some gasoline to that fire this week in practice. 04-rock

Good Grief MTSU! Way to give the collective CUSA faithful a little heart failure last night with that razor thin 32-25 win over FCS TT. That 7 point looks a lot smaller with a last second TD to save the day. Thanks for winning. 04-rock

Those Bulldogs from La Tech came away with a sloppy way too close win over Nichols 25-17. 04-rock

We knew NMSU lost a ton from last year, but Jimmy Mac VanDerslack didn’t think it was so much to generate a narrow single score win over a bad FCS SEMO team 23-16. Of course, they did lose to UMass in their opener at home last season, so not much difference. Still, a win is a win and they are undefeatednon the season. 04-rock

There was a big bear fight in Missoula last night. Our MoSt big brown bruins showed a lot of heart, grit, muscle, and claw as they gave Montana everything they wanted in a close 25-29 defeat. That was a good game. 03-banghead

THE KNOW-IT-ALL COMPLETELY MADE UP POWER INDEX
1. Sammy (1-0)
2. Liberty (1-0)
3. Delaware (1-0)
4. La Tech (1-0)
5. NMSU (1-0)
6. MTSU (1-0)
7. MoSt (0-1)
8. Kenny (0-1)
9. Jax St. (0-1)
10. FIU (0-1)
11. UTEP (0-1)
12. WKU (0-1)

Other comments from around the CUSA site:
From Jax State "**** Kickin Chicken" (Yes, they have one too):
" Based on the first week, I am glad we got Delaware and Mo State and not UMASS"

Top Straight grabbed similar HenGrad07 pic of KC and gave similar props to KCK and Sammy for their win

If not familiar with the CUSA site, it can be found here: https://www.csnbbs.com/forum-439.html

[Caribbean Hen]

Wow Army56Mike is a pretty informative and entertaining guy

Again, no reason at all Delaware can’t go into this conference and be very competitive from day one

FCS Tennessee Tech has never beaten an FBS team so that was a close one vs ETSU

I think FCS teams were 0 for the weekend vs FBS

[topstraight]

Missouri State really looked good at the #3 ranked fcs team. I think some posters (esp. on the CUSA bd) are overlooking how strong the MVFC is. That level of play is part of the reason for their lack of big success---But will serve them well when adapting to CUSA. [If you haven't heard they also have a new sports minded President--And a New AD--who was the assistant AD at App St. and UCF]

Transitioning Kennesaw State also had an excellent outing AT UTSA ( a top ten G5 team) losing 28-16 while having a chance late to tie the score. I watched that game and was surprised--and impressed by the Owls. I really thought they would struggle for a year or two--but I may have been wrong.

Sam Houston--- in their first season as FULL FBS they came out and dominated at RICE---and received the CUSA Board's GAME BALL of the WEEK AWARD.

CUSA is about to become VERY competitive.

This Week (FBS games only):

All times listed are Eastern

SH at UCF-- ESPN+, 6:30
KSU hosts SBC foe Louisiana--ESPN+, 6:00
Mo St. at Ball St. (MAC-FBS), ESPN+, 2:00

OTHERS

JAX State at UL--ESPN+, 3:30
MT at Ole Miss---SEC network, 4:15
Central Mich. at FIU--ESPN+, 6:00

Conference games:

Liberty at NMSU-- ESPN2, 10:30 (being on ESPN2 is a Fairly Big Deal)

[Caribbean Hen]

Missouri State really looked good at the #3 ranked fcs team. I think some posters (esp. on the CUSA bd) are overlooking how strong the MVFC is. That level of play is part of the reason for their lack of big success---But will serve them well when adapting to CUSA. [If you haven't heard they also have a new sports minded President--And a New AD--who was the assistant AD at App St. and UCF]

Transitioning Kennesaw State also had an excellent outing AT UTSA ( a top ten G5 team) losing 28-16 while having a chance late to tie the score. I watched that game and was surprised--and impressed by the Owls. I really thought they would struggle for a year or two--but I may have been wrong.

Sam Houston--- in their first season as FULL FBS they came out and dominated at RICE---and received the CUSA Board's GAME BALL of the WEEK AWARD.

CUSA is about to become VERY competitive.

This Week (FBS games only):

All times listed are Eastern

SH at UCF-- ESPN+, 6:30
KSU hosts SBC foe Louisiana--ESPN+, 6:00
Mo St. at Ball St. (MAC-FBS), ESPN+, 2:00

OTHERS

JAX State at UL--ESPN+, 3:30
MT at Ole Miss---SEC network, 4:15
Central Mich. at FIU--ESPN+, 6:00

Conference games:

Liberty at NMSU-- ESPN2, 10:30 (being on ESPN2 is a Fairly Big Deal)

Topstraight

First Paragraph is right on the money

Watch out for Sam Houston this year
KC Keeler won’t stay down for long

[topstraight]

FIU 52

Central Michigan (MAC)16

Panthers >>Win CUSA Game Ball of the Week Award (CUSA board). https://csnbbs.com/thread-996071.html (scroll down to post #28 and further)

[Caribbean Hen]

FBS/CUSA Massey rankings after week 2. I understand these rankings are just mathematical programs and in the early season, they are kind of correcting and re-calibrating.

I like to look at these rankings to try to get a read on the new Conference and gauge how Delaware can be expected to do, and yes watching some actual games is the best optic but watching CAA right now is like driving into a sunset… tough on the eyes and I think even KC would agree.

One goal for me would be to see Delaware in the top 100 teams of the FBS, which really isn’t that bad as it would put them better than 34 FBS teams and near the top of CUSA. No Xs and Ys involved. It would also make them very competitive in CUSA right off the bat. Right now 8 CUSA teams are ranked below 100.

Highest ranked CUSA team is Liberty at 75.
Western Kentucky at 93

These are the bottom 15 teams in FBS, I don’t want to see Delaware down here and hopefully UDF will continue to bring good news on the recruiting efforts.

121
Louisiana Tech
Conference USA

122
Florida Intl
Conference USA

123
Jacksonville St
Conference USA

124
Rice
American Athletic

125
Connecticut
FBS Independent

126
C Michigan
Mid-American

127
Charlotte
American Athletic

128
New Mexico
Mountain West

129
Temple
American Athletic

130
Akron
Mid-American

131
UTEP
Conference USA

132
Massachusetts
FBS Indep

133
Kent
Mid-American

134
Kennesaw
Conference USA

https://masseyratings.com/cf/fbs/ratings

[tenn hen]

Cluck-so where do you place UD in this rather early and rarely valid ranking?

[Cluck U]

Cluck-so where do you place UD in this rather early and rarely valid ranking?

Why would I bother?

This season is a silly one with very few reasons for comparing our team to any FBS team. We aren't playing an FBS schedule...we aren't an FBS team...and yet we aren't an FCS team. We are an anomaly with no real comparisons. Apples and oranges.

I have one goal for our team (because my goals count ): win games...all of them.

That's it.

We have an exceptionally weak schedule...and a wonderful opportunity to play a large number of players in order to evaluate them for next year. Several different rules allow us to dominate the weakest of the weak. We have been able to recruit better players under an FBS banner...we are able to play the same number of schollie players as our peers against CAA competition, yet we have more than 65 players, so we get to pick and choose which ones play which games...OOC games mean we can play everyone...and yet we can redshirt players by limiting them to 4 games (over 1/3 of our schedule). That is the fun puzzle for this year.

I hope Carty tries to win every game...but I also hope Carty uses this year to put players (and his coaches) into positions where we can build a team that can come out and compete for the CUSA title next year. And, I hope that the players are buying into the opportunity to save their eligibility in order to help launch our entry into FBS football.

[Info Hound]

Cluck-so where do you place UD in this rather early and rarely valid ranking?

Why would I bother?

This season is a silly one with very few reasons for comparing our team to any FBS team. We aren't playing an FBS schedule...we aren't an FBS team...and yet we aren't an FCS team. We are an anomaly with no real comparisons. Apples and oranges.

I have one goal for our team (because my goals count ): win games...all of them.

That's it.

We have an exceptionally weak schedule...and a wonderful opportunity to play a large number of players in order to evaluate them for next year. Several different rules allow us to dominate the weakest of the weak. We have been able to recruit better players under an FBS banner...we are able to play the same number of schollie players as our peers against CAA competition, yet we have more than 65 players, so we get to pick and choose which ones play which games...OOC games mean we can play everyone...and yet we can redshirt players by limiting them to 4 games (over 1/3 of our schedule). That is the fun puzzle for this year.

I hope Carty tries to win every game...but I also hope Carty uses this year to put players (and his coaches) into positions where we can build a team that can come out and compete for the CUSA title next year. And, I hope that the players are buying into the opportunity to save their eligibility in order to help launch our entry into FBS football.

This /\

Go 10-0, then win the "Battle of the Blue" "bowl game" and roll right in to FBS.

[Caribbean Hen]

Hey Tenn

Cluck has given valid reasons for not being interested right now, but Massey has already done the work on your question, granted it’s only math but I’m trying to have some fun here.

And by the way, if you want to take on the “rarely valid” Massey in a one on one pick em game, I can keep score. 30 FCS games a week for the remainder of the regular season. I pick the games and you pick the winner.

https://masseyratings.com/cf2024/ncaa-d1/ratings

So Massey ranks 134 FBS teams
Also ranks 129 FCS teams

The link is the merge and ranks 263 Div 1 football teams

The Hens are ranked #12 in FCS and #134 in all of Div 1

The Hens are currently higher higher than 12 FBS teams

The Hens are currently ranked higher than 4 CUSA teams

I really believe, and my opinion is based on more than just The Massey computer rankings, The Delaware Fightin Blue Hens can be very competitive right now in CUSA. Next year even better for obvious reasons. I’m ready for CUSA now.

[HensRock]

Born (after only 2 weeks of play, so...)

Code: Select all

RANK	TEAM			BORN	CONFERENCE
1	LIBERTY			82.6	CONFERENCE USA
2	NEW MEXICO STATE	75.6	CONFERENCE USA
3	JACKSONVILLE STATE	75.0	CONFERENCE USA
4	FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL	74.7	CONFERENCE USA
5	MISSOURI STATE		74.6	MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL
6	DELAWARE		74.5	COASTAL ATHLETIC ASSOC.
7	SAM HOUSTON		74.1	CONFERENCE USA
8	WESTERN KENTUCKY	73.9	CONFERENCE USA
9	MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE	66.9	CONFERENCE USA
10	TEXAS-EL PASO		64.1	CONFERENCE USA
11	LOUISIANA TECH		63.2	CONFERENCE USA
12	KENNESAW STATE		52.9	CONFERENCE USA

Positions 3-8 are really, really close.

[tenn hen]

thanks HR- I expect Kennesaw ST will improve as they adjust. Stats look quite competitive as I assume will be the case.
Caribe- thanks for the invite. I don't bet, compete in polls. I'm just too busy with many interests especially keeping up with all the major college teams- for example- K_State pummeling Arizona last night. Kleiman(former NDSU hc) sure does a great job! Yeah Caribe- I agree this Blue Hen season is a throw away other than preparing for FBS. I will watch all their games, but today's should be non competitive.
BTW- my "rarely valid" dealt with the early polls(I apologize if my wording threw you off)

R U ready for some college football today-