Hard to believe that it is here already, but it is. This weekend marks the preseason voting for Any Given Saturday's Top 25 I-AA poll, of which yours truly is a charter voting member of. Here's what I've cooked up for this fall's first crystal ball:
1. New Hampshire
Ball and Santos are back. This team is extremely good and could have won it all last year. They're about as good as it gets in I-AA.
2. Montana
Besides being a I-AA program of unrivaled consistency, they bring back a ton, including Lex Hillard. With a potential great record and favourable seeding, the Griz could walk deep into the playoffs this year.
3. Appalachian St
The defending champs lost Richie Williams, but not much else. There is a school of thought that places the last year's champ as the preseason #1, but I didn't go to it. Players graduate, and repeating as champs is next to impossible.
4. Northern Iowa
The runners up are equally stacked in their desire to return to Chatty. The Gateway will perhaps be the strongest conference this year, so it won't be easy. They've got a serious homefield advantage to help them out. Especially with #5 breathing down their neck!
5. Youngstown St
They may have peaked early last year but they may also be far from peaking! I imagine there has been some serious motivation this off season after being left out of the playoffs.
6. Hofstra
My 'sleeper' for 2006. Every year the A-10 spits out some unsuspecting team to make a serious run for the title. Richmond last year, JMU two years before that. A new coach takes over, but there's a lot of talent there and a favourable schedule that avoids some of the traditionally tougher A-10 South teams.
7. James Madison
A couple of bounces here and there and JMU was in the playoffs instead of out. I think the bounces go their way this year.
8. Furman
The Paladins have to replace an NFL quality quarterback, but historically they are a top I-AA team and this year should be no different.
9. Cal Poly
Boy can they play some football out west! The Mustangs have been proving it on the field and I think they only get better from here on out.
10. North Dakota St
Right on their tails are those big farm boys from North Dakota. If only they were playoff eligible.... Big game against Georgia Southern in Georgia.
11. Northwestern St
The first of three Southland teams practically right on top of one another, Northwestern State dissappointed me last year as I thought they could win the whole thing. They are still very talented and the Southland is up for grabs... so why not? But I could easily interchange any of the three here.
12. Nicholls St
Strong 2005 playoff performance from a solid program. All of these Southland teams will benefit from a hurricane free start to their programs. Fingers crossed guys!
13. Massachusetts
Colgate's home opener will not be easy in the slightest. A solid program that stumbled near the end of last season, they should start out strong again.
14. McNeese St
The Pokes took some lumps the last two seasons, but they won't stay down for long. I think they make some noise again this year.
15. Eastern Illinois
This might be a tad high for a team from the Ohio Valley Conference, but they were a pretty good team last year and I think they will be again this year.
16. Hampton
I'm not letting the playoff performance overshadow the amazing season the Pirates had last year. It may be a bit harder for them to move up as far as they did for me last year, but they are still a program worthy of respect.
17. Idaho St
Starting to get into the tea leaves with this one, but I think Idaho State takes the baton from Eastern Washington as the Big Sky's 'other' team. We'll see.
18. Delaware
Do you really think they'll be down for long? Omar Cuff will lead the Hens to quite a few victories this season.
19. UC Davis
Another team from the solid Great West that with a few more bounces could have been sitting very pretty at the end of the year. Upsetting Stanford will not be forgotten by many this preseason.
20. Colgate
Ah, the home of my beloved Raiders. I think Colgate's got the inside track to win it this year (by a hair mind you) and this is about right for a Patriot League team to be this year. First weekend will make or break our ranking for at least two months.
21. Illinois St
That Gateway showing up again. This team finished 2005 strong and returns enough to think they'll pick up where they left off.
22. Coastal Carolina
Amazing to think how far this four year old program has come. I'm looking for them to continue to make statements like beating JMU last year and knocking off a pretty big fish down in Georgia.
23. Lafayette
The Pards aren't a big step behind Colgate this year, if they are behind at all. I rank them lower than us because they lost most of their defense and it was their defense that kept them in most of the games. I just don't see the offense there to hang with Colgate or Lehigh, so it will be up to some defensive replacements to carry the Pards to victory once more.
24. Portland St
Another Big Sky tea leaf. They've got an offense that can put up some numbers. We'll see if this was a wasted vote or not.
25. Jacksonville St
Another OVC team. I must be smoking something lately! I think JSU is going to be good this year. That's all I'm going to say.
We also got to vote on two questions:
The Biggest Rising Team of 2006: Hofstra. Again, they're my sleeper.
The Biggest Falling Team of 2006: Georgia Southern. Don't get me wrong. I don't think the Eagles are going to stink. In fact, 7-4 is at least likely. I just think given the history of dominance and playoff appearances there will be some adjustment from the option that maybe some fans aren't considering a possibility. We'll see. I think they start out the season 1-1 with a lose to Coastal or, gasp, Central Connecticut State! Some underestimating of opponents will need to take place in order for that to occur, but we Raiders know all about that.
Whew. In 3 1/2 months we'll be talking about kick offs!
Look for my Patriot League preview in the coming weeks. I'll be reviewing and ranking teams once more, starting with a #7 team located in Pennslyvania... Until then, root for Andy McDonald and the Mighty Ducks!
