The Middle Tier: Not Powers/Not really on the Verge

[thescoop]

So since i have a list of rebuilds that could be fun. Then I broke down my list of schools that aren't powers yet but seem to be on that verge. Now comes time for those in the middle. No one from either of the other two lists are eligible for this list. You can check both out in these two threads.
https://forums.operationsports.com/f...-a.htmlhttp://

http://https://forums.operationsport...ball-25-a.html

I did like I did in the first one and broke this out by Power 5 and non-power 5. Of course the Power 5s will be easier to take to higher heights.

Non-Power 5

10. South Alabama - Newer program. Seems to be trending in the right direction.

9. Louisiana Lafayette - Could be fun one to take in the Sun Belt and grow.

8. UAB - From shutdown to growing. Another school that could be fun to take and run with. Could been in the rebuild section but didn't make my cut.

7. LA Tech - Another one of those programs that could be a fun run in 25 and beyond.

6. San Diego State - Always have liked their Uniforms and recruiting in Cal could be a boost.

5. Fresno State - Another school that has been good in the past but never a true threat.

4. Northern Illinois - Just one I've enjoyed watching on nights the MAC is featured.

3. App State - Another school that made a name for themselves bfore moving up. And a great stadium.

2. Western Kentucky - Cool mascot and a one time beast in C-USA.

1. Troy - has produced some great talent over the years. It would be fun to make them more than middle of the road.

Power 5

10. Iowa State - Can you make the a bigger team in the state of Iowa than the Hawkeyes?

9. Michigan State - Once in the fight, hard times have come. They could have been included as rebuild but I think they're quick back to the middle.

8. Missouri - Always sniffing but always seem to be in the middle of the pack.

7. Oregon State - Left behind in a dead conference. Worth seeing what you can do here. (Does the PAC 2 still count as a Power 5?)

6. Washington State - See above.

5. Texas Tech - Time to see if you can take the Red Raiders to new heights with big brothers gone from the conference.

4. Purdue - Always average or bad these days. Would be fun to bring them up to higher heights and contorl the Big Ten.

3. UCLA - Fish out of water in their new conference. Time to see if you can put the program back on the map.

2. Mississippi State - Being from Mississippi, I'm always thinking of the state schools first. They could definitely fall in a lesser tier but I'm fine sticking them in the middle tier for gamers for now.

1. Kansas - The basketball program that wants to be a football power. I think taking them over and trying to grow could be a lot of fun.

These lists are really subjective and of course some of the "rebuilds" cold have easily been in this list. But when I wrote that first one I didn't realize I'd do two more. I have no intention of doing the top 10 powers as we all would know them for the most part.

[TuffJuff]

Minnesota Gophers could be rather fun. Really tough challenge in the new Big10. Snow games in November in Minnesota. Cool stadium. Tonnnnssss of jersey combos. Plus they have 4 rivalry trophies, the most of anyone in the nation.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Quote: Originally Posted by thescoop

So since i have a list of rebuilds that could be fun. Then I broke down my list of schools that aren't powers yet but seem to be on that verge. Now comes time for those in the middle. No one from either of the other two lists are eligible for this list. You can check both out in these two threads. https://forums.operationsports.com/f...-a.htmlhttp:// http://https://forums.operationsport...ball-25-a.html I did like I did in the first one and broke this out by Power 5 and non-power 5. Of course the Power 5s will be easier to take to higher heights. Non-Power 5 10. South Alabama - Newer program. Seems to be trending in the right direction. 9. Louisiana Lafayette - Could be fun one to take in the Sun Belt and grow. 8. UAB - From shutdown to growing. Another school that could be fun to take and run with. Could been in the rebuild section but didn't make my cut. 7. LA Tech - Another one of those programs that could be a fun run in 25 and beyond. 6. San Diego State - Always have liked their Uniforms and recruiting in Cal could be a boost.

Thanks Scoop, I've really enjoyed this series you've put together. What tier would you file Syracuse under?

[Vadiplomat04]

Quote: Originally Posted by thescoop

So since i have a list of rebuilds that could be fun. Then I broke down my list of schools that aren't powers yet but seem to be on that verge. Now comes time for those in the middle. No one from either of the other two lists are eligible for this list. You can check both out in these two threads. https://forums.operationsports.com/f...-a.htmlhttp:// http://https://forums.operationsport...ball-25-a.html I did like I did in the first one and broke this out by Power 5 and non-power 5. Of course the Power 5s will be easier to take to higher heights. Non-Power 5 10. South Alabama - Newer program. Seems to be trending in the right direction. 9. Louisiana Lafayette - Could be fun one to take in the Sun Belt and grow. 8. UAB - From shutdown to growing. Another school that could be fun to take and run with. Could been in the rebuild section but didn't make my cut. 7. LA Tech - Another one of those programs that could be a fun run in 25 and beyond. 6. San Diego State - Always have liked their Uniforms and recruiting in Cal could be a boost. 5. Fresno State - Another school that has been good in the past but never a true threat. 4. Northern Illinois - Just one I've enjoyed watching on nights the MAC is featured. 3. App State - Another school that made a name for themselves bfore moving up. And a great stadium. 2. Western Kentucky - Cool mascot and a one time beast in C-USA. 1. Troy - has produced some great talent over the years. It would be fun to make them more than middle of the road. Power 5 10. Iowa State - Can you make the a bigger team in the state of Iowa than the Hawkeyes? 9. Michigan State - Once in the fight, hard times have come. They could have been included as rebuild but I think they're quick back to the middle. 8. Missouri - Always sniffing but always seem to be in the middle of the pack. 7. Oregon State - Left behind in a dead conference. Worth seeing what you can do here. (Does the PAC 2 still count as a Power 5?) 6. Washington State - See above. 5. Texas Tech - Time to see if you can take the Red Raiders to new heights with big brothers gone from the conference. 4. Purdue - Always average or bad these days. Would be fun to bring them up to higher heights and contorl the Big Ten. 3. UCLA - Fish out of water in their new conference. Time to see if you can put the program back on the map. 2. Mississippi State - Being from Mississippi, I'm always thinking of the state schools first. They could definitely fall in a lesser tier but I'm fine sticking them in the middle tier for gamers for now. 1. Kansas - The basketball program that wants to be a football power. I think taking them over and trying to grow could be a lot of fun. These lists are really subjective and of course some of the "rebuilds" cold have easily been in this list. But when I wrote that first one I didn't realize I'd do two more. I have no intention of doing the top 10 powers as we all would know them for the most part.

No JMU for the non power 5 teams?

[EUBlink]

Loving the Alabama love with USA, UAB and Troy. I’ll comment later in more detail.

[GoDucks1224]

Ah, I like this list. All of these teams are in my top 25 dynasties that I’m focusing on lol.

[dking_11]

Why does Colorado not get any love from anybody?

They haven’t been good at all.. you start the dynasty off with a Heisman candidate at QB, you’re in the Big XII which has no overpowered programs to battle with, you’d completely revamp the team, they have a great uniform set and a nice stadium & being in the Big XII, will have great stadiums to play against. It’s really starting to hurt my feelings Colorado’s not getting any love

[EUBlink]

Quote: Originally Posted by dking_11

Why does Colorado not get any love from anybody? They haven’t been good at all.. you start the dynasty off with a Heisman candidate at QB, you’re in the Big XII which has no overpowered programs to battle with, you’d completely revamp the team, they have a great uniform set and a nice stadium & being in the Big XII, will have great stadiums to play against. It’s really starting to hurt my feelings Colorado’s not getting any love

It’s more about appeal than anything, in my opinion. These other teams, they know where they are in the pecking order and they are working hard to improve. Meanwhile, Colorado has coaches and players constantly screaming and sharing on social media how they are the best and will be the best, only to go 4-8 and losing by double digits in several of those games.

I used to like to play as Colorado in NCAA14 but Deion and his kids have just ruined it for me, for now. Overexposure with lackluster results can be toxic to any fanbase.