Rising SunBelt 2022 football hunches

 Time to see what a wild off-season looks like on the field

In the West, ULL is a favorite with many but replacing QB Levi Lewis may not be as easy the Cajuns hope. Perhaps they take a nap w/o Napier? Troy has the talent towin the West

I'm keep my eyes on Butch Jones who recruited well for Ark St, and Terry Bowden should get more out of ULM this season.

It's difficult to not pick App St, but a healthy McCall will keep CCU in the East race all season. #herd could do some stomping if they get the QB situation resolved.

Earlier off-season blog https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2022/01/sunbelt-2023-or-2022-expansion.html

August 17, 2022

 I forgot about this: Texas St HC Spavital made headlines in 2021 when he went with an all-transfer portal approach in recruiting. Bobcats went from two to four wins and haven't had a winning season since 2014.

Aug 23, 2022

Two MAC/Sun Belt Conference games will be televised by the NFL Network in 2022.

Eastern Michigan Eagles of the MAC will travel to take on the ULL Ragin’ Cajuns of the Sun Belt on Saturday, Sept. 10. Series history is 1-1.

Sept. 17, the Bowling Green Falcons of the MAC will host the Marshall Thundering Herd of the Sun Belt. BG has won 21 of 29 games again the #herd

AAC 2022 football hunches

 While the big AAC debate appears to be about the Cincy and Houston, the two teams, headed to the Big 12 in 2023, I want to give a shout out to Jamie Romo, an Annapolis, MD kid playing OL for Navy. His grandfather, Leon "Red" Romo, played football at LSU.

I'm giving Cincy proper respect for winning the AAC title and cracking the F4 ceiling last season, and it gets a big test in its opener @ Arkansas(SEC). Unfortunately, Cincy will not face Holgorsen's Cougars in the regular season. Houston's toughest OOC game is @ Texas Tech(BIG12) on Sept. 10.

SMU and Memphis could get in the mix since each has a gunslinger to apply the offensive pressure. Tanner Merdecai for the Mustangs and Seth Henigan for the Tigers could be difference makers.

Aug 9, 2022

 First-team All-MAC linebacker Ivan Pace transfers in from Miami (Ohio) and joins his brother Deshawn to bolster Cats LB corps. They are local Cincy kids.

Gerry Bohanon, an ex-starting QB at Baylor, has not locked up the QB1 job at USF, and remains in a battle with Timmy McClain.

Aug 16, 2022

Bohannon gets the nod to start in its opener against BYU, and McClain enters the transfer portal. SOP these days.

aug 24, 2022

Guz Malzahn named John Rhys Plumlee, a transfer from Ol Miss, the starting quarterback at UCF. He beat out Mikey Keene, who played last year amid Dillon Gabriel’s injury.

Dallas/Ft worth area got hit with 9.19 inches of rain in a 24-hour period this week, and now only a small patch of turf remains above water on SMU's football field at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. 

MAC pigskin 2022 could be an Ohio-centric story

 If Kent St opening schedule doesn't bang them up too much, the MAC games may be a break.

Miami Ohio receiver Jack Sorenson is done, but 48-catch veteran Mac Hippenhammer returns and they'll need him to catch Kent St in the East. A lot of pundits think Buffalo will finish high. I'm not so sure.

NIU and CMU finish tied atop the West in 2021. However, Dequan Finn, Toledo's quarterback, leads a potent offense that may derail NIU. Toledo is at Ohio St on Sept 17. 

Aug 2, 2022

Season 2 for Coach Albin who replaced Solich at Ohio in 2021. They'll rely heaving on an LB corps anchored by Bryce Houston who led the team with 104 tackles last season. 

Probably another rough season and they face Penn St on 9/10.

Ball State ain't getting much love this pre-season, mostly because folks wonder if Paddock is the guy to replace three-year QB starter Drew Plitt. BTW, Plitt is in the Bengals' training camp. 

Akron @ Michigan St. in week 1. What will the P5 do in September if they relegate the other 5 to a different division.

MWC pigskin 2022 Utah St and more

 Utah State was picked to finish third in its division, behind Boise State and Air Force in pre-season media rankings. And on Thursday, the media voted no Aggies players into its preseason All-Mountain West football team

Same type of thing occurred last pre-season and the Ags pounded a one-loss San Diego State team 46-13 to win the MWC Championship and then coasted to a victory over Oregon State in the LA Bowl.

Realignment dominoes: You have to think San Diego St and Boise St are likely targets the Pac 12 pursues if the P5 doesn't become the P4

July 24, 2022

.Aztecs play Zona and Utah in September, and they don't face Utah St in the 2022 regular season. 

Ags face Bama on 9/3. Also, Utah State and BYU who have met 90 times since 1922 will discontinue their series but hope to schedule future meetings.

July 27, 2022

Boise State, who opens this season Sept. 3 at Oregon State(Pac12), is trying to recover from its worst season in a decade. Hank Bachmeier is the favorite to win the starting QB job for the fourth year in a row.

 He!! of an opener on 9/3 for Colorado St  @ The Big House in Ann Arbor. Two weeks later they in the wilderness @Wash St.

Hypothetical: if Klia can save the Pac 12, he'll need San Diego St(MWC) and Notre Dame(I)? Or who knows Newsom makes it too onerous for UCLA to exit for the Midwest.

August 28, 2022

I expected Wyoming to give ILL  a little better game. ILL 38 WYO 6

Utah St roared back from a 14-0 deficit to beat UConn 31-20 . It was HC Jim Mora first game coaching the Huskies.

Nevade beat New Mexico St

Hawaii got pummeled by Vandy 63-10

Early look at 2022 CUSA pigskin

Bill Clark, who stuck with UAB after the program was temporarily shuttered in 2014 and won two CUSA titles, is stepping down on Aug 1 to get a spinal infusion for an ailing back. I'm guessing UAB will keep him on the payroll in some role.

OC and assistant head coach Bryant Vincent will assume interim coaching duties. Running backs DeWayne McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr, who combined for 2,002 yards last season, anchor the CUSA's top backfield  

I'm real curious if Fran Healy's Charlotte squad can back in the mix.

June 28, 2022

FAU :9/24/22: @  Purdue . I'm nearly certain this is the first time these schools have met on the gridiron. A real test for HC Willie Taggart, who's been hanging on in 1A football since he blew his shots for the big time at Oregon and at Florida St.

July 5, 2022

West Virginia transfer Jarret Doege is the front-runner to replace Zappe as the WKU starting QB. Hilltoppers open at Hawaii(MWC) on 9/3/22.

C-USA was founded in 1995 by the merger of the Metro Conference and Great Midwest Conference, two 1A conferences that did not sponsor football.  The merger EXCLUDED Great Midwest member Dayton and Metro members ,VCU and Virginia Tech. 

July 10, 2022

Rich Rod doesn't have much of a 1A schedule in 2022. Tulsa(AAC) is Jacksonville St s only 1A opponent.  2023 will be a big wake up call when they get into CUSA action.

July 15, 2022

Sat 9/10 Maryland @ Charlotte - hope my Terps are careful in CUSA land

July, 19, 2022

UTSA HC Jeff Traylor told Texas Longhorns fans and Baylor Bears fans on Monday:" Rep the Roadrunners in San Antonio – or nothing at all."  Hey, Traylor has them on the move up to the AAC. His statement is goofy but gave me a morning chuckle"

1A Independents start to dwindle in 2023

 I'm chuckling at how quickly USC agreed to swap BYU for San Jose St on its football schedule in 2023 since BYU needs to make room for Big 12 conference games in 2023. BYU was 5-0 against  Pac12 football teams in 2021, including a win over USC.

BYU hoops made be in for a ruder awakening when it exits the WCC .

In other news : Notre Dame opens  @Ohio St and also will play BYU in Vegas later in the 2022 season.

Liberty plays Arkansas, VTech, and Wake Forest this upcoming season.

Previous blog: https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2021/01/1a-ncaa-independents-and-geography-2021.html

May 12, 2022

Another 2023 football swap: Liberty needs to free up space for CUSA games in 2023 so South Carolina(SEC) agreed to drop them and add Jax St, who needs non -conference games in its first 2023 CUSA season.

I'm curious to see if New Mexico St can carry its WAC basketball success to the CUSA. It's football team has some schedule changes to make for 2023.

Would Gonzaga block adding Seattle(WAC) to WCC to fill BYU's spot?

May 26, 2022

Shifting gears to baseball: BYU is a fourth seed in the WCC tournament and faces an uphill battle to upset  1 seed Gonzaga (ranked 10 in the country). Cougars will need a serious upgrade to be competitive in Big 12 baseball.

 Liberty is in the ASUN semi-finals and should be in decent shape when they join the CUSA.

New Mexico State, another future CUSA member, upset Sam Houston to remain in WAC Winner's Bracket.

May 27, 2022

BYU fell to Loyola Marymount 5-1 in a single-elimination game. Today's WCC matchups.

May 28, 2022

I have new favorite a first name. #ThreeHillier hit two home runs for Liberty in a win  over EKU to advance and face Kennesaw State in the ASUN championship game on Saturday for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

NMSU advances to first WAC Tournament baseball championship game since 2018 with stunner over Sacramento State and faces winner of Grand Canyon /Abilene Christian game.

May 29, 2022

Liberty lost and will wait for a possible at-large bid.

New Mexico St won and gets the automatic bid. He!! of a "Cinderella" WACT for the Ags.

June 5, 2022

Liberty was eliminated by Central Michigan (MAC) 3-2 in extra innings. Three Hillier had two hits and scored a run for the Flames in the loss.

NMST was eliminated by Vandy in the CWS.

July 10, 2022

UConn decided that hoops was king and ran back to the Big East ,exiting the AAC and relegating pigskin to Independent status. Huskies HC Jim Mora's goal is to join the ACC. You got a lot of work to do, and it starts with three games in 2022 against ACC teams in Syracuse, Boston College and NC State. Plus, if the ACC ever considers you, it's going to want all sports. You ain't getting the "Irish" treatment. 

July 12, 2022

I've wondered why New Mexico St has kept its football going and found a somewhat big name in its history. Charley Johnson who had a decent NFL career as a QB. He coached briefly for NMST after they fired Hal Mumme in 2008. NFL playing career :

St. Louis Cardinals (1961–1969)

Houston Oilers (1970–1971)

Denver Broncos (1972–1975)

Sept 25, 2022

The Edsel sank UConn pigskin after letting my Terps down. I doubt if Jim Mora Jr can save them. NC St abused them yesterday.

Liberty found enough O to beat Akron. Dae Dae Hunter 18 carries, 118 yards, 1TD for the Flames.

UMass may be considering downgrading to 1AA or quitting pigskin after a 28-0 loss to Temple.

BYU beat Wyoming. Notre Dame beat the no defense Tar Heels.

New Mexico St 45 Hawaii 28. Rare easy lei for the Ags.

Oct 2, 2022

 Freeze O machine doesn't miss a beat. Liberty 38- ODU 24.

How about those Huskies? Devontae Houston rushed for 105 yards. UMass gave E.Michigan a scare but lost 20-13 

BYU handled UTAH St.

 NMST lost 21-7 to FIU(CUSA). Ags hoops team is going to like the move to the CUSA more than its football team. 

Oct 4, 2022

BYU on NBC this week for a visit to Notre Dame. The Hall to Hill connection will give BYU a big road win.

Oct 9, 2022

Mora Jr has UConn looking like a team. UConn 33 FIU 12. Maybe the Cusa will take them for just football since UConn is a hoops first school and they're staying in the Big East.

 ND 28 BYU 20 to give ND 7-2 lead in the series. Liberty took care of UMass, and Army got trounced by Wake Forest

Oct 13, 2022

I doubt if the MAC wants to deal with UMass as a member again, and UConn would be interesting for football only. This weekend UMass hosts Buffalo while UConn travels to Ball St.

An angry Arkansas(SEC) makes an infrequent visit to BYU. Notre Dame hosts Stanford(Pac12). NMST hosts New Mexico(MWC)

Oct 16, 2022

Big Independents, ND and BYU had rough days. Liberty escaped Gardner -Webb.

UConn didn't score in the second half and lost to Ball St. UMass still doesn't know Defense is one of the three parts of football and lost to Buffalo 34-7.

NMST 21 NM 9 in the Rio Grande Rivalry or Battle of I-25.

Oct 20, 2022

Mormons land in Falwell country for an interesting matchup. Liberty got within one of Wake Forest in its only loss but hasn't played as tough as a schedule as BYU. Dae Dae Hunter is an exciting offensive player for the Flames, but he won't be enough. BYU 34 LIB 27.

BTW, Notre Dame hosts UNLV(MWC) in the first matchup ever between these football teams. ND should recover from the bad loss to Stanford. ND 30 UNLV 17

Oct 22, 2022

Wow BYU got killed in Falwell country. They got a lot of work to do before they play a Big 12 schedule. BYU 14 @ Lib 41 F

Dae Dae Hunter Yds-Rc31 Yds-Ru213 TD-Ru1

Notre Dame beat UNLV 44-21. Pyne threw 2 td passes for the Irish

Oct 30, 2022

BYU keeps losing, this time to ECU(AAC). In New England, UConn beat BC, while UMass lost to New Mexico St.

Notre Dame dominated Syracuse and hosts Clemson next week. The game will be on NBC.

Shifting gears to Independent hoops. Chicago St was unable to land in a small, midwestern conference after leaving the WAC and managed to put together a 2022/23 schedule that includes Delaware St, an hour from my home, and Marshall.

Hartford left the America East conference, despite some recent success, as part of its move to Div III.

Oct 31, 2022

No. 23 Liberty is ranked in the AP football poll for the first time since 2020.

Nov 3, 2022

Interesting weekend with the Independents. 

Liberty may fall right out of the top 25 after it visits Arkansas.

Clemson needs to beat Notre Dame to stay in contention for the F4.

Army/AirForce will be close and is occurring at Arlington TX

BYU needs to beat Boise St if it wants to go bowling.

UConn reaches .500 with a W over UMass.

Nov 4, 2022

Man, I'm stunned that Liberty hung on and beat Arkansas 21-19, particularly after Hunter, one of their best O players was injured in the 1q. AFA beat Army and UConn beat UMass.

Hall to Nicau connection saved the day for BYU in a 35-28 win over Boise ST. Notre Dame deserves props for kicking Clemson's butt and the Tigers were exposed

Mum on royal transfer busts

D'eriq King, transferred from Houston (AAC) to Miami (ACC) in 2020 in hopes of a big NFL payday. I'm not sure how the Pats who signed King(QB) as a UFA, will use him. I'll use this blog to track other busts. 

Earlier blog: https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2019/09/friday-13th-football-mumme-and-more.html

May 4, 2022

On a lesser level Jack Coan, a starting QB at Wisky, transferred to Notre Dame, and was sIgned as a UFA by the Colts. 

Anthony Brown(QB) with Boston College and then Oregon had big stats but went undrafted. Ravens just signed him.  

May 15, 2022

Skyler Thomas, who was the starting safety at Wazzoo a few years ago and jumped in/out/in of the transfer portal when he thought the Pac 12 was headed for a Covid shutdown, landed at Liberty U for 2022. He went undrafted and was signed as a UDFA by the Chargers. He has a shot, but the move did not increase his value.

June 4, 2022

McKenzie Milton who played QB at UCF and Florida St gave up on his NFL aspirations due to lingering knee issues. He started an NIL company in February 2022 with former Miami U quarterback D'Eriq King to help athletes "land potential deals,". It has a heavy UCF-focus. 

June 30, 2022

Here's a hoops story that pre-dates NIL but shows some negatives from early recruiting, particularly for five-star guys.  Emoni Bates initially committed to playing in his home state of Michigan at the age of 16 by pledging to join Sparty  in June 2020 but decommitted. Next up Memphis where he averaged less than ten points a game last season. Now he's headed home to play at Eastern Michigan (MAC).

July 28, 2022

 I missed this news in May. Patriots cut QB D’Eriq King after trying him out at multiple positions. No other NFL teams have shown any interest.

Oct 7, 2022

Rumors the Raiders are looking at Jack Coan who is a FA, but how will they protect him.

Nov 14, 2022

Maybe this one is not a bust? Ex-top recruit Emoni Bates has 30 in his Eastern Michigan(MAC) debut but it wasn't enough. Mich 88 EMU 83. EMU helped him through some off court problems in September including gun charges. Perhaps, he'll mature and realize how protected he's been. Who knows?

Feb 26, 2023

D'eriq King was signed then released quickly by Carolina Panthers in Nov 2022. He's with the DC Defenders in the XFL. Prime example of how "working" the transfer portal doesn't always guarantee you a big payday in the NFL.

Emoni Bates is averaging 20 points a game for E. Michigan, a weak MAC team. He appears to have found a home, but I doubt if he gets drafted by the NBA. Perhaps, he lands in the G League.

Feb 4, 2024

D"Eric King is a QB coach for SMU. Emoni Bates is on a two-way contract, shuffling between the Cavs and its G League affiliate, the Charge.