espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49574597/2026-138-fbs-college-football-teams-tiers-rankings#locks

"Tier 18: Are we having fun yet?
App State Mountaineers
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Central Michigan Chippewas
Delaware Blue Hens
Florida International Panthers
Georgia State Panthers
Nevada Wolf Pack
Rice Owls
San José State Spartans
South Alabama Jaguars
Temple Owls
Wyoming Cowboys


For a prime example of the hollowing out of the Group of 6, look no further than App State. From 2015 to 2021, the Mountaineers were 73-19, the sixth-best winning percentage in FBS.

From Scott Satterfield to Eli Drinkwitz to Shawn Clark, the program won by finding diamonds in the rough, developing them over years and playing tougher, smarter football than many of their bigger-budget counterparts. It led to some utterly seismic moments, from the win in the Big House in 2007 to knocking off Texas A&M in College Station in 2022.

There was a formula for winning on the mountain, and App State had done it for generations. Then came the portal and NIL and revenue sharing, and the whole thing fell apart. App State is 19-19 over the past three seasons, and the Mountaineers have lost 10 of their past 11 against teams that finished the year with a winning record, including eight by double digits. The lone win came in Week 13 in 2024 against JMU.

Maybe there's a new formula that can help reinvigorate a program that had long been the standard for small-school football. But it won't be the same, and it probably won't be sustainable."

Uplifting.

Sounds like the perfect time to get that chip back.

Look at the bright side, we still have 1 more tier to fall before we're the very worst!!!

That's a pretty staggering stat on the losing 10 of 11 against teams that finished with winning records. Also wouldn't say we're a small school at 20k enrollment, but I get the authors sentiment.

A whole lot to prove this year. I think we're up to the challenge. 8 win floor. Zero chance of winning the Sun Belt but 8 win floor.

I wouldn't say zero chance at sunbbelt title but very unlikely..

Every word of that stung with so much truth.

Generations of winning.....

Something people need to remember when long-time fans get so frustrated with how things are these days.

Someone is going to win the Sunbelt. Outside of JMU the resources are relatively even. No excuses.

Funny some folks couldn't see the fall off...

Overall though we deserve a negative outlook...Will make it that much sweeter if we have a great season

I think we will see some great, close, football in the sunbelt. I am very worried ECU puts a 21 point win on us. NC State could be ugly too. Purely NIL for NC State. I think ECU has put together a pretty good program the last few years.

We're not likely to have the 3-1 start we did last year. So, rather than collapsing as the season progressed, we will need get hot in the conference portion of the season. A 7-5 season would be a good turnaround.

Our talent level should be in the top echelon of the Sun Belt based on recruiting/transfer rankings over the past few years, which tells me one of a few things. Either they’re not as good as advertised, they aren’t developed by the staff, or the staff can’t put the pieces together. The best scenario is the third option being the reason as if the staff can figure it out, then we should be in contention for a conference title.

Someone smarter than me please explain how there can possibly be a valid transfer ranking at our level. I’m sure stats are tracked to include playing time for new App players at their previous school. If we are generally getting dudes who played or barely played how on earth can anyone assess that “talent”? If we get a Junior and use his high school ranking that seems pointless. If anyone really cares about preseason tier rankings they probably need a nap. We are pretty much playing pickup football. Let’s see how the pieces fit.

Bigdaddyg1 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 15, 2026 9:18 am

Someone smarter than me please explain how there can possibly be a valid transfer ranking at our level. I’m sure stats are tracked to include playing time for new App players at their previous school. If we are generally getting dudes who played or barely played how on earth can anyone assess that “talent”? If we get a Junior and use his high school ranking that seems pointless. If anyone really cares about preseason tier rankings they probably need a nap. We are pretty much playing pickup football. Let’s see how the pieces fit.

Easy answer, there is no valid ranking

Luke expressed his feelings.

BUTCH1991 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 15, 2026 9:49 am

Bigdaddyg1 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 15, 2026 9:18 am

Someone smarter than me please explain how there can possibly be a valid transfer ranking at our level. I’m sure stats are tracked to include playing time for new App players at their previous school. If we are generally getting dudes who played or barely played how on earth can anyone assess that “talent”? If we get a Junior and use his high school ranking that seems pointless. If anyone really cares about preseason tier rankings they probably need a nap. We are pretty much playing pickup football. Let’s see how the pieces fit.

Easy answer, there is no valid ranking

I was about to say the same thing. There is no valid ranking. Historically, our best players were 2-star recruits and not the high end 3-star and 4-star guys.

AppStFan1 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 16, 2026 9:28 am

BUTCH1991 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 15, 2026 9:49 am

Bigdaddyg1 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 15, 2026 9:18 am

Someone smarter than me please explain how there can possibly be a valid transfer ranking at our level. I’m sure stats are tracked to include playing time for new App players at their previous school. If we are generally getting dudes who played or barely played how on earth can anyone assess that “talent”? If we get a Junior and use his high school ranking that seems pointless. If anyone really cares about preseason tier rankings they probably need a nap. We are pretty much playing pickup football. Let’s see how the pieces fit.

Easy answer, there is no valid ranking

I was about to say the same thing. There is no valid ranking. Historically, our best players were 2-star recruits and not the high end 3-star and 4-star guys.

Were they better recruits or did we have a better development plan

NattyBumppo'sRevenge wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 16, 2026 1:42 pm

AppStFan1 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 16, 2026 9:28 am

BUTCH1991 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 15, 2026 9:49 am

Bigdaddyg1 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 15, 2026 9:18 am

Someone smarter than me please explain how there can possibly be a valid transfer ranking at our level. I’m sure stats are tracked to include playing time for new App players at their previous school. If we are generally getting dudes who played or barely played how on earth can anyone assess that “talent”? If we get a Junior and use his high school ranking that seems pointless. If anyone really cares about preseason tier rankings they probably need a nap. We are pretty much playing pickup football. Let’s see how the pieces fit.

Easy answer, there is no valid ranking

I was about to say the same thing. There is no valid ranking. Historically, our best players were 2-star recruits and not the high end 3-star and 4-star guys.

Were they better recruits or did we have a better development plan

The recruiting websites were just putting a 2-star place holder without evaluating our commits in-depth since that is what they put on schools who are just moving up and low level G5/G6 schools. They also go heavily off the offer lists and some of our NFL players did not have much of an offer list coming out of high school. I think that was the biggest reason but we did have some who developed a lot from when we signed them. They miss big time on FCS and G6 commits though. Look how many draft picks NDSU has had while none of them were rated high.

It's simple, you rank and review in the way that gets the most views, clicks, reposts or whatever it is that earns the writer $.

Just win.