My long-awaited CFB preview thread 2022

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Colorado State

Preview segment: The Colorado State Rams

Last season: Now, I just talked about the shocking state that Nevada football is in. But let's now talk about the catalyst of this situation, and that is Jay Norvell going to Colorado State.
And why did the Rams hire Norvell to be their coach? Well, the Rams were pathetic in 2021 as they went 3-9 (with a loss to South Dakota State thrown in), so out went Steve Addazio and in comes Norvell.

Bad news: Norvell has some work to do right away, as only 3 starters return from last year's offense. Of note, the O-line will be mostly made up of transfers this year, and the QB depth chart is full of young players. No, I mean REALLY young.

Good news: A good defense is possible with some strong linebackers and proud transfers coming in the secondary. Oh, and the WR group looks very good.

Key games:
9/24 vs. Sacramento State (After starting with road games against Michigan and Washington State, an FCS team in Fort Collins will be a welcome sight for the Rams. HOPEFULLY, the Rams will take care of business here.)
10/15 vs. Utah State (After his emotional return to Reno, Jay Norvell has another tough assignment waiting for him when he gets home: Hosting the defending Mountain West champions.)
11/12 vs. Wyoming (Colorado State has lost 5 of the last 6 meetings against rival Wyoming.)
11/26 vs. New Mexico (A winnable Senior Day game for the Rams.)

Bottom line: With all of the resources that he now has access to, I'm sure that Jay Norvell and his staff can get Colorado State back to winning football. Just don't expect it to happen overnight, as I think the Rams will be sitting at home come bowl season in 2022.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Utah State

Preview segment: The Utah State Aggies

Last season: I'm so proud of these guys! Back in 2020, they were a mess with player walkouts and a coach being fired. Then Blake Anderson comes in as the new head coach, and ta-da! The 2021 Aggies would go on to grab an 11-3 record, a shocking Mountain West championship, and a bowl win over Oregon State. All of that would put Utah State at #24 in the final AP rankings!
A phenomenal run, for sure. Now can they actually defend their conference title?

Good news: QB Logan Bonner returns, and he'll have a great O-line to help him out, along with RB Calvin Tyler Jr.. The defense should still be good...

Bad news: ...but it will be missing people like Nick Heninger on the D-line. Oh, and Logan Bonner needs to find some new top WR's quick.

Key games:
9/29 @ BYU (With BYU moving to the Big 12 next season, this may be the last chance Utah State will get to destroy the Cougars for a very long time.)
10/8 vs. Air Force (Utah State will have a bye week to prep for this game. A 49-45 win over the Falcons eventually allowed Utah State to win the Mountain division last year.)
10/22 @ Wyoming (If I remember correctly, Utah State was using another QB in 2021 named Andrew Peasley... who's now the starting QB for the Wyoming Cowboys. And didn't Wyoming pound the Aggies last year 44-17?)
11/26 @ Boise State (It'll depend on how well Boise State is doing, but this game might decide the Mountain division in 2022.)

Bottom line: Utah State deserves a lot of credit for what they did in 2021, but now it's 2022 and they're back to being a target in the Mountain West. But I'm sure that with Logan Bonner and Blake Anderson still here in Logan, Utah, the Aggies will be up to the challenge. The Air Force and Boise State games looms large, however.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Hawaii

Preview segment: The Hawaii Warriors

Last season: Things were going along OK at Hawaii on December 2021, as they had just qualified for a bowl with 6 wins. But then, EVERYTHING fell off the rails. First, Hawaii had a COVID outbreak and they couldn't have the Hawaii Bowl against Memphis. And then, complaints of a toxic culture under head coach Todd Graham came out, and then the state senate got involved, and eventually Graham left.
Now a new head coach is here, and it is beloved Warriors QB Timmy Chang. And Timmy is determined to get his island team back on track.

Good news: The kicking game looks solid, and Chang is looking to open up the passing game with some good wideouts.

Bad news: 8 of Hawaii's top 10 tacklers from a year ago are gone, and there is a QB battle going on after Chevan Cordeiro transferred to San Jose State.

Key games:
8/27 vs. Vanderbilt (The new coaching staff is leaning heavily on transfers to shore up the defense. Here's hoping that the new defense is ready for this big Week Zero contest.)
10/15 vs. Nevada (Here's a winnable conference game for the Warriors.)
11/5 @ Fresno State (Hawaii's biggest win of last season came when they stunned a ranked Fresno State team 27-24.)
11/12 vs. Utah State (If Hawaii's offense is running well, this MW game is winnable.)

Bottom line: Timmy Chang's plan is to win big in the Mountain West with a mixture of talent from the transfer portal, the continent, and his native land of Hawaii. It may work in the long run, but Hawaii will struggle to reach the postseason in 2022 with all of the issues Timmy will have to address.

 

[navamind]

Didn't know Timmy Chang was the new Hawaii coach. That's cool.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

New Mexico

Preview segment: The New Mexico Lobos

Last season: A 2-0 start evaporated into a 3-9 finish.

Bad news: Only 1 starter returns from last year's offense, with the O-line the most worrisome place on the entire team.

Good news: But then again, New Mexico's offense was the worst in the country last year, so maybe some new faces will help. The Lobos' defense was pretty good last year, and it should be again.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Boise State (The early part of New Mexico's schedule is a little rough, as they must start conference play against a Boise State team looking to rebound.)
9/17 vs. UTEP (And then, the Lobos will host a former "brother-in-misery" that is now starting to actually do stuff again.)
10/15 @ New Mexico State (These rivals have split their last 6 meetings.)
11/19 vs. San Diego State (By this time, we'll know how much better New Mexico's offense really is.)

Bottom line: New Mexico has FINALLY gotten their strength-training regimen (which was shut down due to the pandemic) up and running again. Hopefully the Lobos' offense will benefit from it, 'cause if not the defense can't hold the team up forever. We might be seeing New Mexico last in the Mountain division again this year.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Wyoming

Preview segment: The Wyoming Cowboys

Last season: Wyoming got another bowl victory in 2021, which is impressive... if you ignore the fact that Wyoming started the season 4-0 but then got a head-scratching 6 losses in conference play. Maybe it was that god-awful passing game that did it.

Good news: To fix the passing game, Wyoming imported QB Andrew Peasley to help out. And Andrew can lean on a potent running attack while he gets used to his new surroundings. The defense should be good again despite only returning 3 starters from a year ago.

Bad news: The O-line is missing 3 senior starters from a year ago, but the biggest worry is at wide-receiver; Isaiah Neyor transferred to Texas, and I don't see a good substitute for him at the position yet.

Key games:
8/27 @ Illinois (Wyoming will have a chance in this opener if they can stop Illinois's rebuilding offense.)
9/17 vs. Air Force (The Air Force game last year was the first of those 6 conference losses. Wyoming will look for payback in Laramie.)
10/1 vs. San Jose State (A potential swing-game for Wyoming's bowl chances.)
11/12 @ Colorado State (At least Wyoming kept the "Bronze Boot" away from the Rams last year.)

Bottom line: Outside expectations are low thanks to all of the moving pieces going around now in Laramie, but Wyoming should still be in the running for another postseason berth. And if Andrew Peasley is able to get the passing game going, who knows what can happen?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Nevada Las-Vegas

Preview segment: The UNLV Rebels

Last season: A miserable 2-10, with a loss to Eastern Washington thrown in.

Bad news: The defense was pretty bad last year, and hope is not high for a improvement over there. The punting game needs an upgrade, and we have 3 QB's fighting it out for the starting job.

Good news: But shockingly, the quarterback spot might STILL be the best place on the team, as all 3 of them has what it takes to run the ship. The wide-receiver group looks good, and I have hope that the O-line will be better.

Key games:
9/10 @ California (...Nah, I think UNLV can take care of Idaho State in their opener. THIS game, however, will be a big test for UNLV's offensive personnel.)
10/1 vs. New Mexico (A winnable game for UNLV.)
11/12 vs. Fresno State (Don't lose hope for the Fresno game, UNLV! Remember, you almost stunned the Bulldogs last year in Fresno.)
11/26 vs. Nevada (Nevada is going through a total rebuild, so this "Fremont Cannon" game is very winnable for the Rebels.)

Bottom line: A new athletic director is now at UNLV, and coach Marcus Arroyo is only 2-16 as the head man. Needless to say, Marcus is on the clock to get UNLV back to respectability. But the road slate is hard (Notre Dame, San Diego State, and Utah State comes to mind), and the defense is still a work in progress.
If UNLV flirts with a bowl berth, I'll call their 2022 season a roaring success.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

San Diego State

Preview segment: The San Diego State Aztecs

Last season: Okay, that MW championship game loss to Utah State was bad. But let's focus on the positives that San Diego State did in 2021. They defeated 2 PAC-12 teams (including the eventual PAC-12 champs), finished 12-2, and even finished in the final AP rankings after beating UTSA in the Frisco Bowl! Brady Hoke is doing great so far in his 2nd stint in San Diego.

Good news: We have another solid defense in the Mountain West over here! Of note, Patrick McMorris headlines a proud secondary. On offense, QB Braxton Burmeister comes in from Virginia Tech.

Bad news: Let's all hope that Braxton can wake up this awful SDSU passing attack that ranked 115th overall last year. But if the new-look O-line fails, there's absolutely no chance of that happening.

Key games:
9/3 vs. Arizona (This opener will be a double delight for the Aztecs; not only will they host a PAC-12 team they defeated last year, but they'll be doing it in their brand new home: Snapdragon Stadium.)
10/1 @ Boise State (Going to Boise State is always a tough assignment, but hey! SDSU did beat the Broncos the last 2 times they've met [including last year's meeting].)
10/29 @ Fresno State (Maybe the biggest game in the West division this year. SDSU will want revenge for their only regular-season loss of 2021, but the game's in Fresno and the Bulldogs are LOADED.)
11/26 vs. Air Force (If all goes well, this could be the first of 2 meetings this year between the Falcons and Aztecs.)

Bottom line: SDSU is coming off a 12-win season, they finally have a new stadium after spending the last few years in Carson Dignity Sports Park, and there is hope that the new QB can wake up the offense. The Aztecs will shoot for a return trip to the Mountain West title game, but Fresno State will steal their lunch if their O-line stinks it up.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Air Force

Preview segment: The Air Force Falcons

Last season: When Air Force went 3-3 in 2020, coach Troy Calhoun just shrugged his shoulders to the media and say "Ah, we had a lot of turnbacks due to the pandemic. What can you do?" Well, in 2021 almost all of those "turnbacks" returned to the program and helped led Air Force to a 10-win season, including a bowl triumph over Louisville. Now in 2022, could the Falcons string together another 10-win season?

Good news: Nearly everyone on the 2021 offense is back, including FB Brad Roberts and QB Haaziq Daniels. Line play looks to be strong on both sides, and the kicking game looks set for the next couple of years.

Bad news: Air Force does have a new coaching staff on defense, so there might be an adjustment period over there.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Colorado (A straight-up challenge match for the Falcons to get some national publicity. And I think Colorado actually LOST to Air Force the last time they met.)
10/1 vs. Navy (Yes, you can't forget about the "Commander-in-Chief" trophy if you're a military school.)
10/8 @ Utah State (Oooo... THIS is gonna be a tough assignment, going to visit Utah State right after the Navy game. Remember that last year, Air Force lost an early game to the Aggies... and the Aggies took that win all the way to the Mountain West title.)
10/22 vs Boise State (Showdown time at Falcon Stadium! If the Falcons beat Boise State again, I think they're a lock for the Mountain division.)
11/5 vs. Army [in Arlington, TX] (Air Force will have a bye week to prep for this return trip to "Jerry World"... the same place that Army defeated them last year in OT.)

Bottom line: You know what? Air Force is my pick for the Mountain division title in 2022; nearly everyone involved with the 2021 campaign is coming back, and most of their tough games are at home. Getting past Utah State and Boise State [not to mention retaking the "Commander-in-Chief" trophy] is a priority if they wanna do it, but I think Troy Calhoun and his boys can take care of business.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

San Jose State

Preview segment: The San Jose State Spartans

Last season: San Jose State found gold in the shortened 2020 season, but they sadly couldn't keep it going in 2021. Oh sure, they started out 5-4, but three straight losses to end the year ruined the whole thing.

Bad news: Great! Another team with problems on the line! This time, SJSU's O-line is undergoing big changes, which may not help the running game get going at all.

Good news: San Jose was able to get QB Chevan Cordeiro from the transfer portal, and I have faith that he'll do better than Nick Starkel did last year. And don't forget: Few CFB teams in 2022 will have the depth and the experience on defense that San Jose will have.

Key games:
9/10 @ Auburn (Well, this one is gonna be REALLY tough for San Jose State to handle. But then again, Auburn is in a state of turmoil right now...)
10/15 @ Fresno State (The Spartans will be hoping for a better effort in this game with Fresno than the 40-9 borefest we got last year.)
11/12 @ San Diego State (Another tough stretch on SJSU's schedule will come when they visit San Diego State...)
11/19 @ Utah State (...and Utah State in consecutive weeks.)

Bottom line: San Jose State is my "wild-card" team in the Mountain West this season. The defense looks awesome, but can coach Brent Brennan wake up the offense and get the running game going? And will Chevan Cordeiro help out the offense, too? It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Fresno State

Preview segment: The Fresno State Bulldogs

Last season: A wonderful season by Fresno State standards, as they went 10-3 with a bowl victory. Oh, and they stopped UCLA! Trouble is, their head coach left for the Washington Huskies after the season, so now they have.... Jeff Tedford coming back?! Cool! Fresno should still be great this season.

Good news: No big worries about the offense! QB Jake Haener is still here and his group of WR's are very impressive. The defense returns some key players like Evan Williams...

Bad news: ...but it will be missing some big bodies up on the D-line. And there has been some hand-wringing about the new defensive coaching staff. Is this just transition pains, or do the CFB magazines have a right to worry?

Key games:
9/17 @ USC (After hosting Oregon State, the Bulldogs will try their luck once again against USC. Don't forget, USC will have this game right after dealing with Stanford.)
10/8 @ Boise State (Losing by 26 to a middling Boise State team had to hurt for Fresno. The fact that the loss prevented Fresno from going to the MW title game has to hurt even more.)
10/15 vs. San Jose State (Whoops, can't forget this one.)
10/29 vs. San Diego State (As mentioned yesterday, this may be the biggest game in the West division this season.)

Bottom line: The November slate is pretty easy for Fresno State, so Jeff Tedford has THAT going for him in the 1st year of his 2nd go-around here. But hopefully, he'll make sure the transition pains are minimal so that Fresno can overcome a tough October and win the West division. The offense is ready to go, though, so I think they can do it.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Boise State

The last preview segment for the Mountain West: The Boise State Broncos

Last season: It was a bit of a tough ride for Boise State in Andy Avalos' 1st year as head coach. I mean, they played better as the season went on, but Boise State finished 7-5 (which was their worst record since 1998). Oh, and QB Hank Bachmeier still wasn't the difference-maker Boise fans wanted him to be.

Good news: Hank will get one more try to prove himself, and the O-line SHOULD be better than it was a year ago thanks to some high-impact transfers coming in. The defense returns 9 starters, including DE Shane Irwin and safety JL Skinner.

Bad news: Khalil Shakir is now in the NFL, which leaves a void in the receiving game. And if RB George Holani can't stay healthy this year, the running game could go splat once again.

2022 X-factor: Coach Andy Avalos- People are still a little skeptical of Andy's abilities as a head coach, so it'll be up to him to prove all the doubters wrong this year.

Key games:
9/3 @ Oregon State (This will be a monster season opener for the Broncos; the Beavers are now hoping for a shot at the PAC-12 title, and Boise's offense has to be ready to go right away to stop them.)
10/1 vs. San Diego State (This begins a very busy October for Boise State. First they'll be hosting SDSU, then they'll go to visit Fresno State...)
10/22 @ Air Force (...and then they'll get a bye week to prep for this trip to Colorado Springs. The Mountain division may hang on the outcome of this game.)
11/5 vs. BYU (Maybe Boise's biggest moment of the 2021 season was when they visited a BYU team that was ranked #10... and then shocked them 26-17.)
11/26 vs. Utah State (This could be an elimination game in the Mountain division at the least.)

Bottom line: Boise State fans are spoiled for victories, so you know they won't accept another 7-win campaign this season. But Boise still has elite talent, so if the coaching staff gets it together and the O-line does a better job protecting Hank, the Broncos can get back to the top of the Mountain West in 2022. They got a lot of challenges to overcome, though.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Mountain West predictions

And now, I go to see if the leak in my basement has FINALLY stopped. But until then, here are my picks for the Mountain West:

West division:
1. Fresno State (Conference champs)
2. San Diego State
3. San Jose State
4. Nevada
5. UNLV
6. Hawaii

Mountain division:
1. Air Force
2. Boise State
3. Utah State
4. Wyoming
5. Colorado State
6. New Mexico

Tomorrow, I start working on the Mid-American conference.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Ball State

The first preview segment for the Mid-American Conference: The Ball State Cardinals

Last season: We know that Ball State is not used to great success. We know that it can be hard for a program like Ball State to compete for conference championships. That was why the 2021 season was disappointing to them; they were expected to at least try to win a 2nd-straight MAC title, but their stats fell across the board and they finished 6-7.

Good news: Most of the young guys that played on Ball State's offense last year are back, so the offense should be better. The D-line has a couple of playmakers.

Bad news: Only 3 starters return on the defense, and the kicking game is a huge unknown.

2022 X-factor: QB John Paddock- It looks like Paddock will be the starting QB for Ball State this year, but he'll be a question mark until he proves he can do it in a real game.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Western Michigan (A very important conference opener for the Cardinals; their new defense has to be ready for a challenge immediately.)
10/1 vs. Northern Illinois (On one hand, Ball State only lost by 1 point last year to the Huskies. On the other hand, Northern Illinois wants another conference title this season.)
10/22 vs. Eastern Michigan (This MAC game looks winnable.)
11/15 vs. Ohio (This is the only home game Ball State will have in November.)

Bottom line: Such a shame. In one year, Ball State went from being MAC favorites to being just a team hoping for a break. But they got a lot of problems to fix on the defense and on special teams. If they don't start off fast, the Cardinals might be sitting at home this Christmas time.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Bowling Green

Preview segment: The Bowling Green Falcons

Last season: There actually were some encouraging signs of life at Bowling Green last year as they got 4 wins, including a stunner at Minnesota.

Good news: 17 starters from last year's squad returns, including QB Matt McDonald and a deep defensive line. Tight-end Christian Sims could be due for a breakout season.

Bad news: The problem spots are actually minor in nature; Bowling Green just needs to some a new kicker and a extra linebacker or two.

Key games:
9/17 vs. Marshall (The non-conference slate IS a bit difficult, with UCLA and Mississippi State on it. THIS one, however, is quite winnable.)
10/15 vs. Miami-Ohio (The Falcons have lost 4 of their last 5 meetings against the Redhawks. But they'll have a chance this year, and if they do it the MAC East might be theirs.)
10/22 @ Central Michigan (Of course, they have to be mindful of a hangover against the tough Chippewas afterwards.)
11/9 vs. Kent State (Another big part of Bowling Green's schedule is when they'll host rival Kent State on their Senior Day...)
11/15 @ Toledo (...before dealing with the rival Toledo Rockets afterwards.)

Bottom line: Coach Scott Loeffler has done an okay job so far in his quest to get Bowling Green back to being a solid program. And with many starters from the 2021 team coming back, can they make the postseason and challenge for a conference crown? In the wide-open MAC East... sure, why not?

 

[navamind]

Air Force

Preview segment: The Air Force Falcons

Last season: When Air Force went 3-3 in 2020, coach Troy Calhoun just shrugged his shoulders to the media and say "Ah, we had a lot of turnbacks due to the pandemic. What can you do?" Well, in 2021 almost all of those "turnbacks" returned to the program and helped led Air Force to a 10-win season, including a bowl triumph over Louisville. Now in 2022, could the Falcons string together another 10-win season?

Good news: Nearly everyone on the 2021 offense is back, including FB Brad Roberts and QB Haaziq Daniels. Line play looks to be strong on both sides, and the kicking game looks set for the next couple of years.

Bad news: Air Force does have a new coaching staff on defense, so there might be an adjustment period over there.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Colorado (A straight-up challenge match for the Falcons to get some national publicity. And I think Colorado actually LOST to Air Force the last time they met.)
10/1 vs. Navy (Yes, you can't forget about the "Commander-in-Chief" trophy if you're a military school.)
10/8 @ Utah State (Oooo... THIS is gonna be a tough assignment, going to visit Utah State right after the Navy game. Remember that last year, Air Force lost an early game to the Aggies... and the Aggies took that win all the way to the Mountain West title.)
10/22 vs Boise State (Showdown time at Falcon Stadium! If the Falcons beat Boise State again, I think they're a lock for the Mountain division.)
11/5 vs. Army [in Arlington, TX] (Air Force will have a bye week to prep for this return trip to "Jerry World"... the same place that Army defeated them last year in OT.)

Bottom line: You know what? Air Force is my pick for the Mountain division title in 2022; nearly everyone involved with the 2021 campaign is coming back, and most of their tough games are at home. Getting past Utah State and Boise State [not to mention retaking the "Commander-in-Chief" trophy] is a priority if they wanna do it, but I think Troy Calhoun and his boys can take care of business.

Yep, Air Force beat Colorado in 2019 (30-23 in Boulder).

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Kent State

Preview segment: The Kent State Golden Flashes

Last season: That 7-7 mark looks weird on the docket, but Kent State ain't complaining about it! They were able to win the MAC East title last year while running one of the Top 5 offenses in the country! But, wait! I thought Sean Lewis would have used that chance to leave for a "Power 5" job. He must REALLY want Kent State to do that again in 2022.

Good news: 16 starters in total are back from the previous year. This includes a solid secondary and some strong players at RB and WR.

Bad news: QB Dustin Crum has left the building, and both the O-line and D-line has some depth problems.

2022 X-factor: QB Collin Schlee- Collin does have the talent and the ability to keep the Kent offense rolling, but there's gonna be a lot of pressure on his shoulders to live up to what Dustin Crum did. We'll see if Collin crumbles or stands tall.

Key games:
9/3 @ Washington (Kent has maybe the hardest non-conference slate of anyone in the FBS this year; not only must they go to Washington, but they're also visiting Oklahoma AND Georgia?! Man, that weight room renovation Kent State recently did must have been expensive.)
10/8 @ Miami-Ohio (Great! ANOTHER hard road game for the Flashes! ...Then again, Kent did beat Miami 48-47 last year to take the MAC East.)
10/15 @ Toledo (Infrequent in-state rivals meet once again. Kent has not beaten Toledo since 2006.)
11/9 @ Bowling Green (The "Battle for the Anniversary Award" might help decide who wins the East division in 2022.)

Bottom line: You gotta admire Sean Lewis for staying in Kent and trying to make the Flashes a consistent winner. But they got that hard schedule staring them down, so Kent State had BETTER take care of business at home (and take out Buffalo and Miami-Ohio again) if they want ANY chance of returning to Detroit in 2022.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Eastern Michigan

Preview segment: The Eastern Michigan Eagles

Last season: Yet another bowl trip for the kids from Ypsilanti! Now, they had the misfortune of facing Malik WIllis and Liberty, so they lost that bowl. I guess that'll be the aim of EMU this season: Making a bowl and winning it.

Bad news: The defense needs some major work, especially in the secondary. Oh, and the Eagles must break in yet another starting QB after Ben Bryant transferred away.

Good news: That new QB is Taylor Powell, who impressed people during spring ball. And he'll have one of the best O-lines in the MAC (and RB Darius Boone Jr.) to help him out. Oh, and the defense DOES have DE Jose Ramirez to help out.

Key games:
9/10 @ Louisiana (EMU has another easy non-conference slate lined up! Sure, going to Lafayette may be scary, but at least Louisiana doesn't have Levi Lewis or Billy Napier anymore!)
10/8 @ Western Michigan (Wow! Eastern Michigan has now beaten Western Michigan 3 years in a row.)
10/15 vs. Northern Illinois (If the Eagles want to steal away the MAC West title, they have to upset the Huskies.)
10/29 vs. Toledo (Don't skip over this MAC contest, people; EMU did beat Toledo last year in Toledo.)
11/25 vs. Central Michigan (On Senior Day, the Eagles will face the rival Chippewas... for the 100th time.)

Bottom line: The Chris Creighton era has gone great for Eastern Michigan, but now a question is hanging over the program: "Have they peaked?". If the defense is able to get better and Taylor Powell can lead the offense, EMU should be able to find another bowl berth. And if they were to win said bowl, THAT would silence all the doubters.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Akron

Preview segment: The Akron Zips

Last season: A rough 2-10. So out goes Tom Arth and in comes former Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead.

Good news: The CFB magazines have been praising Akron's hiring of Moorhead, and he'll have people like QB DJ Irons to help him out in Year 1.

Bad news: There are a lot of question marks around this team right now, especially on defense; a pass-rush REALLY needs to be found quick.

Key games:
10/1 vs. Bowling Green (This was the only win Akron was able to get against an FBS school last year.)
10/8 @ Ohio (The Bobcats still has problems to fix, so this one is winnable.)
11/8 vs. Eastern Michigan (By this time, we'll know how well Akron's new defense is doing.)

Bottom line: Moorhead has brought in some high-level "Power 5" transfers, so maybe Akron can surprise someone in 2022. But until then, maybe we should just ignore Akron as Moorhead begins his rebuild.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Western Michigan

Preview segment: The Western Michigan Eagles

Last season: I just don't get it. Western Michigan's offense and defense were both ranked in the Top 20. They had a win over the future ACC champions. They smashed Nevada in a bowl game 52-24. So why did Western Michigan go 4-4 in their own conference?! I wish I knew.

Good news: The defense is raring to go, with a defensive line that looks savage. RB La'Darius Jefferson should be a force on the ground.

Bad news: Even with La'Darius here, the WMU offense is gonna take a step back. I mean, you can't lose your starting QB, your top RB, and your top WR from a year ago and NOT feel it.

Key games:
9/17 vs. Pittsburgh (Oh dear. A rematch with Pitt?! Yeah, the game's in Kalamazoo, but Pittsburgh will REALLY take the Broncos seriously now.)
10/8 vs. Eastern Michigan (As I mentioned earlier, the Broncos have a losing skid against Eastern Michigan, and that has to stop.)
11/9 vs. Northern Illinois (November is where WMU's season will be won or lost. Here, they'll host the defending MAC champions [who they actually defeated last year].)
11/16 @ Central Michigan (Then, the Broncos will face their other in-state rival...)
11/25 vs. Toledo (...before hosting the Rockets on their Senior Day.)

Bottom line: I was gonna make Western Michigan my "wild-card" team of the conference, but I thought better of it. I mean, the offense has a lot of holes to fix and the schedule could be a bear. Unless a quick fix happens, Tim Lester and his team will be hard-pressed to compete for the MAC West this season.