🔮 My 2025 PSAC West Predicted Ranking

[ClarionNoob]

Newer to the board but thought I would give a very general first shot at this based on all I’ve been seeing and researching. Designed as conversion starters on each one so didn’t go into detail on each , thought the 🧵 could handle that.


1. Slippery Rock – Poised to repeat as division champs, deep playoff intentions. Some offensive losses will sting but Defense will overcome.

2. California (PA) – With strong coaching and talent, likely title contenders.

3. IUP – Expect bounce-back with veteran leadership, loosing OC makes things interesting.

4. Clarion – Leap year potential thanks to lots of returning starters, solid recruiting class and new OC.

5. Gannon – Reliable, with the potential to challenge higher in the division, I think they had a lot of coaching changes ?

6. Seton Hill – Defensive improvements needed to push them further.

7. Edinboro – Games will be close—veteran-laden but near the cellar.

[EastStroud13]

I'll be interested to see how Gannon fares with one of the toughest early-season slates I've seen for a PSAC team lately:

vs. Davenport
@ Saginaw Valley
vs. ESU
@ Kutztown
vs. Rock

[ClarionNoob]

I'll be interested to see how Gannon fares with one of the toughest early-season slates I've seen for a PSAC team lately:

vs. Davenport
@ Saginaw Valley
vs. ESU
@ Kutztown
vs. Rock

Did Gannon have a huge coaching change ? I thought I read that and then couldn’t find it ?

[EastStroud13]

Did Gannon have a huge coaching change ? I thought I read that and then couldn’t find it ?

I think last year was the big shift. The 2025 staff shown on the website looks the same as 2024.

[Fightingscot82]

Did Gannon have a huge coaching change ? I thought I read that and then couldn’t find it ?

New OC this year plus all the typical turnover at the volunteer and part time positions.

[TheBigCat2192]

I understand not betting against them given the recent performance but I think you’re underselling just how much Slippery Rock lost on the offensive side of the ball. They’re down an experienced and productive QB, two good college RBs, and their top four receivers from last year between graduation and the portal. That’s a lot of dudes to replace all at once and it doesn’t even touch on the OL.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I understand not betting against them given the recent performance but I think you’re underselling just how much Slippery Rock lost on the offensive side of the ball. They’re down an experienced and productive QB, two good college RBs, and their top four receivers from last year between graduation and the portal. That’s a lot of dudes to replace all at once and it doesn’t even touch on the OL.

They did lose a lot and in some key positions. More than I realized at first. I now think they’re not a given to win the West this year. As much as I’d like to slide IUP to the first spot, they too have question marks, particularly on the O-line and at running back. Add to that a new QB (but a good one) and new OC and there are a lot of unknowns there. They do get Cal at home this year though. It’s quite possible that we end up with a three way tie at the top. Here’s my guess:

1. IUP
2. California
3. Slippery Rock
4. Edinboro
5. Clarion
6. Gannon
7. Seton Hill

[ClarionNoob]

I understand not betting against them given the recent performance but I think you’re underselling just how much Slippery Rock lost on the offensive side of the ball. They’re down an experienced and productive QB, two good college RBs, and their top four receivers from last year between graduation and the portal. That’s a lot of dudes to replace all at once and it doesn’t even touch on the OL.

Yeah i feel that as well. My gut is the D will have to do a lot more work this year.

[ClarionNoob]

They did lose a lot and in some key positions. More than I realized at first. I now think they’re not a given to win the West this year. As much as I’d like to slide IUP to the first spot, they too have question marks, particularly on the O-line and at running back. Add to that a new QB (but a good one) and new OC and there are a lot of unknowns there. They do get Cal at home this year though. It’s quite possible that we end up with a three way tie at the top. Here’s my guess:

1. IUP
2. California
3. Slippery Rock
4. Edinboro
5. Clarion
6. Gannon
7. Seton Hill

Explain Edinboro , why do you feel I was so far off the mark with them, just curious.

[Tdobson]

It has been years since the top three were not either IUP, Cal or The Rock. With the rest of the conference, you can throw darts at a board and take your best guesses.

When is the last time one of the big three (IUP, Cal or the Rock) didnt win the PSAC West?

My picks:
1. Indians
2. The Rock
3. Cal
4. Clarion
5. Boro
6. Gannon
7. Seton Hill

[Fightingscot82]

Who the heck knows. I haven't yet had a chance to take a look at who is returning for each team - all were decimated by graduations and the transfer portal. Nearly every all-PSAC honoree who didn't graduate was in the portal.

The West will be won by Cal, IUP, or Slippery Rock. Likely IUP only because they lost the least top talent. SRU had its butt kicked by its own success and graduation of playmakers like Long and Cooper.

Middle of the pack will likely be Clarion and Gannon. Clarion's QB is great and they didn't have any major transfer losses.

Too many unknowns with Edinboro and Seton Hill. Edinboro has a completely new coaching staff and lost some of its best skill talent in Diaz, Hulslander, and Robinson. The Boro returns some experience outside the skill positions, and I have a good feeling about the new coaching staff and bringing in transfer QB Nico from IUP. Seton Hill has a new HC but the new one was DC last year. Didn't stop them from losing Awuah and Cragette, arguably their two best players.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Placing an actual bet on this would be terrifying.

That said, it's perfect for July message board nonsense.

For starters, we don't even know the full rosters yet. There are some major surprises looming. Trust me.

If we're going to base this on what we know as of July 16, IUP probably has the best overall roster. Team Tort did exceptional in player retainment, and also signed some key pieces early in the Portal window. On paper, IUP will be the most experienced team. The Crimson Hawks also add back several key players who missed all (or most) of last season due to injury. Are there still some holes? As far as public information goes, yes, there are. Every team in the league, however, has holes. That's the joy of not having max dollars available. IUP was (3) plays away from being 10-0 last year instead of 7-3. The program lately has had a track record of not finishing games -- or losing in some unfathomable fashion. The I's need dotted and the T's crossed -- in other words, they need to figure out how to do the little things much better. And, for the love of God, have a ceremony, bark at the moon, sacrifice a goat and permanently bury the prevent defense.

As noted above, Slippery Rock lost some serious, serious dudes. But, Lutz is a tremendous head coach and a great recruiter. Telling me they won't retool quickly sounds like magic beans. The Rock also gets its three biggest games -- Shepherd, IUP and Cal -- all at home. So, until SRU is knocked off, it's hard not to call them the favorite. But, the good times don't last forever. Some years transfer-heavy classes flop. So, we'll see.

Cal is Cal. The Vulcans get written off yearly. Then, of course, they do what they do. Cal is an exceptionally well-run program and Gary Dunn routinely recruits and develops very well. That said, Cal also lost some serious players to the Portal. The Vulcans have a tendency to drop a game or two they shouldn't, so that's always something to watch. Cal also plays at both IUP and SRU.

Beyond the Big Three, as mentioned, is always a crapshoot.

In no order:

Seton Hill has a new coach and was decimated by the Portal. The Griffins best returning player now plays at IUP.

Clarion is older but is going from a gadget offense to the Larry Wilson bore-you-to-sleep attack. The Golden Eagles should start well, but the back half of the schedule is brutal. Are they ready for a signature win? I can't drink that Kool-Aid just yet.

Edinboro is a wild card. Heavy Portal losses. New coach. Many new faces on both sides.

Gannon took heavy Portal losses but that's nothing new in Erie. The Knights have had years they rebuild very quickly and other years they don't. Typically, the years this board thinks the Knights will be down they actually play pretty well.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Explain Edinboro , why do you feel I was so far off the mark with them, just curious.

I have some inside info on Edinboro through some personal relationships. They’ll be a decent team and have the ability to knock off one of the big three in the West. They do have a QB competition to sort through but I expect Bo Swartz to win the job. He’s an efficient dual threat QB that’s also smart and a competitor. That said, there are a lot of new faces there starting with the coaching staff and Nico drove north from IUP to compete for the starting job. If they get into not settling on Bo or Nico, it could cause a lack of continuity.

[Fightingscot82]

It has been years since the top three were not either IUP, Cal or The Rock. With the rest of the conference, you can throw darts at a board and take your best guesses.

When is the last time one of the big three (IUP, Cal or the Rock) didnt win the PSAC West?

My picks:
1. Indians
2. The Rock
3. Cal
4. Clarion
5. Boro
6. Gannon
7. Seton Hill

Technically 2022 when there was a three-way tie between IUP, Slippery Rock, and Gannon, but IUP held the tie-breaker. Similarly in 2014 with Gannon and Slippery Rock, 2012 with IUP and Mercyhurst, and 2010 with Cal and Mercyhurst. Mercyhurst won the tie-breaker in 2010 (and won the State Game). Several other ties in the years before the State Game forced a tie-breaker, but the last outright regular season PSAC West champ not named Cal, IUP, or Slippery Rock was Edinboro in 1995.

[TheBigCat2192]

Placing an actual bet on this would be terrifying.

That said, it's perfect for July message board nonsense.

For starters, we don't even know the full rosters yet. There are some major surprises looming. Trust me.

If we're going to base this on what we know as of July 16, IUP probably has the best overall roster. Team Tort did exceptional in player retainment, and also signed some key pieces early in the Portal window. On paper, IUP will be the most experienced team. The Crimson Hawks also add back several key players who missed all (or most) of last season due to injury. Are there still some holes? As far as public information goes, yes, there are. Every team in the league, however, has holes. That's the joy of not having max dollars available. IUP was (3) plays away from being 10-0 last year instead of 7-3. The program lately has had a track record of not finishing games -- or losing in some unfathomable fashion. The I's need dotted and the T's crossed -- in other words, they need to figure out how to do the little things much better. And, for the love of God, have a ceremony, bark at the moon, sacrifice a goat and permanently bury the prevent defense.

As noted above, Slippery Rock lost some serious, serious dudes. But, Lutz is a tremendous head coach and a great recruiter. Telling me they won't retool quickly sounds like magic beans. The Rock also gets its three biggest games -- Shepherd, IUP and Cal -- all at home. So, until SRU is knocked off, it's hard not to call them the favorite. But, the good times don't last forever. Some years transfer-heavy classes flop. So, we'll see.

Cal is Cal. The Vulcans get written off yearly. Then, of course, they do what they do. Cal is an exceptionally well-run program and Gary Dunn routinely recruits and develops very well. That said, Cal also lost some serious players to the Portal. The Vulcans have a tendency to drop a game or two they shouldn't, so that's always something to watch. Cal also plays at both IUP and SRU.

Beyond the Big Three, as mentioned, is always a crapshoot.

In no order:

Seton Hill has a new coach and was decimated by the Portal. The Griffins best returning player now plays at IUP.

Clarion is older but is going from a gadget offense to the Larry Wilson bore-you-to-sleep attack. The Golden Eagles should start well, but the back half of the schedule is brutal. Are they ready for a signature win? I can't drink that Kool-Aid just yet.

Edinboro is a wild card. Heavy Portal losses. New coach. Many new faces on both sides.

Gannon took heavy Portal losses but that's nothing new in Erie. The Knights have had years they rebuild very quickly and other years they don't. Typically, the years this board thinks the Knights will be down they actually play pretty well.

I’m certainly not taking digs at Lutz or the SRU program but that is a ton of skill position talent to lose at this level. You can’t even mitigate the QB turnover by giving the new guy experienced WRs who you can count on to win at the catch point or make big YAC or a pair of talented RBs to hand the ball off to as a pressure valve. D’Orr was a solid starter and the guy that they brought in from NDC had previously been an All-American. My concern for them isn’t just the quantity of production that they’re losing but the quality as well. One of the WR they lost was also an all-PSAC returner; you can cover up offensive deficiencies if you’re starting in good position. Are they going to be able to get the same kind of plus field position with a new returner? They might be looking at a two year “re-tool” more than an off-season reload on that side of the ball especially when you take the scholly money (or lack thereof) into account.