2024 Preseason Rankings-Your Personal Opinion

[Mulerider]

The title says it all, where do you see everyone in the GAC for preseason rankings? My current list:

1.Harding
2.OBU-AR
3.SAU
4.Henderson
5.SE OK
6.Ark Tech
7.OBU-OK
8.East Central
9. SNU
10. UAM
11. SWOSU
12. NWOSU

I think Harding is head and shoulders above everyone else in the GAC. I only see OBU and Henderson challenging them throughout the season. SAU hasn't been able to stop the option and I don't see them stopping it this year.

I think OBU is a solid #2 team and still ahead of SAU and Henderson State.

Henderson State and SAU are pretty close this season in my opinion. SAU has never been able to capture that GAC title, but to be fair, SAU football was terrible for years prior to 2012. Recent success has been awesome, and I don't think SAU fans expect much better than we have been playing. We are pretty realistic for our type of school.

I'm curious if the fiscal issues at Henderson St. will affect the athletic programs in the next several years. I could see Henderson finishing as high as #2 though, but as low as #5. Shouldn't be any lower than that though.

SE OK and Ark Tech are in a similar boat. Both schools expect to be higher but just aren't there yet. Ark Tech has the history (as well as possibly one of the biggest Athletic Budgets in the conference). Not sure what they can do to get over the hump outside of someone in front of them having too many injuries.

7-12 are all up in the air I think. UAM has shown flashes of success, but they have a long way to go. Same with OBU-OK. SNU hasn't had a season above .500 since 2011 (Moved up to D2 in 2012) , SWOSU hasn't been above .500 since 2015 and before then 2007. Additionally, NWOSU hasn't had a winning season since 2010.

[OldBison]

Thanks for getting this going, Mulerider. We’re probably still 3 weeks away from the GAC posting their pre-season order of finish. Here’s my list:

1. Harding
2.Henderson
3. Ouachita Baptist
4. SAU
5.SE OK
6.Ark Tech
7.OBU-OK
8.East Central
9. UAM
10. SNU
11. SWOSU
12. NWOSU

Notes: With the entire offensive backfield returning and some key players on defense returning I think my Bisons are going to be pretty tough to beat. Henderson and Ouachita are about even. I give the Reddies the advantage on defense. Muleriders are continuing to improve. I see them beating Henderson or Ouachita but not both. SEOSU or ECU is going to take a game from SAU. ATU will continue to improve. SNU is going to be hurting on offense. Everyone else will be “business as usual”.

[ReddieMade]

The title says it all, where do you see everyone in the GAC for preseason rankings? My current list:

1.Harding
2.OBU-AR
3.SAU
4.Henderson
5.SE OK
6.Ark Tech
7.OBU-OK
8.East Central
9. SNU
10. UAM
11. SWOSU
12. NWOSU

I think Harding is head and shoulders above everyone else in the GAC. I only see OBU and Henderson challenging them throughout the season. SAU hasn't been able to stop the option and I don't see them stopping it this year.

I think OBU is a solid #2 team and still ahead of SAU and Henderson State.

Henderson State and SAU are pretty close this season in my opinion. SAU has never been able to capture that GAC title, but to be fair, SAU football was terrible for years prior to 2012. Recent success has been awesome, and I don't think SAU fans expect much better than we have been playing. We are pretty realistic for our type of school.

I'm curious if the fiscal issues at Henderson St. will affect the athletic programs in the next several years. I could see Henderson finishing as high as #2 though, but as low as #5. Shouldn't be any lower than that though.

SE OK and Ark Tech are in a similar boat. Both schools expect to be higher but just aren't there yet. Ark Tech has the history (as well as possibly one of the biggest Athletic Budgets in the conference). Not sure what they can do to get over the hump outside of someone in front of them having too many injuries.

7-12 are all up in the air I think. UAM has shown flashes of success, but they have a long way to go. Same with OBU-OK. SNU hasn't had a season above .500 since 2011 (Moved up to D2 in 2012) , SWOSU hasn't been above .500 since 2015 and before then 2007. Additionally, NWOSU hasn't had a winning season since 2010.

Pretty sure you’ve brought up “fiscal issues” as a reason for HSU to fall off each of the last three years on here lol. Not even one mention of anything football related.

Henderson State and Reddie Athletics are in great shape. Your president left you to come to HSU in the middle of the year. I think that speaks pretty clearly to the situation.

As to the question — I think it’s:

1. Harding
2. Henderson
3. Ouachita
4. SAU
5. SE
6. Tech
7. Everyone else

until proven otherwise. I expect Tech to be better and SE as well.

[BisonDOc]

I'd like to keep this going even with the media day projections all going.

1. Harding- Hard to not put the champs at the top of the list as they have finished top 2 pretty much every year since Simmons has been head coach and that goes back further I think since 2014. While the QB, B-Back and slots return, lost 4 of the starters on the O-line. Harding did something I haven't seen them do in awhile and that's hit Juco and others for O-lineman. How quickly can they gel because getting them at the first 3-4 games is the best chance at someone else besides HSU/OBU of beating them before the flexbone machine gets really going. Defensively should still be nasty but lost most of the starting secondary, a LB and one of the best D-ends in Nate Wallace. They rotate a lot of bodies so guys get experience but this will be heavy senior team at starters on defense. key is how many young guys can they get to speed and quickly back there as they'll need them for another conference title and playoff run. Special teams, losing kicker and punter and that could be huge in a close game with young guys coming into play.
2.Henderson- Picked over OBU because even while they have a coaching change with a brand new first time HC, they still have probably the best QB in the conference and that can make a difference. Defense should still be very good and stiff. Expect big things from Reddies who saw playoffs for the first time in a while last year.
3. Ouachita Baptist- Last year was a weird one for OBU, very talented but just didn't seem to gel. To me, QB is biggest question mark. If its Livingston the running ability is huge which to me the best OBU teams have always had a dynamic dual threat QB, plus the guy is an animal in the weightroom. I think they had a video of him of Cleaning 365lbs on social media. Defense will still be good, but not elite like HU's but still very talented and enough to easily win most of their games in conference. Definitely top 3, and could easily be #1 if things go their way
4. SAU- new QB and fast paced offense 7-4/ 8-3 season upcoming. Just don't think they can do enough to beat the big 3
5.SE OK- I expect them to be way better this year. Atterberry gets a whole lot out of his teams and if they can get a dynamic running game going, they could be much better.
6.OKBU- Easily switch them to 5. QB play looks to keep going up, with an improved defensive unit last year will always be a good middle tier team. Can they take a step into the upper echleon of the conference remains to be seen
7.East Central-
8.Ark Tech- Every year I expect Tech is going to take a big step. They have money, tradition, and student body and haven't done so. I'm in a I'll believe when i see it with the Wonderboys
9. SNU- Best team in school history last year and lose almost all of their key playmakers. Think they'll fall to back to bottom half of the table.
10. UAM- Hardest job in Arkansas to win at
11. SWOSU- still rebuilding from multiple coaching staff changes over the years. Maybe the worst offensive team I've seen last year in conference so can only go up from there. Unfortunately think they've still got a long ways to go.
12. NWOSU- Hardest job in the conference to win at.

[OldBison]

I agree about the Harding’s O Line. Loosing four starters, one of them a 1st Team All-American guard, is going to have an impact. I’ve always been impressed with how well they develop new run blockers for the Flexbone year after year. With some manageable opponents the first three weeks of the season we’ll know where we are offensively after the HSU game in Week 4.

[LukeMcConnell1]

9. SNU- Best team in school history last year and lose almost all of their key playmakers. Think they'll fall to back to bottom half of the table.

I'm curious to know who you're referring to besides Gage. Statistically speaking, this statement isn't true at all.

[BisonDOc]

I'm curious to know who you're referring to besides Gage. Statistically speaking, this statement isn't true at all.

I don't think you can say that at all. Losing Porter who legitimately was the entire offense for SNU is a huge deal. He had more yards rushing himself than every other player combined (1,998 vs 1520) and basically as many yards rushing as he does passing. You know very well that SNU focus is on running the ball.

I also thought they lost both starting running backs in Zepeda and Artis as they were both seniors last year in addition to Porter. Not much loss on WR position from what I can tell but I still don't think even with the returners that as huge positive because a lot of those yards came on scrambles from Porter and not more structured passing game.

Again I'm probably wrong, but I don't see how they don't take a massive step back. I know with being media Luke you have some things you can't say but please inform us more of the key playmakers you see that are going to make a big step this year because I'm not sure I see it.

[BisonDOc]

I agree about the Harding’s O Line. Loosing four starters, one of them a 1st Team All-American guard, is going to have an impact. I’ve always been impressed with how well they develop new run blockers for the Flexbone year after year. With some manageable opponents the first three weeks of the season we’ll know where we are offensively after the HSU game in Week 4.

Agree, Coach Chism knows exactly what he is doing with offensive line and development. Add in his knowledge and learning from Coach Wheaton and should make a good transition just might be a tough few weeks to get it going.
I do worry about a road game at OKBU week 2 being a trip up game. OKBU always been a weird place to play and they do defensively make it tough at times for us before we typically figure it out, but that could make things more interesting than I'd like early on before the HSU game.

[LukeMcConnell1]

I don't think you can say that at all. Losing Porter who legitimately was the entire offense for SNU is a huge deal. He had more yards rushing himself than every other player combined (1,998 vs 1520) and basically as many yards rushing as he does passing. You know very well that SNU focus is on running the ball.

I also thought they lost both starting running backs in Zepeda and Artis as they were both seniors last year in addition to Porter. Not much loss on WR position from what I can tell but I still don't think even with the returners that as huge positive because a lot of those yards came on scrambles from Porter and not more structured passing game.

Again I'm probably wrong, but I don't see how they don't take a massive step back. I know with being media Luke you have some things you can't say but please inform us more of the key playmakers you see that are going to make a big step this year because I'm not sure I see it.

Oh I don't think SNU won't take a step back. The statement I was referring to was the losing almost all their playmakers.

Losing Gage is a very big deal and will hamper all facets. But besides Gage, losses are minimal at worst. Zapeda is still around. Ramirez is not, but he had a down year last year and was hurt a lot. Lost two WRs, but far from irreplaceable. OL returns 4/5 starters that finished the year. There will be less big plays on offense this year with no Gage, but top to bottom, I think the offense will still be successful. Gains just might be more 4 and 5 yards than 11 and 12.

I'd challenge the "a lot of those yards came on scrambles" assertion as well. Sure that happened some, but it wasn't the majority of the time. To imply otherwise would be a disservice to Gage as a passer and the wide receivers as a group.

[BisonDOc]

Oh I don't think SNU won't take a step back. The statement I was referring to was the losing almost all their playmakers.

Losing Gage is a very big deal and will hamper all facets. But besides Gage, losses are minimal at worst. Zapeda is still around. Ramirez is not, but he had a down year last year and was hurt a lot. Lost two WRs, but far from irreplaceable. OL returns 4/5 starters that finished the year. There will be less big plays on offense this year with no Gage, but top to bottom, I think the offense will still be successful. Gains just might be more 4 and 5 yards than 11 and 12.

I'd challenge the "a lot of those yards came on scrambles" assertion as well. Sure that happened some, but it wasn't the majority of the time. To imply otherwise would be a disservice to Gage as a passer and the wide receivers as a group.

As someone who covers/watches SNU, you definitely know the team better than I do. Maybe playmakers was a poor choice of words or assessment, but without Gage, who is the best player I've ever seen there and I've been watching/following GAC football since its inception, is there anyone who you think will take a step and be a difference maker? To me I just don't see it, which is why I think it'll be a step back.

[OldBison]

Luke, are you going to be writing for the GAC again this year and submitting articles to D2.com?

[LukeMcConnell1]

Yes, I'll be back at it once again this year!

[LukeMcConnell1]

As someone who covers/watches SNU, you definitely know the team better than I do. Maybe playmakers was a poor choice of words or assessment, but without Gage, who is the best player I've ever seen there and I've been watching/following GAC football since its inception, is there anyone who you think will take a step and be a difference maker? To me I just don't see it, which is why I think it'll be a step back.

There will be a step back. No question. Not up for debate. I don't think any one player is going to step up and wow anyone. If SNU has anything close to similar success, it's because a bunch of guys stepped up and exceeded expectations.

[OBUGrad]

I feel like it’s basically impossible to do much of a ranking without seeing rosters these days. The inevitable roster churn keeps us from really knowing who is where. Even with your favorite team.

Obviously we expect the top to be some combination of Ouachita, Henderson, and Harding. SAU might could jump up there and the bottom will be NW OK. As far as how it shakes out in between, who knows.

[Mulerider]

Well the coaches poll is out! https://greatamericanconference.com/...-favorite.aspx