We'll be perennial CUSA West Contenders

[BillySee58]

Well, that morning after feeling sure sucks. Losing our grip on the CUSA West lead in our last home game was incredibly frustrating but we will be back in a position to win the west soon enough.

Looking at our division for next year it should set up nicely. Here are the overall records of the schools that will be in CUSA West next year:

Rice - 8-3

North Texas - 7-4

UTSA - 6-5

La Tech - 4-7

UTEP - 2-9

UAB - 2-9

Southern Miss - 0-11

Southern Miss will not be down forever, but I can't see them making a big enough rebound to contend for next year. UAB is used to being a bottom dweller and last made a bowl in 2004 when they had Roddy White. UTEP will have Showers back but their defense has a long ways to go. La Tech could be improved with their core returning, but they actually lose a lot of seniors. UTSA will be tough competition going forward but losing Soza will be difficult for them. If they can successfully replace his production then they'll be dangerous. Rice is another senior laden club but they'll be the favorites, a long with us for next year.

Our recruiting class is shaping up nicely and if that continues and Mac continues to develop the players the way he has then we should be in good shape mostly every year. Should be wide open next year.

[drex]

Where was North Texas projected to finish going into this year? Yep, those long range forecasts carry a lot of weight.

[GreenFlag]

I'm not sure Southern Miss will ever make it back. There is a reason the American left them behind. They have funding issues and no longer have a stranglehold on recruits who don't quite find themselves on SEC squads. That program is in bad shape.

[BillySee58]

Where was North Texas projected to finish going into this year? Yep, those long range forecasts carry a lot of weight.

We had not won but we were close. Prognosticators just factored in our record and that we were coming from the belt and assumed we would be 4th-6th in our division. Following the team you could tell this would be a good year if our offense could step up.

We know our division now. They're all teams who we played this year, except UAB, and we have a pretty good handle of who they are. Of course teams will make big jumps and drop offs, but there is no reason we shouldn't stay at or near the top against this competition with the way Mac is running this ship.