Yes I do, absolutely. Pinnick had the same experience to open 2025 as any of these three guys do in 2026. The only thing I am the least bit concerned about really (aside from TE depth) is trying to get too cute or throw the ball two much when/if they can grind someone.

Good to know, thanks. That's why I am only a commenter and not a previewer!

Distillery Row

ALL pre-season rankings are crapshoots... I've professed my childhood love for pre-season college football magazines, I couldn't imagine trying to crank those things to publication in February given today's college football landscape!

Ags may be unproved at LT, but that group can move people and run the ball. We are deep and very talented at RB. Those two things are very nice luxuries for a young QB.

Nice breakdown! The biggest challenge in this game is playing at that empty rec center field out in Hillsboro. I'm not serious with that comment, but that deal is bad.

Fisk is a good football coach. They'll try to run the ball and play good defense. A novel concept, but one that wins a lot of championships at every level of football. They'll probably have a couple guys from Central that will be culture guys and tone setters, and I'm guessing they're slightly less talented than usual but will fight.

Year 3 for Plough, second trip to PSU as a HC, I'm sure there will be some things from the 2024 experience that will be addressed going into 2026. He knows they're walking into an ambush. Biggest thing is to take away hope early, make them think "here we go again". I would go up tempo as fast and furious as possible Offensively for the first 3-5 drives and load the box to stop the run on D. Our Corners can handle anything, so hit their QB, take away what they want to do, and dictate the terms of engagement. Show them what a pissed off Top 5 team in FCS looks like. That's more on the players than the coaches, but that would be my approach.

Good share with the article. A few thoughts as I peruse:

-Yes on MSU at #1. #1 all season and through the playoffs until someone knocks them off... I do think their QB is overrated.
-No on the Griz at #2. I just don't see it (or didn't see it last year, which is what this is primarily based upon). Seems like they play every game at home, not happening in '26. Soft.
-SDSU would be my #2. NDSU may be gone, but the Jackrabbits and the Bobcats are the two hurdles that remain before our Aggies.
-I think ISU loses too much personally, and while they managed a nice game vs. the Ags, I wasn't overly impressed. They found a way to win last year like good teams do, but there was also some magic in that run. Great coach, solid team, but I'd have them behind the next two. Token Top 5 ranking for last year's runner-up.
-Ags at #5. My Top 5 would be: 1. MSU 2. SDSU 3. UC Davis 4. URI 5. ISU
-URI is good and their QB is a leader from what I saw. WRs are DUDES! Scary draw for someone in '26.
-Tarleton seems too low and Nova too high. Damn we blew it, the door to Nashville was wide open :rage:
-The Penguin helmet for Youngstown in that picture is awesome!
-#11-#16 who cares. Keep an eye out for Tennessee Tech at #17.
-I don't buy Yale or any other Ivy for that matter. So what if they won a game or two.
-Abilene Christian is ascending.
-Northern Arizona could probably beat #11-#24.
-Good for ISU and all the Cody Hawkins fans.
-How does Mercer go from a very solid and talented Top 15 team to Others Receiving Votes?
-No way on Idaho. Not buying them as an Others Receiving Votes candidate. Davis physically kicked their teeth in at the Kibbie Dome last year and the score should have been worse. They are a long way from prime time.
-Still scratching my head over the NAU snub.

The tailgate scene at Biggs is probably the best option to expand and develop the community and scene. I agree with about the feel of being in a paved parking lot, but Biggs is super convenient for merriment to the last possible minute. It isn't the easiest spot to shlep all your stuff to-and-from your truck (unlike a parking lot), but it seemed to work well the times I stopped by.

No need to rush.

SMU is going to be a lot, but it is a different animal than Washington was. Up-tempo Offense with elite, paid P4 personnel. A top ACC Defensive unit that led that conference in turnovers, sacks, and red zone defense. Throw in some Texas heat and humidity and it all adds up to quite a challenge for the young Aggies. Frankly, I don't feel like talking about it, but we can go there if you'd like. I do like the fact that the Ponies open at FSU, a conference game, then have a short turnaround to play Davis.

I'm guessing that since the Connor bros. had lower extremity injuries, they are probably pretty strong in their upper bodies at this juncture. I thought someone said on here that Rex didn't look great running around at the spring game or something, but there's a ways to go.

Good point, but I don't see any future schedules on a quick glance at the NDSU football site. They do have several trips to CA on the '26 schedule (Sac & SJSU).

This is an intriguing matchup if it happens. Probably looking at a touchdown or less of separation on the scoreboard. High quality, FCS playoff-caliber opponent. A chance to play at the venerable old Harvard Stadium - priceless. Academic opportunities with the trip to Boston - take a couple extra days. This is a nice little opportunity in my opinion.

Agreed. All colored turf sucks. All artificial turf is evil.

Man, I go home late last night and roll into the office a little later than usual and miss all the fun! So much to dive in on, there goes my Friday morning productivity...

and , I agree that the old Go-Go has some merit. Not sure I agree on what it would have taken for them to make the playoffs. Go-Go is essentially a misdirection, bastardized triple and double option scheme that requires the QB to run the ball some. From what I saw last year, I believe it is 21 personnel (2 RBs/1 TE) but it has variations. By the time they rolled into the Causeway, they were the worst passing college football team I have ever seen, and I've been to Army-Navy and watched it plenty of times on TV. They set the forward pass back by decades, that team did. Nasty.

, no idea if our RBs can block, but that is only a necessity in 20P on perimeter run plays like outside zone, maybe to seal an edge player on a split zone, but not much else. When they're both tailback types, an OC would likely limit the contact plays vs. the Defensive Ends, or at least I would. You could also start to see what is call "bash" plays; that is, gap scheme runs where a traditional fullback or tight end would normally kick-out the DE, but a lot of modern teams are leaving him unblocked as a read player. You can have a lot of fun with misdirection and QB runs like that, but that's another post unto itself. Google search "bash run play" or "power read run play" if you want to take a deeper dive.

, that's an interesting take the article has listing the Ags as a Wild Card, but my guess is that they're talking outside contender to Montana State more so than the NFL definition of a wild card team that barely makes the playoffs. I grew up buying all the old Athlon/Street and Smith/Sporting News college football magazines and loved reading it cover to cover (nerd), so I appreciate the efforts of these sites just throwing profiles and previews out there. It's a thankless job and in today's college football, thankless work because of roster turnover.

Good observation on the rotations and not developing the depth. From what I'm hearing on the board, Pohlman strikes me as a very similar player to Mitch in 2025. Not going to make any all-American lists but too valuable to ever take off the field. I think the "other 2", the Cal kid and the Orange County kid, will be vastly improved and ready for war when the Griz roll into town.

, do you think "playoff committee perception" has anything to do with rotations and keeping starters in the wider margin games?

And finally, , too soon to start talking about Defensive players in the backfield. Too soon. But man was there anything prettier in 1985 than William Perry lowering his head on some poor linebacker who had to step up against him, lined-up at fullback?!

Good question and hit it on the head with his explanation. Who we have on the field on Offense generally determines who the Defense plays with (heavy, Nickel, etc.). 20 is an interesting grouping if the RBs will block for each other. Good in both run and pass, also an easy way to shore-up pass pro.

Exactly. More of an 11 personnel Offense, maybe even get into some 20 and 10? That would be a massive sea change from last season but with our RB depth, 20 can really cause people some problems.

Double damn on Williams. TE will continue as a question mark for me.

Funny, I went through the roster a couple times and felt like I was missing a Running Back. Good catch, and yes, he's a dude!

Post-Spring Ball analysis, prognostications, concerns:

-Not-so-bold prediction to lead it off: QB1 will be Cleeland. Unless Eason can get/stay healthy and comes into camp with guns blazing, QB2 will be Kollock.
-Running game will be impressive and explosive early. Look for huge outputs against three of the first four opponents. Fisher will be spectacular, but the others (Acia, Walsh, et al) will have big nights along the way.
-Whatever happened to Boogey Sylvester?
-Receiver group is talented and almost two-deep. I like the versatility and different skill sets this room brings.
-OL will be outstanding in running blocking. There were too many sacks reported by Sailor Gabe and others for my liking during spring. They (coaches) need to figure out ways to hold up better in play action protection, which was sometimes an issue in 2025.
-Biggest area of concern heading into Fall Camp 2026: no, not the LT... it's the Tight End group. Young, inexperienced, maybe one guy ready for primetime (Pohlman). This does not include WIlliams, and there is no guarantee that he returns as the same guy. I pray that he does because he seems like a leader and was a stud in '24. Fortunately, a soft early schedule will allow the younger guys like Houseworth and Kutsishvili (yes, I am looking at the roster) to get some quality reps and keep developing.

-DL is deep, solid, and it sounds like they're going to be productive. Big, fast, nasty. Big things ahead!
-LBs projected to be Porter and Sievers. Did the depth develop behind them at a rate to be contributors in the fall?
-Love the starting Corners and projected Safeties.
-Biggest area of concern: Depth at Cornerback. Do we have a true #3 and #4 there.

-Kicking game: sounds like the guys actually doing the punting and kicking are better than last season. Check. Won't notice the Long Snapper unless he screws up.

Overall, the Ags look like a pre-season Top 5 team in FCS heading into the 2026 season. Elite at Tailback, Wide Receiver, overall Offensive Line skill, and at every Defensive position. Big things ahead, Go Ags!

Winning IS fun. Go Ags!

I am all about this thing ascending, I just hope that it is done "right". There is no rush. Raise and bank money, apply some of it towards winning big at the FCS level while working towards the future. I love the Fresno State aspiration; stop talking about Cal/Stanford/SJSU/Sac State, there is no future there in my opinion. I think 15-18k with more stakeholders and a competitive conference schedule in the MWC is very realistic. My hope is that we don't jump then try to figure out the money. Let's figure out the money then jump.