Gridiron Power Index

[Matt]

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/content.php?822-2012-Gridiron-Power-Index-(GPI)-Debuts-With-the-Reigning-Champ-as-No.-1

The Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I FCS and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection debuts for the 2012-13 season with unbeaten and defending national champion North Dakota State in the top spot.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference has six teams in the top 25; the Big Sky and Southern Conferences have four teams each; the Colonial Athletic Association and Southland Conference have three each; the Ohio Valley Conference has two; Northeast and Big South Conferences plus the Ivy League each have one. (Games through 10/8/12)

For conference average rankings, the Missouri Valley Football Conference has a clear lead with the Southern and Big Sky Conferences knotted close behind. Also the Colonial Athletic Association plus the Southland and Ohio Valley Conferences are hovering tightly within reach.

The Final 2012 GPI will be released once all the college football games have been played, in January 2013. The GPI is an exclusive property of College Sporting News, maintained since 2001 and has been used officially by the NCAA since 2008 for selecting specific Division I Football National Championship tournament participants.

10/09/2012 GPI Top 25

Rank, School, Rating

1. N Dakota St (1.00)

2. Montana St (5.00)

3. E Washington (5.43)

4. Old Dominion (6.00)

5. Cal Poly (6.57)

6. Youngstown St (7.29)

7. Ga Southern (7.43)

8T. James Madison (9.14)

8T. Wofford (9.14)

10. Harvard (11.86)

11. Northern Arizona (13.00)

12. S Dakota St (15.00)

13. Sam Houston St (16.00)

14. Appalachian St (16.57)

15. Stony Brook (17.00)

16. Illinois St (17.71)

17. Cent Arkansas (18.86)

18. Tennessee St (19.14)

19. McNeese St (19.71)

20. Northern Iowa (20.14)

21. Albany (20.57)

22. New Hampshire (20.71)

23. E Kentucky (21.57)

24. Samford (21.71)

25. Indiana St (22.86)

Conference Ranking:

Rank, League, Total Average

1. Missouri Valley Football Conference (25.34)

2. Southern Conference (30.00)

3. Big Sky Conference (33.18)

4. Colonial Athletic Association (37.01)

5. Southland Conference (38.77)

6. Ohio Valley Conference (42.00)

7. Ivy League (53.50)

8. Patriot League (57.63)

9. Big South Conference (63.86)

10. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (65.61)

11. Northeast Conference (66.83)

12. Southwestern Athletic Conference (75.96)

13. Pioneer Football League (76.77)

[darell1976]

??? Is it because they played top BCS teams? If so how come Savannah St isn't in the top 20. 1 DII win shouldn't put you in the top 20. They should be out like Montana.

[geaux_sioux]

These rankings put the Cal Poly game into perspective. We had control of the game and the lead over the #5 team in the nation. Sure we pissed it down our leg but it shows that even on an off night UND can be elite. If the team can put together 5 complete games down the stretch don't be surprised if you don't see them lose.

[darell1976]

3. Big Sky Conference (33.18)

2. Montana St (5.00)

3. E Washington (5.43)

5. Cal Poly (6.57)

11. Northern Arizona (13.00)

29. Montana (27.29)

32. North Dakota (31.86)

35. UC Davis (33.57)

42. Southern Utah (37.29)

44Sacramento St38.29

49. Portland St (41.71)

63T. Weber St (52.00)

79T. N Colorado (62.43)

97. Idaho St (76.86)

Our 5 game of hell continues as we play and have played: #2, #3, #5, #11, #29. Can any team in the FCS have a stretch like that? Welcome to the Big Sky UND. Gotta get used to it.

[Shawn-O]

These rankings put the Cal Poly game into perspective. We had control of the game and the lead over the #5 team in the nation. Sure we pissed it down our leg but it shows that even on an off night UND can be elite. If the team can put together 5 complete games down the stretch don't be surprised if you don't see them lose.

Your optimism is great but the season is half over and I'm afraid the defense just is what it is. I would love to be wrong.

[geaux_sioux]

Your optimism is great but the season is half over and I'm afraid the defense just is what it is. I would love to be wrong.

Recognizing potential and not getting caught up in the what have you done for me lately game is not optimism. Im just not looking beyond the positives in front of my face to focus on some negatives

[mg2009]

Our 5 game of hell continues as we play and have played: #2, #3, #5, #11, #29. Can any team in the FCS have a stretch like that? Welcome to the Big Sky UND. Gotta get used to it.

seeing as you brought it up, wisconsin, iowa, #5 #1 #16

also, why don't you get outraged about towson being ranked with 3 loses?

[UNDColorado]

We don't have regular trolls hanging around this board from Townson.

[mg2009]

We don't have regular trolls hanging around this board from Townson.

we have regular UNI trolls?

[darell1976]

seeing as you brought it up, wisconsin, iowa, #5 #1 #16

also, why don't you get outraged about towson being ranked with 3 loses?

Towson has 2 DI wins UNI has zero!

[Matt]

These rankings put the Cal Poly game into perspective. We had control of the game and the lead over the #5 team in the nation. Sure we pissed it down our leg but it shows that even on an off night UND can be elite. If the team can put together 5 complete games down the stretch don't be surprised if you don't see them lose.

The key is consistency. What I've noticed watching the ac in their transition into mvfc play and now UND in the BSC is that the margin for error each week is small. There has to be a consistently high level of play because as we have seen, even the Sac St & UNCs of the world have playmakers that will hurt you if you are taking a play off. UND can look "elite" at times, but many teams can do that. Weber did that with Poly last week, and UNC did with the Griz for a bit. What makes the top of the BSC different is how they are able to maintain a high level of execution more often than not.

This stretch of games is an opportunity for UND to show the BSC what they really are...good or bad.

[NDSU grad]

The key is consistency. What I've noticed watching the ac in their transition into mvfc play and now UND in the BSC is that the margin for error each week is small. There has to be a consistently high level of play because as we have seen, even the Sac St & UNCs of the world have playmakers that will hurt you if you are taking a play off. UND can look "elite" at times, but many teams can do that. Weber did that with Poly last week, and UNC did with the Griz for a bit. What makes the top of the BSC different is how they are able to maintain a high level of execution more often than not.

This stretch of games is an opportunity for UND to show the BSC what they really are...good or bad.

This is a good point and is true for any of the "major" conferences. Bottom-dweller SIU almost tripped up the Bison last year, and MSU did beat the Bison in 2010. There is really no weeks off for any of the elite conferences.

[darell1976]

The key is consistency. What I've noticed watching the ac in their transition into mvfc play and now UND in the BSC is that the margin for error each week is small. There has to be a consistently high level of play because as we have seen, even the Sac St & UNCs of the world have playmakers that will hurt you if you are taking a play off. UND can look "elite" at times, but many teams can do that. Weber did that with Poly last week, and UNC did with the Griz for a bit. What makes the top of the BSC different is how they are able to maintain a high level of execution more often than not.

This stretch of games is an opportunity for UND to show the BSC what they really are...good or bad.

Very true! UND cannot overlook anyone, and its easy to pick games because we don't play them, but the players have to give 100% whether you are UND, NDSU, or anyone else, because any team can beat anyone. Drake almost beat Montana State, a 3 win UND team in 2010 had the lead late at Montana. There are no sure locks. EWU wasn't a lock against UND, neither is NAU. These games will prove who is more prepared.