Highest % of underclassmen

[Scrutiner]

In the Cinci game they showed a graphic indicating Illinois (76.7%), Appalachian St. (75.2%), Cincinnati (72.1%) and UCLA (71.7%) have the highest percentages of underclassmen among all BCS teams. I was surprised UConn was not among this group, but we might have just missed out. They didn't say what classes were counted as underclassmen, but it seems they're counting Freshmen and Sophomores.

The raw numbers of Juniors and Seniors on each team, from a quick count of rosters on Yahoo sports, is as follows: Illinois (23), App. St. 28, Cinci 26 and UCLA 26. Same source shows 27 on UConn.

So, Cincinnati may be solid for several years and could be hard to beat this year.

 

[JMick]

This conference has so much untapped potential, even with its successes here and there

Memphis is all of a sudden a top 25 caliber team over the last few years

Cinci has tons of potential

USF & UCF speak for themselves

Houston just needs to keep it rolling.

And then when ECU gets a new coach, hopefully they can get back to prominence.

I know it's crazy to say and it's extremely unlikely, but given time, the AAC could be a better football conference than the PAC-12

 

[BlueDogs]

This conference has so much untapped potential, even with its successes here and there

Memphis is all of a sudden a top 25 caliber team over the last few years

Cinci has tons of potential

USF & UCF speak for themselves

Houston just needs to keep it rolling.

And then when ECU gets a new coach, hopefully they can get back to prominence.

I know it's crazy to say and it's extremely unlikely, but given time, the AAC could be a better football conference than the PAC-12

The top of the AAC just needs to keep beating P5s, because it shows the system is intrinsically inequitable. UCF embarrassed the system last year. At some point, people start realizing the king has no clothes.

 

[UConnFranklin]

UCF is underrated just because it's not in a "Power" 5. It is legitimately a top 10 team.

 

[Husky68]

Why are Cincinnati and UConn in such different places after game 1 in 2018 when Finkel and HCRE2.0 started in about the same place (record, upperclassmen) at about the same time?
Is it all talent? Both seem pretty young in 2018, similar records in 2016 and 2017.
Let's go back to 2016 when Crocker was hired, would it have been ok if HCRE2.0 said "this guy will get the job done, don't let the defense giving up the most passing yards by far in FBS in 2017 or giving up 652 yards total offense in the 1st game of 2018 fool you, the defense is in good hands with Crocker as DC."

 

[Purple Stein]

Why are Cincinnati and UConn in such different places after game 1 in 2018 when Finkel and HCRE2.0 started in about the same place (record, upperclassmen) at about the same time?
Is it all talent? Both seem pretty young in 2018, similar records in 2016 and 2017.
Let's go back to 2016 when Crocker was hired, would it have been ok if HCRE2.0 said "this guy will get the job done, don't let the defense giving up the most passing yards by far in FBS in 2017 or giving up 652 yards total offense in the 1st game of 2018 fool you, the defense is in good hands with Crocker as DC."

UCF is really good. UCLA is not. That explains a lot of the apparent divergence, IMHO.

 

[RSTuthill]

UCF is underrated just because it's not in a "Power" 5. It is legitimately a top 10 team.

Not based on what we saw Friday night. UConn was just awful. But if UConn moved the ball like that and gained that many yards, UCF is not a top 10 team.

 

[SubbaBub]

Why are Cincinnati and UConn in such different places after game 1 in 2018 when Finkel and HCRE2.0 started in about the same place (record, upperclassmen) at about the same time?
Is it all talent? Both seem pretty young in 2018, similar records in 2016 and 2017.
Let's go back to 2016 when Crocker was hired, would it have been ok if HCRE2.0 said "this guy will get the job done, don't let the defense giving up the most passing yards by far in FBS in 2017 or giving up 652 yards total offense in the 1st game of 2018 fool you, the defense is in good hands with Crocker as DC."

In a word, Ohio. They get first crack a Ohio kids that get overlooked by the P5. Sometimes a program isn't just about the QB or how good your best players are. It is often how good your 1oth through 30th best players are.

 

[Dizzy21]

Why are Cincinnati and UConn in such different places after game 1 in 2018 when Finkel and HCRE2.0 started in about the same place (record, upperclassmen) at about the same time?
Is it all talent? Both seem pretty young in 2018, similar records in 2016 and 2017.
Let's go back to 2016 when Crocker was hired, would it have been ok if HCRE2.0 said "this guy will get the job done, don't let the defense giving up the most passing yards by far in FBS in 2017 or giving up 652 yards total offense in the 1st game of 2018 fool you, the defense is in good hands with Crocker as DC."

Recruiting wise, Cincinnati had the top class in the AAC last year, UConn had the worst and the same can be said about the prior year, Cinci was more like top 3, UConn basically last.

 

[uconnric]

Not based on what we saw Friday night. UConn was just awful. But if UConn move the ball like that and gain that many yards, UCF is not a top 10 team.

It's too early to tell if we are decent offensively. You just assume that because we moved the ball that UCF isn't a good team? Based on what?

 

[RSTuthill]

They could be good, but common sense tell you UConn isn't gonna move the ball like that agsinst a top ten team. Ergo ....

 

[Scrutiner]

They could be good, but common sense tell you UConn isn't gonna move the ball like that agsinst a top ten team. Ergo ....

Ye of little faith. Maybe Pindell wins the HIsman if he, his receivers and the line get better every game.

 

[BlueMAB]

Ye of little faith. Maybe Pindell wins the HIsman if he, his receivers and the line get better every game.

Nobody at UConn is winning the Heisman. Ever.

Even when we were in a BCS conference, Donald Brown ran for 2,000+ yards and didn't get the recognition he should have.

 

[RSTuthill]

Ye of little faith. Maybe Pindell wins the HIsman if he, his receivers and the line get better every game.

Yup, and maybe I will win the Hahnenkamm this year if I can only find the fountain of youth. Think of that, flying off the Mausefalle at 70 mph!!

 

[Scrutiner]

Nobody at UConn is winning the Heisman. Ever.

Even when we were in a BCS conference, Donald Brown ran for 2,000+ yards and didn't get the recognition he should have.

What about the HIsman?

 

[BlueMAB]

What about the HIsman?

Unless Pindell is also from HI, I don't think your joke works.

 

[HuskyHawk]

They could be good, but common sense tell you UConn isn't gonna move the ball like that agsinst a top ten team. Ergo ....

I think they are a top ten team, and we did move the ball like that. Which is why some people are encouraged. It's not a huge leap to believe that we can score more points against lesser teams, and give up fewer points (since UCF is a top 5 offense). Nobody is saying UCF has a top ten defense, nor did they last year. They still went undefeated.

Their regular season game against #25 Memphis last year was 40-13. They put up 51 on Cinci. 63 on ECU. 49 on #21 USF. 62 on #25 Memphis in the AAC title game. Their lowest point total was 31 against SMU and Navy. In short, nobody really stopped them all year, including Auburn. The only thing the other team could do was run the ball and eat clock to reduce their chances to score.

 

[RSTuthill]

I think they are a top ten team, and we did move the ball like that. Which is why some people are encouraged. It's not a huge leap to believe that we can score more points against lesser teams, and give up fewer points (since UCF is a top 5 offense). Nobody is saying UCF has a top ten defense, nor did they last year. They still went undefeated.

Their regular season game against #25 Memphis last year was 40-13. They put up 51 on Cinci. 63 on ECU. 49 on #21 USF. 62 on #25 Memphis in the AAC title game. Their lowest point total was 31 against SMU and Navy. In short, nobody really stopped them all year, including Auburn. The only thing the other team could do was run the ball and eat clock to reduce their chances to score.

We shall agree to disagree. Time will tell.