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While I'm not ready for summer to be over, football season is now nearly upon us, to which I say - hallelujah! As discussed a bit in the MVFC sub-section, there's a bit of scheduling disparity this year. According to end of last years' Sagarin ratings* (disclaimer below), even though the Jacks were the undisputed best team in FCS last year, and we don't play ourselves on this year's schedule (let's keep it that way... no games we beat ourselves please!), we have the toughest conference schedule amongst anyone in the Valley. That's what happens when we don't play the bottom 3 teams in the league I reckon!
Sag.Rating --- School
41 - South Dakota State
71 - North Dakota State
106 - Northern Iowa
123 - Southern Illinois
127 - North Dakota
138 - Youngstown State
139 - Missouri State
158 - Illinois State
161 - South Dakota
191 - Indiana State
210 - Western Illinois
232 - Murray State
AVG MVFC Opponent Sag Rating
127.9 - South Dakota State
134.4 - Northern Iowa
134.5 - Western Illinois
134.9 - Missouri State
138.5 - Murray State
141.6 - South Dakota
142.4 - North Dakota State
143.9 - Youngstown State
146.3 - North Dakota
147.9 - Southern Illinois
148.0 - Illinois State
156.9 - Indiana State
*I know Sagarin ratings are not perfect, and inherently using the results from end of last year is flawed analysis before it even gets started... but for the most part Sagarin ratings get the point across in a somewhat accurate way without letting bias take over... and at this point, and pre-season poll is a SWAG anyways... silly wild-a** guess. Take it or leave it I guess.
Below is total miles traveled (as the Jackrabbit runs), for both in-conference and total --- though not counting the xDSU's games in Minneapolis. Three total trips over 1000 miles in one shot: WIU has a couple long trips to New Mexico State and Southern Utah, and UNI to Idaho State. --- Potentially interesting/fun fact - UNI plays all four D1 ISU's on the year, all away games even - at Iowa State, at Idaho State, at Indiana State, and at Illinois State. That can't happen to anyone very often...
Conf (Total) Miles Traveled
1185 ( 2266 ) - Northern Iowa
1232 ( 1396 ) - Indiana State
1315 ( 1315 ) - North Dakota State
1501 ( 3769 ) - Western Illinois
1501 ( 1584 ) - Illinois State
1553 ( 1879 ) - Southern Illinois
1729 ( 2087 ) - South Dakota
1744 ( 2158 ) - Missouri State
1939 ( 2905 ) - North Dakota
2006 ( 2305 ) - Murray State
2032 ( 2032 ) - South Dakota State
2346 ( 2492 ) - Youngstown State
Sag.Rating --- School
41 - South Dakota State
71 - North Dakota State
106 - Northern Iowa
123 - Southern Illinois
127 - North Dakota
138 - Youngstown State
139 - Missouri State
158 - Illinois State
161 - South Dakota
191 - Indiana State
210 - Western Illinois
232 - Murray State
AVG MVFC Opponent Sag Rating
127.9 - South Dakota State
134.4 - Northern Iowa
134.5 - Western Illinois
134.9 - Missouri State
138.5 - Murray State
141.6 - South Dakota
142.4 - North Dakota State
143.9 - Youngstown State
146.3 - North Dakota
147.9 - Southern Illinois
148.0 - Illinois State
156.9 - Indiana State
*I know Sagarin ratings are not perfect, and inherently using the results from end of last year is flawed analysis before it even gets started... but for the most part Sagarin ratings get the point across in a somewhat accurate way without letting bias take over... and at this point, and pre-season poll is a SWAG anyways... silly wild-a** guess. Take it or leave it I guess.
Below is total miles traveled (as the Jackrabbit runs), for both in-conference and total --- though not counting the xDSU's games in Minneapolis. Three total trips over 1000 miles in one shot: WIU has a couple long trips to New Mexico State and Southern Utah, and UNI to Idaho State. --- Potentially interesting/fun fact - UNI plays all four D1 ISU's on the year, all away games even - at Iowa State, at Idaho State, at Indiana State, and at Illinois State. That can't happen to anyone very often...
Conf (Total) Miles Traveled
1185 ( 2266 ) - Northern Iowa
1232 ( 1396 ) - Indiana State
1315 ( 1315 ) - North Dakota State
1501 ( 3769 ) - Western Illinois
1501 ( 1584 ) - Illinois State
1553 ( 1879 ) - Southern Illinois
1729 ( 2087 ) - South Dakota
1744 ( 2158 ) - Missouri State
1939 ( 2905 ) - North Dakota
2006 ( 2305 ) - Murray State
2032 ( 2032 ) - South Dakota State
2346 ( 2492 ) - Youngstown State
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