CFN News previews the 2023 UMass Minutemen. CFN predicts three wins.
This is reasonable projecting off last year's stats. I am hoping for four wins given the revised UMass offense. The Minutemen now have six scholarship running backs, a big jump from one or two they have had in recent years. UMass wants to run the ball and now they have a running back room comparable with most other Group-of-Five teams.
In addition, It looks like they have made a big progress in depth and talent at quarterback. The last four years we just have not had any positive results from that position. QB is the one position on the roster you can't "scheme" around.
I expect the defense to be even better than last year. Jerry Roberts and several other transfer should give the Minutemen more experience, size and speed.
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Will the Big-12 offer UConn? Right now in the ebb-and-flow of college sports, the Huskies are on the upswing. The UConn athletic dept is well funded and enjoys substantial support from the Connecticut political establishment.
They're in a big media market, have dominate men's and women's basketball and are ranked in the top ten in baseball. College baseball enjoys a lot of fan support in the South and Midwest. I've been watching SEC baseball in the evenings this spring and weekday games draw 10,000+ fans. Joining the Big-12 would add about $30 million in media money to the UConn coffers right away.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoman says the demise of the ACC seem certain.
The break-up of the ACC would leave the northeast ACC schools Syracuse, BC and Pitt with a big problem. Of the three, Pitt would be the most attractive pickup for another Power Five conference. The Panthers are part of the well funded PA state system and they're in a big media market.
Syracuse is not in big market. Boston college is, but they're certainly not "New England's college football team". BC is not even Boston's college football team.
The Eagles have struggled in the ACC usually finishing around 3-5 in conference play and are usually at the bottom of ACC recruiting rankings.
BC Interruption discusses the possible fallout for the Eagles here and here.
College Football News predicts another 6-6 season for Boston College.
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