Well, we have a problem.
Tennessee Tech is 7-1.
I’ve spent basically this entire season disrespecting them, waiting for the inevitable collapse.
It hasn’t happened… But we’ve been close.
So, in honor of Tech Week, I’m doing something I never thought I’d do.
Tennessee Tech is No. 2.
I feel sick.
Let’s rank them.
1. ETSU (6-2, 4-0)
The Bucs went to Lexington and did exactly what they were supposed to do.
38-0.
Thank you.
No drama. No letting VMI hang around. No checking the score every five minutes wondering why this is still a football game.
ETSU handled business and left town.
That’s now five straight wins overall, and the Bucs are the only 4-0 team in the SoCon. After a couple of games early in the year where ETSU made things harder than they needed to be, this team is starting to look more complete every week.
And now it’s Tech Week.
I’m stopping there.
Saturday deserves its own article.
2. Tennessee Tech (7-1, 4-1)
Yep.
I did it.
After weeks of disrespect, Tennessee Tech has climbed all the way to No. 2.
Seven wins eventually have to count for something.
But before Tech fans print this article and hang it in the football facility, let’s talk about Saturday.
Tech beat The Citadel 28-13.
Looks fine on paper.
Except The Citadel was within one possession until the final few minutes of the game.
ETSU played that same team, in that same stadium, fell behind 10-0 and then proceeded to take a 34-10 lead before a late Citadel touchdown made it 34-16.
Oh, and Western Carolina still beat Tech 44-20.
I’m not forgetting that one anytime soon.
So am I suddenly convinced Tennessee Tech is the second-best team in the conference?
Not really.
But they’re 7-1. It’s Tech Week. And I’m feeling generous.
Enjoy No. 2.
3. Chattanooga (5-3, 4-1)
Chattanooga probably has a legitimate complaint about Tech ranking above them.
The Mocs went into Cullowhee and beat Western Carolina 41-18.
That’s the same Western Carolina team that beat Tennessee Tech 44-20.
Interesting!
Chattanooga is now 4-1 in the conference and has quietly worked its way right back into the SoCon race after a shaky start to the season.
Their one conference loss?
14-3 at ETSU.
Just thought I’d remind everyone.
This is starting to look like a pretty good football team, and with Mercer coming to Chattanooga next weekend, the Mocs are going to have a major say in how this conference shakes out.
If the Mocs win out we could have potentially three SoCon teams in the playoffs… We won’t because they’ll invite 5 teams from the CAA, but it’s worth the thought!
4. Mercer (6-2, 3-1)
Mercer had the week off, and they’re still sitting comfortably inside the top 15 nationally.
That’s great.
I just don’t think it’s going to last.
Mercer’s three SoCon wins have come against VMI, Western Carolina and Samford. They beat Western by three and Samford by 10. Their one conference loss came at home to Furman, who is currently 2-6.
They get The Citadel this weekend, so there’s a pretty good chance Mercer is sitting at 7-2 and everyone continues telling us how great they are.
Then the schedule changes.
At Chattanooga. At Tennessee Tech. ETSU.
That’s the thick of Mercer’s schedule, and they haven’t reached it yet.
Maybe they prove me completely wrong and run through it.
I don’t see it.
5. Wofford (5-3, 3-2)
I feel like we should probably be talking about Wofford a little more.
The Terriers have won three straight overall, including a 16-0 shutout at Elon, and they’re quietly sitting at 5-3.
Their conference losses came to Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech, and they only lost to Tech 42-38.
So this isn’t some terrible team hanging around because of an easy schedule.
They’re pretty solid.
They’ve also got Western Carolina and ETSU coming up in November, so Wofford still has plenty of opportunity to make this conference even messier.
Nobody is really talking about them.
Which feels exactly like how Wofford would want it.
6. Samford (2-6, 2-3)
Look who’s alive!
Samford went to Greenville and beat Furman 13-6.
After starting the season 0-5, the DAWGS have now won two of their last three.
The record is ugly, but they’ve also played Tennessee Tech, Chattanooga and Mercer already. That’s not exactly the easiest way to start conference play.
Are they suddenly good?
Probably not.
But this looks like a much more respectable football team than the one we were watching in September.
They get Wofford this weekend before heading to Johnson City.
We’ll deal with that later.
7. Western Carolina (3-5, 1-3)
This remains the funniest team in the conference.
Western Carolina beat Tennessee Tech 44-20.
Not 24-20.
Not a last-second field goal.
44-20.
They also put 31 on ETSU in Johnson City.
There is clearly some talent on this football team.
Then they turn around and lose 17-14 to Mercer and get smoked 41-18 at home by Chattanooga.
Make it make sense.
Western is 3-5, but they’re also probably better than your typical 3-5 team.
Unfortunately, being randomly dangerous every few weeks doesn’t move you very far up the rankings.
8. Furman (2-6, 1-3)
Furman might be the weirdest 2-6 team in America.
Their one conference win?
At Mercer.
They’ve also lost to Richmond by four, Tennessee Tech by five and Wofford by seven.
So it’s not like Furman is getting destroyed every Saturday.
They’re just finding increasingly creative ways to lose football games.
Now they’ve dropped five straight after losing 13-6 at home to Samford.
There are worse 2-6 teams out there.
But at some point, close losses are still losses.
9. The Citadel (2-6, 0-4)
The Citadel is 0-4 in conference play, but they’ve at least been annoying lately.
They hung around with Tennessee Tech deep into the fourth quarter before Tech finally put the game away, 28-13.
ETSU had a much different experience in Charleston.
The Bucs fell behind 10-0, woke up and eventually took a 34-10 lead before The Citadel scored late to make it 34-16.
Now the Bulldogs head to Mercer.
If you want to do something incredibly funny, Citadel, you know what to do.
10. VMI (0-8, 0-4)
ETSU 38.
VMI 0.
The Keydets have now been outscored 178-24 in their four SoCon games.
It’s bad.
Really bad.
But I like VMI. I respect VMI. Lexington is a cool place, and the Keydets have suffered enough.
So I’m not putting a nonexistent football team ahead of them.
I refuse.
There are limits to this blog.
11. UNCG (0-0, 0-0)
Still undefeated.
Still haven’t allowed a point.
Still haven’t thrown an interception.
Still haven’t lost a football game in program history.
Unfortunately, VMI has officially earned the sympathy vote.
Back to No. 11 you go.
So there we have it.
ETSU stays No. 1.
Tennessee Tech, against my better judgment, gets No. 2.
Chattanooga probably has every right to be annoyed about it.
Mercer is still top 15, but the hard part of its schedule is coming.
Wofford is quietly lurking.
Western Carolina continues to make absolutely no sense.
VMI keeps its dignity.
And UNCG remains undefeated.
Normally this is where I’d talk about what’s coming next.
Not this week.
ETSU-Tennessee Tech deserves its own article.
And I’ve got plenty to say.
Go Bucs.
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