Here are our Big South Football Power Rankings following the conclusion of the regular season.
Note: Last week’s ranking in parenthesis.
1. (2) Liberty 8-4, 4-1
Last week: Liberty 15, Coastal 14
Finally, the wait is over. After years of coming up just short of the playoffs, the Flames finally broke through knocking off #1 Coastal Carolina to earn the Big South’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The Flames dominated the stat sheet outgaining the Chanticleers 455-312 and owning time of possession 36:53-23:07. If it wasn’t for 10 penalties, losing the turnover battle, and having to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns, the game wouldn’t have come down to the final drive.
Next: @ James Madison, 4pm
2. (1) Coastal Carolina 11-1, 4-1
Last week: Liberty 15, Coastal 14
The Chanticleers held the Flames to a season low 15 points, but their offense could only muster a season-low themselves with 14 points. The loss knocked CCU out of discussion for a top 3 seed, though they still hung on to a seed, checking in at #7. The Chants have a bye this week before facing the winner of Richmond and Morgan State.
Next: BYE in FCS playoffs
3. (3) Charleston Southern 8-4, 3-2
Last week: Georgia 55, CSU 9
It was 38-0 before CSU knocked down a field goal right at the end of the first half. Georgia racked up nearly 600 yards of offense, and led 55-3 before the Buccaneers scored a meaningless touchdown in the 4th quarter. Jamey Chadwell has done a great job at CSU going 18-7 in his first two years with wins over Coastal Carolina and Liberty. The next step is to step up their schedule and begin competing for the playoffs.
Next: end of season
4. (4) Presbyterian 6-5, 3-2
Last week: BYE
Next: end of season
5. (5) Monmouth 6-5, 1-4
Last week: Monmouth 31, GWU 15
I’m sure the Hawks are happy to finish their season with a win, their only win in their first year of Big South play. They also finish the year with a winning record. Monmouth overcame 10 penalties and 3 turnovers while forcing 6 turnovers to beat the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Next: end of season
6. (6) Gardner-Webb 4-8, 0-5
Last week: PC 14, GWU 7
4-3 on the season with wins over Wofford and Charlotte entering conference play. The Runnin’ Bulldogs had to be feeling good at the time. Then they hit Liberty’s defensive buzzsaw, and they’ve been a disaster ever since. Gardner-Webb lost 5 straight to finish the season 4-8 and 0-5 in the league. Has GWU become the new VMI of the Big South?
Next: end of season
Laughable poll. CCU plays their worst game in 2 years and Liberty still only won by one point, on a Field Goal attempt that was low enough for Ironside to block. No question if CCU had played their normal game, it would have been an easy blowout. But in the end, the Flames won the game. But as in life, the best doesn\’t always come out on top.