There seem to be plenty of mixed feelings about how good NAU will be this year. I tend to think they'll be much improved from past seasons, but we'll see. The Jacks were 3-2 this spring and were an unsportsmanlike penalty away from being 4-1. They got a difficult non-conference schedule but avoid Weber, Eastern and the cats in conference play, so that will bode well for them. What will make or break their season is non-conference. They cannot go 0-3 in non-conference if they want to sneak into the playoffs. Let's dive in!
September 2 vs. Sam Houston - L. Tough way to open the season by hosting the defending champs. SHSU returns nearly everyone from their title team. This will be a good measuring stick game for the Jacks at home. If they keep it competitive, I'll be a believer.
September 11 @ South Dakota- W. Can't drop this game if they wanna make a playoff push. This is a must win for the Jacks as South Dakota is not what they once were 3-5 years ago. I'm expecting a tight game as NAU is not a great road team but I think they squeak it out.
September 18- @ Arizona - L. This game is pretty much becoming an annual occurrence for the Jacks in both football and basketball every year. I don't know why they enjoy playing Arizona so much but more power to them. As bad as Arizona has been and should be, I don't see NAU winning this game.
September 25 @ Northern Colorado - W. Three straight road games to close out September, that'll be fun. Jacks win this one no problem.
October 2 vs. Idaho State - W. A trash ISU team that we discussed last week. Should have no problem with them at home.
October 9 BYE- Well positioned bye week. About the best date you can have for a bye week.
October 16 vs. Southern Utah - W. The Grand Canyon game. Coming off a bye week and getting them at home. This typically is always a great game and I like the Jacks at home.
October 23 @ Sacramento State - L. This will be where we find out if NAU is for real or not. This is their toughest conference road game. They win this, and I'm all in on what Chris Ball is building in Flagstaff. That said, I'm expecting a tight game that I think Sac State pulls out at home.
October 30 @ Idaho - W. The Vandy's are tough at home and this really feels like a 50/50 game but I think NAU pulls it out in a great game.
November 6 vs. UC Davis - L. If NAU can stop Ulonzo Gilliam then they will win this game, but as we remember from 2019 the staple of this team was as Brint put it, a garbage defense. They've been very active in the portal and their defense was much improved this Spring but I just have a feeling that UC Davis will find a way.
November 13 vs. Montana - L. Our first trip to the sky dome since 2016. Historically, we have not played very well in the dome and this does feel like a trap game with cat-Griz the following week, but I believe in this team and believe we will win this game and eliminate NAU from playoff contention.
November 20 @ Cal Poly - W. By this time, Beau Baldwin might finally have his team headed in a positive direction, but I still don't think they will be ready to win a game like this. I'll take NAU on the road.
I have NAU going going 6-5. I think the ceiling is 8-3 and the floor is 4-7. NAU just felt different in the spring. They proved they could win close games and compete with Weber on the road. Tough home games but they got to be able to defend their home turf. Ultimately I have NAU just on the outside looking in on the playoffs but watch out for the Jacks in 2022. They are definitely trending in the right direction. Thoughts?
September 2 vs. Sam Houston - L. Tough way to open the season by hosting the defending champs. SHSU returns nearly everyone from their title team. This will be a good measuring stick game for the Jacks at home. If they keep it competitive, I'll be a believer.
September 11 @ South Dakota- W. Can't drop this game if they wanna make a playoff push. This is a must win for the Jacks as South Dakota is not what they once were 3-5 years ago. I'm expecting a tight game as NAU is not a great road team but I think they squeak it out.
September 18- @ Arizona - L. This game is pretty much becoming an annual occurrence for the Jacks in both football and basketball every year. I don't know why they enjoy playing Arizona so much but more power to them. As bad as Arizona has been and should be, I don't see NAU winning this game.
September 25 @ Northern Colorado - W. Three straight road games to close out September, that'll be fun. Jacks win this one no problem.
October 2 vs. Idaho State - W. A trash ISU team that we discussed last week. Should have no problem with them at home.
October 9 BYE- Well positioned bye week. About the best date you can have for a bye week.
October 16 vs. Southern Utah - W. The Grand Canyon game. Coming off a bye week and getting them at home. This typically is always a great game and I like the Jacks at home.
October 23 @ Sacramento State - L. This will be where we find out if NAU is for real or not. This is their toughest conference road game. They win this, and I'm all in on what Chris Ball is building in Flagstaff. That said, I'm expecting a tight game that I think Sac State pulls out at home.
October 30 @ Idaho - W. The Vandy's are tough at home and this really feels like a 50/50 game but I think NAU pulls it out in a great game.
November 6 vs. UC Davis - L. If NAU can stop Ulonzo Gilliam then they will win this game, but as we remember from 2019 the staple of this team was as Brint put it, a garbage defense. They've been very active in the portal and their defense was much improved this Spring but I just have a feeling that UC Davis will find a way.
November 13 vs. Montana - L. Our first trip to the sky dome since 2016. Historically, we have not played very well in the dome and this does feel like a trap game with cat-Griz the following week, but I believe in this team and believe we will win this game and eliminate NAU from playoff contention.
November 20 @ Cal Poly - W. By this time, Beau Baldwin might finally have his team headed in a positive direction, but I still don't think they will be ready to win a game like this. I'll take NAU on the road.
I have NAU going going 6-5. I think the ceiling is 8-3 and the floor is 4-7. NAU just felt different in the spring. They proved they could win close games and compete with Weber on the road. Tough home games but they got to be able to defend their home turf. Ultimately I have NAU just on the outside looking in on the playoffs but watch out for the Jacks in 2022. They are definitely trending in the right direction. Thoughts?