2015 Record: 4-7 (3-4 OVC)
Key Losses: WR Paul McRoberts (First Team All-OVC)
Key Returnees: RB Tremane McCullough (First Team All-OVC), LB Roper Garrett (Second Team All-OVC)
Believe or not, SEMO was close to being 8-3 team, being #2 in the OVC, and taking EIU’s spot in the playoffs last year. Four of the Redhawks’ losses were decided by 5 points or less and included a missed last second field goal to force overtime against UTM, a miraculous 4th down stop by Shorter on SEMO’s final drive to ice the game, a failed last second 2 point conversion against Indiana State, and running out of time in the middle of a massive 21 point rally in the last 20 minutes of regulation at EIU.
Why is last year important in a preview for 2016? Because the Redhawks only lost 3 starters and a total of 7 players from their two-deep lineup. It’s basically the same team only now with more experience. The Redhawks have a legitimate shot at making a lot of noise in the conference this year and getting to the playoffs.
Schedule and Predictions: 7-4 (5-3 OVC)
L 9/3 @ Memphis
W 9/10 @ Southern Illinois
W 9/17 vs. Indiana State
W 9/24 @ Murray State
W 10/1 vs. EIU
L 10/8 @ Eastern Kentucky
W 10/22 @ Tennessee Tech
W 10/29 vs. Austin Peay
L 11/5 vs. Jacksonville State
L 11/12 @ UT-Martin
W 11/19 vs. Tennessee State
I know exactly what you’re thinking, bear with me. They return almost all their players and they weren’t a bad crew last year. They have EIU and Indiana State at home. It’s really not that far of a stretch, they just need a little luck this time around and they can punch their golden ticket to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.