Way-too-early tiers for every SoCon team entering 2023

Way-too-early tiers for every SoCon team entering the 2023 season

Based on a Stan Becton NCAA.com column...www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2023-04-13/way-too-early-fcs-tiers-every-team-entering-2023-season

I've sorted all 9 SoCon teams into tiers from top to bottom, factoring in last season's success, potential, returning and departing talent. Here goes...


1. The step above the rest tier  (Teams that are a step above even the elite teams entering the 2023 season)
-none this season...


2. The Frisco-or-bust tier  (teams that should have their eyes set on lifting the trophy at the end of the year)
-Furman
-Samford

These two are feeling superior to the rest of the conference, and based on last season, they are expecting to go deeper this year in the tournament.


3. The potential-playoff-seeds tier  (teams in this category could earn a top-eight seed in the playoffs)
-Mercer


4. The playoff-contenders tier (teams that could make the playoffs, likely as an at-large or teams that could compete for conference titles)
-Western Carolina
-Chattanooga


5. The good-but-not-great tier  (teams that should finish the season around the six to seven-win mark)
-ETSU


6. The unproven potential tier (teams that have a chance at being better than last season)
-The Citadel


7; The meh tier  (teams that won't be the worst teams in their conferences, but they won't contend either)
-Wofford


8. The bottom tier  (speaks for itself)
-VMI


Feel free to show us your tiers...