Season 4 update:
I had my first scare this year as the prior year Florida tanked 3-9 (1-8) and was moved down but still had a loaded team. They didnt start ranked but they went undefeated and quickly climbed the charts. They got to the top 10 quickly (week 8) but couldn't climb from there and ended their perfect season at 5 in the final poll (6 going into the bowls). So the system worked in the end but it had me nervous for a while. Both Miami and Nebraska came out of nowhere this season and each went undefeated to meet in the NCG. Miami prevailed 41-28 and claimed another NCG for the southeast region.
In my 2nd year in the sun belt I had a very good year. 1 sim loss in conference early set me up for a week 11 game against 9-1 (6-1) vandy which would ultimately be for the division. To add to the pressure I had a boatload of recruits coming in to visit and vandy had a slightly better team (85 vs 89). It was just one of those games where the EA gods hated me and nobody could hold a ball. I knew it was a bad sign when on the 1st play they went deep and my CB slid off the WR and gave them a 75 yd TD. I gave up 2 INTs (1 my stupidity, 1 off my WR's hands and into theirs) and 4! fumbles lost and still somehow managed to make it a game. They tied up the score with 45 seconds left and I had 3 timeouts. I get a good return out to the 42 yard line and I figured I was in business. On the first play I end up dumping the ball to my HB in the flats and he gets it to the 50. As I am taking it out of bounds he gets hit and fumbles - of course they recover. He was 1 step from being out too.
They are able to get a few first downs and kick a 40 yd FG as time expires. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be. I ended the season at 10-2 and got destroyed by a much superior Virginia in a bowl game. I believe it was 28-45 - but it really wasn't even that close.
On a positive note - my HB was a stud this year and managed to win the heisman. It wasn't just from user games either, I checked and he averaged almost 200 YPG in the simmed away games! He came back for his senior year and he is going to be a MONSTER. End of year progression took him to 97 OVR, 97 SPD, 98 ACC, 99 ELU. I don't remember the rest but all RB skills (truck, spin, stiff arm, juke) are over 90 as well. I already had some real sick runs with broken tackles and nasty juke / spins, but it should be on a whole new level. It is like watching DAT play against sun belt teams all season. Apparently the #1 HB recruit also liked what he saw as he joined me at 81 OVR, 96 SPD (forget the rest - but it was solid across the board) so I should be set there for years to come.