College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (11/20/17): The AAC Is King

This week saw the top four continue to pull away from the rest of the top ten with virtually every voter ranking UCF, Memphis, Boise State, and USF in some combination of the top four. Fresno State is back in the top ten, giving the MWC three of the top ten to go along with three AAC programs. Only the Sun Belt is not in the top ten this week, but Troy is very close to giving the conference representation.

Others Receiving Votes: Troy 15, Ohio 15, Army 4, Navy 3, Houston 2. 

Voters This Week: @TheJayBir, @Sports4Heretics, @BenMoore247, @meangreennation, @LaTechReport, @NorthCoastBias, @cfoutpost, @HuskieUnleashed, @warriorboutit, @TheTowelRackWKU.

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (11/6/17): The MAC Represents

One thing I never saw coming this week was a takeover from the MAC with three teams earning spots in the top 10. Ohio joins Toledo and NIU in the rankings, making the MAC tied for the most most represented with the AAC.

Others Receiving Votes: Houston 14, Fresno State 14, Troy 11, Army 8, Florida International 3, North Texas 3, SMU 2. 

Voters This Week: @TheJayBir, @Sports4Heretics, @AStateFanRules, @meangreennation, @LaTechReport, @NorthCoastBias, @cfoutpost, @HuskieUnleashed, @warriorboutit, @TheTowelRackWKU, @BenMoore247, @The_DailyDragon.

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (10/30/17): #1 Goes Down!!!

By breezy421 from Orlando - originally posted to Flickr as IMG_2923.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9104204

Apparently nothing can go according to schedule this season. South Florida looked to be in control after San Diego State failed to hold the top spot. That didn't last for long as the Bulls fell in devastating fashion to Houston on Saturday. 

The Bulls were not the only top 10 team to fall as Colorado State and Fresno State also fell, opening spots for Arkansas State and San Diego State to join the party. 

Others Receiving Votes: SMU 14, Ohio 7, Troy 6, Houston 6, Army 5, Colorado State 5, North Texas 4, Marshall 3, Florida International 3, Fresno State 2. 

Voters This Week: @TheJayBir, @Sports4Heretics, @AStateFanRules, @meangreennation, @LaTechReport, @NorthCoastBias, @cfoutpost, @HuskieUnleashed, @warriorboutit, @TheTowelRackWKU.

Which Teams Are Most Likely Heading To The AAC Title Game?

By Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, httpscommons.wikimedia.orgwindex.phpcurid=52623792

We are at a point in the season where clarity in division races starts to take shape. For the most part, the AAC is falling into place with teams like UConn, Tulane and East Carolina falling to the wayside. Realistically, only six teams have a chance at winning a division with only four looking likely.

What is great about college football is the fact that we will likely not know which teams are heading to the title game until the end of Thanksgiving weekend. With that said, let's take a look at the AAC and which teams are in position to win the conference.

AAC East Division:

Contenders: UCF, USF

Pretenders: Connecticut, Temple, East Carolina.

• USF (7-1, 4-1 AAC): Despite falling in brutal fashion to Houston, the Bulls still hold destiny in their own hands. If they win the AAC, they will almost assuredly go to a NY6 bowl and have a chance on a national stage to beat a traditional power. The road to that goal is through Orlando versus rival UCF. No matter what, this was going to be a game they had to win to win the division and it will be even more important as UCF will likely (maybe?) head into this matchup undefeated. Chance of winning the division: 30%.
• UCF (7-0, 4-0 AAC): Sure it was FCS program Austin Peay, but the Knights continue to blow the doors off of everyone in their paths. Navy was the only team to hang within 10 points of UCF this season and the schedule is set up for a 10-0 record when they face USF. SMU is a tough matchup, but do not match up well in the November 4 matchup. Even if they do fall, a win over USF in the finale would seal the division. Basically, take care of business versus the Bulls and they are golden. Chance of winning the division: 70%.

AAC West Division:

Contenders: Memphis, SMU, Navy, Houston.

Pretenders: Tulane, Tulsa.

• Memphis (7-1, 4-1 AAC): This division is still very much up for grabs, but the Tigers are in the driver’s seat down the stretch. They have wins over Houston and Navy, while facing SMU later in the season. Memphis should have no trouble with Tulsa or ECU, making the SMU game the only real chance for anyone to catch up to the Tigers. For the reading impaired, Memphis would need to lose two times down the stretch for Navy or Houston to win, but would give up the division if SMU wins out. Pretty simple route. Chance of winning the division: 75%.
• SMU (6-2, 3-1 AAC): I wouldn’t have thought that the Mustangs would be in the running for an AAC title at this point in the season, but here they are. The problem moving forward is the difficulty of schedule. They have UCF, Navy, and Memphis in a three week stretch before hosting Tulane in the season finale. While running the table is possible, it is unlikely. Outside of going 3-1 in their final four games with one win being over Memphis, we could be looking at chaos. Chance of winning the division: 15%.
• Navy (5-2, 3-2 AAC): The Midshipmen are in a tough spot, but can get back into the race if a few things go their way. Either way, they will need two Memphis losses to jump ahead in the standings, while also beating Temple, SMU, and Houston. Otherwise, too many things would have to happen for Navy to realistically win the division. Chance of winning the division: 4%.
• Houston (5-3, 3-2 AAC): The Cougars were on the edge of elimination, but came through with an almost miracle win over South Florida to stay in the race. They hold a tiebreaker over SMU, but lost to Memphis, necessitating two losses by Memphis down the stretch to get the win. That perplexing loss to Tulsa will likely be the main reason that Houston misses out on a chance at winning the AAC West Division. Chance of winning the division: 6%. 

Projected AAC Title Game: Memphis at Central Florida. 

Which G5 Team Has The Best Shot At Going Undefeated? UCF or USF?

Remember just a few weeks ago when so many teams had hopes of being the G5 program to run the gauntlet and end up in a New Year's Six bowl like Western Michigan last fall or Houston the season before? Eight teams were looking at perfect season with many already holding a win over a P5 program.

Well, that number has gotten much smaller with teams losing the expected (Appalachian State v. Miami) to the surprising (UTSA v. Southern Miss). Now, we sit heading into Halloween weekend with only two undefeated teams among the G5 ranks... South Florida and Central Florida. 
One thing for certain is the fact that we will end the regular season with no more than one G5 undefeated team as the two programs are on a collision course for a Black Friday matchup in Orlando. 

Let's take a look at the two AAC programs and their chances of making a run to an undefeated record. 

***Don't forget. Either USF or UCF will have to play, most likely, Memphis in the AAC title game before heading to a bowl.**



#17/#14 South Florida (7-0, 4-0 AAC): 
What a roller coaster it has been for the Bulls. They started the season as the top ranked G5 program and a dark horse pick to give the playoff committee some pause before eventually choosing a 10-2 P5 program for the playoff. Then the season started. USF struggled in the opening two games of the season versus inferior competition and tumbled down the ranks. From San Diego State to Memphis, multiple teams have been the flavor of the month while the Bulls just win. Don't look now but they are sitting at 7-0 and a tricky game versus Houston from heading to the season ending matchup at UCF.

What makes USF so good? 

Heading into the season, the USF offense got all the accolades. Thy had star quarterback Quinton Flowers leading one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Don't get me wrong, they are the #7 rushing team in the nation and #13 in points scored per game, but defense is what has changed in Tampa. 

South Florida had great athletes last fall, but still gave up a lot of points in the process. They lost games they should have won due to lapses on that side of the ball. When Willie Taggart left for Oregon, it gave the program a chance to bring in a defensive mind. It has worked with Charlie Strong. The former Texas head coach has the Bulls #18 in the nation in total defense, #24 in points allowed per game, #1 in interceptions, #9 in rushing defense, #26 in sacks per game, #5 in TFL per game, and #20 in defensive touchdowns. 

Defensive backs Deatrick Nichols (2 INT), Devin Abraham (4 INT), and Mazzi Wilkins (3 INT) have combined for nine picks, but the fact that linebackers Auggie Sanchez (2 INT) and Nico Sawtelle (2 INT) have combined for four picks is downright impressive. This true air patrol has helped to lift USF to the best turnover margin in the nation at +13. 

Remaining Schedule:

• 10/28: Houston
• 11/4: At UConn
• 11/16: Tulsa
• 11/24: At UCF

Chance at undefeated: 55%.

#18/#17 UCF (6-0, 4-0): 
Raise your hand if you saw the Knights sitting at 7-0 with wins over Memphis, Maryland, and Navy. If you raised your hand, you are either a liar or a huge homer for the program. Not only did they win those three games, they won all three by a combined 109-44. Only Navy has been within ten points of UCF at this point in the season. Scott Frost and company have done what no one has done at UCF in school history... start the season 7-0. There is no reason to think they won't be sitting at 10-0 heading into the game versus South Florida. 

How did UCF turn the switch and turn into one of the best teams in the nation? 

A team first attitude and the maturation of McKenzie Milton. 

On offense, the Knights have a group of players willing to perform in their roles to better service the team. Taj McGowan has the role of battering the opposing defense as evidenced by his 3.8 yards per carry average. Since he does his role so well, it allows players like Adrian Killins Jr. (49/413/5TD) and Otis Anderson (18/157/1TD) to run free to the second level. Just looking at the fact that seven different players have at least 14 carries for this team shows just how much the wealth is spread. 

Defensively, the Knights rank as the #30 team in the nation, giving up only 347.5 yards per game. That number jumps to #16 nationally in scoring defense, #17 in first downs allowed, #9 in interceptions, #34 in rushing defense, and the #3 turnover margin in the nation. 

A player like Shaquem Griffin might be disappointed to only have five TFL and two sacks, but he is doing his job and playing a role to help win games. If that means busting up blockers so that Pat Jasinski can swoop in and make the tackle, then he does it. 

The secondary may be the most talented and athletic position group on the team, but the linebacker corps is the heart and soul of the defense. Jasinski, Chequan Burkett, Griffin, and Titus Davis all have 24 or more tackles and have combined for 10.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks, Davis has not earned a sack on the season, but leads the team with five quarterback hits.

I could go on an on about Milton, but just look at what he has done so far this season. in 186 fewer pass attempts, he is only 261 yards behind last year's total. He has a completion percentage higher by nearly 12%, has six more touchdown passes than all last season, and has only been sacked three times. His rating is second in the nation behind Baker Mayfield, while also second in the nation in yards per attempt (11.4). In addition, Milton has taken more control of the entire offense as a sophomore, making a step that many did not think would come until his junior season. 

Remaining Schedule: 

• 10/28: Austin Peay
• 11/4: At SMU
• 11/11: UConn
• 11/18: At Temple
• 11/24: USF

Chance at undefeated: 45%. 

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (10/23/17): Fresno State Joins The Party

It is amazing just what two weeks can do to a program. San Diego State went from undefeated and #1 in the poll to unranked with two straight losses. The most recent loss was a complete drubbing at the hands of Fresno State, our newest member of the rankings. Along with Fresno State hitting the top 10, we have a season-high 20 teams receiving votes in this week's poll. 

Others Receiving Votes: San Diego State 11, Troy 6, Arkansas State 6, SMU, 5, Appalachian State 4, Florida International 4, Florida Atlantic 3, Houston 2, Army 1, Ohio 3. 

Voters This Week: @TheJayBir, @Sports4Heretics, @AStateFanRules, @meangreennation, @LaTechReport, @NorthCoastBias, @BenMoore247, @cfoutpost, @HuskieUnleashed, @The_DailyDragon, @HerdNation.

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (10/16/17): South Florida Leads The Way

1874 College Football

After one of the wildest weekends of college football that we have seen in a very long time, we have a new #1 along with two new entries to the top 10. In total, 19 different teams received votes among the 11 members that took part in the weekly poll. That is a jump from 17 teams receiving votes last week.

Let's take a look at the Post Week Seven Top 10.

Others Receiving Votes: Appalachian State 12, Houston 8, Fresno State 5, Army 4, Troy 3, Ohio 3, North Texas 1, Arkansas State 1, SMU 1. 

Voters This Week: @TheJayBir, @Sports4Heretics, @AStateFanRules, @meangreennation, @LaTechReport, @NorthCoastBias, @BenMoore247, @cfoutpost, @HuskieUnleashed, @warriorboutit, @HerdNation.  

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (10/9/17): The Aztecs Hold Firm

By Sean Hobson - http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanhobson/4247269000/in/photostream/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12530200

This week, we have three tiers forming in the top ten poll. First, SDSU, USF, and UCF have pulled away as the big three of the poll. UCF, in third, leads fourth-place Navy by 27 points which is a higher total than teams eight, nine, and ten.

Tier two includes teams four through seven with Navy, Troy, Houston, and Memphis all within 18 points of one another and 20+ points ahead of the next tier of the poll.

Finally, the bottom three teams of the top ten are a long way from moving up the poll. It is nice to see NIU actually get into the top ten, albeit only two voters chose the Huskies on the ballot. We are still looking for more voters, specifically from the north and west to get the MAC and MW represented more in the future. Contact me (@cfoutpost) on Twitter if you are interested. 

Let's get to this week's poll.

Others Receiving Votes: Marshall 10, Western Michigan 10, Boise State 6, Appalachian State 5, UTSA 3, SMU 1, Fresno State 1. 

Voters: @TheJayBir, @Sports4Heretics, @AStateFanRules, @meangreennation, @LaTechReport, @NorthCoastBias, @BenMoore247, @cfoutpost, @TheTowelRackWKU, @warriorboutit, @HerdNation. 

What Would A Hypothetical G5 Tournament Look Like?: AAC Rules The Roost

Remember a few months ago when there was chatter of an interest in eventually forming a G5 playoff? Of course, it was shot down, first from Navy and then from a majority of the G5 with the playoff seen as admitting that the G5 programs should not be allowed to compete with the P5.

The thought behind a fight against a G5 playoff makes sense and it looks extremely unlikely that it would ever come to fruition. That is probably for the best as sooner or later a G5 program will break through into a playoff for the national title, certainly when the playoff eventually moves from four to eight teams.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t say “what if?”

With non-conference play virtually over for most of the G5, now is as good of a time as ever to imagine what a G5 playoff would look like. Remember, I am not advocating for a G5 playoff. Instead, I am just offering a “what if” scenario to break up a lazy week and give you reading material as you watch Georgia Southern and Arkansas State face off in Funbelt Wednesdays.

*****AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A "WHAT IF" AND I IN NO WAY WANT OR EXPECT TO SEE A G5 TOURNAMENT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. JUST FOR FUN.******

Format:

Eight-team single elimination tournament.

How teams are chosen:

In what would be an eight-team tournament, all five conferences would get an automatic bid with three teams getting an at-large invite.

• American Athletic Conference Champion
• Mid-American Conference Champion
• Conference USA Champion
• Mountain West Champion
• Sun Belt Champion
• At-large
• At-large
• At-large

Sites:

The quarterfinals and semifinals would be at the higher seed’s home field like playoffs in the FCS. The title game would be in a neutral site that makes sense for the entire G5. New Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta, Tempe, Los Angeles, and Miami are too entrenched with the P5 playoff system and would make little sense as a piggyback location for the G5 tournament final. I would love to hear from you which location would make sense as a championship location. Be creative.

Now, let’s move on to the biggest argument piece of this article—the eight teams that make the cut. This is based only on the current outlook five weeks into the season. Please try to understand that I am not counting a hypothetical win over Toledo or Boise State in the future, only current work on the field. I am basing the teams selected and seeding on the CFO G5 Top 10 Poll.

• San Diego State (MW Champion)
• South Florida (At-large)
• Central Florida (AAC Champion)
• Troy (Sun Belt Champion)
• Toledo (MAC Champion)
• Navy (At-large)
• Houston (At-large)
• UTSA (CUSA Champion)

Yes, I know. That is a lot of AAC in the tournament. I never said every conference would be equally distributed, but it is a bit wild that four of the eight teams would be from a single conference. It happens.

The Bracket:

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (10/2/17): Meet The New Committee

We are trying something new at College Football Outpost and reaching out to fellow “media” members for a more conclusive G5 Top 10 poll. Several took to the cause in the inaugural week so that you are subjected to a more varied top 10 than if I did it on my own.

Enough of my jabbering, let’s take a look at the CFO G5 Top 10.

1. San Diego State (5 First Place Votes): 95 votes.

2. South Florida (4 First Place Votes): 91 votes.

3. Central Florida (1 First Place Vote): 82 votes.

4. Troy: 48 votes. 

5. Navy 46 votes.

6. Houston: 37 votes.

7. Toledo: 24 votes.

8. Memphis: 24 votes.

9. SMU: 19 votes.

T-10. UTSA: 16 votes.

T-10. Ohio: 16 votes.

Others considered: Northern Illinois 10, Western Michigan 9, Appalachian State 9, Colorado State 9, Boise State 7, Louisiana Tech 7, Marshall 1.

Voters: @TheJayBir, @Sports4Heretics, @scottwatkinsTU, @AlexFunderburke, @AStateFanRules, @meangreennation, @LaTechReport, @NorthCoastBias, @BenMoore247, @cfoutpost. 

Go follow the voting committee on Twitter as soon as possible. 

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (9/25/17): UCF From The Top Rope

Welcome back to the top ten list Northern Illinois and Central Florida. For NIU, it was a long and difficult visit to the abyss last season and this year's team is better off for experiencing failure before success. For UCF, I still cannot believe that Frost and company have turned that pathetic excuse for a team from 2015 into a dark horse choice for the NY6. Just amazing. 

1. South Florida (4-0): We have long imagined what the Bulls would look like with a top-notch defense to complement a powerful offense. USF showed up big on a national stage and raced past Temple to go to 4-0. There is no reason to doubt that an October 28 versus Houston is the only major roadblock to a perfect regular season. Up Next: At East Carolina.
2. San Diego State (4-0): Give credit to the Aztecs for handling quite a bit of adversity in downing a tough Air Force squad in the rain. We are going to learn a lot about this program on Saturday as a very good Northern Illinois squad comes to town with upset on their minds. Up Next: #10 Northern Illinois.
3. Memphis (3-0): In similar fashion to a week one win over ULM, the Tigers may have gotten caught looking ahead to a huge trip to Orlando to face UCF. They did just enough to win and we have arguably the biggest G5/G5 games of the season, sorry Boise State/Troy. Up Next: At #5 UCF.
4. Toledo (3-1): The Rockets let the game versus Miami get out of hand in the end, but they are still a quality football team. This is a pivotal point in the season with EMU and CMU up next before Ball State, NIU, and Ohio. If they can make it through that stretch undefeated, they could sneak into an NY6 with a little help. Up Next: EMU.
5. Central Florida (2-0): The nation found out something we all knew, the Knights are for real. They systematically destroyed Maryland and have the national media already choosing Scott Frost’s next job. Up next is a visit from a very talented Memphis squad that will decide which team is second best in a stacked AAC. Up Next: #3 Memphis.  
6. UTSA (3-0): The Roadrunners win again and benefit from losses to earn the #6 spot in the rankings. They will run into the issue all season long of schedule difficulty, but getting by Southern Miss and North Texas will quiet a few of the haters. I am having a hard time defending the rest of their CUSA schedule, but that is not their fault. Up Next: Southern Miss.
7. Houston (2-1): I feel like the Cougars are a team that will strike hard in 2018. They look to have that one or two pieces missing to make a run this year. That being said, they are incredibly talented and can still make a run and end up in the top three in the AAC or even play (probably) USF for the title. Up Next: At Temple.
8. Louisiana Tech (2-2): The Bulldogs learned a lesson that every G5 team tends to learn at some point… put away the P5 team when you have the chance. Field goals leave teams like South Carolina in the game and then they score 17 points in the fourth quarter and win. That last drive though— come on defense. You are better than that. Up Next: South Alabama.
9. Northern Illinois (2-1): Say hi to the new guy. The Huskies are back in the poll after a 2016 season that is better off forgotten. They went to Lincoln and took out the Cornhuskers and had every chance in the world to beat Boston College in week one. Now that they made the list, all they have to do is play #2 San Diego State. Up Next: At #2 San Diego State.
10. Appalachian State (2-2): Hey Mountaineers, read what I told Louisiana Tech. Score touchdown when you get the chance and Wake Forest does not get the chance to win in the end. They must quickly forget this bitter loss with a much improved NMSU team coming to town. This game will tell us a lot about the Sun Belt. Up Next: New Mexico State.

Others considered: Navy, WKU, MTSU, Boise State, CMU, EMU, Ohio, Troy, Air Force, Colorado State. 

I tried something new and got polls via Twitter from the general public. The plan is to have a (mediaish?) poll starting next Monday. 

NorthCoastBias @NorthCoastBias

1. San Diego State
2. South Florida
3. Memphis
4. Central Florida
5. NIU
6. Houston
7. Toledo
8. Navy
9. UTSA
10. Ohio 

Brent Newton @greatnewtini

1. San Diego State
2. USF
3. Memphis
4. LA Tech
5. UTSA
6. NIU
7. Houston
8. Central Florida
9. Colorado State
10. SMU

Mike Vettoretti @mike_vettoretti

1. South Florida
2. Memphis
3. San Diego State
4. UTSA
5. Toledo
6. Navy
7. Troy
8. SMU
9. NIU
10. Ohio

Rich Ross @RichRoss411

1. San Diego State
2. South Florida
3. Memphis
4. Central Florida
5. Houston
6. UTSA
7. Navy
8. SMU
9. Boise State

Which G5 Team Has The Best Shot At Going Undefeated?

By Brian Reading - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35620815

We are nearly at the end of the early portion non-conference slate of the college football season. Some conferences, like the MAC, tend to play four early and then end the season with eight games from conference foes. Others, like the Sun Belt, tend to save a later date for a meeting with a member of a P5 conference (mostly the SEC).

By this point in the season, it becomes clear that a handful of teams have a legitimate shot and running the table and heading to an NY6 bowl with an undefeated record. Last season, it was Western Michigan. Other years, it has been Houston, Boise State, and even Utah back before they were a part of the Pac-12.

This year, we have a whole new crop of teams looking to accomplish that feat with each team holding a differing level of difficulty along the way. Let’s take a look at the remaining G5 undefeated teams and their chances at going undefeated.

• #22 San Diego State (3-0, 0-0 MWC): Not many of the national pundits gave the Aztecs a realistic shot of taking out Arizona State and Stanford in back to back weeks. Many of those same pundits picked Stanford to win the Pac-12 outright. Instead, SDSU is sitting at 3-0 with a real chance to run the table this year. The schedule is front-loaded with every one of their tough games coming before the 15^th of October. Coming up is a stretch that includes at Air Force, Northern Illinois, and Boise State. If they can get by a tough NIU squad and break their streak of losing at least one bad non-conference game, they could be the front-runners for an NY6 bowl. Assuming they can beat most likely Boise State in the MWC title game. Chance at undefeated: 60%.

.@Chargers It’s feels like San Diego has comfortably moved on without you. Good luck to you, wherever you end up. #GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/0OVdJxNtRI

— SDCCU Stadium (@SDCCUstadium) September 17, 2017

• #21 South Florida (3-0, 0-0 AAC): Until last week, the Bulls were playing below their level and struggled to win games they should have easily won. The game versus Illinois was a showing of just how good they can be if things are rolling. There is no marquee P5 game on the schedule and they miss out on Memphis and Navy in the regular season, making their strength of schedule weaker than SDSU. If Houston can get to the October 28^th matchup undefeated as well, then that could be the national coming up party for USF. Also, watch out for the season finale at UCF. Chance at undefeated: 62.5%.
• Navy (2-0, 1-0 AAC): Still early in the season for the Midshipmen, they have yet to meet the meat of their schedule. No offense to Tulane, but they are not yet among the elite of the AAC and Navy had quite a bit of trouble putting them away. September 30 starts a streak of at Tulsa, Air Force, at Memphis, and UCF. That doesn’t even factor in SMU, at Notre Dame, at Houston, or the season finale versus Army. You could easily make a case that Navy has the toughest G5 schedule in the nation left to play. Chance at undefeated: 3%.
• Houston (2-0, 0-0 AAC): The Cougars look to be back after a disappointing season last fall. They took out an improving Arizona on the road and destroyed Rice last week. They have their toughest test of the season on Saturday as the high-flying offense of Texas Tech comes to town. If they are able to get by that game, they still have SMU, at Tulsa, Memphis, at South Florida, and Navy left on the schedule. It is possible but tough to go through that streak without a letdown. Chance at undefeated: 20%.
• Memphis (2-0, 0-0 AAC): Just pump the breaks a little bit right now. The Tigers were in a very similar situation not all that long ago when they beat a highly ranked Ole Miss squad. After a win over Southern Illinois, they have a tough matchup at UCF before facing Navy, Houston, Tulsa, and SMU down the stretch. Chance at undefeated: 45%.
• Toledo (3-0, 0-0 MAC): There is no real use at talking about the Rockets running the table until they play on Saturday. Beating #14 Miami would legitimize them to the national media and put them on course to an undefeated season. If they get by Miami, facing Ball State on the road, NIU at home, and Ohio on the road in a three-week stretch is no joke. Add in a season finale versus WMU and the road to perfection is tough for Toledo. Chance at undefeated: 18%.
• Eastern Michigan (2-0, 0-0 MAC): Nothing against the Eagles, but beating Rutgers and Charlotte is not going to get very many people talking about a perfect season. Luckily, they have Ohio, Kentucky, Toledo, Army, and WMU in the next five weeks. If they are sitting at 7-0, then let’s talk. Chance at undefeated: 3%.
• UTSA (2-0, 0-0): There is quite a bit of talk coming from Texas that the Roadrunners could actually run the table this fall. They got a win over the P5 by defeating Baylor and easily handled Southern. It hurts that they will miss out on a visit from Houston, a game that would surely legitimize them in the minds of many. Instead, they will have to prove themselves in tough CUSA games like Southern Miss, North Texas, Marshall, and Louisiana Tech. Then, beating WKU, MTSU, or Old Dominion in the CUSA title game is asking a lot of a team that played in their first bowl game only last year. Chance at undefeated: 33.3%.
• UCF (1-0, 0-0): Of the teams that were hurt most from hurricane season, the Knights took a brunt of the effects. They are sitting at 1-0, but haven’t played since a season-opening blowout win over FIU on August 31. Unless they are able to add a game on October 28, they are looking at a 10-game schedule. Still, they have trips to Maryland, Navy, and SMU while Memphis and South Florida come to town. Chance at undefeated: 5%. 

College Football Outpost's G5 Top 10 Rankings (9/11/17): Welcome UTSA

By The original uploader was Mactropy at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2160289

Week two was such an up and down experience for the G5 as marquee matchup UCF/Memphis was lost to weather, while UTSA and five other teams took out P5 opposition. Hopefully we can get a bit of a respite from the weather and start to see more action from the top 10 of the G5 in the next few weeks so that we can get a real idea just which team is the best.

1. South Florida (2-0): The Bulls were unable to play on Saturday due to weather issues. It has yet to be determined if the AAC game versus UConn will be made up. Up Next: Illinois.
2. Toledo (2-0): The Rockets are flying under the radar, but they continue to win after taking care of Nevada in week two. A much anticipated matchup versus Tulsa should gather more attention to the MAC program. Up Next: Tulsa.
3. Boise State (1-1): Despite losing to Washington State in week two, the Broncos remain in the top three. The biggest question marks for Boise State are on offense and there is little time to relax as New Mexico and Virginia come to town in each of the next two weeks. Up Next: New Mexico.
4. Memphis (1-0): The Tigers were unable to play Central Florida in week two, but have arguably the marquee G5 game of week three as UCLA comes to town. Memphis needs to prove that the weather was the only reason for the lack of a passing game versus ULM. Up Next: UCLA.
5. San Diego State (2-0): If UCLA at Memphis is the #1 G5 game of week three, the Aztec playing host to Stanford is #1A. SDSU looks as good as ever on offense with Penny replacing Pumphrey, but are not quite the dominant defensive team of the past few years. Up Next: Stanford.
6. Houston (1-0): The Cougars took care of business on Saturday in squeaking by Arizona despite the Wildcats having already played a game before the matchup. Ed Oliver was once again his dominant self and Kyle Allen looked good in his H-Town debut. Up Next: Rice.
7. Western Kentucky (1-1): It is easy to begin to worry about the Hilltoppers after two weeks. They struggled to put away EKU in week one and looked inept on offensive versus a not very good Illinois squad. Until WKU can put things together, they will be sitting at the back end of the top ten. Up Next: Louisiana Tech.
8. Appalachian State (1-1): A week after missing out on a golden chance to take out an SEC program, the Mountaineers had a much needed cupcake game versus Savannah State. Time will tell how good they are, but the schedule is set up for Appalachian State to head into November at 7-1. Up Next: Texas State.
9. UTSA (1-0): The Roadrunners got their first win over a P5 program in downing Baylor in week two. They would have been higher up the list if not for Baylor already sporting a loss to Liberty in week one. Up Next: Southern.
10. Arkansas State (0-1): The Red Wolves are sitting at tenth despite losing their only game of the season to Nebraska. I can’t fault them for waiting another week to play after Miami canceled their trip to Jonesboro. After a cupcake versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff, we get to see what they are made up with a trip to Dallas to face SMU. Up Next: Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

Others considered: Navy, Central Florida, Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech, MTSU, Army, CMU, EMU, Ohio, Troy, Air Force, Colorado State. 

American Athletic Conference Power Rankings (9/4/17)

Week one is done, so it is only fair to take a look at the AAC and how the conference shakes out with one game in the books (two for USF). 

1. South Florida (2-0, 0-0): The Bulls barely hold on after two lackluster games to start the season. A trip to UConn should be no problem and the Bulls are expected to be undefeated heading into November for a visit from Houston. Let’s see if they can play four quarters this week.
2. Memphis (1-0, 0-0): The Tigers did enough to take care of ULM on a rainy night in Memphis. There is no time to enjoy the win as they have to visit a talented UCF squad for a week two AAC battle. Now is not the time to be looking forward to UCLA.
3. Houston (0-0, 0-0): Not much to say about the Cougars as they were the only AAC team not to play in week one due to Harvey. The expectations are high and there is a ton of talent on the roster, but Arizona on the road isn’t exactly the debut Major Applewhite wanted to make as a head coach.
4. Central Florida (1-0, 0-0): Scott Frost has done an incredible job in turning UCF from the laughingstock of the AAC to a bowl team in 2016 to one of the top four teams in the conference by week two of the 2017 season. Time to find out if McKenzie Milton and company are for real as Memphis heads to town for a week two clash.
5. Navy (1-0, 0-0): The Midshipmen just keep on rolling. With Zach Abey at quarterback, they rolled up 416 yards on the ground and were never really challenged by FAU. Tulane should give them a tougher opponent and a fun game to watch in week two.
6. Tulsa (0-1, 0-0): I vouched for the Golden Hurricane heading into the season. The offense wasn’t terrible versus a very good Oklahoma State team, but the defense looked lost and out of place. It seemed like every time OK State had the ball, they were hitting a 40+ yard play. Expect lots of points to be scored in week two when they face a Louisiana team that gave up 48 to Southeastern Louisiana.
7. SMU (1-0, 0-0): What can you say about SMU in week one? They put up 58 and won easily over a vastly inferior opponent. There is a lot of talent on the roster and we will find out if the Mustangs are ready to go bowling this fall as their next three opponents went bowling in 2016.
8. Tulane (1-0, 0-0): The Green Wave with a capable quarterback is a team on the rise. They played a good Grambling team and dominated from the opening kickoff. We will learn a lot about them in the next three weeks as they face Navy, Oklahoma, and Army to end the month of September.
9. Temple (0-1, 0-0): The Owls are likely a better team than Tulane, but that was a disappointing performance at Notre Dame. Let’s just say the rush defense needs some work and move on.
10. Cincinnati (1-0, 0-0): In multiple aspects of the game, the Bearcats were dominated by an Austin Peay team that has won a single game in the last four seasons. With #11 Michigan, Miami OH, and Navy in the next three weeks, we could be looking at a 1-3 Cincinnati squad.
11. Connecticut (1-0, 0-0): You can take Diaco out of UConn, but that does not make them a good team. The Huskies deserved to lose this game and only the effort of Bryant Shirreffs saved the day. I guess we know who won the starting quarterback job to face South Florida in week two.
12. East Carolina (0-1, 0-0): Do you hear that noise coming from Greenville? That is a fanbase collectively wishing for the days of Ruffin McNeill once again. The Pirates faced an excellent FCS team and were down 34-7 with just over two minutes left. They could only manage 14 points despite JMU ending the night with 172 penalty yards.

College Football Outpost's Week One In Review

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/5069579976

Week one of the college football season is over for G5 programs. To be honest, it was an odd weekend with multiple power programs playing well below their expectations. From slightly rebuilding Western Michigan taking USC to the wire to UNLV dropping a matchup to Howard, nothing went according to plan.

With that said, let’s take a look back at week one.

• Most impressive win: Coastal Carolina 38, UMass 28.
• Worst Loss: Howard 43, UNLV 40.

Five storylines heading into week two:

Who will be the quarterback at Boise State?

No one is going to put the Broncos win over Troy in the College Football Hall of Fame. It was ugly and at times, just flat out hard to watch as neither team seemed to find anything positive on offense for a majority of the game.

The problem with Brett Rypien last season was his inability to find consistency. One week he looked like an All-American and the next, he looked like a backup. Partially due to a gameplan by Hasin and company and also due to how the game went, Rypien barely saw the field in the final quarter with graduate transfer Montell Cozart leading the offense. The Broncos (barely) did enough to win, but Harsin will have a whole new group of people to block on Twitter in the coming week due to his handling of the quarterback position.

Now, we have to ask if Cozart is now the #1 and Rypien is spelling him, vice versa or some other decision will be made. It seems like the Broncos will go with the same plan as in week one. Don’t worry, all Boise State has next week is a trip to #24 Washington State. No biggie.

Can South Florida start play at opening kickoff?

Does a team automatically forget how to play football with Charlie Strong as its head coach? For the second straight week, the Bulls came out poor in the opening quarter and never led until 2:43 was left in the third quarter. In the end, it was a somewhat comfortable 14-point win, but this is getting ridiculous.

If USF starts like that versus… ummm… forget that for now because their schedule is soft this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if USF is closer to #25 than #15 when the AP Poll comes out on Monday.

Western Michigan isn’t going away that easily.

Surely, the Broncos couldn’t hang with a USC team expected to play in the playoff this season after losing so many important players. They would still be good, but they were not going to be anywhere near the level of last season.

Not so fast, my friend.

With 4:37 left in the game, the Broncos were within 35-31 and had a real chance to pull the upset. A long run and a pick-six ended those hopes but told the rest of the MAC that Western Michigan isn’t going anywhere this fall.

What is even more impressive is the fact that WMU hung in there despite playing the game virtually one dimensional on offense. Jon Wassink passed for 67 yards, but a three-headed monster at running back rushed for 219 yards on 36 carries and gashed a pretty good USC defense.

Coastal gets an FBS win in its first try.

It took so many other teams multiple years to get their first win over an FBS opponent after making the jump from the FCS. Everyone assumed the Coastal Carolina would need multiple attempts to accomplish that feat, but the Chanticleers. Used a run game that basically gave a carry to anyone on the depth chart and added to the misery that is UMass football with a 38-28 win.

Osharmar Abercrombie finally got his shot at the starting position after racking up nearly 1,200 yards as a three-year backup to De’Angelo Henderson and set a career high with 149 yards on 17 carries. CCU as a whole rushed for 321 yards and four touchdowns in the win.

Service Academies represent.

Navy 42, Florida Atlantic 19. Army 64, Fordham 6. Air Force 62, VMI 0. All three service academies stepped into the 2017 season with dominant performances over outmatched programs. While none of the three teams were expected to be tested, a combined 168-25 is a pretty good weekend.

Three teams that disappointed in week one:

• MTSU: I could go on and on about the lack of defense on the part of the Blue Raiders, but this was another big game that they did not show up for. Blame the players, blame the coaches, blame whoever, but MTSU has shown an inability to show up for games like this in recent seasons and it has to end if they are to be considered an elite G5 program.
• East Carolina: I could have easily gone with South Florida from the AAC, but the Pirates officially hit rock bottom in being completely dominated during a loss to James Madison. ECU looks like a mess under Scottie Montgomery and fans have to be wondering what could have been if Ruffin was still around instead of being let go after the 2015 season.
• Kent State/Akron: I could have picked one over the other, but they were virtually the same program on Saturday. Sure, they were playing the #5 and #6 teams in the nation and there are excuses to be made. I personally watched the first halves of these games and felt like Penn State and Clemson had to make a concerted effort to keep from breaking 40 points in the opening two quarters. It was flat out ugly football.

***Bonus disappointment: Georgia State/UNLV***

Three teams that impressed in week one:

• Marshall: You can make the argument that it was smoke and mirrors that won the game for the Thundering Herd over Miami. The run game was nonexistent, Litton was average, and the defense gave up 429 yards. In many cases, this is the recipe for a blowout loss, but Marshall found a way to win. Keion Davis took two kickoffs to the house and basically won the game for them.
• Western Michigan: As I said earlier, WMU hung toe to toe with one of the best teams in the nation and proved to the MAC that they will be a force to be reckoned with. That run game will be tough for any G5 team to slow down.
• Tulane: Facing a tougher than usual Grambling squad, Tulane raced ahead and easily controlled their FCS foe. Jonathan Banks took the long road from Kansas State to the JUCO ranks and finally Tulane and ran the offense well with 185 yards passing and another 69 on the ground. Overall, the Green Wave accounted for over 250 yards and over six yards per carry in the win.

G5 players of the week:

• Offense: Zach Abey, Navy: 235 yards rushing, 110 yards passing, three total touchdowns versus FAU.
• Defense: Anthony Winbush, Ball State: 7 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks versus Illinois.
• Special Teams: Keion Davis, Marshall: Two kickoff returns for touchdowns versus Miami OH.

Week Zero Thoughts: The Rams Stole the show

By Pmlydon - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7936316

While everyone was excited heading into the opening weekend of college football, the opening weekend of games was not the greatest slate ever. Other than a tough to rate Hawaii win over UMass, it was blowout city in feeling if not fully on the scoreboard. In total, six teams from G5 conferences kicked off their seasons on Saturday.

Rice 7, Stanford 62

This one was even uglier than everyone expected. The Owls made the trip from Texas to Australia to get their doors ripped off by an unproven yet talented Stanford squad. The Cardinal was on point in the first half, taking a total of 23 plays to score four touchdowns and race away for a dominant win.

• The Good: Despite nearly giving up a first down on a third and 27, the Owls bowed up and forced an incompletion with 7:31 left in the first half to preserve their 28-0 deficit. That defensive stop was the only series in which Rice held the Stanford starting offense off the board.
• The Bad: 656 yards of total offense and 62 points allowed. If Rice is to be competitive in CUSA this season, it will be from good play on the defensive side of the ball. This defensive group was completely dominated by a more physical Stanford team and has to prove that this was more of an aberration than how the 2017 season will go.
• The Ugly: Making it home. It has been tough for the Owls to make it back to Houston due to Hurricane Harvey. They are currently forced to relocate to TCU until they are able to make the trip back home. Talk about adding insult to injury. Let’s hope the Owls make it home soon. 

#19 South Florida 42, San Jose State 22

For a quarter, the Bulls faithful were certain that the curse of Charlie Strong was in the process of wrecking their program in the very first game. SJSU jumped to a 16-0 lead and looked like a team prepared to slow down the vaunted USF offense. 28 second quarter points later, the Bulls cruised to a 20-point win.

• What South Florida did well: Controlled the game from the defensive side of the ball. The USF offense was expected to garner headlines, but a solid defensive effort that included three interceptions and only 2.9 yards allowed per rush gave the Bull a chance to recover from a dreadful start to the game.
• What San Jose State did well: A quick start to the game. The Spartans special teams were dominant in the opening moments of the game, forcing a 19-yard punt and blocking another in route to a 16-0 lead. The three scoring drives were a total of 58 yards and gave the MWC program hope that they could pull an upset. During that time, the Spartans held USF to a total of 18 first quarter yards. While South Florida rolled in the final three quarters, it was an impressive first 15 minutes to the season. 
• How does South Florida look moving forward? The Bulls are still in great shape despite looking like they forgot how to play football in the opening quarter. They took care of a tricky cross country season opener and have FCS program Stony Brook waiting in the wings before a trip to a very much rebuilding UConn on September 9. This game will serve as a wakeup call that they cannot take any game lightly this season.
• How does San Jose State look moving forward? Better than expected. It was an up and down game for sophomore quarterback Josh Love. He struggled with making bad decisions in the passing game, but that is expected for such a young starter. All eyes have to be on fellow sophomore Bailey Gaither. After catching only four passes in 2016, he caught six for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. The Spartans will have a tough time getting to a bowl, but this team showed signs of life.

Colorado State 58, Oregon State 27

In arguably the most dominant performance of the young season, the Rams scored 34 points in the second half in route to a win over the Pac-12. Nick Stevens was impressive with 334 yards and three passing touchdowns, the run game looked dominant at times, and Michael Gallup beat constant double coverage for 11 catches and 134 yards. The storyline of the game was a CSU defense that took a dramatic step forward in the second half and totaled five takeaways on the day.

• The Good: A great mix on offense. Passing 39 times and rushing 43 allowed the Rams to keep Oregon State on their heels for a majority of the game. Dawkins and Boddie looked like a very solid duo with multiple other players getting experience in the backfield. Including Stevens, five different players had carries for the Rams. Eight different players caught passes, led by Gallup’s game-high 11.
• The Bad: Multiple personalities on defense. Is Colorado State the defense that completely shut down the Beavers in the second half or the one that was lucky to only give up 20 points in the first half? There were signs that the defense figure things out in the second half, but the next few weeks will determine just how good the CSU defense can be this fall.
• The Ugly: Seven turnovers. Look, we know that with no preseason slate, the season opener for most teams tends to be a bit of a mess. This game was a mess with Oregon State turning it over five times and Colorado State adding two of their own. The two CSU turnovers resulted in 10 points while Colorado earned 27 points from turnover, including a 44-yard pick-six by Tre Thomas.

Hawaii 38, UMass 35:

While Colorado State had the best performance of the day and South Florida was the most talented team on Saturday, it was Hawaii and UMass that put on the best show. UMass looked at times like they were ready to pull away, but the Rainbow Warriors kept within striking range before pulling out the three point win.

• What Hawaii did well: Found a #1 receiver. Sophomore John Ursua had a solid first season in 2016 with 652 yards receiving on 53 catches. He proceeded to catch 12 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown in the win. Those stats accounted for 22.6% of his catches and 41.7% of his receiving yards from last season. That, my friends, is a breakout game.
• What UMass did well: Stuck with a balanced offense. The Minutemen never tried to get into an aerial shootout with Hawaii, doing a great job of keeping the Warrior defense honest. Junior Marquis Young will not earn any headlines but earned a key 83 yards on 20 carries to give UMass a shot at the win. In the end, getting outscored 17-7 in the final quarter was the downfall of a more than capable UMass team. Hopefully, this is the start of something good for this program.
• How does Hawaii look moving forward? Hopeful. This schedule, with a streak that includes UCLA, Wyoming, Colorado State, and Nevada, needed a season opening win to keep bowl hopes alive. Now that they only need five more wins, there is a bit more relaxation on the island with Western Carolina headed into town for Labor Day weekend.
• How does UMass look moving forward? Frustrated. This was a game that the Minutemen faithful will look back at and wonder “what if?” They held a 14-point lead in the third quarter with the Warriors having lost their last 58 games in that situation. Expect lots of work on the punt return game after a muffed punt allowed Hawaii to tie the game at 28 just a few moments into the fourth quarter. A win over new FBS program Coastal Carolina is essential as they will not be in a winnable situation again until October 21 versus Georgia Southern. 

Stats Central:

• Passer: Dru Brown, Hawaii: 25-35, 391, 3TD
• Rusher: D’Ernest Johnson, South Florida: 22/99/2TD
• Receiver: John Ursua, Hawaii: 12/272/1TD
• Tackler: Ethan Aguayo, San Jose State: 14 tackles
• Sacker: Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii: 2.0 sacks
• Interceptions: 8 players tied with 1 interception
• Field Goals: Two kickers tied with 1-1 FG attempts.
• Punting: Michael Carrizosa, San Jose State: 44.5 average

College Football Outpost's 2017 Preseason G5 Top 10 Rankings

By Damon J. Moritz - http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=28030, Public Domain.

Since I have done the preseason All-G5 team today, let’s get another list out of the way and rank the top ten G5 programs heading into the 2017 season. Remember, this is a group of the AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, and Independents. I do not include BYU at this point due to the program having resources that are not available.

Without further ado, let’s look at the top ten programs from the G5 ranks preseason edition.

1. South Florida: The Bulls are the only G5 program in the top 25 preseason poll. They are ranked #19 in the AP poll and have one of the most dynamic players in the nation in quarterback Quinton Flowers. Despite a less than scary non-conference schedule, this is a team that can use the clout of the AAC to earn respect for the G5. Anything less than an AAC title and a NY6 bowl appearance would be a disappointment for this team.
2. Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers lost an incredible running back, two stud wide receivers, and a head coach among other casualties. Despite the losses, the cupboard is anything but bare as Mike Sanford takes over one of the best offenses in the nation. Getting by MTSU is always a challenge, but getting by Illinois and Vanderbilt on the road could gain them some traction nationally.
3. Toledo: How long have the Rockets waited their turn to rule the MAC? They finally got the NIU monkey off their back last season but ran into a buzzsaw that was Western Michigan. This year is the year that the Rockets make a run at a perfect season. Getting by Tulsa and Miami (FL) in back to back weeks will be tough.  
4. Memphis: Year one under Mike Norvell was a bit up and down as the Tigers finished the season 8-5. Once you take a good look at the five losses, you start to praise the first year head coach. With no Temple or South Florida on the schedule and a home visit from UCLA, this is a great chance for the Tigers to get 10+ wins and even give USF a battle for the AAC crown.
5. Boise State: I honestly have no idea what happened to the Broncos last season. Of course they won 10 games, but they lost two MWC games that seemed to be ripe for the taking and didn’t even make the conference title game. This season Boise State is facing a front loaded schedule that includes Troy, Washington State, Virginia, BYU, San Diego State, and Wyoming before Halloween. If they make it to November undefeated, they will have a top 15 national ranking.
6. Appalachian State: Setting aside a couple blown chances, the 2016 season was a dream one for the Mountaineers. Having to settle for a shared Sun Belt crown was disappointing, but this year could be much different. Several important contributors are back and there is no reason to think this isn’t the year Appalachian State takes the Sun Belt crown (alone). Don’t sleep on Troy or Arkansas State as either program could end up in the G5 top 10 this season.
7. Houston: The team that looked closest to breaking the wheel and opening a spot for the G5 in the college football playoff struggled last season. Only a loss to SMU was ugly, but 9-4 is unacceptable for a team that was ranked as high as #6 in the nation last season. Consider this… despite finishing 9-4, they beat two teams ranked #3 in the nation at the time by a combined 69-33. The talent is there.
8. Louisiana Tech: So close to something special last season, the Bulldogs were again one play, one drive, one series from catching the national attention. The talent is there for Louisiana Tech and Skip Holtz must find a way to win the close games. 22 days will determine whether the Bulldogs are contenders or pretenders with Mississippi State, WKU, South Carolina, and South Alabama all face off versus the preseason CUSA West champs.
9. San Diego State: Rejoice Aztec fans, South Alabama is no longer on the schedule. It made no sense for the Jaguars to beat SDSU in back to back years and completely derail an otherwise special season. After losing on October 1, it took until November 19 for the Aztecs to rejoin the top 25. Still, 11-3 is a hell of a season. This year includes back to back games versus the PAC-12 with a tough Stanford team coming to town. Just get through September.
10. Western Michigan: One cannot blame the Broncos fanbase for taking their celebration of the 2016 season well into the offseason. WMU went undefeated in the regular season with two wins over the Big 10, won all but one MAC game by double digits, and nearly won the Cotton Bowl. Reality hit in the offseason with PJ Fleck taking the Minnesota!?!? job and Corey Davis getting picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. No longer are they the MAC favorites, but they still have one of the best run games in the nation with two star backs and two offensive linemen that could be first team All-MAC performers this fall.

Outside looking in: Troy, Arkansas State, Wyoming, Colorado State, MTSU, Ohio, Miami OH, Tulsa.