Which Underclassmen From The G5 And Below Declared For The Draft: Defensive Edition

As is the case in any off season, players make the decision to stay or forgo their final year of college football and head to the NFL Draft. Some make it while others fizzle out due to lack of talent, a bad fit, or other circumstances.

We have already taken a look at the offensive side of the ball so it is only fair to take a look at defense. Led by All-American Ed Oliver, there are 15 underclassmen defensive players looking to make an NFL roster via the draft.

Defensive Line: (8)

• Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: 192 tackles, 53.0 tfl, 13.5 sacks, 11 pd. 1 fr, 5 ff in 32 games played. Two-time All-American, 2017 Outland Award winner. 2017 AAC Defensive Player of the Year. #2 ranked interior lineman according to USA Today. 
• Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan: 162 tackles, 41.0 tfl, 8 ff, 20.0 sacks, 1 int in 37 games played. 
• Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida: 71 tackles, 20 tfl, 6 sacks, 1 ff in 33 games played. 
• Darryl Johnson, DE, North Carolina A&T: 106 tackles, 41 tfl, 19 sacks, 5 ff, 2 fr. 
• Youhanna Ghaifan, DT, Wyoming: 135 tackles, 27 tfl, 11 sacks, 5 pd, 4 ff in 30 games played. 
• Sutton Smith, DE, Northern Illinois: 139 tackles, 58.5 tfl, 30 sacks, 4 pd, 6 fr, 7 ff, 3 TD in 37 games played. Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year. 2017 All-American. 
• Sean Adesanya, DE, Central Michigan: Transfer from Illinois. 10 tackles, 1 tfl, 1 sack in 6 games at Illinois. 29 tackles, 7 tfl, 3 sacks in 12 games at CMU. Led nation in tfl and sacks in 2017. Led nation in tfl in 2018. 
• D'Andre Ferby, DE, Western Kentucky: 344 carries for 1,297 yards and 20 TD in 34 games. Listed as a DE in NFL information, so a position change looks to be imminent. 

Let's start with the obvious and discuss Ed Oliver. The junior from Houston is one of the most physically gifted player to come out of college football in a long time. Every defensive lineman gets compared and falls well short of Aaron Donald, but Oliver is a good comparison. I will get into the similarities in a later article. Oliver is the truth and I believe he will be the best of the best in one of the best defensive lineman groups in NFL Draft history.

While not a household name like Oliver, Sutton Smith is no slouch. He put up mind boggling stats at NIU and deserved every accolade thrown at him. The biggest issue with Smith is how he will be used in the NFL. His size mandates a move to linebacker and question abound about his ability to defense the pass. The combine will make or break his draft ranking.

Crosby, Hill, Ghaifan, Adesanya, and Johnson will not hear their names called early, but have the chance to make a roster. For those players, it is all about the fit they show within a defensive scheme. It may be better if some do not get drafted so that they can find the right fit in free agency.

Linebacker: (2)

• Jeff Allison, LB, Fresno State: 267 tackles, 11.0 tfl, 2 int, 2 ff, 2.5 sacks in 34 games played. 2018 MWC Defensive Player of the Year.  
• Josiah Tauaefa, LB, UTSA: 255 tackles, 22.5 tfl, 11.5 sacks, 1 int, 1 fr, 2 ff in 32 games played. 

Of the two G5 linebackers adding their names to the draft list, Tauaefa is the more explosive player. He is a hybrid DE/OLB that may need to find his true position at the NFL level. Can he cover backs and tight ends or is he an undersized pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme?

Allison may not make as many splashy plays in the backfield as other linebackers, but he is a smart and instinctive tackler. He is always around the ball and makes plays in the passing game when needed. Think of a player like Wesley Woodyard when you think of Allison. A leader in the huddle and during play.

Secondary: (5)

• Mike Bell, S, Fresno State: 199 tackles, 9.0 tfl, 4 int, 1 ff, 0.5 sacks in 37 games played.  
• Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan: 104 tackles, 3.5 tfl, 9 int, 4 ff in 35 games played.
• Clifton Duck, CB, Appalachian State: 158 tackles, 8.5 tfl, 1 sack, 12 int, 10.5 pr average on 31 returns in 38 games played. 
• Malik Gant, DB, Marshall: 190 tackles, 14.0 tfl, 1 sack, 2 int, 13 pd in 29 games played. 
• Xavier Crawford, CB, Central Michigan: Transfer from Oregon State. 87 tackles, 2 tfl, 1 sack, 1 int, 12 pd in 17 games at Oregon State. 24 tackles, 3 tfl, 1 int, 12 pd, 2 fr at CMU. 

This is a not so ready for the NFL group of players, except for Clifton Duck. The junior has shown up since his freshman season in big games and has the play-making ability that NFL teams love. He can make plays and isn't afraid to take a chance or two in order to change a game. If he does not hear his name called in the first 100 picks, I would be very surprised.

Honestly, the rest of the group will need to have very good pro days and combines, if they are invited, to get on the NFL radar. Choices like Xavier Crawford smell of a player ready to leave college behind and see what happens rather than being truly ready for the NFL.

Which Teams Have The Best Shot Of Going To The CUSA Title Game: Some Clarity Emerges

It wouldn't be another week of CUSA football without at least one major upset. This week, FIU surprisingly took care of Marshall while UAB snuck out with a win versus Southern Miss. All that did was strengthen the grips of North Texas and FAU on a trip to the CUSA title game. 

Back to back CUSA champion WKU was virtually eliminated from contention after giving up a second half lead in a loss to FAU. Let's see how Conference USA stacks up.

Conference USA East Division:

Contenders: FAU, FIU, Marshall, WKU (Barely).

Pretenders: MTSU, Charlotte, Old Dominion.

• Florida Atlantic (5-3, 4-0 CUSA): Either CUSA is really not very good this year or FAU figured things out after a road loss to Buffalo. They are the only undefeated team in the conference, but face a put up or shut up three-game stretch of the season with Marshall, La. Tech, and FIU on the slate. Win all three and the season finale versus Charlotte doesn’t even matter. A loss to La. Tech wouldn’t be that bad as long as they beat Marshall and FIU. A loss to Marshall or FIU could open the division for anyone to win. Chance of winning the division: 58%.
• Florida International (5-2, 3-1 CUSA): Surprise, surprise, the Panthers are sitting in second place and only one game from a bowl berth. Winning out would give them a 7-1 CUSA record and tiebreakers over FAU and Marshall. There is still a tough game upcoming as UTSA travels to Miami in a virtual division winner elimination game. Only after that win can FIU even think about being the East Division representative. Until they are eliminated, I will not count FIU out. Chance of winning the division: 22%.
• Marshall (6-2, 3-1 CUSA): The Thundering Herd blew a chance to effectively eliminate FIU from the race in a 41-30 loss. What that did was force Marshall into needing a perfect final four games to have any hope of a division title. They have FAU and WKU in the next two weeks with a shot to earn a tiebreaker over both and give WKU a fatal third CUSA loss.  Even going 4-0, they need some help in the form of an FIU loss to take the division. Chance of winning the division: 19%.
• Western Kentucky (5-3, 3-2 CUSA): The Hilltoppers are on life support after blowing a lead versus FAU. That win means that FAU would need to lose three of their final four games to fall behind WKU. Winning out would give them the tiebreakers over FIU and Marshall, eliminating both teams from contention. Asking the only CUSA undefeated to lose three of four to end the season is quite a bit of a request. Chance of winning the division: 1%.

Conference USA West Division:

Contenders: North Texas, UAB, Southern Miss, UTSA, Louisiana Tech.

Pretenders: Rice, UTEP.

• North Texas (7-1, 4-1 CUSA): Beat Louisiana Tech. As stated before, they are basically then West Division champs if they win over the Bulldogs. With that win, it would take losses in each of the final two CUSA games to keep from winning the division. A loss would send us into chaos as there would then be a multi-team tie at the top and the tiebreaker sheet would come out. Let’s not look at the silly tiebreaker sheet until we are absolutely forced to do so. Chance of winning the division: 65%.
• UAB (6-2, 3-2 CUSA): The only realistic shot for the Blazers is to win out and hope for North Texas to lose two games down the stretch, one to Louisiana Tech and one to either Rice or UTEP. Winning out would give them tiebreakers over Southern Miss, UTSA, and Louisiana Tech in addition to a one game lead over UNT. Not the easiest route to winning the division, but not entirely impossible. Chance of winning the division: 5%.
• Southern Miss (5-2, 3-2 CUSA): The Golden Eagles need to win down the stretch and get a bit of help. They hold tiebreakers over LA Tech and UTSA, but lose in tiebreakers to UNT and UAB. Basically, a win by LA Tech over North Texas and complete chaos is the most realistic route to Southern Miss winning the division. USM would still need UAB and to lose another game and North Texas to lose to either Rice or UTEP to clear out a few of the tiebreakers, but anything is possible. Chance of winning the division: 5%.
• UTSA (5-2, 2-2 CUSA): The Roadrunners, needing a bit of help to win the west, actually have the ability to affect the entire CUSA race in both divisions. All four of their November games are versus teams that still have a shot at winning their division. Win out and the Roadrunners eliminate UAB and LA Tech from contention. Then UTSA needs some help at they need at least one more USM loss and two losses by UNT before the season ends. Can anyone reliably expect Rice or UTEP to beat North Texas? Chance of winning the division: 10%.
• Louisiana Tech (4-4, 2-2 CUSA): Looking down and out not all that long ago, the Bulldogs may have the best shot at taking out North Texas. A win over the Mean Green followed by running the table could throw the division into a multi-team jumble at the top with LA Tech holding tiebreakers over UTSA and North Texas. They would still need some help from losses by UAB and Southern Miss down the stretch to head back to the CUSA title game. Chance of winning the division: 15%.

*It should be noted that if multiple teams (3+) end up in a tie, we are headed to the dreaded tiebreaker sheet and there are just too many possible scenarios to evaluate at this point without driving me crazy.*

Projected CUSA Title Game: North Texas at FAU (again)

Which Teams Have The Best Shot Going To The CUSA Title Game?

By Patrick M. McLeod - http://www.flickr.com/photos/misternaxal/1880129223/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7889392

Halloween week has descended upon college football, so now is as good of a time as ever to take a look at Conference USA standings and how things shaking out. It has been an interesting season to this point with multiple plot twists worthy of a blockbuster movie. Could you have imagined that FAU would look dominant in conference play while preseason west favorites UTSA and Louisiana Tech sit on the outside looking in at this point in the season?

Speaking of preseason favorites, which teams were picked by the media to take each division?

• College Football News: MTSU (East), Louisiana Tech (West)
• USA Today: WKU (East), Louisiana Tech (West)
• Athlon: WKU (East), Louisiana Tech (West)
• CUSA Media Poll: WKU (East), Louisiana Tech (West)

How do those predictions look at this point in the season?

East Division:

Contenders: FAU, Marshall, WKU, FIU (technically).

Pretenders: MTSU, Charlotte, Old Dominion.

• Florida International (4-2, 2-1 CUSA): The Panthers have been a bit of a surprise this season under Butch Davis. They have to only win two of their final six games to become bowl eligible, an accomplishment for the ages considering the last few years. That aside, FIU is still in the running for the east with only one loss (MTSU) in conference play. They have yet to play the meat of their CUSA schedule with trips to Marshall and FAU while hosting Marshall, UTSA, ODU, and WKU. Already a game behind FAU and Marshall in the loss column, they would likely need to sweep their four remaining east opponents. Otherwise, it would take too many tiebreakers falling in their favor to have a shot at the division. Chance of winning the east: 1%.
• Western Kentucky (5-2, 3-1 CUSA): The Hilltoppers are an incredibly tough team to figure out. They are 5-2 and barring a letdown for the ages, will get to six wins and another bowl game. Their one loss in CUSA play was versus a west opponent, taking most tiebreakers from that specific game off the table. Running the table would give WKU yet another east division title, but they have FAU and Marshall sandwiched between a trip to Vanderbilt, making that goal just a bit harder. Lose to either FAU or Marshall and WKU is almost completely out of title game hopes, barring multiple teams finishing with the same record. Basically, sweep FAU and Marshall and the path is clear. Chance of winning the east: 20%.
• Florida Atlantic (4-3, 3-0 CUSA): Credit has to be given to Lane Kiffin and company for turning a team that looked in trouble after week four into a potential division winner. Sitting at 3-0 after a big win over North Texas, the Owls face a make or break section of their season. Trips to WKU and Louisiana Tech sandwich a visit from Marshall and the Owls could be cruising to a division title if they go 3-0. Winning two of three would almost certainly put them within reach of the title if those two wins are against WKU and Marshall. That would give them the tiebreaker over both teams with only FIU and Charlotte left on the schedule. TL;DR: Beat WKU and Marshall and you will almost certainly win the division. Chance of winning the east: 45%.
• Marshall (6-1, 3-0 CUSA): After an ugly win over Charlotte to start CUSA play, the Thundering Herd have rolled to a 3-0 conference record and overall bowl eligibility. They will be heavy favorites over FIU on Saturday, knocking FIU out of division title contention and setting up a huge four-game end to the season. With UTSA and Southern Miss still left from the west, while also facing WKU and FAU from the east, Marshall by far has the toughest end to the season. As with WKU and FAU, pulling the sweep over the other two would put them in a great spot to win the division and head to the CUSA title game. A loss to either opens the door to losing via tiebreaker, so we have to wait until October 11 to figure out Marshall’s true fate. Chance of winning the east: 34%.

West Division:

Contenders: North Texas, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, UTSA, UAB (technically).

Pretenders: UTEP, Rice.

• Louisiana Tech (3-4, 1-2 CUSA): Despite sitting at 1-2 in conference play and a devastating loss to Southern Miss to rebound from, there is still hope in Ruston. As with any two-loss team, running the table is almost the only way to win the division. That includes beating Rice, North Texas, FAU, UTEP, and UTSA. Doing that alone would knock every other contender except UAB and Southern Miss from contention. La Tech would then need the Blazers to lose one game down the stretch and Southern Miss lose two games. Another long shot possibility. Chance of winning the east: 8%.
• UAB (4-3, 2-2 CUSA): I am not saying that the Blazers hopes of winning the division went up in smoke on Saturday, but basically they did. The first thing that has to happen is beating Southern Miss, Rice, UTSA, and UTEP. That would put them at 6-2 in the division, a game ahead of UTSA, and a tiebreaker winner over Southern Miss. In addition, they would need two losses by North Texas. That is a tough request considering UNT’s schedule down the stretch. Chance of winning the west: 1%.
• UTSA (4-2, 1-2 CUSA): Football is a game of inches and no truer is the case than with the Roadrunners. A play here or a tackle there and they are sitting pretty and rolling to a division title. Instead, they are sitting at 1-2 in CUSA play and need Southern Miss and North Texas to both lose 2+ games down the stretch. They also need to take care of business and beat UTEP, FIU, UAB, Marshall, and Louisiana Tech to end up at 6-2 in CUSA play. That is asking quite a bit and adding what they need from USM and UNT is almost asking the impossible. Chance of winning the west: 3%.
• Southern Miss (5-2, 3-1 CUSA): The Golden Eagles are the only team other than North Texas that has a high chance at winning the division. They have a very winnable final three games (UAB, Rice, Charlotte) before facing Marshall in the regular season finale. If North Texas loses down the stretch and is sitting one game behind USM, then the Marshall game becomes everything. A win would give them the west. I know it sounds sacrilegious, but Southern Miss fans must root for Louisiana Tech when they face North Texas on November 4. Chance of winning the west: 41%.
• North Texas (4-3, 3-1 CUSA): Considering they took one of the worst beatings in school history, hope is still alive for the Mean Green. Honestly, nearly everything else within division fell perfectly to give them a chance at the west division crown. They have played the hardest part of their in-conference slate and should cruise wins over Old Dominion, UTEP, and Rice. The game that could decide which team represents the east will be played on November 4 in Ruston, Louisiana. A win over the Bulldogs and a sweep of the dregs of the conference this year guarantees UNT a spot in the title game. Chance of winning the west: 47%.

CUSA title game prediction as of today (10/22/17): Marshall vs. North Texas. 

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. 

Conference USA Power Rankings (9/4/17)

It was an odd start to the season for CUSA as the elites struggled with inferior opponents, MTSU no showed versus Vandy again, and Marshall showed that you don’t always need an offense to win a game. With that said, let’s take a look at the CUSA power rankings.

1. Western Kentucky (1-0, 0-0): Sure, EKU is a rival, but the Hilltoppers looked a bit disinterested and looking ahead Saturday night. A win is a win and with Illinois, Louisiana Tech, and Ball State filling out a September slate, things will only get tougher for WKU.
2. Louisiana Tech (1-0, 0-0): It is hard to get up to play versus a vastly inferior opponent. The Bulldogs took care of business, but have quite a bit to work on before facing Mississippi State, WKU, and South Carolina in the next three weeks.
3. MTSU (0-1, 0-0): As usual, the Blue Raiders choked against their neighbors from Nashville. All you can really do is throw that game out the window and start new. Wins over Syracuse and Minnesota in the next two weeks could completely change the trajectory of the program this season.
4. Old Dominion (1-0, 0-0): It was an ugly game, but Old Dominion held off a tougher than expected Albany squad in week one. LaRussa showed flashes of brilliance and should have his spot cemented as a starter with his week one performance. Three turnovers cannot happen versus North Carolina and Virginia Tech if they want to pull an upset or two.
5. UTSA (0-0, 0-0): Weather kept the Roadrunners from playing in week one. They instead get to start their season with a trip to a Baylor squad smarting from a loss to Liberty in week one. If they can get this win, they could be looking at a possible 9/10 win season this fall.
6. Marshall (1-0, 0-0): I don’t even know what to make of the Thundering Herd. They cannot expect to score 21 non-offensive points every week. Until the offense proves they are improved from last season, Marshall sits in the middle of the CUSA pack.
7. Southern Miss (0-1, 0-0): There is hope for the Golden Eagles as they have found their quarterback in Kwadra Griggs. There were multiple chances for USM to beat Kentucky and they would have moved to #6 if they did, but they could not pull out the win. With Southern and ULM next on the slate, USM should start CUSA play at 2-1 overall.
8. North Texas (1-0, 0-0): The Mean Green took care of business in week one and beat the doors off Lamar as expected. Now, they have a real challenge with SMU and Iowa on the schedule before starting CUSA play with a visit from UAB.
9. UAB (1-0, 0-0): The Return got off to a great start in week one with a 38-7 win over Alabama A&M. The Blazers get into real FBS action in week two versus a solid Ball State squad, followed by Coastal Carolina. Five wins are possible for UAB this year.
10. Charlotte (0-1, 0-0): The 49ers hung around and had a chance to get within a score versus EMU, but could not put things together offensively in the 24-7 loss. Fix some mistakes and Charlotte could be battling for a bowl berth.
11. Florida Atlantic (0-1, 0-0): The Lane Kiffin era got off to a lackluster start versus a solid Navy squad. The players looked lost at times and the coaching staff looked ill prepared for the triple option of Navy. It could get ugly for the Owls in the next two weeks as they travel to #9 Wisconsin and Boston College comes to town.
12. UTEP (0-1, 0-0): The Miners were never going to compete with Oklahoma on the road. Forget that game. This week marks a matchup with Rice that could determine the worst team in Conference USA.
13. Florida International (0-1, 0-0): If Kiffin’s era got off to a lackluster start, the Butch Davis era started with a disaster. Playing rival UCF, the Golden Panthers are lucky that they didn’t give up 80 points. It was bad.
14. Rice (0-1, 0-0): With Stanford, Houston, Pitt, and Army making up the non-conference schedule, this could be the year that Rice goes 0-12. The best chances for the Owls to win a game might come in September as they travel to UTEP and host FIU.

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. 

Ten Conference USA Non-Conference Games To Watch

Again littered with SEC opponents, Conference USA spares no expense in getting some of the most compelling matchups in the sometimes drab non-conference schedule. Why Vanderbilt continues to schedule WKU and MTSU is beyond me, but let's enjoy it while it lasts. 

Other games may be memorable or you may have a specific reason for looking forward to another game. What I looked for in this was a that encompasses G5/G5 play, home games versus the P5, and the first FBS opponent in the return of UAB football. 

Let's take a look at Conference USA's top non-conference games that you must watch (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER). 

• Miami at Marshall (September 2): A matchup that goes well into the history of both programs, the Thundering Herd and RedHawks could end up giving us one of the most interesting games of the non-conference season. Among the many aspects of the game to watch, the battle of quarterbacks Gus Ragland and Chase Litton nearly guarantees us a high-scoring affair. Currently, Miami looks like the early favorite to win this game.

• UAB at Ball State (September 9): This is the first FBS game for the Blazers since putting together the pieces of a disbanded program not all that long ago. UAB is a complete mystery full of players that have been with the program more than a year before playing their first game. Do not expect them to beat Ball State, but it may be more competitive than many think. Ball State needs a hot start to the season if they want to go bowling and this is a must win game.

• Ball State at Western Kentucky (September 23): A year after watching MAC rival Miami nearly knock off one of the top three G5 teams in the nation last season, the Cardinals look to do the same. There is quite a bit of talent on the Ball State roster, but it will take a nearly perfect effort to knock off the kings of Conference USA. The Hilltoppers are in a very slight rebuilding process, but still have Mike White, a stable of talented running backs, and the most dynamic return man in the nation. WKU has questions on defense, but they can normally score enough for that to be only a small problem.

• Florida International at Central Florida (August 31): It is honestly a surprise when you look at this series’ five game history and realize that FIU has won on two occasions. Sure, both were ugly wins including a 15-14 pillow fight in 2015. Since that loss, UCF has moved in a different direction, hiring Scott Frost and dominating the Golden Panthers in route to a bowl berth. There is little reason to think this game will go any different, but it is a rivalry game with Butch Davis in control and nine days before an enormous matchup with Memphis for UCF.  

• Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee (September 2): I am still not sure what happened last year to the Blue Raiders. They were the dominant team but multiple errors saw them looking at an enormous hole on the scoreboard. All MTSU has to do is play up to its potential and CUSA will have a nice looking win on Labor Day weekend. That is asking a lot of an MTSU squad that seems to fall flat when on the national stage. Just look at the Hawaii Bowl last year if you need confirmation. I think MTSU finally gets the monkey off their back and beats Vanderbilt.

• Kentucky at Southern Miss (September 2): Speaking of games that logically made no sense last fall, this game is at the top of the list. Southern Miss was down and out in the first half with Kentucky looking to earn a blowout win. Suddenly, everything changed and the CUSA squad scored 34 straight points in route to a 44-35 win. Both teams have multiple players to replace, but Southern Miss has the best player on the field in senior running back Ito Smith. A Southern Miss win would be nice for the conference here.

• Houston at UTSA (September 2): In many ways, losing to the Roadrunners in 2015 was the best thing to ever happen to Houston. It set course a path that led to the hiring of Tom Herman, a Peach Bowl win over Florida State, and a ranking as high as sixth nationally. The Cougars that were on the team in the previous meeting are looking for revenge. UTSA is not the newborn FBS program led by Larry Coker anymore. This team is a quality CUSA program that may be ready to give Louisiana Tech a real battle for the CUSA West Division crown this fall. A win over Houston would suddenly make Frank Wilson a “new big thing” coaching candidate nationwide.

• Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech (September 9): Every year, it seems like Louisiana Tech is the team just missing out on a huge upset. They are perennially one of the best team in CUSA and a top ten G5 team, but they seem to be missing that signature win that gets the blood pumping. While Mississippi State is not expected to be a SEC title contender, a Louisiana Tech win in the battle of the Bulldogs would be a nice feather in the cap for CUSA. Remember, Mississippi State lost to South Alabama last season, so there is an unspoken need to avoid embarrassment with an early season loss to Conference USA.

• North Carolina at Old Dominion (September 16): Outside of lacking a proven quarterback, the Monarchs seem to be one of the best teams in CUSA. Instead, ODU has to prove that the end of the 2016 season was not a fluke and that they are really that good. Getting the Tar Heels at home is a huge coup for the program and a chance to earn their first top level P5 scalp since moving to the FBS ranks. How well the Tar Heels handle arguably the best running back duo in Conference USA will decide this game.

• Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt (November 4): This is the third rematch from last season on this list that just makes you scratch your head. The Hilltoppers kicked a field goal with 1:02 left on the clock and allowed Vanderbilt to race downfield. The Commodores scored as time expired, eventually winning in overtime. From the inability to hold Vandy to going for two in the first overtime, this was not the WKU we expected to see. It was a bit of a wakeup call and the Hilltoppers looked great down the stretch in route to another 10+ win season. Mike White and company not only want this win, but they also want to embarrass their SEC foe in the process.

Others to watch: Stanford vs. Rice (Sydney, Australia), Navy at Florida Atlantic, Alabama A&M at UAB, Marshall at NC State, MTSU at Syracuse, North Texas at SMU, WKU at Illinois, Arizona at UTEP, MTSU at Minnesota, Coastal Carolina at UAB, BGSU at MTSU, UTEP at NMSU, Marshall at Cincinnati. 

Ten MAC Out of Conference Games To Watch

No conference does a better job on a yearly basis of scheduling compelling G5/G5 games than the MAC. From CUSA to the MWC, every conference is represented with games you must watch. Let's just hope that more of the MAC can win a few games in these matchups and make the entire conference look better this fall.

Let's take a look at the ten MAC non-conference games to watch.

• Tulsa at Toledo (September 16): Why do we not get games like this every year? Two quality G5 teams playing one another rather than wasting it with a lower quality opponent. The Golden Hurricane will have time to recover from the Oklahoma State game to start the season and should be able to control the line of scrimmage in the run game. Toledo could be in position to make some noise nationally if they can get through Elon, Nevada, Tulsa, and Miami (Fl.) to start the season. This game could be the toughest of the season for the Rockets.

• Miami at Marshall (September 2): A matchup that goes well into the history of both programs, the Thundering Herd and RedHawks could end up giving us one of the most interesting games of the non-conference season. Among the many aspects of the game to watch, the battle of quarterbacks Gus Ragland and Chase Litton nearly guarantees us a high-scoring affair. Currently, Miami looks like the early favorite to win this game.

• Boston College at NIU (September 1): After the disaster of the 2016 season, the Huskies host a solid P5 team with a chance to make national news. The Eagles are coming off of their third bowl berth in the last four seasons, attempting to improve on a consistent 7-6 record in those three seasons. NIU must quickly have players step up in the offensive backfield and at wide receiver if they want to win. Expect this game to be a lower scoring affair with the winner scoring no more than 24 points.

• UAB at Ball State (September 9): This is the first FBS game for the Blazers since putting together the pieces of a disbanded program not all that long ago. UAB is a complete mystery full of players that have been with the program more than a year before playing their first game. Do not expect them to beat Ball State, but it may be more competitive than many think. Ball State needs a hot start to the season if they want to go bowling and this is a must win game.

• Idaho at WMU (September 16): This is a sneaky good game that could make up for the two duds we got from the Georgia Southern-Western Michigan series. The Vandals are in their final year of FBS play and could be sending out their best team in a very long time. Led by star quarterback Matt Linehan, they can put up points in bunches. Idaho scored 37+ points in each of the last four games of the 2017 season. The Broncos have arguably the best duo of running backs in the nation this season. Between Bogan and Franklin, WMU can run over the majority of its schedule without resorting to the passing game all that much. Expect lots of points. 

• Ohio at Purdue (September 8): In what has become a common occurrence, the Bobcats are again favored to win the MAC East Division and play for the conference title. Ohio is a very disciplined team that makes other teams work to beat them. Purdue is a big of a question mark with former WKU head coach Jeff Brohm taking the reins. The Boilermakers are probably a year or two away from amassing the talent that can make Brohm’s system run, but they are still a dangerous team. I feel like this is a game Ohio can and should win.

• Toledo at Nevada (September 9): What this game could have been if James Butler decided to stay with the Wolfpack. The star running back took advantage of the graduate transfer rule and headed to Iowa in the offseason. Instead of Butler, the Wolfpack will likely rely upon Alabama quarterback transfer David Cornwall to light up the Rockets defense. Toledo has players to replace (especially at running back and tight end), but there are players on the roster to fill the gaps. I can’t see anyone handling wide receiver Cody Thompson in man coverage. Expect the Rockets to roll.

• Cincinnati at Miami (September 16): This is a game that will show just where both teams are headed into conference play. The Bearcats are in rebuilding mode, but have some talent on the roster left over by Tuberville. The program is being built the right way by Fickell and company, but that means a rough 2017 is in store. Miami has high expectations and a win over, albeit down, Cincinnati would do wonders for the RedHawks.

• Ball State at WKU (September 23): A year after watching MAC rival Miami nearly knock off one of the top three G5 teams in the nation last season, the Cardinals look to do the same. There is quite a bit of talent on the Ball State roster, but it will take a nearly perfect effort to knock off the kings of Conference USA. The Hilltoppers are in a very slight rebuilding process, but still have Mike White, a stable of talented running backs, and the most dynamic return man in the nation. WKU has questions on defense, but they can normally score enough for that to be only a small problem.

• Northern Illinois at San Diego State (September 30): I have never seen a team struggle more with games they should win than the Aztecs. They lost in back to back seasons to a decent at best South Alabama squad and the Huskies had every chance to take control of their matchup last season. SDSU loses a lot on defense and must replace Donnel Pumphrey, but recruiting is not a problem in San Diego. The Huskies would love to have a signature win like this in 2017, but this is asking a lot. A win here could quell many of the shouts for Rod Carey’s job.

Just missed the list: Buffalo at Minnesota, Charlotte at EMU, Ball State at Illinois, WMU at Michigan State, Bowling Green at Michigan State, Kent State at Clemson, Western Michigan at USC.

2017 Conference USA Top Returning Offensive Players

One of the best parts of watching college football is the chance that any night could be a 55-52 shootout. In no conference is that truer than in Conference USA. Every team has a multitude of weapons on offense and defenses seem to be a step behind at all times. 

The 2016 season may have been a peak for CUSA offenses, but don't discount this year's group. Beyond the returning stars, there are quite a few dark horse players that could put up outstanding seasons. 

With that said, let's take a look at the top returning offensive skill position players for this fall.

Rushing:

1. Ito Smith, Southern Miss: 265/1,459/17TD
2. Ray Lawry, Old Dominion: 200/1,255/11TD
3. Jarred Craft, La. Tech: 191/1,074/9TD
4. Devin Singletary, FAU: 152/1,021/12TD
5. Jeffery Wilson, North Texas: 169/936/14TD

Others to watch: Alex Gardner FIU (181/930/6TD), Gregory Howell Jr. FAU (167/828/13TD), Jalen Rhodes UTSA (155/827/9TD), Jeremy Cox ODU (129/732/13TD), Anthony Jones FIU (116/562/4TD), Quinton Baker WKU (99/542/4TD), Boston Scott LA TECH (70/515/6TD), Leon Allen WKU (Injured).  

The running back position took a hit with graduation and the NFL, losing the league’s top three rushers from last season. That trio combined for just under 5,000 yards and 61 touchdowns last season. Despite the losses, the drop is not as steep as you would think with Ito Smith, Ray Lawry, and Jarred Craft all ready to dominate this fall.

Watch out for the ODU combination of Lawry and Jeremy Cox to be among the most deadly in CUSA, but eyes have to be on WKU’s Leon Allen. He has recovered from a devastating injury and could be a difference maker if he is anywhere near the player he was in 2015.

Passing:

1. Mike White, WKU: 329-496/4,617/41TD/168.6 Efficiency
2. Brent Stockstill, MTSU: 262-414/3,233/31TD/150.2 Efficiency
3. Chase Litton, Marshall: 231-371/2,612/24TD/137.9 Efficiency
4. Jason Driskel, FAU: 200-327/2,415/9TD/125.6 Efficiency
5. Dalton Strum, UTSA: 169-299/2,170/20TD/135.5 Efficiency

Others to watch: Alex McGough FIU (1,891/13TD), Mason Fine UNT (1,572/6TD), Ryan Metz UTEP (1,375/14TD), Hasaan Klugh CHARLOTTE (1,356/10TD).

When you talk about star power in Conference USA, it starts behind center. WKU’s Mike White and MTSU’s Brent Stockstill are two of the best in the nation. Stockstill already has 7,279 yards passing and is on pace to end his career inside of the top ten all time. If he duplicates his first two years, he would end up seventh all-time behind Kellen Moore of Boise State.

It is put up or shut up time for a few other quarterbacks as Chase Litton has to prove his worth, Jason Driskel has to prove he deserves to start, and Alex McGough has to live up to expectations.

Receiving:

1. Richie James, MTSU: 105/1,625/12TD
2. Allenzae Staggers, Southern Miss: 63/1,165/7TD
3. Jonathan Duhart, ODU: 48/735/9TD
4. Ty Lee, MTSU: 63/699/9TD
5. Josh Stewart, UTSA: 36/682/5TD

Others to watch: Thomas Owens FIU (47/652/7TD), Kerry Thomas Jr. UTSA (35/555/8TD), Travis Fulgham ODU (29/478/8TD).

Compared to previous seasons, this year’s crop leaves a little to be desired. Only James and Staggers broke 1,000 yards last year, but both did it in style. James is among the best in the nation at his position and is already within 2,307 of catching Corey Davis for #1 all-time. If he stays all four years and does not get injured, he will set the record.

An outside the box player to watch is Travis Fulgham of Old Dominion. He made only 29 catches last season, but he ended the year with eight touchdown grabs. He could be a stud second receiver with Duhart this fall.

Next week, we will take a look at defense and special teams for Conference USA before rolling out conference previews. 

Conference USA Week Five Review

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with Conference USA going 5-7. Conference play kicked into gear with four CUSA game taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week five CUSA football action.

Conference USA Week Four Review

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with Conference USA going 5-8 with two conference games taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week four CUSA football action.

Conference USA Week Four Preview

Week four of the college football season gets underway tonight with Cincinnati and Memphis getting a seat on the big stage. Conference USA action kicks into gear with 11 games scheduled for Saturday.

Conference USA Week Three Review

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with Conference USA going 6-7 with two conference games (Rice-UNT, MTSU-Charlotte) taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week three Conference USA football action.

G5 Week Three Mailbag

This week's mailbag talks about undefeated possibilities, surprise teams, injuries, and conference power rankings. Send in your questions to adcock.jeremy@yahoo.com or on twitter @cfoutpost and I will answer your G5 queries.

Conference USA Week Two Review

Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with Conference USA going 4-9 with only one conference game (WKU-La. Tech) taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week two Conference USA football.

Post Week Two Top 10 G5 Passers

Seven G5 passers have broken the 600 yards mark with BGSU passer Matt Johnson putting up 915 yards in two games. The MAC and Conference USA lead the way with three a piece of the top ten followed by the American 2, and Sun Belt 2. No one from the MWC or independents are in the top 10.

Group Of Five Thursday Night Statistical Leaders

One day of FBS football is in the books and here is a look at the top 10 performers from the opening night games.

CUSA Week One Preview

With all CUSA members except for North Texas kicking off the season this week, let's take a look at each matchup and who will win.

Conference USA Players to Watch

There is lots of talent all over the board in Conference USA this year with some of the craziest offensive numbers as well as some of the better defensive players in the nation. Unsure of who to watch for in the conference this season, let's take a look and find out who should be noticed among CUSA this season.

Top CUSA Conference Games

With so many quality programs in Conference USA, it is tough to narrow the list of top CUSA conference games down to 10. Here is my best shot at doing so. **These games are in no particular order.**

TOP CONFERENCE GAMES: