After a near eight-month hiatus, college football is set to return this weekend with a slate of Week 0 matchups.
Myself and fellow HERO Sports contributor Bennett Conlin will rank our top 10 Group of Five teams each week during the regular season, and combine our submissions to form the Group of Five Power Poll. Here are our preseason rankings (conference futures courtesy of BetMGM’s college football betting odds).
1. Cincinnati (+200 to win AAC)
The Bearcats lose the two biggest names from last year’s squad that became the first Group of Five team to reach the College Football Playoff. Even with several significant departures, though, they still bring a ton of talent back. The offensive line returns five starters, including three first-team all-conference picks, and linebacker Deshawn Pace should be among the top candidates to follow former teammate Sauce Gardner as AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
2. Houston (+225 to win AAC)
The Cougars were the other team to receive a first-place vote, and the reasons why begin with fifth-year quarterback Clayton Tune. Tune completed over 68% of his passes last season while throwing for 3,546 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He gets his top receiver back in Nathaniel Dell, who racked up 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns on 90 receptions in 2021.
3. UCF (+290 to win AAC)
Gus Malzahn has a track record of making magic happen with transfer quarterbacks — first taking Auburn to the national championship game with Nick Marshall in 2013, then claiming the SEC West title and a top-10 finish with Jarrett Stidham running the show in 2017. He’ll get a chance to continue the trend this fall with Ole Miss transfer John Rhys Plumlee.
4. Boise State (+250 to win Mountain West)
Last year’s 7-5 campaign was a disappointment by Boise State standards, but with 24 consecutive winning seasons — the longest streak in the FBS — it’s going to take more than one up-and-down year to remove the Broncos from the ranks of the Group of Five elite. They bring back starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier, as well as two All-Mountain West offensive linemen. Defensive tackle Scott Matlock and defensive back JL Skinner are both preseason all-conference picks on the other side of the ball.
5. Fresno State (+225 to win Mountain West)
Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall seems to get the bulk of the hype as far as Group of Five quarterbacks go, and for good reason, but Fresno State’s Jake Haener deserves ample recognition after leading the nation’s No. 9 passing attack last year. Jeff Tedford, who led the Bulldogs to the Mountain West title in 2018, is back at the helm of the program.
RELATED: Ranking The 10 Best Group of Five Quarterbacks
6. Air Force (+400 to win Mountain West)
The Falcons lose a considerable amount of talent, but the two most vital pieces from the nation’s top rushing attack — quarterback Hazziq Daniels and fullback Brad Roberts — are still on the roster. The duo combined to rush for 24 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards last year.
7. SMU (+1000 to win AAC)
An AAC title might seem a bit of a stretch for SMU, considering the talent at the top of the conference. But with double-digit starters returning, including a starting quarterback that threw for a school-record 39 touchdown passes last year, the Mustangs can’t be counted out.
T-8. Appalachian State (+225 to win Sun Belt)
The Mountaineers lose several impact players on defense and at receiver, but former Clemson and Duke quarterback Chase Brice has the chance to blossom into a star after earning Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors last season.
T-8. UAB (+185 to win C-USA)
Since bringing the program back from the dead in 2017, the Blazers have gone 43-20. Can they close out their C-USA tenure with a third conference title in five years?
10. Coastal Carolina (+500 to win Sun Belt)
The Chanticleers lost more than 75% of their receiving production from last year, but McCall is back after setting an FBS record with a passing efficiency rating of 207.6 in 2021. Coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons, Coastal Carolina is among the favorites in what could be a wide-open Sun Belt title race.
Also receiving votes: Marshall, Memphis, San Diego State