We have live football tomorrow!
But in the meantime, it’s time for one last preseason poll. You’ve seen the AP poll, Coaches poll, etc. Here, we present to you the Underdog Poll!
This top 10 poll brings you a weekly look at the best of the best in the G5. We joined forces with a few other SB Nation sites to create our poll. It works in a similar manner to the AP poll, albeit with just 10 teams. Each voter presents their own personal top 10. Each 1st place vote is worth 10 points, each 2nd place vote is worth nine, and so on down to one point for each tenth place vote.
This preseason poll will stand until the completion of week one’s games, and then we’ll aim to update it each week throughout the season.
Without further ado, here it is! (First place votes in parentheses).
Underdog Preseason Top 10
Rank | School | Record | Points | Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | School | Record | Points | Conference |
1 | USF | 11-2 | 58 (4) | American |
2 | Boise State | 10-3 | 49 | Mountain West |
3 | BYU | 9-4 | 38 | Independent |
4 | Houston | 9-4 | 35 (2) | American |
5 | San Diego State | 11-3 | 32 | Mountain West |
6 | Colorado State | 7-6 | 23 | Mountain West |
7 | Memphis | 8-5 | 22 | American |
8 | Troy | 10-3 | 15 | Sun Belt |
9 | Appalachian State | 10-3 | 10 | Sun Belt |
10 | Toledo | 9-4 | 9 | MAC |
Somewhat predictably, the American Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference dominate the preseason rankings with six combined teams in the top 10. The Sun Belt has two and the MAC one. Surprisingly, no C-USA teams made the cut, but I have a hunch that won’t last for too long.
It’s fitting that the South Florida Bulls would take the preseason #1 spot as they are the only G5 team ranked in the AP/Coaches Polls. The Houston Cougars, who had been the darling of the G5 under Tom Herman, take the only other first place votes. The Western Michigan Broncos, who were the G5 representative to the New Years Six last year, does not find a spot in the top 10 following PJ Fleck’s departure alongside star wide receiver Corey Davis.
You can see three of our top 10 teams in action tomorrow as part of “week 0.” Our #6 Colorado State Rams will host Oregon State in the first FBS game of the 2017 season, where they will debut their new stadium. #1 USF will travel to San Jose State, and the #3 BYU Cougars will host Portland State.
The season is here! It’s time for some college football!
Special thanks to our voters
Clayton Trutor, Down the Drive
Alex Nicolas, Miner Rush
Tanner Spearman, Underdog Dynasty
Adam Luckett, Underdog Dynasty
Jared Kalmus, Underdog Dynasty
Cyrus Smith, Underdog Dynasty