Preseason polls show love for the Sun Belt
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Preseason polls never mean too much, but they can be fun to look at.
Every year, juggernauts such as Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and others dominate the top of the polls and middle-of-the-pack Power 5 teams fill the middle tier of the Top 25. Towards the tail end, Group of 5 powerhouses start to show up. Oftentimes, the “other teams receiving votes” column is the only place G5 teams can be found.
This year is not much of an exception.
With the official release of the Preseason AP Poll, we are slowly getting a better picture of how the Group of 5 is expected to play out.
In both the AP and Coaches Polls, only two G5 schools earned a Top-25 spot. UCF occupies the no. 21 spot in the AP Poll and sits at no. 23 in the Coaches Poll, while Boise State comes in at no. 22 in both polls.
Notably, the Sun Belt has been receiving some love in both polls.
Arkansas State, Troy, and Appalachian State, the three overwhelming favorites to win the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game in December, have received votes in either the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, or both.
A-State and Troy seem to have the edge in the eyes of the voters, earning votes in both polls, while App State only got recognition from the coaches of the NCAA.
The newly released AP Poll gave Troy two votes, good enough for a no. 41 ranking. A-State’s lone vote was enough to earn a three-way tie for the no. 42 spot with Fresno State and Kentucky.
The Coaches Poll (apparently) could not decide between A-State and Troy, as they came in tied for the no. 37 spot, receiving 19 votes apiece. App State is nipping at their heels, sitting pretty at the no. 39 spot after earning 16 votes.
In relation to the rest of the G5, the Sun Belt came out towards the top.
Preseason AP Poll, G5 Conferences
American: One Top-25 team (UCF), three teams received votes (Houston, Memphis)
Mountain West: One Top-25 team (Boise State), two teams received votes (Fresno State)
Sun Belt: Two teams received votes (Troy, Arkansas State)
Conference USA: One team received votes (Florida Atlantic)
Preseason Coaches Poll, G5 Conferences
American: One Top-25 (UCF), four teams received votes (Memphis, USF, Houston)
Mountain West: One Top-25 (Boise State), three teams received votes (San Diego State, Fresno State)
Sun Belt: Three teams received votes (Arkansas State, Troy, Appalachian State)
Independents: One team received votes (Army)
Conference USA: One team received votes (Florida Atlantic)
Mid-American: One team received votes (Northern Illinois)
...
Perhaps this could be the year that the Sun Belt is finally asserted into the conversation of being one of the best G5 conferences. With the addition of the Championship Game along with the new ESPN deal, the stars could align just right. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
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