![]() ![]() Liberty is another strong contender under new coach Jamey Chadwell. Western Kentucky looks like the prohibitive favorite after winning at least nine games in three of the past four years and going a combined 23-8 in league play under coach Tyson Helton. The FCS additions won’t be eligible for the conference championship or a bowl while transitioning to this higher level. To replace this group, Conference USA added two former FBS independents, Liberty and New Mexico State, and two Championship Subdivision programs in Jacksonville State and Sam Houston. Six teams left for the AAC in UTSA, Alabama-Birmingham, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Rice. Conference USAīefore discussing anything else, let’s jog our memories on the makeup of this year’s nine-member league. Wisconsin fits the bill of a dark horse after hiring a new coach, Luke Fickell, and installing a new offense scheme built around Air Raid principles. Could Penn State leapfrog the Buckeyes and be the Wolverines’ biggest threat? That depends on the play of young quarterback Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions’ offensive line. This year's roster is the best of Jim Harbaugh's tenure and is potentially strong enough to stand up against the SEC champion in the playoff, should that unfold in January. After tearing through Ohio State in each of the past two seasons, Michigan has taken on the mantle of the Big Ten’s best program. ![]() The Big Ten has three teams near the top of the FBS in the Wolverines, Nittany Lions and Buckeyes. While any one of the newcomers could make an immediate splash, Texas Tech has the strongest case for rising from the league's second tier and cracking the New Year's Six under coach Joey McGuire. A deeper roster buoyed by another strong recruiting class should help Texas avoid the dips and lulls that have plagued every season for more than a decade. While the Sooners should make a big move under Brent Venables after his disappointing debut, the Longhorns are poised to capture the program's first conference championship since 2009 behind quarterback Quinn Ewers. The question of the year in the ACC doubles as one of the most pressing questions across the entire FBS: Are the Seminoles finally ready to beat Clemson and snap a seven-game losing streak in the series? Big 12Īdding Brigham Young, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston into the mix makes it very difficult to get a read on the Big 12 heading into the final season for flagship conference members Texas and Oklahoma. While personnel issues linger at wide receiver, this new offense will get the most out of promising young quarterback Cade Klubnik. Maybe the biggest reason for optimism is the projected rebirth of the Tigers' offense under new coordinator Garrett Riley, who previously held the same position at TCU. SURPRISE STORIES: Which teams can mimic TCU's unlikely playoff run? ACCĬlemson is the safest pick to top the ACC despite Florida State's huge gains heading into coach Mike Norvell's fourth season. LOOKING AHEAD: Georgia, Michigan lead post-spring Top 25 ranking SPRING POWER RANKINGS: Big Ten | SEC | Big 12 | ACC | Pac-12 But the Pirates bring back only nine starters and are among the least experienced teams in the AAC. Another holdover, East Carolina, has made big strides during the past two seasons under coach Mike Houston, including the program's first eight-win finish since 2014. Led by veteran quarterback Frank Harris and one of the nation's most underrecognized coaches in Jeff Traylor, the Roadrunners have the talent, experience and schemes to keep the Green Wave at bay and hit the ground running in the new league. One of those new teams, UTSA, has what it takes to win this conference and represent the Group of Five in a New Year's Six bowl. The new-look AAC returns last year's champion, Tulane, while bringing in four newcomers from Conference USA. With spring football in the books and under four months until kickoff, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at the team to beat and the dark-horse contender in every Power Five and Group of Five league. But who will rise to the top when the regular season is complete in December? These teams deserve to lead the conference power rankings heading into the 2023 season. Troy, Coastal Carolina and South Alabama are the favorites in the Sun Belt. Southern California, Oregon, Washington and Utah lead the way in the Pac-12. In the Big Ten, that’s Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. First, you need to settle on which teams are the favorites in every Football Bowl Subdivision conference. ![]()
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