It’s hard to believe, but the start of the next college football season is beginning to creep up on us. It’s the height of the summer right now, but before you know it, American tackle football is going to kick off in earnest. I can’t wait. Over the course of the next several weeks, I’m going to be surveying the college football landscape, conference by conference, and previewing the upcoming season. We’re concluding this series by taking a look at the ‘Group of Five’ programs in the FBS.
Group of Five: Burning Questions Heading Into 2023
Can Tulane keep it going without Tyjae Spears? Any and all talk about the ‘Group of Five’ heading into the 2023 season begins and ends with the Tulane Green Wave. They’re the only Go5 team in the preseason top 25, and honestly, they’re the biggest beneficiary of all the conference realignment that has seen several teams that might’ve pushed for this year’s Fiesta Bowl slot leave the ranks of the Go5. But, they have their fair share of questions to answer too – namely, can that offense be just as prolific without their bell cow, Tyjae Spears? Michael Pratt is back at quarterback, and I could see him rising up draft boards next spring. If he has another good year, the Green Wave should be back atop this group.
Okay, so who else has a shot? Chief among the “best of the rest,” to me, is the UTSA Roadrunners, who return 10 starters on offense, including Frank Harris, one of the most underrated players in college football and a guy that has legitimate NFL aspirations. Boise State figures to do Boise State things in 2023. And, I really like this year’s race in the Sun Belt between South Alabama and Troy. Lastly, let’s give SMU dark horse (no pun intended) status in the Fiesta Bowl race.
Any surprises in the new look American Athletic Conference?– What’s happening in the American Conference is really interesting to me because it basically seems like a lot of the “mid-major” blue bloods, if you will, got together and said, “hey – let’s find a landing spot before this all gets too crazy.” While I think it’s a two-horse race between Tulane and UTSA, there’s a really interesting middle class in the American. It’s conference that’s like eight deep with teams that could really make this race something worth watching. Or…then again…maybe I’m just a sicko that can’t get enough ‘Group of Five’ action!
Is it still the Fun Belt? South Alabama and Troy could legit win 10 games, and that should make for an interesting race in the Sun Belt, but it does feel like the depth of this conference is not where it has been in recent seasons. Do programs like Coastal Carolina and App State get back to national relevancy? Is there a surprise in that conference somewhere in between James Madison and Southern Miss? I’m not so sure.
How long will C-USA last? We saw the Mountain West basically become the old WAC, and the MAC is holding steadfast with their teams and their brand of football. So, it damn sure seems like C-USA, once a beacon of Go5 football, is the odd conference out. They add Liberty and two FCS schools in their first seasons in the FBS (Sam Houston and Jacksonville State). If not for the new additions, this is a conference that would be down to six teams. C-USA is practically the Go5 Pac-12. And, that’s a shame because there are some good teams here – Western Kentucky and Liberty are the conference favorites and should be fun to watch. But, between MTSU, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, and UTEP, there is room for a surprise or two. Regardless, with the way things are going, I’m not going to be shocked if some of the C-USA members look for and find greener pastures after 2023.
2023 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEWS
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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