Group of Five: 2017 college football preseason power rankings

Western Michigan enters 2017 as the defending Group of Five champions. The Broncos went 13-0 through the regular season as they won the school’s first MAC title since 1988. As one of just two unbeaten FBS teams at the end of the regular season, it was inevitable that WMU would win the automatic New Year’s Six bid.

But the champs are have been gutted after losing nine starters from last season’s Cotton Bowl squad. The offense was hit especially hard, with top receiver Corey Davis exiting school as a first-round NFL Draft pick. Starting quarterback Zach Terrell is also gone. Western Michigan also lost head coach P.J. Fleck to a Big Ten opportunity at Minnesota.

Now the Broncos will try to defend their MAC title with a depleted offense, a decent but not overwhelmingly stout defense, and a new coaching staff. Western Michigan turned to former Syracuse and Purdue coordinator Tim Lester to take over as head coach for Fleck. Lester has six seasons of head coaching experience at the Division II and Division III levels.

Sometimes that leap works out splendidly. Other times, a unique situation begat far more success than a coach can duplicate elsewhere. Western Michigan will once again be in the fight for the MAC West, though, and until further notice the defending champs deserve a spot in the rankings.