Group of Five: 2017 college football preseason power rankings

In a resurgent 2016 campaign, Troy won 10 games and a share of the Sun Belt crown. They nearly made it 11 when they came close to upsetting eventual national champion Clemson in September. The Trojans also reached the AP Top 25 for the first time in school history last year after starting 8-1.

Once the undisputed kings of the Sun Belt, Troy fell on hard times in recent years. This season, however, they have a shot at winning their league outright and contending for the Group of Five’s spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Eight starters return on offense, including quarterback Brogan Roback. Seven starters from last season are back on defense.

And the schedule offers just as many statement opportunities as last season’s run. The Trojans play at Boise State to open the year. They also play at LSU to end their September slate. In Sunt Belt play they avoid Appalachian State, the other main contender for the conference crown in 2017.

Because of the unbalanced schedule, there is always the risk that multiple teams will share the Sun Belt championship. Therein lies the one quandary that teams like Troy face in the hunt for the Group of Five’s automatic bid. Split championships also split the relevance of a team’s chances, and thus the Trojans must win outright to have a shot at the big prize.