5 Non-Power 5 teams that could make the College Football Playoff

The only non-Power Five team currently in the AP Top 25 is USF. As the American Athletic Conference favorites, the Bulls are ranked No. 21 and currently sit in position as the best Group of Five team in the country. Charlie Strong’s new team has a veteran team on both sides of the ball. They are led by third-year starting quarterback Quinton Flowers and middle linebacker Auggie Sanchez.

The Bulls already have two wins on their record after playing back-to-back games in Week 0 and Week 1. They have just one Power Five test on their schedule, against Illinois out of the Big Ten. A win over the Illini wouldn’t be quite as impressive as taking down a team like Oklahoma or even a Washington State, but it would be a resume builder nevertheless.

Otherwise, the schedule lines up well for South Florida to finish 13-0 as the AAC champion. If they manage to sweep the schedule this year, USF would be in line for a College Football Playoff spot rather than just a New Year’s Six bowl. That would definitely be the case if no other conference champ finishes undefeated, Power Five or otherwise.

Next: 5 teams on Upset Alert in Week 2

For any non-Power Five school, it will always be an uphill battle to garner enough respect from the College Football Playoff selection committee. This year, though, South Florida started in the preseason rankings and should manage to stay in the national consciousness as long as they keep winning. That’s a critical component for any mid-major hoping to break through into the semifinal bracket for a shot at the national title.