Group of Five: UCF, Boise State headline 2018 preseason power rankings

South Florida entered 2017 as the Group of Five darling. With Quinton Flowers back in Tampa for a final season, the Bulls were the odds-on favorite to win the American Athletic Conference and represent the Group of Five in a New Year’s Six bowl. And it looked on track to happen until Houston came to Raymond James Stadium and toppled the Bulls in late October.

That prevented a perfect season for USF, but they still had a shot at the AAC title when they faced UCF on Thanksgiving weekend. The War on I-4 was an instant classic last year, as the Bulls and Knights traded punches in a 49-42 thriller ultimately won by the hosts in Orlando. For the second time in three years, South Florida finished with 10 or more wins but failed to even get a chance to play for the conference crown.

This year, Flowers is gone but hope remains high for USF. Redshirt junior Brett Kean will get the first shot at replacing the three-year starter at quarterback. In total, five starters are gone on offense and the Bulls have to replace six starters on defense. That includes middle linebacker Auggie Sanchez, who was the team’s best defensive player for the past few years.

2018 offers a pair of Power Five statement opportunities, with Georgia Tech coming to Tampa and the Bulls traveling to Illinois. Both are winnable contests, even with the attrition on the USF roster. If the Bulls win both, they will be right back in the Group of Five discussion once again.