Who’s No. 1 in our 2022 preseason Group of Five football power rankings?

Head coach Jason Candle enters his eighth year at the helm in Toledo, boasting a record of 45-27 along the way.

The Rockets were a three-point loss against Notre Dame from having a great 2021 season. That hunger and desire to prove Toledo has what it takes to be one of the best in the MAC resulted in eight starters returning on offense and seven of defense for 2022.

This team was the top-scoring team in the MAC last season and had one of the better defenses. Expect them to build on last season and be one of the best in the conference when it’s all said and done.

Early dates against Ohio State and San Diego State will be the ultimate test for the Rockets.

While he’s got the new title of head coach, Michael Desormeaux is no stranger t the Louisiana football team. He was the team’s quarterback from 2005-2008 and has served as a coach for various skill positions for the Ragin’ Cajuns since 2016.

Expectations are high for the first-time head coach with Louisiana winning 10-plus games for three consecutive seasons. In order to reach that high mark for a fourth consecutive season, Desormeaux will have to rely on a first-time starting quarterback in Chandler Fields.

Fields, a sophomore out of Metairie, La., is just 12-of-21 on passing attempts in his career with Louisiana.

But, an easy non-conference schedule (save for Florida State on Nov. 19) and playing in the weaker West division in the SBC will help the Ragin’ Cajuns get on their feet in the Desormeaux era.

All eyes are on new head coach Bryant Vincent to see if he can continue to build on the rock-solid foundation poured by former head coach Bill Clark.

The former South Alabama offensive coordinator joined the Blazers in 2018 as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach before taking over for Bill Clark after he announced his retirement in June.

Even with the short timeframe with Vincent at the helm, the Blazers are going to enjoy some continuity with quarterback Dylan Hopkins and running back DeWayne McBride returning as starters in 2022. On defense, much of the middle and secondary return to give the Blazers the edge they need to remain competitive as they try to eclipse their 9-4 record from a year ago.

Grayson McCall is back for another season with Coastal Carolina, armed with multiple NIL deals and a chip on his shoulder to prove that he’s one of the top players in the Sun Belt Conference.

McCall will have a lot of new faces on offense, but his dynamic play will give the Chants a chance. The junior quarterback has thrown 53 touchdowns and just six interceptions since the start of the 2020 season.

On defense, head coach Jamey Chadwell has to find a way to replace nine starters on defense. If the defense can hold their own and McCall stays healthy, this is a dark horse team to win the Sun Belt.

Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun enters his sixteenth season with the team, making him one of the longest tenured coaches in all of college football.

The Falcons are back on track after winning five games apiece in 2017 and 2018. They’ve posted double-digit wins in 2019 and 2021 (only six games were played in 2020).

Air Force often gets overlooked for being a military academy, but Calhoun absolutely deserves credit for having a disciplined program and keeping a tight-knit culture going for nearly two decades in Colorado Springs.

The Falcons will have another chance to compete for the Mountain West title with the help of returning quarterback Haaziq Daniels (1,184 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and 734 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns) and the 2021 MWC leading rusher Brad Roberts (1,356 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns). But, there are concerns if both of those players will be ready in time for the start of the 2022 season, according to Chris Vannini of The Athletic.