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SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
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BullsFanInTX Offline
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SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
SI lists 5 "mid majors" that could make a Cinderella run to the CFP playoffs next year. USF, Memphis, Houston, Boise, and BYU.

http://www.si.com/college-football/2016/...cinderella

Houston

The Cougars hardly qualify as true Cinderellas for the playoff as they’re likely to begin the season ranked in the top 20. However, membership in a Group of Five conference could make it difficult for them to rise from their initial ranking to the top four. Fortunately for coach Tom Herman’s squad, it could make a strong statement about its playoff worth just as the season gets underway. Houston kicks off 2016 with a neutral site matchup against Oklahoma, a playoff semifinalist last season expected to contend for a return berth in 2016. A win over the Sooners would instigate talk of the Cougars as playoff contenders. And unlike other Group of Five teams at risk of getting passed over while playing lesser competition after taking on a tough opponent in Week 1, Houston could get credit for handling business in the American if the conference backs up its success from last season. Possible wins at Cincinnati, Navy and Memphis and whomever the Cougars might play in the conference title game could bolster their résumé. Houston also hosts potential ACC contender Louisville in November.

The Cougars are riding high into the 2016 season off their Peach Bowl win over Florida State and a successful National Signing Day. Although they lose 11 starters from last year’s breakthrough season, the biggest pieces are back: Herman and star quarterback Greg Ward Jr. That gives Houston the best shot of any Group of Five team to reach the playoff in ’16.

Memphis

The Tigers probably had the most realistic playoff hopes of any Group of Five team last year. Had they gone undefeated after beating Ole Miss and had the Rebels won the SEC, it would have been nearly impossible to leave Memphis out. Consecutive losses to Navy, Houston and Temple and Ole Miss’s defeat to Arkansas ended the Tigers’ playoff hopes last year, but it’s not hard to imagine a similar scenario presenting itself this season. Memphis again takes on Ole Miss, this time in Oxford, and the Rebels again could contend for an SEC title.

However, to take down Ole Miss again, not to mention finish off the season unbeaten, the Tigers will have to improve on last season despite losing star quarterback Paxton Lynch and head coach Justin Fuente. Memphis returns only five starters on offense but brings in new head coach Mike Norvell, who oversaw explosive attacks at Arizona State. A regular season finale against Houston could prove pivotal for both teams’ playoff hopes.


South Florida

It’s not an accident that three teams from the American make this list. If any of these three makes the playoff, they will likely have enhanced their résumé by downing the other two (USF and Houston don’t play in the regular season but could meet in the AAC championship game). So, to an extent, each of Houston, Memphis and USF’s playoff hopes rest on the others building on their success from last year to keep the AAC’s stock climbing. For USF to finish in the top four, it’ll also have to upset Florida State on Sept. 24. That’s a tall order, considering the Seminoles are expected to contend for a playoff berth themselves, but it means a Bulls win would likely carry significant weight with the selection committee.

South Florida returns more starters (14) than either Houston or Memphis, including Quinton Flowers, who should be one of the AAC’s top passers not named Greg Ward Jr. He’ll be supported by leading rusher Marlon Mack, back after a 1,381-yard season, along with his top two targets. Seven starters also return from a defense that ranked third in the AAC in yards allowed per play. If USF can stun Florida State and jump into championship contention, it wouldn’t be the first time for the program. The Bulls ranked No. 2 in the initial BCS rankings in 2007. That didn’t end well, though; USF went on to drop its next three games and fall out of the rankings.
03-16-2016 09:09 PM
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TripleA Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
I think SI is giving Memphis more credit than we deserve. New QB, almost all new coaching staff. I will be happy if we just go bowling next season.
03-16-2016 11:21 PM
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Hurricane Warning Offline
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SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
Switch Memphis for Tulsa and you cookin with oil.
03-16-2016 11:41 PM
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GreenWave16 Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
I think it's odd there is no mention of Tulane. We made possibly the best hire in all of FBS. We will be contenders from here on out.
03-17-2016 12:06 AM
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johnbragg Online
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 12:06 AM)GreenWave16 Wrote:  I think it's odd there is no mention of Tulane. We made possibly the best hire in all of FBS. We will be contenders from here on out.

The assumption is you run the table.
Houston would have a win over Oklahoma.
Memphis would have a road win over Ole Miss.
USF would have a win over Florida State.
Tulane would have a win over--Wake Forest.

Tulane going 13-0 with wins over Houston, Memphis and someone in the AAC championship game probably doesn't make the playoff. Plus winning...wikipedia....3 games last year.
03-17-2016 06:54 AM
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Bearcats#1 Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
UH will be really good.

USF: Not sure. Could be.

Memphis will take a step back for a myriad of reasons me thinks.
03-17-2016 07:08 AM
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goodknightfl Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
There is almost no chance of any of our schools reaching playoff. The P5 would break away the very next year if it did happen. Odds that any of them even manage a 13-0 season....5%.
03-17-2016 07:46 AM
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NYCTUFan Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
The value in this a couple things. The first is Memphis, Houston and USF are being compared with BYU (the most valuable independent football program next to ND) and the media poster boy for G5 power football from the last 10 years in Boise State. The biggest value of this article is more national exposure and material to push the AAC even further ahead of the rest of the G5 when it comes to perception.

No Marshall, no WKU, no USM, just 25% of the AAC.
03-17-2016 08:17 AM
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johnbragg Online
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 08:17 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  The value in this a couple things. The first is Memphis, Houston and USF are being compared with BYU (the most valuable independent football program next to ND) and the media poster boy for G5 power football from the last 10 years in Boise State. The biggest value of this article is more national exposure and material to push the AAC even further ahead of the rest of the G5 when it comes to perception.

No Marshall, no WKU, no USM, just 25% of the AAC.

Scheduling power conference schools pays off. All writer had to do was page through FBSchedules.com.

OK, Navy plays Notre Dame, too, but we know how that goes.

EDIT: I'm a dope. http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/conf-usa...g-herd.php
(This post was last modified: 03-17-2016 08:31 AM by johnbragg.)
03-17-2016 08:30 AM
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CincyBro Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 07:08 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  UH will be really good.

USF: Not sure. Could be.

Memphis will take a step back for a myriad of reasons me thinks.

Will be hard for UH to make a run starting the year 1-2.07-coffee3
03-17-2016 08:50 AM
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CPR Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
Substitute Temple and Memphis.
(This post was last modified: 03-17-2016 10:05 AM by CPR.)
03-17-2016 09:55 AM
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rjglassett Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 09:55 AM)CPR Wrote:  Substitute Temple and Memphis.


Temple's OOC isn't that great though. They have State Penn, but they also have Army, Charlotte and Stony Brook. Running the table with that schedule wouldn't get them into the top 4.
03-17-2016 11:13 AM
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NYCTUFan Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 11:13 AM)rjglassett Wrote:  
(03-17-2016 09:55 AM)CPR Wrote:  Substitute Temple and Memphis.


Temple's OOC isn't that great though. They have State Penn, but they also have Army, Charlotte and Stony Brook. Running the table with that schedule wouldn't get them into the top 4.

You beat me to the post, the OOC meat just isn't there this season.
03-17-2016 11:21 AM
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C2__ Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 08:50 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  Will be hard for UH to make a run starting the year 1-2.07-coffee3

Yes, Oklahoma and Lamar are looking tough in the first two games.
03-17-2016 11:25 AM
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BullsFanInTX Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
I liked this line:

"It’s not an accident that three teams from the American make this list. If any of these three makes the playoff, they will likely have enhanced their résumé by downing the other two"
03-17-2016 11:25 AM
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C2__ Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
But there's no way Memphis is gonna be one of them. Memphis and Navy are both going to decline, though the nature of Navy's program and offense could keep things rolling. Don't sleep on Temple.
03-17-2016 11:28 AM
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fishpro1098 Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 08:17 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  The value in this a couple things. The first is Memphis, Houston and USF are being compared with BYU (the most valuable independent football program next to ND) and the media poster boy for G5 power football from the last 10 years in Boise State. The biggest value of this article is more national exposure and material to push the AAC even further ahead of the rest of the G5 when it comes to perception.

No Marshall, no WKU, no USM, just 25% of the AAC.

^^This

"It’s not an accident that three teams from the American make this list."
03-17-2016 11:39 AM
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BullsFanInTX Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
Temple should be on this list if they can defeat Penn St. again.
03-17-2016 11:40 AM
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CPR Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
(03-17-2016 11:13 AM)rjglassett Wrote:  
(03-17-2016 09:55 AM)CPR Wrote:  Substitute Temple and Memphis.


Temple's OOC isn't that great though. They have State Penn, but they also have Army, Charlotte and Stony Brook. Running the table with that schedule wouldn't get them into the top 4.

Yea, I didn't know your OOC. To be fair, I don't think any G5 team will ever make the playoff.
03-17-2016 11:40 AM
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BullsFanInTX Offline
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RE: SI: 3 AAC teams could make CFP playoff run in 2016
I believe Memphis would have made it had they gone undefeated last year. Unfortunately, they crashed and burned down the stretch.
03-17-2016 11:43 AM
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