.

More and more non-P5 FB teams have been listed in the Final AP Top 25 lists in recent years.


....................# of non-P5 FB teams in Final AP Top 25:

2020..............8 (1 AAC, 2 SBC, 2 IND, 2 MAC, 1 MWC)

2019..............7 (4 AAC, 1 SBC, 2 MWC)

2018..............6 (2 AAC, 3 MWC, 1 IND)

2017..............4 (3 AAC, 1 MWC)

2016..............3 (1 AAC, 1 MWC, 1 MAC)

2015..............3 (2 AAC, 1 CUSA)

2014..............3 (1 AAC, 1 MWC, 1 CUSA)

......................................................................................................

Between 2014 and 2019, half of the non-P5 FB teams in the Final AP Top 25 were AAC teams:

2015-2019.....26 (13 AAC, 8 MWC, 2 CUSA, 1 SBC, 1 IND, 1 MAC).

.

However, there was a marked reversal of this trend in 2020, with 7 of the 8 non-P5 teams in the final AP Top 25 being non-AAC teams:

2020..............8 (1 AAC, 2 SBC, 2 MAC, 2 IND, 1 MWC)


......................................................................................................

Up until 2020, the proportion of non-P5 FB teams in the Final AP Top 25 lists that were AAC teams made it possible to argue that the AAC was a "power" or "P6" conference.

.

If the 2020 reversal turns out to have been a "blip" or "anomaly," it may not be anything to be concerned about. However, if the trend observed in 2020 continues, it may raise questions about whether the AAC is much stronger than the other G5 FB conferences.

If that occurs, the only way for the AAC to maintain its status as the best of the non-P5 FB conferences expand would be to add 1-3 more upper-echelon FB schools.

.