https://theathletic.com/2885974/2021/10/...-and-more/

Bowling Green, Buffalo, and Kent State also got some votes. NIU, Toledo, WMU, CMU, Miami, Ohio, and Ball State didn't get any votes. Surprised Ball State didn't get any votes.

Quote:HARDEST GROUP OF 5/INDEPENDENT JOBS

UConn
Points: 115
First-place votes: 6

UMass 
Points: 97
First-place votes: 11

Another Northeast school, UMass was the second-leading vote-getter among Group of 5 programs. One agent told The Athletic that it was the only job he ever advised a client to turn down.

“I think UConn and UMass are on the fence if they should even have football,” said another agent.

The program generates about $9 million in revenue, according to the Boston Herald. The Minutemen moved up from FCS to FBS in 2012 but haven’t had the success UConn has seen in the somewhat recent past, going 20-86 since the move to college football’s highest level. Mark Whipple, who won an FCS national title at UMass in 1998, returned and had the best run of FBS success with eight wins in two seasons in 2017-18, but Walt Bell is 2-20 so far.

Some surveyed pointed to apathy about the program on campus and across the state. Both UMass and UConn are independent, but one Group of 5 head coach cited the Minutemen’s resources, which are “less than what UConn has with the ability to pay coaches.”


New Mexico State 
Points: 47
First-place votes: 4


Akron
Points: 25
First-place votes: 2

Many coaches polled omitted MAC programs because of the competitive balance and cyclical nature within the league. But Akron, with just one winning season since 2005 and a 3-21 record for current coach Tom Arth, was the exception.

The environment, one Power 5 assistant said, “just seems terrible.” But the Zips also have some unique challenges in Ohio.

“A good two-star recruit who may have a scholarship offer to play football at Akron might decide to play football at Mount Union and win a national championship,” a Power 5 administrator said. “You’re not winning any championships at Akron.”

The Zips did play for a MAC title in 2017, Terry Bowden’s second-to-last season, and qualified for a bowl. But they’ve been to just two bowls since 2005, the year of their lone conference title.


Louisiana Monroe 
Points: 20
First-place votes: 2

Rice
Points: 17
First-place votes: 1

UTEP
Points: 15
First-place votes: 0

Hawaii
Points: 13
First-place votes: 1

Other notable Group of 5 vote-getters: Eastern Michigan, FIU, San Jose State, Temple, Middle Tennessee State

On Eastern Michigan: “Everyone who is an EMU fan is a Michigan fan first. They have to schedule around Michigan games. If Michigan plays at noon, they have to play at 7 p.m. And the town is a rough town; people knock them for that. They do not pay very well.” — Agent