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Conference USA Football not featured in 2019 Preseason Top 25 polls

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There weren’t any Conference USA football teams ranked in the preseason polls, but there will be plenty of opportunity for the conference in 2019.

The AP Poll and the Coaches Poll don’t often feature many Group of 5 programs in their preseason editions. It takes proven production, returning starters and a track record of success to crack the initial list. That was true of the 2019 polls as well.

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One Group of 5 program, UCF, received enough votes to be ranked. They check in at No. 17 in both polls.

Boise State (38), Cincinnati (16), Fresno State (8), Utah State (8), Memphis (6), Appalachian State (5) and UAB (3) each received votes in the AP Poll. Boise State (118), Fresno State (32), Utah State (32), Cincinnati (25), Memphis (24), Appalachian State (4), Houston (3), North Texas (3), Temple (2) and Troy (1) earned votes in the Coaches Poll.

North Texas and UAB were the only CUSA programs recognized in either poll. Both received first place votes to win the conference during Conference USA Media Days, but so did four other programs.

The easiest way for any additional CUSA squads to force their way onto the ballots is winning. Several of the conference’s more prominent programs will have opportunities to make statements early in the season. FAU faced ranked UCF on Septemeber 7. North Texas hits the road to take on Cal on September 14.

Find out more about the prominent non-conference games to watch and get a deeper dive on all 14 CUSA teams in our 2019 Conference USA Football Preview. The preview is available to download on your device today.

Complete AP Poll
  1. Clemson(52)
  2. Alabama(10)
  3. Georgia
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Ohio State
  6. LSU
  7. Michigan
  8. Florida
  9. Notre Dame
  10. Texas
  11. Oregon
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Washington
  14. Utah
  15. Penn State
  16. Auburn
  17. UCF
  18. Michigan State
  19. Wisconsin
  20. Iowa
  21. Iowa State
  22. Syracuse
  23. Washington State
  24. Nebraska
  25. Stanford
Complete Coaches Poll
  1. Clemson(59)
  2. Alabama(6)
  3. Georgia
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Ohio State
  6. LSU
  7. Michigan
  8. Florida
  9. Notre Dame
  10. Texas
  11. Texas A&M
  12. Washington
  13. Oregon
  14. Penn State
  15. Utah
  16. Auburn
  17. UCF
    Wisconsin
  18. –tie–
  19. Iowa
  20. Michigan State
  21. Washington State
  22. Syracuse
  23. Stanford
  24. Iowa State
  25. Northwestern
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