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College Football: 5 surprises from 2016 AP Preseason Poll

By John Buhler

Nov 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) looks to pass during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. UCLA won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) looks to pass during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. UCLA won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman signals for the team to go for an extra point after scoring a touch down against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the third quarter at TDECU Stadium. Houston won 34 to 0 . Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman signals for the team to go for an extra point after scoring a touch down against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the third quarter at TDECU Stadium. Houston won 34 to 0 . Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Houston is in the middle of the pack.

Outside of some folks in Boise, Idaho, most paying attention to college football entering 2016 could easily argue that the American’s Houston Cougars are probably going to be the best team in the Group of 5 this fall.

Houston is almost certainly going to get a Big 12 bid in the coming months and finally get back to being a major program. The Cougars have a great offensive-minded head coach in Tom Herman, a Heisman hopeful at quarterback in Greg Ward, Jr., and a pair of fresh legs just waiting to run all over inferior competition in running back Duke Catalon.

People have been split on Houston entering the season. Some feel this is a top 20 program, while others feel that the Cougars might be closer to a top 10 team with all the playmakers that return to Herman’s program this fall.

The result is that Houston finds itself right in the middle of the pack at No. 15. This is probably where they actually belong, but to see the Cougars at No. 15 still feels weird. From the looks of the initial AP Poll, Houston’s primary challengers for the Group of 5’s New Years’ Six spot will be the Boise State Broncos, the San Diego State Aztecs, the Navy Midshipmen, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, the South Florida Bulls, and the Toledo Rockets.

All seven mid-major programs received at least two AP votes. Houston is in a class of its own entering the 2016 season. Having the Cougars at No. 15 sounds reasonable, but still doesn’t feel right for whatever reason.

Next: 3. LSU ahead of both Michigan and Ohio State.

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