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Group of Five season preview: Who is this year’s Cinderella?

By Jordan Alexis

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 01: UCF players hoist the trophy after winning the AAC Championship football game between the visiting Memphis Tigers and the UCF Knights on December 1, 2018, at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 01: UCF players hoist the trophy after winning the AAC Championship football game between the visiting Memphis Tigers and the UCF Knights on December 1, 2018, at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 10: D’Eriq King #4 of the Houston Cougars throws a pass in the first half against the Temple Owls at TDECU Stadium on November 10, 2018, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 10: D’Eriq King #4 of the Houston Cougars throws a pass in the first half against the Temple Owls at TDECU Stadium on November 10, 2018, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Despite what many may think, there are plenty of quality teams throughout the Group of Five conferences.

With college football being engulfed by the phenomenon that is the playoff, Group of Five conferences have seen their chance at a national title take an even bigger hit.

In 2017, UCF broke into the discussion at a level we hadn’t seen since Boise State in the late-2000s, but in the end, were still denied even a chance to prove themselves. The Knights also backed up their tremendous 2017 with another perfect regular season in 2018 but were an afterthought to the playoff committee.

The perfect storm will have to occur for one of these programs to get their shot. For now, it is about winning your respective conference and then proving yourselves in a bowl game. Luckily, 2019 has a chance to provide some very entertaining battles for conference championships.

There are some familiar names at the top, but will someone finally dethrone UCF and take the New Year’s bowl bid?

Let’s see who the leading contenders will be in each conference.

American Athletic Conference (AAC)

The AAC has firmly established itself as the top Group of Five conference in the country and has provided some highly entertaining offenses in recent years.

The UCF Knights have been the champs the past two seasons, and have plenty of talent remaining to 3-peat. The biggest question mark remains at quarterback with McKenzie Milton recovering from a gruesome leg injury. However, they still have plenty of weapons and a stout offensive line, so whoever starts is in good hands. Their defense needs to improve at stopping the run, but the secondary will be a standout unit.

Their biggest challenger in the East division this year looks to be Cincinnati. The Bearcats will return 14 starters from their 11-2 group last season, and coach Luke Fickell is doing tremendous work. They have some changes on both lines, but Desmond Ridder is back at quarterback, and Michael Warren looks to repeat a great sophomore season.

These two teams meet on the fourth of October at Cincinnati, and the winner will be the driver’s spot for the division title.

In the west, the third time might be the charm for Memphis as they look to return conference championship once again. If not for UCF’s historic run the past few seasons, the Tigers would be the team we talk about as kings of the conference. Back to back losses to the Knights have been tough pills to take for Memphis but they will be ready to go again in 2019. Replacing Darrell Henderson is a tough ask, but Patrick Taylor was also a 1,000 yard back in 2018, and now he gets the primary workload.

The most intriguing team in the entire conference has to be Houston as they start the Dana Holgorsen era. Wherever Holgorsen goes, expect points to follow, and he has functional pieces to work with at Houston. D’Eriq King one of the best quarterbacks in college football and the Cougars should light up the scoreboard this year. Unfortunately, the Cougars may have to win games 50 to 49 as they ranked 119th in scoring defense in 2018. Perhaps only having four returning starts will be positive.

Memphis and Houston meet in Week 12, and it could be a fascinating shootout that determines the western champ.