If you aren’t in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, or Big 12, life can be tough for your college football program. The rest of the conferences in college football have been shown the door and given very little respect. Boise State was lucky to have been given a bye week in the old College Football Playoff format where the top conference winners were able to skate bye but that will no longer be the case in 2025. This used to be the Group of 5, but with the Power 5 going to Power 4, we are adding the Pac 12 to this bunch. Here’s our Group of 5 preview….err 6.
Conference Breakdown
1. American Athletic – You have Navy, Army, Memphis, and Tulane. Three of those AAC members won double-digit games last season.
2. Mountain West – This conference is getting pillaged by the Pac 12 next season so why not send it out with a big bang in its final year. Boise State is the model G6 school, but UNLV will be on their tails.
3. Sun Belt – You can always expect James Madison to be right in the mix of things, and they are proving their worth in the Sun Belt. Don’t sleep on the Louisiana Rajin’ Cajuns either.
4. Pac 12 – Oregon State and Washington State are going through an interesting time. Recruits are hard to come by and coaches are tough to keep but that should change a year from now in a more aligned conference.
5. Conference USA – There isn’t a ton to love here outside of Liberty who took a big step back a year ago.
6. Mid American– Something special about MACtion on a Tuesday night to help get us through the week and occasionally provide us with a good laugh.
Three Schools who can make the CFP
G6 teams have the hardest path to make the CFP, but they are granted a spot although likely just one.
1. Boise State – The Broncos were in it last year, but they had Ashton Jeanty leading the way. They are without their top back this time around, but extended head coach Spencer Danielson and they expect to be contenders again.
2. Tulane – This is a historically successful program that has gone 32-10 record since 2022, which is the best amongst the old G5 schools and tenth best in the FBS. They finished second to just Army in the AAC last year in their first season without Willie Fritz.
3. UNLV – The Runnin’ Rebels now have Dan Mullen leading the ship and he very quickly made both Mississippi State and Florida contenders after taking over their programs. He is a culture god who gets good buy-in from his players and has a talented roster.