Last season was a bonanza for schools from outside the Power Five conferences. A record seven were ranked in the final AP Top 25. Can the so-called Group of Five carry that momentum into 2021? Chris Vannini of The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo to preview the non-Power Five leagues from the American Athletic Conference, where Cincinnati hopes to make a playoff push, to the Sun Belt, where Coastal Carolina and Louisiana bring back loaded teams. Then Pete Sampson of The Athletic joins the show to preview Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have a new quarterback and new defensive coordinator. Standards are set high enough now for Brian Kelly’s program that even a step back from last year’s playoff team could mean double-digit victories. Plus, a tribute to Bobby Bowden.

 

Russo’s column on Bobby Bowden: https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-sports-football-college-football-2ca2dcbc296234673cc3e1aea2329b70

 

Email the show at APTop25mailbag@gmail.com