2016 record: 11-2, 7-1 AAC
Coach: Charlie Strong (first year)
Sked or alive? The Bulls are scheduled for success. There are no Florida States on this year’s non-con slate (San Jose State, Stony Brook, Illinois, UMass), and USF gets Houston at home. The toughest game might be the finale at Central Florida (which went 6-7 last year).
Why they’re here: Strong inherits a ton of experience, a star QB in Quinton Flowers and a schedule that could produce an undefeated regular season. The defense, which ranked 120th in the nation last year, still needs work. But the Bulls have the most promising outlook of any Group of Five team in 2017.
