Florida Atlantic: Caden Veltkamp emerges as the top QB in the conference
Caden Veltkamp, the FAU Owls second year signal caller, had an up and down season last year. An early season injury, a brand new offense, and a difficult schedule playing 5/6 of the conferences top teams led to a season not up to his standard.
I think with an improved offensive line, a deep group of weapons, a healthy rehab period, and most importantly, another year of continuity with the program will help him reach his ceiling as the top passer in the conference.
ECU: The Pirates have the best offensive and defensive coaching in the conference.
ECU is in year 2 riding the Blake Harrell train, the Pirates defense has been very good the last half decade under him. This offseason he was tasked with replacing his former offensive coordinator John David Baker. He stayed in conference and hired former UNT OC Jordan Davis.
Davis will run an air raid offense like his mentor Eric Morris did at UNT. If he has the success I think he can, he could be a FBS head coach in the next few years.
UAB: The Blazers find offensive success in year 2 of Ryder Burton.
I was intrigued when UAB hired interim HC Alex Mortensen to be their head man. He clearly is a good offensive mind in a league where you need one, he will have his QB back with him for a second year.
In Burtons first start last season, he threw for 3 TDs against ranked Memphis in what was the greatest upset in the whole conference.
USF: The Bulls defense is better than their offense this year.
This might surprise some people, but I do believe South Florida will be better on defense this year than offense. The Bulls are entering the Brian Hartline era in Tampa, which immediately makes every football fan in the world think how good will their wide receivers be.
I think USF has lots of talent at the WR rooms, but with a questionable QB room and play caller that made his success in the 2010s, I do believe they might take some time for it to click on offense. On the other side of the ball I am sold on former ECU DC Josh Aldridge coming to USF, I think he will do good work with the Florida athletes on roster.
Army: Cale Hellums leads the conference in rushing TDs.
Maybe this is a weak take, as it should be between Cale Hellums and Navy’s QB Braxton Woodson for the American conference rushing title.
Hellums took over for Army last season and brought that gritty rushing style that they were missing since Bryson Daily was there.
Navy: The Midshipmen losing their two NFL draft picks keep them out of true conference contention.
Navy had quiet the impressive roster last year, as they had maybe the best QB in conference in Blake Horvath last year, a RB/WR hybrid Eli Heidenreich, and the best DT in the conference Landon Robinson.
I think those 2 losses in Heidenreich and Robinson will hurt more than Navy fans expect, but I do think their new QB Braxton Woodson is a great athlete.
Tulsa: Portal haul helps boost them to a bowl birth.
You could make the argument Tulsa is the most improved team in the league. I think they should be a bowl team in year 2 of Tre Lamb. I really like transfers Jaylen George and David Wells Jr. I also think their young QB Baylor Hayes will play good football this year.
Temple: The Owls win 5 games to miss a bowl game once more.
Temple is well coached, KC Keeler is a guy who can build a program. But I’m not sure the NIL investment has been enough to get the Owls over the hump. Their schedule is difficult, I expect a 5-7 season.
Rice: Jaccuri Brown is a perfect fit in Scott Abell’s offense
Rice brought in former Miami and UCF, who in limited games showed his athleticism is his strength.
In an offense where the QB runs the option, I think Brown has a solid rushing year for the Rice Owls.
Charlotte: The 49ers win a FBS game!
It was a rough year 1 for new head coach of Charlotte, Tim Albin. He was a winner at Ohio, so I expect there to be SOME on the field improvement in 2026.
Charlotte plays Louisiana at home and App State on the road in OOC. I think they can win one of the two, if not both.
Tulane: The drop off from Fritz/Sumrall to Will Hall shows.
I’m not sure if this is a bolder take. I’m also not saying Tulane will be bad, I expect the winning to roll. But I don’t think the Green Wave will be in title contention this year under Will Hall.
Even if he has learned a lot from his last HC gig, it will probably take some time to establish Hall ball.
UTSA: Jeff Taylor proves himself as a top coach in the conference, the roadrunners impress.
For UTSA, I think the last 2 years have been about getting their feet reset. I think the Roadrunners are a contender for a conference title. I would not be surprised to see 9 wins.
Memphis: Charles Huff and Memphis beat G5 playoff contender UNLV week 1.
I’ll chicken out here and give a week 0 take, I think in what should be a legendary G6 football game, Memphis steals a win out west.
Charles Huff is a great coach, I think the Tigers upgraded coaches from last year.
Cover Photo Credits: Christian Proscia, NewEraPrep
