2019 AAC Football Preseason Poll Released, USF Picked Third in the East

The 2019 AAC Media Days are off and running in Newport, RI and the day’s festivities officially began with the release of the preseason poll voted on by 30 media members.

You can view Nathan’s ballot here.

Despite a horrendous end to the 2018 season, the Bulls were still picked to finish third in the east behind two-time defending champion C. and Cincinnati.

The Knights return several key pieces to field this year but injuries to quarterbacks McKenzie Milton and Darriel Mack will force Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush into the starting role. Coming off an 11-win campaign, the Bearcats return a barrage of players who have now spent multiple years under the tutelage of head coach Luke Fickell, including QB Desmond Ridder and tailback Michael Warren.

Out west, the consensus is virtually split between Houston and Memphis with the Tigers tabbed as the #AACWestworld favorites with 15 first-place votes and Dana Holgerson’s Cougars just behind them with 14 votes. A lone media member is high on the pairing of Sonny Dykes and Shane Buechele with SMU receiving a vote to take the division.

C. was the favorite to win the conference outright with 12 votes followed by Cincy with eight, Memphis with six and Houston with four.

We’ll have more coverage as media days rolls on.