Football Ranked Third in the East in 2018 Preseason Media Poll

NEWPORT, R.I. - The American Athletic Conference announced Tuesday morning the results of the 2018 Preseason Media Poll and Temple is projected to finish third in the East Division and earned the fifth highest ranking in the conference.

Last season's champion, UCF, paved the way collecting 175 votes to claim the East Division title, while also leading all schools with 19 votes for the overall conference championship.

2018 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL

American Championship
	Team	Points
	UCF	19
	Memphis	7
	USF	3
	Houston	1

East Division
	Team	Points
1.	UCF	175
2.	USF	140
3.	Temple	132
4.	Cincinnati	91
5.	UConn	51
6.	ECU	41

West Division
	Team	Points
1.	Memphis	171
2.	Houston	146
3.	Navy	129
4.	SMU	72
5.	Tulane	68
6.	Tulsa	44

first-place votes in parentheses

The Owls are coming off three straight seasons with a winning record and a bowl berth. The 2017 season, Collins' first, ended with a 7-6 record and a 28-3 win in the 2017 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl. Last year's defense ranked first in the conference in passing (206.8 ypg) and sacks (39), and were second in total yards (381.5), scoring (25.8), and tackles-for-loss (102). One of the nation's best defenses in 2017 returns first-team all-conference safety Delvon Randall, team-leading tackler linebacker Shaun Bradley, and redshirt-senior defensive tackle Michael Dogbe. The Owls' offense finished with 3,273 passing yards and 5,046 total yards, which were second- and third-best in school history, respectively. Gasparilla Bowl MVP, Frank Nutile, who engineered a 4-1 record down the stretch in 2017, will take the quarterback reins once again. He will be joined on offense by dynamic playmakers including running back Ryquell Armstead, and receivers Ventell Bryant and Isaiah Wright.

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