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The Race Is On: Which G5 Teams Have The Best Chance To Get A College Football Playoff Spot

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Football

With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams, the Group of Five (G5) conferences, consisting of The American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, MAC, and C-USA, now have a guaranteed seat at the table. The highest-ranked G5 conference champion earns an automatic bid, making the race among these programs more intense and consequential than ever.

As the 2025 season hits its midpoint, several G5 programs have emerged as legitimate contenders for that coveted playoff spot. From undefeated records to marquee wins over Power Four opponents, these programs are building resumes that could sway the selection committee come December.

1. No. 23 Memphis Tigers (6–0, 2–0 American Conference)
The Tigers are the first bowl-eligible team in the country and the current front-runner for a playoff bid. Head coach Ryan Silverfield has leaned on dual-threat quarterback Brendon Lewis and a turnover-hungry defense to dominate opponents. With upcoming home games against fellow contenders South Florida and Tulane, Memphis controls its destiny and has the resume to back it up.

2. No. 24 South Florida Bulls (4–1, 1–0 American Conference)
Led by second-year head coach Alex Golesh, USF has already knocked off (then No. 25) Boise State and (then No. 13) Florida (which just beat Texas), with the Bulls' only loss coming to No. 2 Miami. Quarterback Byrum Brown continues to shine, and this team has a chance to leapfrog Memphis if it can win on the road at North Texas (Oct. 10) and later in the head-to-head match-up with the Tigers (Oct. 25).

3. (RV) UNLV Rebels (5–0, 2–0 Mountain West)
Dan Mullen’s Rebels are quietly undefeated, including a win over UCLA (which just knocked off Penn State), and have emerged as the Mountain West’s top playoff hopeful. While the strength of schedule isn’t elite, UNLV’s upcoming trip to Boise State could be a defining moment. Kayden McGee has become a breakout star on special teams, adding an excitement factor for the Rebels.

4. Tulane Green Wave (4–1, 1–0 American Conference)
Despite heavy roster turnover, head coach Jon Sumrall has kept the Green Wave looking more than just competitive. Their lone loss came at No. 4 Ole Miss, and they’ve posted wins over teams from the B1G and ACC in Northwestern and Duke, respectively. With a deep quarterback room and a resume-building schedule ahead, Tulane remains firmly in the hunt, especially with a Nov. 7 showdown at No. 23 Memphis looming.

5. (RV) North Texas Mean Green (5–0, 1–0 American Conference)
The Mean Green haven’t faced the most elite competition yet, but they’re undefeated and host No. 24 South Florida this Friday - a game that could vault UNT into the national conversation. Head coach Eric Morris has built a balanced offense, and if North Texas can run the table and win the American, we'll be looking at a history making Playoff run for the Mean Green from Denton.

Honorable Mentions
Navy (RV) (4–0), WKU (5–1), LA Tech (5–1), James Madison (4–1), and Old Dominion (4–1) all remain in the mix. Navy’s triple-option attack has kept opponents off balance, while WKU and LA Tech are quietly stacking up wins in Conference USA. James Madison and Old Dominion face off in a couple weeks (Oct. 18) in a game that is sure to draw some attention when it airs live on ESPNU.

While Memphis currently leads the pack, the G5 playoff race is far from settled. There are loads of pivotal match-ups ahead and conference titles still to be decided. But every team listed here has a path - however narrow - to the postseason. For programs outside the Power Four, the dream of a national championship run is alive and well. And if ever there was a time for one of these schools to make the National Championship Game, 2025 looks like the "Year of Parity" in college football.