From the beat writer collaborative vote...
1. South Florida (10-2, 7-1 AAC): The Bulls capped the best regular season in program history with a 48-31 victory over rival UCF, earning their first national ranking since Sept. 2011 at No. 24 in the AP Top 25. Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers and tailback Marlon Mack scored two touchdowns, extending the team's nation-leading streak of 30-plus-point games to 16. Mack also joined Florida State standouts Dalvin Cook and Warrick Dunn as the only backs in the state history to have three straight 1,000-yard seasons. The Bulls are on track for a solid postseason spot with the Birmingham Bowl and Military Bowl the favorites among possible destinations. Temple's win over USF kept the Bulls out of the AAC title game. (Last week: 1)
2. Navy (9-2, 7-1 AAC): The Midshipmen remained on an epic offensive roll on Saturday in Dallas. Navy amassed a season-high 496 rushing yards and 600 total yards in a 75-31 destruction of SMU. Quarterback Will Worth continues to operate the offense at a high level. Worth rushed for 107 yards and three TDs and passed for 104 yards and a score. He is the first quarterback in Navy history to surpass 100 yards rushing and passing in three straight games. Navy has won four straight and six of seven. (Last week: T-3)
3. Temple (9-3, 7-1 AAC): The Owls earned their second straight trip to the AAC title game with Saturday's 37-10 win over East Carolina. Temple earned the East Division title based on its head-to-head win, 46-30 over South Florida. Owls leading receiver Ventell Bryant is questionable for the championship game. He has 38 receptions for 697 yards and three TDs in nine games, having missed three with a shoulder injury. In Saturday's win, Phillip Walker became the first Temple quarterback to throw for 10,000 career yards. Temple, which has won six in a row, is 10th nationally and first in the AAC in scoring defense, allowing 17.8 points per game. (Last week: 2)
4. Houston (9-3, 5-3 AAC): The Tom Herman speculation has finally ended. Hours after a 48-44 loss at Memphis, Herman met with Texas officials and agreed to become the Longhorns' coach. Herman went 22-4 in two seasons, and without question left the program in better shape that when he arrived with an AAC championship, New Year's Six bowl and several marquee top-10 victories. "This is a hot coaching job right now," Houston board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta said. (Last week: T-3)
5. Tulsa (9-3, 6-2 AAC): For a third time this season, a game involving Tulsa went to overtime, and for a third time this season, the Golden Hurricane prevailed. Three early turnovers against Cincinnati on Friday night led to a 17-point deficit, but the offensive line helped deliver an eighth outing of at least 300 rushing yards, including 197 by James Flanders, who set the program record for single-season rushing yards with 1,529. Tulsa scored 10 points in the final three minutes of regulation and then held the Bearcats to a field goal before Flanders punched in a touchdown to give the Hurricane an undefeated season at home. (Last week: 5)
6. Memphis (8-4, 5-3 AAC): The Tigers saved their most impressive win of the season for the final week, edging then-No. 21 Houston 48-44 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Riley Ferguson to Anthony Miller with 19 seconds remaining. The victory gave Memphis a third consecutive season with eight wins or more, exceeding expectations in coach Mike Norvell's first year. (Last week: 6)
7. UCF (6-6, 4-4 AAC): The Knights finished going 0-2 against the offenses from Tulsa and USF. UCF struggled to its second lowest rushing performance against the Bulls on the road Saturday in a 48-31 loss. UCF will advance to a bowl game after going 0-12 last season. (Last week: 7)
8. SMU (5-7, 3-5 AAC): SMU had two opportunities to earn bowl eligibility but couldn't pull upsets against South Florida and Navy. With Chad Morris to Baylor rumors creating a distraction, SMU folded against Navy in an embarrassing 75-31 loss. SMU was outplayed and outcoached as it gave up 600 yards of offense and failed to get anything going on offense in the second half. The good news for SMU is that most of its depth chart featured freshmen and sophomores. Morris will also be back on the sideline after talks fell through with Baylor. (Last week: 8)
9. Cincinnati (4-8, 1-7 AAC): The offense suddenly erupted in the regular season finale, but UC still lost 40-37 at Tulsa in overtime. The Bearcats had scored only 26 points in the previous four games. The big question now is whether coach Tommy Tuberville returns for a fifth season. UC has gone 9-4, 9-4, 7-6 and 4-8 under Tuberville. Tuberville said he has no intention of leaving, if the "higher-ups" still want him. Tuberville has a contract through 2019, with a buyout of $2.4 million if he is fired before Dec. 7. The payment would be $1.5 million if he is fired before Dec. 7, 2017; $1 million before Dec. 7, 2018; and $1 million before Dec. 7, 2019. (Last week: 9)
10. East Carolina (3-9, 1-7 AAC): Wide receiver Zay Jones set the NCAA single-season receptions record with seven catches in the season finale, a 37-10 loss to Temple. Jones was a bright spot for East Carolina all season, finishing with 158 catches for 1,746 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. After starting the season 2-0, the Pirates lost nine of 10 games, including four in a row to end the season. (Last week: 10)
11. Tulane (4-8, 1-7 AAC): Tulane found a way to close the season on a high note with a 38-13 win over UConn to end a six-game losing streak and give first-year coach Willie Fritz his first conference win. The 38 points were the most Tulane scored since and Oct. 1 win over Louisiana-Lafayette. (Last week: 12)
12. Connecticut (3-9, 1-7 AAC): The Huskies were on the wrong end of some of the most lopsided play in recent college football history down the stretch of their miserable season. UConn lost its final six games, outscored 130-16 over the final four, and finished with the worst offense in the nation, an average of 14.8 points. The final insult came Saturday, a 38-13 loss at home to Tulane. Bob Diaco, 11-26 through three seasons, is expected back as coach but the staff will likely feature a new offensive coordinator and several changes. (Last week: 11)
1. South Florida (10-2, 7-1 AAC): The Bulls capped the best regular season in program history with a 48-31 victory over rival UCF, earning their first national ranking since Sept. 2011 at No. 24 in the AP Top 25. Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers and tailback Marlon Mack scored two touchdowns, extending the team's nation-leading streak of 30-plus-point games to 16. Mack also joined Florida State standouts Dalvin Cook and Warrick Dunn as the only backs in the state history to have three straight 1,000-yard seasons. The Bulls are on track for a solid postseason spot with the Birmingham Bowl and Military Bowl the favorites among possible destinations. Temple's win over USF kept the Bulls out of the AAC title game. (Last week: 1)
2. Navy (9-2, 7-1 AAC): The Midshipmen remained on an epic offensive roll on Saturday in Dallas. Navy amassed a season-high 496 rushing yards and 600 total yards in a 75-31 destruction of SMU. Quarterback Will Worth continues to operate the offense at a high level. Worth rushed for 107 yards and three TDs and passed for 104 yards and a score. He is the first quarterback in Navy history to surpass 100 yards rushing and passing in three straight games. Navy has won four straight and six of seven. (Last week: T-3)
3. Temple (9-3, 7-1 AAC): The Owls earned their second straight trip to the AAC title game with Saturday's 37-10 win over East Carolina. Temple earned the East Division title based on its head-to-head win, 46-30 over South Florida. Owls leading receiver Ventell Bryant is questionable for the championship game. He has 38 receptions for 697 yards and three TDs in nine games, having missed three with a shoulder injury. In Saturday's win, Phillip Walker became the first Temple quarterback to throw for 10,000 career yards. Temple, which has won six in a row, is 10th nationally and first in the AAC in scoring defense, allowing 17.8 points per game. (Last week: 2)
4. Houston (9-3, 5-3 AAC): The Tom Herman speculation has finally ended. Hours after a 48-44 loss at Memphis, Herman met with Texas officials and agreed to become the Longhorns' coach. Herman went 22-4 in two seasons, and without question left the program in better shape that when he arrived with an AAC championship, New Year's Six bowl and several marquee top-10 victories. "This is a hot coaching job right now," Houston board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta said. (Last week: T-3)
5. Tulsa (9-3, 6-2 AAC): For a third time this season, a game involving Tulsa went to overtime, and for a third time this season, the Golden Hurricane prevailed. Three early turnovers against Cincinnati on Friday night led to a 17-point deficit, but the offensive line helped deliver an eighth outing of at least 300 rushing yards, including 197 by James Flanders, who set the program record for single-season rushing yards with 1,529. Tulsa scored 10 points in the final three minutes of regulation and then held the Bearcats to a field goal before Flanders punched in a touchdown to give the Hurricane an undefeated season at home. (Last week: 5)
6. Memphis (8-4, 5-3 AAC): The Tigers saved their most impressive win of the season for the final week, edging then-No. 21 Houston 48-44 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Riley Ferguson to Anthony Miller with 19 seconds remaining. The victory gave Memphis a third consecutive season with eight wins or more, exceeding expectations in coach Mike Norvell's first year. (Last week: 6)
7. UCF (6-6, 4-4 AAC): The Knights finished going 0-2 against the offenses from Tulsa and USF. UCF struggled to its second lowest rushing performance against the Bulls on the road Saturday in a 48-31 loss. UCF will advance to a bowl game after going 0-12 last season. (Last week: 7)
8. SMU (5-7, 3-5 AAC): SMU had two opportunities to earn bowl eligibility but couldn't pull upsets against South Florida and Navy. With Chad Morris to Baylor rumors creating a distraction, SMU folded against Navy in an embarrassing 75-31 loss. SMU was outplayed and outcoached as it gave up 600 yards of offense and failed to get anything going on offense in the second half. The good news for SMU is that most of its depth chart featured freshmen and sophomores. Morris will also be back on the sideline after talks fell through with Baylor. (Last week: 8)
9. Cincinnati (4-8, 1-7 AAC): The offense suddenly erupted in the regular season finale, but UC still lost 40-37 at Tulsa in overtime. The Bearcats had scored only 26 points in the previous four games. The big question now is whether coach Tommy Tuberville returns for a fifth season. UC has gone 9-4, 9-4, 7-6 and 4-8 under Tuberville. Tuberville said he has no intention of leaving, if the "higher-ups" still want him. Tuberville has a contract through 2019, with a buyout of $2.4 million if he is fired before Dec. 7. The payment would be $1.5 million if he is fired before Dec. 7, 2017; $1 million before Dec. 7, 2018; and $1 million before Dec. 7, 2019. (Last week: 9)
10. East Carolina (3-9, 1-7 AAC): Wide receiver Zay Jones set the NCAA single-season receptions record with seven catches in the season finale, a 37-10 loss to Temple. Jones was a bright spot for East Carolina all season, finishing with 158 catches for 1,746 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. After starting the season 2-0, the Pirates lost nine of 10 games, including four in a row to end the season. (Last week: 10)
11. Tulane (4-8, 1-7 AAC): Tulane found a way to close the season on a high note with a 38-13 win over UConn to end a six-game losing streak and give first-year coach Willie Fritz his first conference win. The 38 points were the most Tulane scored since and Oct. 1 win over Louisiana-Lafayette. (Last week: 12)
12. Connecticut (3-9, 1-7 AAC): The Huskies were on the wrong end of some of the most lopsided play in recent college football history down the stretch of their miserable season. UConn lost its final six games, outscored 130-16 over the final four, and finished with the worst offense in the nation, an average of 14.8 points. The final insult came Saturday, a 38-13 loss at home to Tulane. Bob Diaco, 11-26 through three seasons, is expected back as coach but the staff will likely feature a new offensive coordinator and several changes. (Last week: 11)
