The quality of ball being played within the Group of 5 conferences this season has been on full display nationwide with early-season G5 wins over Notre Dame, SEC, ACC and Big 12 opponents. Boise State's battle with Oregon in Autzen wasn't settled until Oregon made a field goal in the closing seconds. Each of the Group of 5 conferences currently has multiple undefeated programs with very high expectations for this season.
This season, a significant and growing number of head coaches from within the G5 conferences are voting in the first ever G5 Coaches Poll.
Nearly all coaches recognize the value of having their program recognized by their peers as a top program within these conferences; however, some administrators and others have wondered if having a separate G5 Poll actually further codifies a division between programs in Power 4 conferences and those in Group of 5.
FootballScoop invited ESPN's Rece Davis on the Podcast to share his perspective on the G5 Coaches Poll.
Davis and FootballScoop's Scott Roussel spend the first eight minutes discussing the quality of play within these conferences and highlight some of early season successes. At the 8-minute mark the conversation turns to the topic of whether the G5 Coaches Poll is good for the G5 conferences and their programs.
"The Coaches Poll among those coaches who played each other... would be best used as a piece of data for the selection committee as to who the best teams are," Davis says, "and I don't think it creates any further separation.
"This is going to bring them into the spotlight. Would you rather be No. 1 in this or No. 23 or 'also receiving votes' in the AP Poll for example?
"Why not provide an outlet that let's people who are really in tuned... and pay attention to say. 'This is how we evaluate the programs.'
"I think its a little bit of a misconception that this would further the gulf between the two (Power 4 and G5)."
We hope you enjoy the full conversation and greatly appreciate Davis making time to join the podcast and sharing his insight.