The Read
@TheReadHQ
Deep storytelling, and bringing premium G6 content. The G6 schools deserve high quality content and we aim to deliver that. Our newsletter is the engine!
Leaked images have surfaced between UTSA’s starting QB Owen McCown and former Memphis DB Tahj Ra-EL prior to UTSA’s 44-36 victory over the Tigers last year. This story has been in the shadows of the American conference media day and is now at the forefront. What happens now?
Hidden yardage: Marshall led FBS in net special-teams extra points added per drive (+0.48) while East Carolina sat second among G5 at +0.36. Which unit converts hidden field position into a 2025 shocker?
Continuity = More Points: five G5 programs kept every coordinator for 2025: Liberty, Ohio, UTSA, South Alabama and Miami-OH. Over the last decade, coordinator-clean squads boosted expected points added (EPA) by 9%. Which staff turns steadiness into headlines first?
Travel tax: Hawai‘i’s 2025 slate demands an FBS-high 14,812 air miles. Since 2015 teams logging 14,000+ miles have seen November win percentage dip seven points. Does the trek tilt the Mountain West race toward mainland contenders?
Wyoming’s offense lifted its yards-per-play average from 4.9 to 5.7 last year, the biggest G5 jump. The last three G5 teams to add 0.8 YPP all reached bowls. Are the Cowboys set for a breakout autumn in Laramie?
Transfer portal math: New Mexico, Memphis and UTSA headline the G5 in returning-production margin, posting a combined +17 starters over losses. When three programs bank this much continuity, which one breaks through to a New Year’s Six bid first?
Excited to bring Kyle Fennessy (@KFancy16) on board as a contributor for The Read. He’ll be covering the G5 with the depth it deserves: spotlighting players, telling stories that get lost in the chaos, and bringing a fresh voice to a space that needs more of them. Welcome!
Quiet but nasty: In 2024, Liberty, Marshall and Air Force all produced top-20 havoc rates, generating a disruptive play on more than 15 percent of snaps without blue-chip rosters. Which disciplined G5 defense delivers the loudest Week 1 scare to a Power opponent?
Since 2018, five G5 schools have poured roughly $650 million into football-only digs: = SDSU’s $310 M Snapdragon build - Boise's long-range “Master Village” - Tulane’s $75 M Yulman expansion - UNT’s Athletic Center overhaul - Colorado State’s $220 M Canvas Stadium.
History says G5 teams that bring back a QB with 30-plus total TDs add 2.4 wins the next season. - UTSA’s Owen McCown (28 pass, 4 rush), - Ohio’s Parker Navarro (13 pass, 18 rush) - Toledo’s Tucker Gleason (24 pass, 7 rush). Will these teams win a 2025 conference title?
Here are the oddsmakers G5 ranking by likelihood of finishing 2025 with 7+ wins after having a losing season in 2024. 1) Navy (~80%) 2) South Alabama (~60%) 3) North Texas (~55%) 4) Colorado St (~50% 5) San Diego St (~40%) 6) Coastal (~38%) Will your team bounce back in 2025?
It’s almost as if the “American” Conference schools all decided to start fires 🔥 this week so the coaches can have a hard time during media day. - Tulane bringing in controversial ex-BYU QB - Memphis offer $200M to enter the Big 12 - “Playbook-gate” involving Memphis & UTSA
Tulane has a verbal commitment from former BYU QB Jake Retzlaff. He’s been at the center of controversy due to a rape lawsuit filed against him, which led to BYU suspending him for 7 games. With Tulane being a G5 powerhouse, how’s the rest of the G5 feeling about this move?
No more “AAC” or “American Athletic Conference”. The conference has now been rebranded to “American” with new logos etc. One big difference is now instead of searching “AAC” & Google defaulting your search to “ACC”, it’ll now get confused with anything “American”. 😅
Three of the top five G6 offenses in total yardage came from teams with losing records in 2024.🤔 1) UNT 489 2) UNM 484 3) TXST 477 4) Utah St 468 5) Boise St 466 6) UTSA 451 7) MEM 445 8) WSU 443 9) South Alabama 442 10) Jax St 442 Who's turning empty yards into wins in 2025?
Top 10 average home crowds among the G6 in 2024: 1. Fresno State-40,600 2. Navy-39,825 3. ECU-37,403 4. Boise State-37,235 5. Oregon State-35,799 6. App State-34,623 7. Colorado State-33,082 8. UNLV-32,203 9. USF-31,424 10. Army-26,771 What schools will make this list in 2025?
Average G6 FY2024 athletic-revenue per school by conference: MWC-$57.8M AAC-$39.5M CUSA-$37.5M SBC-$36.9M MAC-$36.3 PAC-12 $74M (Estimate based on 8 future members (OSU, WSU, SDSU, etc.) Is the gap between the top and bottom of the G6 too wide to be considered the same tier?
