Defending American Athletic Conference champions UCF did not get selected to be the favorites in the AAC this upcoming football season.

The Cincinnati Bearcats were picked to finish first in the AAC preseason poll, receiving 17 of the 30 first place votes. The Bearcats went 9-4 last season under head coach Tommy Tuberville and are returning 16 starters.

The Knights, who are returning 17 starters, received seven of the first place votes, but also must replace a 1,000 yard rusher in Storm Johnson and star quarterback Blake Bortles.

Houston was picked third with six first place votes, followed by East Carolina, SMU, USF, Memphis, and Temple. UCONN and Tulane were tied with the least amount of votes.