Navy has thrived on its seemingly perpetual underdog status over the years. At this time last year, head coach Ken Niumatalolo marveled about how the Midshipmen went from being ranked in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll for 2015 to being rated in the lower third of Football Bowl Subdivision programs by several preseason publications going into 2016.
So it was no surprise to hear Niumatalolo and Navy's two team captains embrace being picked third in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference.
Media members tabbed Memphis as the team to beat in the West with Houston as the runner-up in the preseason poll released by the American Athletic Conference on Tuesday.