Conference USA Football Media Days will be held next weekend in Dallas, a sign that the college football season is rapidly approaching.

From now until July 25, when the C-USA West Division teams kick things off Monday afternoon, The News-Star is starting a blog series titled "6 for '16" to discuss a six-pack of relevant topics in C-USA as it pertains to the 2016 season.

Friday's topic centers around the six teams on the rise in Conference USA for 2016. Some of these are unheralded programs looking to take the next step forward. Others are proven commodities looking to get back to the top.

6 for '16 series:

• Monday — Handicapping the Conference USA West race
• Tuesday — Toughest schedules in Conference USA
• Wednesday — Most favorable schedules in Conference USA
• Thursday — Most intriguing games to watch in Conference USA

1. Middle Tennessee

2015 record: 7-6 (6-2)
2016 preseason ranking: ​First (East)
Explanation: The most obvious choice here after MTSU was picked Thursday as the preseason favorite to make the C-USA title game. The upstart Blue Raiders finished 7-6 last year but more importantly went 6-2 in league play. Led by sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill and new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, who helped mold Jared Goff into the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, MTSU's offense should put up gaudy numbers in 2016.

2. FAU

2015 record: 3-9 (3-5)
​2016 preseason ranking: Fourth (East)
Explanation: If we view talent on paper, FAU's defense will be salty in 2016. The Owls boast the C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in defensive end Trey Hendrickson. FAU also placed a linebacker and two members of the secondary on the all-conference team. Not bad for a team that finished near the bottom of the league in 2015.

3. Marshall

2015 record: 10-3 (6-2)
​2016 preseason ranking: Third (East)
​Explanation: This feels guilty writing this. Considering Marshall's past, and most recent past for that matter with a 2014 C-USA championship trophy, the Herd haven't really gone anywhere. Marshall went 10-3 last year and missed out on playing for another title game by one game. The spot here in a simple reminder Marshall will once again be in the title mix despite most of the attention being on MTSU and Western Kentucky.

4. UTEP

2015 record: 5-7 (3-5)
​2016 preseason ranking: Fourth (West)
​Explanation: It's unlikely UTEP can beat Southern Miss to make a power move to the top of the C-USA West Division, but the Miners should make more noise than 2015 when injuries never allowed the team to reach their potential. Eight offensive starters are back to pave the way for the return of running back Aaron Jones.

5. Old Dominion

2015 record: 5-7 (3-5)
​2016 preseason ranking: Sixth (East)
​Explanation: The Monarchs were void of any love in the preseason poll. Picked as the second-worst team in the East Division, Old Dominion can only go up from here. The top of the league is too top-heavy to crack through, but ODU can position itself for a bowl game in 2016.

6. North Texas

2015 record: 1-11 (1-7)
​2016 preseason ranking: Sixth (East)
​Explanation: If everyone in the West Division not named Southern Miss beats up on each other, don't be surprised if North Texas sneaks into the No. 3 spot ahead of Rice or UTEP. The defense has eight starters returning, so UNT should at least be able to remain competitive in a league that features high octane offense. The main issue is UNT has an uphill battle with a difficult schedule.