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College Football: 10 best under-the-radar games in 2016

By Michael Collins

Nov 14, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls fans celebrate on the field after beating the Temple Owls at Raymond James Stadium. South Florida Bulls won 44-23. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls fans celebrate on the field after beating the Temple Owls at Raymond James Stadium. South Florida Bulls won 44-23. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars wide receiver Linell Bonner (15) makes a reception during the first quarter as Navy Midshipmen linebacker Ted Colburn (55) and safety Lorentez Barbour (2) make a tackle at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars wide receiver Linell Bonner (15) makes a reception during the first quarter as Navy Midshipmen linebacker Ted Colburn (55) and safety Lorentez Barbour (2) make a tackle at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Game Date: Saturday Oct. 8, 2016
Venue: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md.
Series Record: Houston leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 27, 2015 (Houston 52, Navy 31)
Why it’s intriguging: AAC West supremacy

Few would have thought that Houston and Navy would be duking it out for a possible conference title game shot, but that’s essentially what it came down to in 2015. This year, Houston is looking to build on the momentum gained in a record-setting 2015, while Navy wants to prove they weren’t just a one-trick pony.

That pony – former quarterback Keenan Reynolds – is going to be tough to replace. Navy has a good option system in place, and runs the ball better than anyone in the country, but Reynolds was a special player who made that system unbelievably effective.

Houston, on the other hand, is looking to prove they belong with the big boys, and they want to shatter the illusion that Group of Five teams can’t be in the playoff mix. This meeting will be a big test for their defense, and could be a stumbling block on the way to not only an AAC title, but a ranking high enough to get them into the final four.

Next: Game Number Three

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