Group of Five: Week 1 Power Rankings
By Zach Bigalke
1. Houston Cougars (1-0/AAC)
- LAST WEEK: won 33-23 v. Oklahoma (@ NRG Stadium in Houston)
- NEXT WEEK: September 10 v. FCS Lamar
Oklahoma was a consensus top-three team in the preseason polls, a favorite for the Big 12 title and a return to the playoff. With that lofty status they headed to Houston to face the Cougars at NRG Stadium, but the Sooners were quickly rendered one-dimensional. The defending AAC champions held Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon to just 71 combined rushing yards and one touchdown, and both teams traded big gains with their passing games as Greg Ward Jr. and Baker Mayfield finished with nearly identical statistics.
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The difference on the scoreboard ultimately came down to the work of kicker Ty Cummings, who drilled field goals of 35, 26, 33, and 47 yards along with three extra points. With the victory over the Sooners on their record, Houston vaults right back up to the top of the AAC and Access Bowl races and can still make another statement against Power Five competition when they host Louisville on November 17. Barring an upset in conference play, Houston is in the driver’s seat for a second straight major bowl bid.