Group of Five: Week 1 Power Rankings

9. San Diego State Aztecs (1-0/MWC)

• LAST WEEK: won 31-0 v. FCS New Hampshire
• NEXT WEEK: September 10 v. California

With many mid-majors playing FCS competition on the opening weekend, San Diego State’s shutout performance over 2015 playoff participant New Hampshire was notable. The defending MWC champions were ably led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Christian Chapman, who completed 64 percent of his passes for 288 yards and two scores, while senior tailback Donnel Pumphrey missed the 100-yard mark on the ground by a few yards. The Aztecs defense held the Wildcats to just 70 passing yards and 71 rushing yards on 51 offensive plays, with safety Na’im McGee nabbing a fourth-quarter interception to prevent any chance of losing the shutout.

San Diego State hosts California next week with the chance to claim a Pac-12 statement for itself, and will also travel to Northern Illinois and South Alabama before beginning conference play. But while each of these games is critical to any and every hope of reaching a New Year’s Six bowl, SDSU’s season will really be forged once they begin conference play against UNLV on October 8. Without either Boise State or Air Force on the schedule, they might not get tested until the MWC championship game.

Next: 8. Tulsa Golden Hurricane