Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Group of Five: Week 5 Access Bowl Power Rankings

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 29, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars wide receiver Isaiah Johnson (14) makes a reception during the third quarter against the Connecticut Huskies at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars wide receiver Isaiah Johnson (14) makes a reception during the third quarter against the Connecticut Huskies at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
Oct 1, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; South Florida Bulls running back Marlon Mack (5) carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Nippert Stadium. The Bulls won 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; South Florida Bulls running back Marlon Mack (5) carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Nippert Stadium. The Bulls won 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

. (4-1). Previous: . Southern Miss Golden Eagles. 7. team. 2385

For the second straight season, San Diego State inexplicably dropped a game to South Alabama. This time the Aztecs fell in Mobile by 18 points, after losing by seven at home last year to the Jaguars. Before this week SDSU was gaining love in the polls, but the three-score defeat completely shattered voter confidence. Defending the Mountain West title now becomes job number one for the Aztecs. A 12-1 MWC champ will always merit consideration, especially if that champ has a win over a decent California team.

South Florida went 1-1 in ACC play this year, taking down Syracuse on the road but stumbling at home against Florida State. The Bulls did take charge this week in the AAC East, more than doubling up the score on a Cincinnati team that was supposed to be their biggest division challenger this year. Temple and UCF could still present their own challenges to USF’s spot, and they still also have games against Navy and Memphis. But the Bulls benefit from being in the weaker of the two divisions and should make the AAC championship game.

Southern Miss is a tough team to pin down. The Golden Eagles toppled Kentucky in the season opener, gaining a valuable statement win. No matter who, it is always newsworthy when a Group of Five team takes down an SEC school on the road. Then they lost to Sun Belt front-runner Troy. No other team looks ready to step up and challenge Southern Miss in the C-USA West race. Thus, while the team that defeated them is two spots lower, it is USM that has the better resume and the easier path to a conference title.

Rounding out this Group of Five quartet of teams is Memphis, who fell on the road to Ole Miss on Saturday. The Tigers couldn’t engineer a second straight upset of the Rebels, but they are still fully alive in the AAC West race and can also claim a win over Kansas from the Big 12. Like Southern Miss, Memphis knocked off a basketball school, but that 36-point blowout still serves as a statement. If they win all their games leading into the November 25 showdown with Houston, it could set up a de facto divisional championship.

Home/College Football Rankings