Group of Five: Week 6 Access Bowl Power Rankings

Aside from losing to a top-15 Ole Miss team on the road, Memphis is perfect so far this year. And despite losing their head coach and starting quarterback from last year’s nine-win team, the Tigers are very much in the hunt in the AAC West. Against Temple the raw stats show some trouble trying to rein in Phillip Walker and the Owls aerial attack, and that the offense was serviceable but not spectacular. But the defense also forced a fumble and two interceptions, including one returned 23 yards by Genard Avery for a touchdown, and they also got a 95-yard kick return touchdown from Tony Pollard that skewed the stats a bit.

Mike Norvell has done a masterful job taking over for Justin Fuente at the head of a solid Group of Five program. At 1-0 in conference play the Tigers have a leg up on Houston in that they are still unblemished, but they have a tough road remaining. They too have to play at Navy in two weeks, while the season concludes with a tough November stretch. Memphis hosts South Florida, plays at Cincinnati, and finishes with the regular-season finale at home against Houston. With a top-30 scoring defense and a dangerous passing attack, this Tigers team could be even better than the past two iterations.