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Group of Five: Week 7 Access Bowl Power Rankings

By Zach Bigalke

Oct 15, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Jeremy McNichols (13) scores a touchdown during second half action against the Colorado State Rams at Albertsons Stadium. Boise State defeats Colorado State 28-23. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Jeremy McNichols (13) scores a touchdown during second half action against the Colorado State Rams at Albertsons Stadium. Boise State defeats Colorado State 28-23. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Troy Trojans wide receiver Emanuel Thompson (8) celebrates with teammates at the end of their game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Troy won 37-31. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Troy Trojans wide receiver Emanuel Thompson (8) celebrates with teammates at the end of their game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Troy won 37-31. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

After taking a first-half lead, Troy was threatened early in the third quarter last weekend. Georgia State stormed out of the intermission with two quick touchdowns to take a 14-6 lead. Then the Trojans responded by scoring 25 unanswered points and building an insurmountable lead. A late touchdown by the Panthers made the final score respectable. Though they allowed 381 passing yards to Conner Manning, Troy held Georgia State to just 37 total rushing yards and forced three turnovers. Meanwhile Jordan Chunn churned out 91 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Trojans, while quarterback Brandon Silvers threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns against one pick.

At the halfway point of the season, Appalachian State is the only other team in the Sun Belt with two or fewer losses. Troy has the inside track to its first conference title since 2010. If they win the league outright and do so with an 11-1 record the Trojans will have a legitimate argument to the title of best Group of Five champ. After all, they surely have the best loss of the bunch, after nearly knocking Clemson on the road. If the Tigers repeat as ACC champions and earn a second straight playoff berth, they will only bolster Troy’s merits. First, however, they’ll have to win road games at South Alabama, Texas State, and Georgia Southern along with home games against fellow league leaders Appalachian State and Arkansas State as well as independent UMass.

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