Group of Five: Week 8 Access Bowl Power Rankings

South Florida is no longer even in control of its own fate in the AAC East after Friday night’s implosion at home against Temple. The Owls gained 176 more yards of offense than the Bulls, dominating the time of possession and preventing USF from any hope of a comeback. Quinton Flowers finished with 189 passing yards and 90 rushing yards with three total touchdowns, but it was not enough to fuel a Bulls win. But Temple is already three losses down on the year, and if any team from the East has a shot to steal the Group of Five’s berth in a New Year’s Six bowl it is still South Florida.

Next Friday’s game at home against Navy will be pivotal. If USF can pull off an upset against the Midshipmen, it would throw the entire conference into a new level of chaos. The Bulls get a bye week to begin November, then travel to Memphis in another crucial cross-division showdown. If they win against the Tigers, a road game against SMU could be a trap game prior to the regular-season finale at home against rival UCF. Even if USF wins all those games, though, it will mean nothing in the Group of Five race if Temple doesn’t lose again.