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Group of Five: Week 8 Access Bowl Power Rankings

By Zach Bigalke

Oct 20, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (1) catches a touchdown pass Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Micah Hannemann (7) tries to defend during first half action at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (1) catches a touchdown pass Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Micah Hannemann (7) tries to defend during first half action at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Troy Trojans wide receiver Deondre Douglas (80) bobbles the football before hauling it in for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Troy Trojans wide receiver Deondre Douglas (80) bobbles the football before hauling it in for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Could a Sun Belt team really contend for the Group of Five’s automatic berth in a New Year’s Six game? Troy is doing their best to make a case, as they improved to 6-1 against South Alabama on Saturday. Brandon Silvers threw for 395 yards and a touchdown, adding another 18 yards on the ground to go over 400 for the day. Jordan Chunn rushed 23 times for 143 yards and two scores to balance the attack. The Troy defense kept Jaguars quarterback Dallas Davis in check, holding him under 200 passing yards and just half a yard per carry. The Trojans haven’t won the league since 2010, but they are now one of just three remaining unbeaten teams in conference play.

Neal Brown’s team gets to stay home for a full month after prevailing last weekend in Mobile. Troy doesn’t play again until November, when they host independent UMass on November 5. The conference will be decided over the following fortnight, as first Appalachian State and then Arkansas State both travel to Alabama to face the Trojans. The season closes with a tricky road swing at Texas State and Georgia Southern. Given that their only loss came by six points to ACC favorite Clemson, a Troy team that went 11-1 and won an outright Sun Belt championship would definitely have an Access Bowl case to make.

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