Group of Five: Week 9 Access Bowl Power Rankings

The Blue Raiders played their way back into the Access Bowl discussion in Week 8 with an upset of Missouri, and they consolidated the gains in Week 9 with a road win at FIU. Against the Panthers, Middle Tennessee was outgained both on the ground and in the air. But the defense came up with three huge turnovers, and now every other team in Conference USA has at least three losses before the final month of the season. That means Middle Tennessee is probably the league’s last best hope for having any shot at nabbing the Access Bowl invite.

Of course, the Blue Raiders are also not in control of their own fate. After losing on a blocked PAT in the second overtime of a 44-43 affair against Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee now needs the Hilltoppers to lose another league game to take over sole possession of C-USA East. If they can survive a visit from UTSA and a trip to hostile Huntington to face a Marshall team in the midst of a down season, the last two games against Charlotte and FAU should be no worry. Then they just need a WKU loss to host the championship.