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Group of Five: Week 12 Access Bowl Power Rankings

By Zach Bigalke

Nov 19, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver C.J. Johnson (14) catches a touchdown pass against San Diego State Aztecs safety Trey Lomax (3) during the fourth quarter at War Memorial Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Aztecs 34-33. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver C.J. Johnson (14) catches a touchdown pass against San Diego State Aztecs safety Trey Lomax (3) during the fourth quarter at War Memorial Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Aztecs 34-33. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Boone, NC, USA; Appalachian State Mountaineers tight end Barrett Burns (85) celebrates with wide receiver Shaedon Meadors (6) after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Boone, NC, USA; Appalachian State Mountaineers tight end Barrett Burns (85) celebrates with wide receiver Shaedon Meadors (6) after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

team. 2391. . (8-3). Previous: . Appalachian State Mountaineers. 16

Arkansas State Red Wolves. 14. team. 2405. . (6-4). Previous:

At this point Arkansas State remains the only Sun Belt team with an undefeated record in conference play after taking down Troy on the road. The Trojans had a chance to lock down their position in the AP Top 25 and creep into the College Football Playoff rankings, but instead they blew the opportunity at home. Troy gave up nearly 400 total yards of offense and committed five turnovers when they had the ball, and now they are left with the hope of little more than a shared title.

That puts Arkansas State at an advantage in the race to win the league race. Should the Red Wolves win out and finish with a perfect conference record, though, it means that there could be two teams in the league with better records. A four-loss Group of Five team is never going to merit any consideration for a major bowl game, even if that team is a conference champion. And in the case of the Sun Belt, only an outright champ is ever going to have a shot at a New Year’s Six run.

If things had fallen into place around the country, there was a path for Troy to challenge for the Access Bowl slot if they had won out and gone 11-1. Now, though, the best the Trojans can hope for is 10-2 and a share of the crown. That won’t be enough to put them into the discussion this season.

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