Group of Five: 2017 college football Week 3 power rankings

In the Group of Five race for a New Year’s Six berth, a statement win over a Power Five program is always a resume booster. San Diego State took advantage of their first of two opportunities against Pac-12 schools, knocking off Arizona State 30-20 on the road in Week 2.

The victory was fueled by Aztecs running back Rashaad Penny. Stepping in for FBS all-time leading rusher Donnel Pumphrey this season, Penny has looked just as dynamic as his predecessor. After putting up 197 yards and two touchdowns against FCS team UC-Davis, Penny followed up with a 216-yard performance against the Sun Devils. He added another 38 yards on four receptions, and scored a touchdown by ground and by air.

On the other side of the ball, the San Diego State defense held Sun Devils running back Kalen Ballage to less than three yards per carry. Ballage finished with 44 yards and a score on 15 rushes. Even more impressively, the Aztecs held the other Arizona State runners to a net of zero yards on 16 more carries.

Now the Aztecs turn their attention to an opportunity to face an AP Top 25 team at home. No. 19 Stanford travels south to San Diego this weekend, giving Rocky Long‘s team a second straight chance for a big statement against the Pac-12. If they win this weekend, they could leap up into the top spot in these rankings.