College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Week 6 AP Top 25 Poll
By Zach Bigalke
San Diego State squared off against Northern Illinois in a showdown of Group of Five hopefuls on Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium. The Aztecs found themselves in a shootout against the Huskies, and the teams were tied 14-14 after the first quarter. Eventually San Diego State settled down on defense, and pulled away for a 28-14 lead by the half.
The offense sputtered to start the game, as a stout NIU front seven sold out to stop dangerous tailback Rashaad Penny. Finding little running room for Penny, the Huskies instead got him the ball on a 33-yard pass for his first receiving touchdown of the season. San Diego State also got a pick-six by Tariq Thompson and a 96-yard kickoff return by Juwan Washington.
As long as San Diego State wins tonight, they will remain in the AP Top 25. But they will probably not do enough to climb over South Florida in the polls after the Bulls blew out East Carolina on the road Saturday afternoon.