Group of Five: UCF, Boise State headline 2018 preseason power rankings

Group of Five Upset Threats in Week 1

Every week, we will conclude the Group of Five power rankings with a look ahead at the top chances to witness an upset against Power Five competition. This week, 22 different contests pit Group of Five hopefuls against a Power Five opponent. More than one-third of FBS teams will be involved in those contests. These five look like your surest shot to see a statement being made.

Wyoming at Washington State

Wyoming looked incredibly solid in its season opener on the road against New Mexico State. Until the final drive, the Cowboys defense gave up fewer than 100 yards to the Aggies. Craig Bohl’s team seems to have found a solid successor for Josh Allen at quarterback in redshirt freshman Tyler Vander Waal, and Nico Evans gives Wyoming a presence on the ground they were lacking last year. Washington State, meanwhile, will be breaking in a new quarterback and could be ripe for an upset.

Colorado State vs. Colorado (in Denver)

Colorado State was unable to take down Hawaii in their first game of the season, falling 43-34 at home to the Rainbow Warriors. But KJ Carta-Samuels looked great in his first game with the Rams, throwing for 537 yards and five touchdowns on 34-of-50 passing. Against a Colorado team that lost secondary stars Isaiah Olive and Afolabi Laguda, Carta-Samuels could have a huge day in the annual Rocky Mountain Showdown at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

Northern Illinois @ Iowa

Northern Illinois and Iowa have an interesting recent history against one another. In 2012, the Huskies crashed the BCS party despite opening the season with a loss to Iowa at Soldier Field. The following year, NIU took down Iowa 30-27 at Kinnick Stadium. Now the Huskies return to the site of their last win over the Hawkeyes. Last year the Huskies toppled Nebraska in Lincoln, and could earn another Big Ten statement on the road this year.

Florida Atlantic @ Oklahoma

Florida Atlantic has big dreams of crashing the duopoly of Boise State and UCF at the top of the Group of Five power rankings. To make that happen, they need to do what Houston did three years ago and topple Oklahoma in Norman to begin the season. Devin Singletary needs to have a massive game against a Sooners squad that lost nearly half of last year’s defensive production.

Middle Tennessee @ Vanderbilt

An in-state duel features one of the biggest statement opportunities of the young season. Middle Tennessee has lost each of the past three seasons against Vanderbilt, after winning their first three meetings earlier in the 21st century. But the Blue Raiders have a shot to restore their lead in the seventh showdown in the all-time series, especially with a major advantage in returning talent.

See the full list of games featuring Group of Five teams playing Power Five opponents this week below.

Week 1 Group of Five Statement Opportunities vs. Power Five Teams

Stay tuned every Wednesday for our weekly look at the Group of Five hierarchy in the race for a New Year’s Six invitation and break down the biggest statement opportunities of the week.