Group of Five Power Rankings, Week 4: I-4 rivals hold position at top

Buffalo didn’t just defeat Rutgers on the road in Week 4. The Bulls completely deconstructed the Scarlet Knights, moving to 4-0 on the season with a 42-13 blowout on Saturday. Even though the Bulls weren’t perfect on the road, they were still dominant enough to more than triple the score on what is nominally a Big Ten school.

Buffalo quarterback Tyree Jackson went 14-of-28 for 263 yards and three touchdowns, keeping Rutgers on their heels even as he threw two interceptions to the Scarlet Knights. Jackson was backed up by Jaret Patterson, who balanced the offense with 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

The Bulls defense, meanwhile, clamped down on Rutgers when the home team had the ball. Scarlet Knights quarterbacks Giovanni Rescigno and Artur Sitkowski combined to finish with a sub-50 percent completion rate and only 168 total yards through the air on 18-of-37 passing. And Rutgers averaged two full yards fewer per rushing attempt than the Bulls, who held their hosts below 300 total yards of offense.

Buffalo next faces an Army side that took defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma to overtime on the road last week. After that home game, the Bulls continue MAC play with a road trip to Central Michigan. They are in great position to continue climbing up the Group of Five Power Rankings over the next month.