Group of Five Power Rankings, Week 7: AAC and MWC lead race
By Zach Bigalke
Defending MWC West champion Fresno State dominated Wyoming in a 27-3 beatdown on Saturday night. After giving up a field goal to Wyoming on the opening drive of the game, Jeff Tedford‘s team shut out the Cowboys the rest of the way. The win moved the Bulldogs to 5-1 on the year to jump two spots up the Group of Five Power Rankings and keep level with Hawaii and San Diego State atop the division standings.
The difference came down to passing. Both teams ran for only 104 yards apiece. But where Wyoming’s Tyler Vander Waal was held to 117 yards and an interception on 12-of-32 passing, Marcus McMaryion was on a different level. The former Oregon State transfer, now in his second year at Fresno State, went 22-of-32 for 287 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
They have to avoid a possible trap game next week when they travel to New Mexico for interdivisional play. The following week, Fresno State caps their October slate with a home game against Hawaii. That contest will serve as an elimination game of sorts in the MWC West standings, and the winner will be San Diego State’s best challenger for the division.