Group of Five Power Rankings, Week 10: Several favorites stumble

The Bulls are locked into something of a symbiotic relationship, in which each team needs the other to keep winning to validate the result of their head-to-head matchup back in late September. In that contest, Buffalo managed to produce only 255 yards of total offense while giving up 281 rushing yards to the triple-option attack of the Black Knights.

Since then, however, the Bulls have won five straight to emerge as a 9-1 dark-horse threat to break past the AAC and MWC champions for a New Year’s Six bid given the right circumstances. Former Division III mastermind Lance Leipold has the Bulls within a game of the first 10-win season in school history.

The Buffalo offensive line is doing a great job of protecting quarterback Tyree Jackson, as they allow on average less than one sack per game. Buffalo has done a good job both of protecting the football and of forcing turnovers, putting the Bulls eighth nationally in turnover margin. Their biggest issue has been a red zone offense that ranks 125th nationally out of 129 FBS teams.

Special teams have also been an issue, with five blocked kicks and three blocked punts through the start of November. But if they keep winning, a 12-1 Buffalo side with a MAC title under their belt will have a compelling case to make to the committee that selects New Year’s Six teams.