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

All UAB needs to do is beat Southern Miss next weekend to lock up their spot in the Conference USA championship game. Just three years after the Blazers were threatened with extinction, they have emerged as a Group of Five frontrunner after racking up three shutouts and holding three more of their opponents to fewer than 10 points.

UAB’s defense ranks highly not just among Group of Five teams but also in the entire FBS. The Blazers have a stout defensive line that ranks fourth in sacks and eighth in total tackles for loss. They rank 11th in opponent passing efficiency and fourth in passing yards allowed. And against the run, the Blazers are also a top-25 team nationally.

But there is one nagging issue on their resume, specifically a 47-24 loss to FBS neophyte Coastal Carolina. Had this loss come against a Power Five team, it would be far more excusable. The Chanticleers are closing in on bowl eligibility, at least, but they are still just the fourth-best team in the five-team Sun Belt East.

Unless UCF suffers three losses in rapid succession and the Mountain West champion emerges with three or more losses, even a UAB team with a C-USA title and only one loss is probably already eliminated from the New Year’s Six mix.