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

While the College Football Playoff selection committee opted to put Fresno State on their list, both major polls see Utah State as the better team. The two division leaders in the conference are on a collision course to meet in the Mountain West title game, and deciding between the two teams is an exercise in splitting hairs. Both suffered their only losses to date against Big Ten competition on the road in close one-touchdown defeats and have dominated Mountain West play.

That Minnesota loss is something of an albatross for Fresno State, especially when compared to the fact that Utah State lost in East Lansing to a Michigan State side that sits third behind Michigan and Ohio State — and ahead of Penn State — in the Big Ten East. That is a far more respectable loss, as it is important to keep in mind that not all Power Five losses are created equal.

Utah State walloped UNLV 48-3 in Sin City earlier in the Saturday slate, and the Aggies average more than 50 points per game. That puts Tedford’s offense behind only Alabama in scoring. And they also boast a top-30 scoring defense to boot, as the Aggies win by an average of more than four touchdowns per game. They actually generate more turnovers than the Bulldogs, though Utah State does give away more interceptions and fumbles.