Group of Five Power Rankings 2019: Mountain West rising in Week 3

Yes, several teams that were ahead of Memphis in the Group of Five Power Rankings entering Week 2 fell over the course of the weekend. Yet the Tigers stand pat at No. 4 in the rankings this week due less to anything they did wrong than what other teams were able to pull off just behind them. Still, the Tigers find themselves in striking distance as the top remaining unbeaten in the AAC West.

After dispatching of a UCLA team whose star has dimmed after starting 0-2, Memphis followed up their win over the Bruins with a 32-point demolition of FCS Southern. The showdown against the HBCU moved the Tigers to 2-0, as they held the Jaguars to 90 passing yards on 8-of-19 passing and prevented them from gaining any momentum toward an upset bid.

Brady White went for 337 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-21 passing before taking a well-deserved rest. His understudy, Connor Adair, finished 6-of-7 for 61 yards. When they opted to run the ball, the Tigers ripped off 177 yards as a team and punched in four touchdowns on the ground. It was a critical display of offensive balance with Patrick Taylor Jr. sitting out with a lower leg injury.

Taylor will be sidelined once again when the Tigers head to Mobile to face off against another batch of Jaguars in South Alabama. After a bye week, Memphis opens up their American Athletic Conference schedule with a critical home matchup against fellow AAC West hopeful Navy in prime time on the Thursday slate of games in Week 5.