Group of Five Power Rankings 2019, Week 4: Temple makes leap
By Zach Bigalke
10. Three teams tied at No. 10
Each of these teams has carved out at least one statement win for itself, two of them against Power Five opponents. All three also have a notch in the loss column, causing them to hover in a tie just on the cusp of the top 10 in the Group of Five Power Rankings.
9/21 vs. Central Connecticut. Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-1/MAC). 10. player. 404. Pick Analysis. won 34-31 @ Illinois. Scouting Report
For the third straight season, the Eagles went on the road to a Big Ten stadium and earned a Power Five statement. Eastern Michigan earned a share of No. 10 thanks to a last-second field goal to down Illinois 34-31 in Champaign. Mike Glass III threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns in the big upset away from home.
Against FCS Central Connecticut this weekend, Eastern Michigan can only consolidate their position in the Group of Five Power Rankings. After the contest against the Blue Devils, the Eagles have a week off before diving full-steam into the MAC schedule.
10. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (2-1/MWC). player. 898. lost 52-20 @ No. 23 Washington. 9/21 vs. Central Arkansas
Hawaii missed their chance to finish 3-0 against Pac-12 opponents, falling 52-20 in Week 3 to No. 23 Washington in Seattle. Cole McDonald threw three more interceptions in the defeat, as the Rainbow Warriors shot themselves in the foot too many times to pull off the biggest upset available on their schedule.
A home date with FCS Central Arkansas should help Nick Rolovich’s team rebound ahead of Mountain West play. Back-to-back road games at Nevada and Boise State open conference play for the Rainbow Warriors, offering an immediate litmus test as to whether they will end up contenders or pretenders in 2019.
Pick Analysis. won 57-10 vs. Georgia State. Western Michigan Broncos (2-1/MAC). 10. Scouting Report. 9/21 vs. Syracuse. player. 405
Eastern Michigan’s biggest challenger in the MAC West this year will be their state rivals in Kalamazoo. Last week the Broncos toppled early-season Group of Five darling Georgia State, routing the Panthers 57-10 just two weeks after the Sun Belt side went to Neyland Stadium and toppled Tennessee.
That elimination game boosted Western Michigan into a share of the No. 10 spot in this week’s power rankings. Next week offers an opportunity to launch up into the single digits when they welcome ACC opponent Syracuse to Waldo Stadium.