Group of Five Power Rankings, Week 10: Appalachian State dominates

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The Sun Belt has looked stronger than the MAC or C-USA this season. How might that help Appalachian State in Group of Five Power Rankings entering Week 10?

There wasn’t much shuffling of the Group of Five Power Rankings this week, with the only movement a team that sat idle in Week 9 leapfrogging a team that won unconvincingly on the road. Otherwise, we have seen the same two undefeated teams remain undefeated and the same seven one-loss squads keeping themselves at just one loss.

What is even more interesting is how things are tightening up below that nine-strong grouping. Only a handful of two-loss teams remain at the Group of Five level, with entire conferences like the MAC sitting in a morass of three- and four-loss teams pooled together in mediocrity. With so few contenders at the start of November, this five-top of two-loss programs could still be a factor in the race for the New Year’s Six.

The big story is Appalachian State, which has a real chance to become the first team from the Sun Belt to play in a New Year’s Six game. Still remembered best for their landmark upset over Michigan in 2007, the Mountaineers have developed into the hegemonic force in the Sun Belt and have the chance to put two statement wins over Power Five schools on their resume this year.

Things are tightening up at the top, even if there was no movement in the composition of the top four. Keep reading to see how things shake out in the Group of Five Power Rankings heading into Week 10.