Group of Five Power Rankings, Week 10: Appalachian State dominates
By Zach Bigalke
10. A five-way pool of two-loss teams hovers at the edge
It would probably require some major chaos to transpire, but each of these teams still technically has a shot. Any one of these five schools could still play for their respective conference titles this year — and thus each still has a shot at representing the Group of Five in the New Year’s Six. In descending order, here is how this quintet rates:
- UCF Knights (6-2/AAC)
- Wyoming Cowboys (6-2/MWC)
- Air Force Falcons (6-2/MWC)
- Georgia State Panthers (6-2/SUN)
- Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (5-2/SUN)
A few weeks ago, UCF was left dead in the water after they suffered their second loss of the season against Cincinnati. Now the Knights are right back on the cusp of the Group of Five picture, hoping for the Bearcats to suffer a few losses but in solid position to swoop in and claim the AAC East title should Cincy falter. After their 63-21 dismantling of Temple in Philadelphia in Week 9, Josh Heupel’s team has a legitimate shot to play spoiler down the stretch.
Wyoming rates just ahead of Air Force mostly because the Cowboys still have a game against Boise State to play spoiler in their own right. Boise already owns a tiebreaker over the Falcons after winning 30-19 on the Smurf Turf in September, so Wyoming has the last real shot at overtaking the Broncos in the MWC Mountain battle. The Pokes have a bye in Week 10 before heading to Idaho’s capital for their Nov. 9 showdown against the division leaders.
As crazy as it sounds, Georgia State can steal away the Sun Belt East from Appalachian State when the two teams play on Nov. 16 in Atlanta. All the Panthers have to do is win at UL-Monroe in Week 10 to ensure that their matchup against the Mountaineers is a de facto division championship game. Louisiana has already suffered one defeat to App State, but they could get a rematch in the Sun Belt championship game unless the Panthers pull off the mid-November upset.