Group of Five Power Rankings, Week 10: Appalachian State dominates
By Zach Bigalke
5. Memphis Tigers (7-1/AAC)
- LAST WEEK’S RANK: 4th
- WEEK 9 RESULT: won 42-41 at Tulsa
- WEEK 10 MATCHUP: Nov. 2 vs. No. 15 SMU
Memphis continues to fly by the seat of its pants, making them a tough team to gauge in the Group of Five race. They hover on the edge of the top five, falling one spot this week after the way they narrowly escaped Tulsa with their seventh win of the season. The Tigers actually gave Tulsa the ball back with 4:26 remaining, but Jacob Rainey missed a 29-yard field goal on the final snap of the game to secure the 42-41 win.
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Now they effectively play for their AAC West hopes this weekend when undefeated SMU comes to Memphis on Saturday. The No. 15 Mustangs offer the chance to unseat a ranked opponent for the first time this season and return to national prominence just in time for the first College Football Playoff selection committee rankings.
With Brady White and Kenneth Gainwell firing on all cylinders, the offense looks as good as it has in recent seasons at Memphis. The defense has been respectable, especially against the pass, and the Tigers hold opponents to just 23 points per game. SMU this week defines their season, but they still have road trips to Houston and South Florida and a home game against Cincinnati to navigate if they do clear this tallest hurdle.