App State dropped its first game of the year on Halloween. SMU joined them two days later. How did this shake up the Group of Five power rankings?
Halloween put a fright into Appalachian State as they fell at home to perennial nemesis Georgia Southern. SMU went on the road and fell in a high-scoring shootout at Memphis. The two losses reverberated far from Kidd Brewer Stadium and the Liberty Bowl, flipping the script yet again on a wild season throughout the Group of Five conferences.
We now also know where the College Football Playoff selection committee stands on these teams. Five teams from the Group of Five made the first rankings put out by the committee, though none was higher than No. 20 in the hierarchy of top teams.
Because there are no undefeated teams, there is still a wide-open race this year. UAB lost their second game of the year in Week 10, falling 30-7 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville in their lone Power Five statement opportunity against Tennessee. They still could win the Conference USA title, but the New Year’s Six is out of reach.
There are some two-loss teams that could still make waves this year. UCF, for instance, still needs Cincinnati to lose twice. But if that happens, and they play for a third straight AAC title, they would very much be in play for a New Year’s Six berth. Same goes for Wyoming if they topple Boise State in Week 11 on the road and claim the Mountain West title, especially given their win over Missouri in the opener.
For now, though, we will continue focusing on the eight remaining one-loss teams as we dive into the Group of Five Power Rankings heading into Week 11 play.