New Year’s Six Watch: BYU 2-0 against the Pac-12 this season
By Dante Pryor
3. #16 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: 2-0
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers make their debut in the Power Rankings this week after a 49-22 drubbing of the Kansas Jayhawks. For better or worse, it is a Power Five victory. Offensively, the Chants are rolling.
Quarterback Grayson McCall has taken a step forward as a passer, running just 10 times this season. McCall has seven incomplete passes in two games. Running backs Reese White and Shermari Jones have replaced last season’s leading rusher C.J. Marable.
With defensive end Tarron Jackson drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, defensive tackle Josaiah Stewart has taken the mantle, leading the team with 3.5 sacks. The Chanticleers begin conference play against #16 Louisiana in October.
2. Cincinnati Bearcats: 2-0
The Bearcats were the prohibitive favorite for the New Year’s Six coming into the season. Cincy began the season with an impressive 49-14 victory against interstate rival Miami (OH) to win the Victory Bell. They followed that with a blowout win against Murray State.
The Bearcats can begin building their New Year’s resume with a win against Indiana. The Hoosiers have not been very good coming out of the blocks but have a good defense that could take advantage of Cincinnati’s vulnerability in the trenches.
After a week off, the Bearcats travel to play the biggest game in the Luke Fickell era when they go to South Bend and play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.