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Group of Five football power rankings, Week 4: Fresno State rising

By Jacob Ellerbee

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) runs for the locker room after the Bearcats win in the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The Bearcats won 38-24.Cincinnati Bearcats At Indiana Hoosiers Football
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) runs for the locker room after the Bearcats win in the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The Bearcats won 38-24.Cincinnati Bearcats At Indiana Hoosiers Football /
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The Group of Five football teams, which is comprised of teams from the AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and the Sun Belt, had several matchups against teams from Power Five conferences this week. We’ll analyze them in this week’s power rankings.

Week 3 was comprised mostly of non-conference games, so there were plenty of Group of Five teams in action against Power Five teams. Some, like Fresno State, made a huge statement in upsetting No. 13 UCLA. Others, like UCF, fell short in their quest to top a big program.

Let’s take a look at the best Group of Five teams and where they stand after three weeks of college football.

Just missing the cut this week are South Alabama (3-0) and Boise State (1-2).

15. Houston (2-1)

Houston beat Grambling in Week 3 by a score of 45-0. Before that, they defeated Rice 44-7. So what’s keeping them lower on this list? It’s the Week 1 loss to Texas Tech. They got thumped by 17 points at home to their future conference mates. The Cougars take on American Conference foe Navy (0-2) at home next week.

14. Wyoming (3-0)

Wyoming took the Ball State Cardinals to task this week, handing them a 45-12 loss. The Cowboys won their prior games against Northern Illinois and Montana State by a combined 10 points. They’ll hit the road to face an 0-4 Uconn team in Week 4.

13. Central Florida (2-1)

The UCF Knights traveled to Louisville to take on the Cardinals this week, losing not just the game, but also their starting backfield. QB Dillon Gabriel is reportedly out indefinitely with a broken clavicle and RB Isiah Bowser appeared to be injured during the game. If UCF has any success this season, they’ll need their two-star players to get healthy. The Knights have a bye week and won’t play again until Oct. 2 against Navy.

12. Army (3-0)

The Black Knights have played excellent football through Week 3, most recently routing Uconn 52-21. They also blew Georgia State out of the water in Week 1. Their closest game of the season was in Week 2 against Western Kentucky. Army’s unselfish run game continues to be their bread and butter. They have four players who have rushed for 100 or more total yards this season, including quarterback Christian Anderson. The Black Knights play Miami (OH) next week.

11. Appalachian State (2-1)

Appalachian State dominated East Carolina in Week 1, winning by 24. The Mountaineers took care of Elon in Week 3 44-10. The team’s only loss was a two-point heartbreaker against then-ranked No. 22 Miami. Quarterback Chase Brice showed patience this week, throwing no interceptions. Appalachian State will take on Marshall in a Thursday night game in Week 4.

10. SMU (3-0)

The SMU Mustangs escaped Week 3 with a 39-37 victory over Louisiana Tech. The Mustangs are well-positioned this season, having gotten excellent play from junior quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who leads the nation with a whopping 16 touchdown passes. He’s also racked up 1,023 passing yards in just three games. SMU is proving they have one of the most premier offenses in the entire country. The Mustangs will travel to TCU to take on one of their in-state Big 12 rivals.

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