Group of Five Power Rankings, Week 11: SMU, Air Force in free fall

Eastern Michigan takes the place as the top-team in the MAC after notching a 52-49 win at Toledo. The Eagles used a 21-point third quarter to take control of this game. As usual, the game against Toledo was played in typical MACtion fashion: a combined 800+ passing yards and a combined 340+ rushing yards made this an exciting game to watch. The Eagles will try to add to their win total against Ohio Nov. 9.

Liberty faced a tall order last week by going into the belly of the beast: Head Coach Hugh Freeze’s old stomping grounds in Oxford, Miss. The Flames couldn’t get anything going in the first half, trailing 0-24, proving too big of a hole to climb out of. Liberty tried, though. They won the second-half battle 14-3. QB Malik Willis recorded zero passing touchdowns for the first time this season.

SMU lost their second-straight game of the season, this time on the road at Memphis. QB Tanner Mordecai just hasn’t been playing like his usual self. Normally, he registers a completion percentage of 70% or better, but in these losses they are in the low-to-mid 60s. He was sacked for a combined 8 times in the losses. You have to wonder if the rumors linking Head Coach Sonny Dykes to Power Five jobs is a distraction.

Fresno State was No. 3 in the Group of Five Power Rankings last week, but fall all the way down to No. 12 this week after getting absolutely blown out by Boise State at home. A lot went wrong for the Bulldogs in this game and it’s the most points Fresno State has surrendered all year. A bounce-back game against New Mexico on Nov. 13 is in order.

UCF is bowl-eligible and is starting to hit their stride with backup quarterback Mikey Keene. The freshman is 4-2 since taking over for the injured Dillon Gabriel. An interesting match-up at SMU will be fun to watch. The Mustangs are in a free fall and the Knights are picking up steam. Gus Malzahn is also now known as the college football coach with the most job security in the state of Florida.