It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to reveal the latest edition of the Group of Five Power Poll.
As always, remember that these rankings are fluid, and will change from week to week depending on what transpires on the gridiron.
With that disclaimer in mind, here’s this week’s installment. Be advised: it goes against the conventional wisdom in a few places…
* Please note that BYU is not included in these rankings since the Cougars cannot capture this bid!
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1. Houston (6-0) — As I noted in last week’s poll, the Cougars have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Although the Memphis win over Ole Miss certainly closed the gap, it wasn’t enough to make me think the Tigers are better than Houston. After all, UH ranks 5th nationally in scoring offense, 5th in total offense, 11th in rushing defense, and 4th in turnover margin. While those numbers speak for themselves, it’s worth pointing out that the Cougar D held Tulsa (6th nationally in total offense) to its lowest output of the season and held Louisville to fewer than 100 yards rushing — something only Florida State and Clemson can also say right now. The fact that I’m comparing Houston’s defense with two teams in the top 10 more than justifies its position in the top spot.
2. Memphis (5-0) — Make no mistake about it: the Tigers have a legitimate claim to the top spot in this poll. After all, Memphis did whip Ole Miss — the same team that beat Alabama earlier in the season — by turning in a solid performance on both sides of the ball. The Tiger resume is equally impressive, which includes victories over two Power 5 opponents (Kansas and Ole Miss), Bowling Green, and a better-than-its-record-would-indicate Cincinnati squad that thumped Miami a few weeks ago. However, I still have concerns about the Memphis defense, which currently ranks 105th nationally in total defense. Since defense wins championships, that’s just enough to keep the Tigers out of the top spot, although with Paxton Lynch under center, Memphis has enough firepower to win a shootout with just about anybody.
3. Toledo (6-0) — In any other year, the Rockets would be toast of the town after posting back-to-back wins over Arkansas and Iowa State. Unfortunately, neither of those victories resonate much on a national scale, because both teams haven’t been as good as everyone expected them to be. Regardless, opponents big and small have struggled to get in the end zone against a stout Toledo defense that ranks second nationally in red zone defense, and has allowed its opponents to score just two touchdowns in 15 trips inside the red zone. That type of efficiency, coupled with a young but talented offensive line that hasn’t allowed a sack this season, will have the Rockets in the conversation on Selection Sunday. If the teams in the AAC beat each other up over the final few weeks of the season, the Rockets will be in position to capture the G-5 bid.
4. Temple (6-0) — Let’s be honest: the Owls are the most pleasant surprise in college football this season. Yes, we knew they’d be good this year with a veteran team returning, but even the most optimistic fan couldn’t have expected them to be this good. In their only game against a Power 5 opponent, the Owls thrashed Penn State, recording 10 sacks and holding the Nittany Lions to just 52 yards over the final three quarters. Unfortunately, that’s the only marquee victory TU has, which is why the Owls are currently behind the other teams. However, if — and it’s a big if — the Owls win out, they’ll be back in a New Year’s Day bowl for the first time since the 1934 season, when some guy named Pop Warner was the coach.
5. Bowling Green (5-2) — With a 2-0 record against the Big Ten, the Falcons would be in position to challenge Iowa for the Big Ten West Division crown. All kidding aside, Bowling Green is one of the most explosive offenses in the country, ranking 8th in scoring and 4th in total offense. No one — and that includes Tennessee and Memphis — has held the Falcons to fewer than 500 yards this season, making this a very dangerous team to play. With that type of firepower at its disposal, don’t be surprised if the Falcons win the MAC championship. However, the 44-41 loss to Memphis likely ended any hopes BG had of capturing the G-5 bid.
6. Utah State (4-2) — After a slow start to the season, the Aggies are now the team to beat in the Mountain West Conference by virtue of their 52-26 win over Boise State. The Broncos had absolutely no answers for an aggressive Utah State defense that forced 8 turnovers, registered 4 sacks, and recorded 10 tackles for a loss. As long as the Aggies continue to defend this well — which doesn’t seem like a stretch considering that they’re currently 20th nationally in total defense and 6th in run defense — they’ll run the table in the Mountain West Conference, and be in the discussion for a potential New Year’s Day Bowl bid. However, they’ll need some help in order for that to happen.
7. Boise State (5-2) — Even though the Broncos laid an egg against Utah State, I didn’t want to drop them out of this week’s poll. After all, Boise has wins over Washington and Virginia, and was just one play away from a “W” over BYU. Since the committee considers things like strength of schedule when making its decisions, those victories will likely come into play on Selection Sunday. While the Broncos’ chances of getting the G-5 bid might seem remote at this point, it’s important to remember that many of these teams listed above will play each other over the coming weeks. With a couple of breaks, Boise could easily find itself back atop the standings and perhaps capture the automatic bid for the second straight year. Given the Broncos’ reputation for winning games against the big boys, who could blame the Selection Committee for choosing them?
Others receiving consideration: Navy, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, Tulsa, Western Michigan, Colorado State
