Two (plus a few week 0 games) weeks into the 2021 college football season, and it’s at least time for the first Group of 5 power ranking of the year. Cincinnati entered the season as a heavy favorite to take the Group of 5 spot in a New Year’s Six bowl and with a slim chance at becoming the first G5 program to punch a ticket to the College Football Playoff. Two weeks in and the Bearcats have shown no reason to doubt them, but who else is ready to compete for that top spot if they stumble? Here is your inaugural top 15 Group of 5 programs of the 2021 season:
#1. Cincinnati Bearcats (last year final: 1)
Cincy entered the year at #8 in the AP poll and has smacked around Miami (OH) and Murray State by 35 points each to open the season. The Bearcats travel to Indiana this week for their first real test this year after Desmond Ridder has gotten off to a strong start against the weak competition, throwing for 538 yards with six touchdowns to one interception. Jerome Ford has handled much of the load on the ground for Cincinnati this year with 234 yards and four touchdowns in the first two contests. The Bearcat defense has held opponents to under 50% passing so far this season, but will have its hands full with Michael Penix Jr. and Indiana’s potent air attack. One of four teams headed for the Big 12 from non-Power 5 conferences, the Bearcats have the strongest current football program, and one of the best in the country that has to have its fan base excited about what the future holds.
#2. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (3)
Grayson McCall led Coastal to a breakout season in 2020 and is on his way to backing it up with another dominant campaign as he’s thrown for 507 yards and three touchdowns while completing 33 of 40 passes in a pair of dominant wins for the Chanticleers. Reese White has ran for five touchdowns, and he and Shermari Jones have combined for over 300 rushing yards as Coastal looks like it will once again carry a dangerous offense throughout the season. If the Chants can keep getting big plays from its special teams unit like the blocked PAT and blocked punt recovered for a touchdown against Kansas, they will be difficult to go toe-to-toe with in a shootout. Coastal Carolina heads to Buffalo Saturday for a matchup against a Bulls squad that put up 69 points on an FCS opponent, but was then held to just 3 points by Nebraska.
#3. UCF Knights (13)
UCF, another program headed for the Big 12 as soon as it can (which may not be until 2024), earned a statement win over traditional Group of 5 power Boise State to open the season, then put together a dominant performance against an FCS team like any good team should. So far, so good for the Knights under Gus Malzahn. Dillon Gabriel has, unsurprisingly, been a major factor in the early success with 630 passing yards and six touchdowns along with 107 yards and a score on the ground. Northwestern transfer Isaiah Bowser has been lighting it up for the Knights on the ground, running for 231 yards and five touchdowns thus far. Bowser had eight total touchdowns in three years at Northwestern, and has already surpassed his rushing total from each of the past two seasons. UCF travels to Louisville Friday night as its only matchup against a Power 5 team this year. A win would likely put UCF back in the AP poll, as the Knights are currently receiving the most votes of any unranked team.
#4. BYU Cougars (2)
There was some uncertainty around BYU this season, as the Cougars needed to replace quarterback Zach Wilson after he was the #2 pick in the NFL Draft. Facing three consecutive Pac-12 opponents to start the year could have made for a difficult transition, but through two games Jaren Hall has answered all the questions he has needed to, completing over 60% of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions, adding over 100 rushing yards as well. Being able to turn around and hand the ball off to Tyler Allgeier ~20 times per game doesn’t hurt either, as Allgeier has 196 rush yards so far with one touchdown. The defense forcing three turnovers while the offense has yet to cough one up has also been a major factor in BYU getting to 2-0. The Cougars now get to face their second straight ranked Pac-12 foe in Arizona State Saturday after ending a nine-game skid in the Holy War against Utah. BYU, in case you might be picking up on a trend, is also headed for the Big 12, with their move expected to come in 2023.
#5. Liberty Flames (5)
Liberty struggled mightily with Troy Saturday, though to be fair the Flames were only three-point favorites on the road. Malik Willis continued to be all the offense Liberty needed, picking up right where he left off last year, throwing for 154 yards and two touchdowns while running for 93 yards and another score in the 21-13 win. The defense has been stellar thus far for Liberty, allowing just 21 rushing yards on 24 carries to the Trojans after holding Campbell to seven points in the season-opener. That level of defensive play can take the Flames a long way if Willis continues to be a one-man wrecking crew for the offense. Liberty faces Old Dominion, who last beat an FBS team November 10, 2018 (North Texas), Saturday and will look to gain momentum against the Monarchs.
#6. Nevada Wolfpack (NR)
#7. UTSA Roadrunners (NR)
#8. San Diego State Aztecs (NR)
#9. Utah State Aggies (NR)
#10. SMU Mustangs (NR)
#11. Toledo Rockets (NR)
#12. Charlotte 49ers (NR)
#13. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4)
#14. Marshall Thundering Herd (NR)
#15. Appalachian State Mountaineers (12)
On the Bubble
Memphis, Air Force, Houston, Kent State, Army
Murphy's Field 