Another week, several more upsets, Purdue being ranked by the AP Poll for the first time since 2007, UTSA receiving its first-ever ranking, and it is time to once again update the Group of 5 Power Rankings. Cincinnati has received its highest-ever ranking in the AP Poll at No. 2, is No. 3 in the Coaches Poll, and is going to make it very difficult for the College Football Playoff Committee to not have them playing for a championship at season’s end if they run the table. The Bearcats’ competition this year isn’t so much its AAC foes as it is Boise State in 2006 or 2009, TCU in 2010, BYU in 1984, UCF in 2017, etc. If Cincinnati can make it through at least the AAC Championship Game undefeated, it will be firmly in the conversation for best Group of 5 season ever and Big 12 executives will pat themselves on the back and try to convince the world that they don’t need Oklahoma and Texas because they have Cincy. Here are our rankings after last week‘s action:
#1. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last week: 1)
Cincinnati continued to prove its might with a dominant 56-21 win over UCF Saturday. Jerome Ford ran for four touchdowns in the first half as the Bearcats built a 35-0 lead and cruised to victory. Desmond Ridder completed 13 of 23 passes for 140 yards as he didn’t have to do much with Ford’s 189 rushing yards leading the offense. Coby Bryant grabbed a pick-six as one of three turnovers forced by the Cincy defense in the win. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) sees only one game left on Cincinnati’s schedule that it gives the Bearcats less than a 90% chance to win (vs SMU Nov. 20, 85.7%). FPI also sees the Bearcats as the most likely conference champion with a 79.5% chance to win the American Conference. Cincy heads to Navy Saturday at noon for what is usually a difficult game against the Midshipmen. In spite of the fits that the option offense is known to cause, Cincinnati is a 27.5-point favorite.
#2. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2)
Coastal had a bit of time off to prepare for a Wednesday matchup this week at Appalachian State. The Mountaineers are coming off of a hugely disappointing loss to Louisiana in which the Ragin’ Cajuns got out to a 20-3 lead and never looked back in the 41-13 rout. In spite of the struggles from App State, this is still likely the toughest contest left in the regular season for Coastal, who will not have to play Louisiana unless the two match up in the Sun Belt Championship. Grayson McCall continues to impress on a weekly basis, having completed 79.8% of his passes so far this season and has thrown 14 touchdowns to just one interception. Pair that with a defense allowing less than 300 yards per game and 15 points per game and you have a team that is going to be in the conversation for a New Year’s Six bowl at the end of the year even with Cincinnati taking the Group of 5 automatic spot. Kickoff for Coastal Carolina’s matchup with Appalachian State Wednesday is set for 7:30 p.m.
#3. SMU Mustangs (4)
SMU also had a week off to get ready for a Thursday night matchup with Tulane this week. This year marked the third consecutive season that the Mustangs got out to at least a 5-0 start, starting 8-0 before finishing 10-2 in 2019, playing to a 5-0 record in 2020 before fading to a 7-3 finish, and sitting at 6-0 this year. Tanner Mordecai has been electric for SMU at quarterback, completing over 70% of his passes and averaging over 300 yards per game while throwing 26 touchdowns in six games. The offense has scored over 30 points in each game this year and will want to keep that going as the defense has struggled at times, particularly in allowing 31.7 points per game on the road so far. SMU could be in line for another skid at the finish with contests against Houston, Memphis, UCF and Cincinnati still on the schedule. Thursday’s home game against Tulane will start at 7:30 p.m.
#4. San Diego State Aztecs (5)
San Diego State snuck by rival San José State Friday night in double overtime, 19-13. The game went into OT with neither side having found the end zone with both sides having made two field goals and missed a 50+ yard attempt in the second half. Both teams had one turnover and averaged less than three yards per carry. Both starting quarterbacks completed just under 50% of their passes before Lucas Johnson came in for the Aztecs and threw two touchdown passes in overtime. An interception by Trenton Thompson made the second touchdown, a 24-yard strike to Jesse Matthews, a walk-off. Matthews caught both touchdown passes after having two catches in regulation. SDSU now sits at 6-0 ahead of a huge test Saturday at Air Force, currently sitting at 6-1 and likely looking to get ranked with a win. That game will kick off at 7 p.m.
#5. UTSA Roadrunners (6)
Welcome to the AP top 25 and the Group of 5 top 5, UTSA! It only took going 7-0 to get here, but what is holding UTSA back is a VERY weak schedule. That schedule will improve somewhat with games against UTEP and UAB in November (imagine trying to explain that to someone five years ago) but currently the Roadrunners’ two best games were wins at Illinois and Memphis. Last week, it was a 45-0 win over Rice that finally pushed UTSA over the edge and into its first-ever ranking. Rice threw the ball just 16 times in the game, and that was enough for the Roadrunners to come away with two pick-sixes to assist the offense in the win. Frank Harris went 12-19 for 125 yards and two touchdowns, adding 47 yards and a score on the ground as well. As a team, UTSA ran for 261 yards while its defense held Rice to 102 yards of total offense in the contest. The Roadrunners will look to keep running through the CUSA with a trip to Louisiana Tech Saturday at 7 p.m.
#6. Nevada Wolfpack (7)
#7. BYU Cougars (3)
#8. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (11)
#9. Fresno State Bulldogs (10)
#10. Houston Cougars (9)
#11. Air Force Falcons (14)
#12. Utah State Aggies (13)
#13. Western Michigan Broncos (15)
#14. UTEP Miners (On the Bubble)
#15. UAB Blazers (OTB)
Dropped Out
Liberty (8), Appalachian State (12)
On the Bubble
Liberty, Appalachian State, Northern Illinois, Charlotte
Murphy's Field 
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