Week eight got started with a big upset from Appalachian State over Coastal Carolina, and continued with more top 25 teams falling as five were taken down by unranked teams including a pair of top 10 teams tumbling. In what has been a chaotic season, six Group of 5 teams currently sit in the AP top 25 from four different small conferences plus independent BYU. It has been a fun year for several Group of 5 squads with a chance to turn in historic seasons for their program. Last week’s action shook up our rankings a bit, and here is where things stand now:
#1. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last week: 1)
Cincinnati struggled heavily at Navy Saturday, allowing more yards of offense, eight more first downs, and losing the time of possession battle nearly at a 2-1 rate. In spite of all that, the Bearcats came away with a 27-20 victory as the defense was solid until late in the game when Navy’s physical play finally started to wear it down. Cincinnati held a 27-10 lead into the fourth quarter, when the Midshipmen rattled off back-to-back scoring drives and converted an onside kick to have a chance to force overtime late. With less than a minute to play, Navy was forced to throw the football and Arquon Bush made a game-sealing interception to end it. Desmond Ridder struggled, going 18-30 for 176 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Bearcats head to Tulane for a matchup with the only team in the American without a conference victory this year Saturday at noon.
#2. San Diego State Aztecs (4)
San Diego State won a difficult and unusual contest against Air Force in which neither team threw for over 100 yards Saturday. The Aztecs’ defense was stifling in the first half, shutting out Air Force and forcing two turnovers to help SDSU build a 13-0 lead. The second half was a much different story, as the Falcons managed two consecutive touchdown drives to trim what had become a 20-0 deficit to 20-14. When Air Force got the ball one last time with just over two minutes remaining, the Falcons had a chance for a game-winning touchdown drive. Forced to go for it on fourth down deep in its own territory, Air Force seemed to convert but a chop block penalty backed it up to fourth-and-15 and Air Force chose to punt and hope it could prevent San Diego State from getting a first down. The Aztecs were able to rush for the game-sealing set of downs and run out the clock for the win. Chance Bell led the team with 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while the 2-0 turnover margin was the biggest difference in the win. SDSU hosts 6-2 Fresno State, which already has a road win over UCLA this season, Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
#3. SMU Mustangs (3)
SMU just kept winning with a dominant 55-26 performance against Tulane Thursday night. Tanner Mordecai was 30-42 for 427 yards and three touchdowns in the win, adding 34 rushing yards and a score on the ground. The Mustang defense surrendered over 400 yards to Tulane, but an interception and stunning four fourth down stops helped the unit keep the Green Wave under 30 points. SMU has scored no fewer than 31 points in a game this season, and that high-powered offense will face a tough challenge Saturday at Houston. The Cougars have surrendered just 17.3 points per game this year and have allowed more than 25 just once, a 38-21 loss to Texas Tech to open the season. Houston hasn’t lost since, and the winner of Saturday’s contest will become the clear favorite to face Cincinnati in the AAC Championship Game at the end of the season. Kickoff for that game is set for 7 p.m.
#4. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2)
Coastal Carolina suffered its first loss of the season in Boone, North Carolina Wednesday night to a tough Appalachian State team. The loss put App State in the drivers’ seat in the Sun Belt East which now features four teams at 2-1 in conference play. Coastal has faced an incredibly weak schedule but was earning itself credibility by blowing teams out before the struggles against the Mountaineers. Grayson McCall had a lot of success in the loss, completing 15 of 23 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown, but the Chanticleers struggled to get anything going on the ground, running for 55 yards as a team. App State outgained Coastal by over 200 yards, and two fumbles and two failed fourth down conversions all in CCU territory is all that kept the Chants in the game. Coastal needs a quick recovery before what is possibly its toughest contest left in the regular season hosting Troy Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
#5. UTSA Roadrunners (5)
UTSA kept its cinderella season going with a win over Louisiana Tech, and the Roadrunners now have a bye week before what will easily be the most important game ever played between UTSA and UTEP. Should UTEP beat Florida Atlantic this week, the pair will come into that contest both at 4-0 in CUSA play and with a combined record of 15-1 on the season. In the 45-16 win over Louisiana Tech Saturday, Frank Harris threw for 193 yards and two scores, running for 59 additional yards. Sincere McCormick led the ground game with 113 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries while Zakhari Franklin made five catches for 118 yards and a pair of house calls. The defense forced three turnovers including a Dadrian Taylor pick-six, and the Roadrunners earned another blowout win.
#6. BYU Cougars (7)
#7. Fresno State Bulldogs (9)
#8. Houston Cougars (10)
#9. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (8)
#10. Nevada Wolfpack (6)
#11. Utah State Aggies (12)
#12. UTEP Miners (14)
#13. Appalachian State Mountaineers (On the Bubble)
#14. Northern Illinois Huskies (OTB)
#15. Air Force Falcons (11)
Dropped Out
Western Michigan (13), UAB (15)
On the Bubble
Liberty, Florida Atlantic
Murphy's Field 
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