College football is back with a thrilling opening weekend, because of course it was. As conferences and rules change, the product on the field stays wild, unpredictable and often downright ridiculous. Here is where the top 15 teams in the Group of 5 stand after the opening week (plus a few games a week early).
#1. BYU Cougars
BYU looked sharp in its season opener, holding a 38-0 lead late in the second quarter and cruising to a 50-21 win at South Florida against a Bulls team that was widely expected to be improved this year and potentially provide a challenge to the Cougars. From Puka Nakua taking a jet sweep 75 yards for a touchdown as the first play of the season, the offense was rolling. Jaren Hall looked exactly the way you want a veteran quarterback to look: confident and collected. He threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns on 25-32 passing and shook off a third-quarter interception by going 5-5 the rest of the game. The defense was phenomenal as well, earning two fourth-down stops, a pick-six by Max Tooley and a safety while surrendering less than 300 total yards. BYU will face a tough test next week hosting future conference foe Baylor Saturday at 10:15 p.m. Eastern.
#2. Houston Cougars
A pair of Cougars to top the list as one of the preseason AAC favorites won an overtime matchup against the reigning Conference-USA champs. Houston was a popular pick to earn a New Year’s Six bowl spot as the top-ranked Group of 5 conference champion coming into the year, and while the Cougars have some things to work on following its week one win, surviving the test against UTSA was a solid result. Clayton Tune showed what he is capable of at full health, something he wasn’t able to do much last year, throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns and adding 51 yards and a score on the ground. If Houston can improve its running game outside of its quarterback (all other UH players combined for 89 rush yards), this offense could be humming all season long. The defense struggled with UTSA’s dual-threat quarterback as Frank Harris provided an even 400 yards of total offense and four touchdowns for the Roadrunners, and Houston will need improvement from its secondary that allowed both Joshua Cephus and Zakhari Franklin to have 100-yard receiving performances to win the American this year. Houston plays its second of three non-conference in-state matchups next week, playing at Texas Tech Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern.
#3. Cincinnati Bearcats
The team that crashed the CFP party for the Group of 5 last year, Cincinnati has already taken a step back by falling at Arkansas to open this season. The Bearcats struggled on offense with big holes left by Desmond Ridder and Jerome Ford, and its first half drives ended as: interception, punt, missed field goal, fumble, punt, missed field goal, end of half. It was a mess, and a very concerning one for a team that still has lofty goals this year and moving forward with an eye towards the Big 12. Cincy fought back in the second half and Ben Bryant showed some signs that he could lead the offense to success throwing for 325 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but it took him 43 pass attempts to get there in the 31-24 loss. The defensive effort was led by Ivan Pace Jr. with 12 tackles, 3.5 for loss and a sack. The Bearcats will look to find some answers to the questions that Saturday’s game brought up hosting Kennesaw State Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
#4. Fresno State Bulldogs
The only team in my top 5 not headed to the Big 12 next year, Fresno State was considered by many the favorite in the Mountain West heading into the season and showed why with a 35-7 win over Cal Poly to start the 2022 campaign. The Bulldogs weren’t without flaws in the game, surrendering over 300 total yards and needing to make three fourth-down stops inside its own 10-yard line, but the defense allowing just seven points on four opponent redzone trips could be spun as a positive. The offense was sharp as well, scoring on its first three drives, scoring twice on 90+ yard drives, and amassing 549 yards of total offense. Jake Haener showed he’s ready to build on the success he’s had the last two years as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback as he completed 36 of 42 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns. Fresno State will get a much tougher test next week hosting an Oregon State squad that handled Boise State in its first game. That matchup will kick off Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern.
#5. UCF Knights
The Knights similarly had very little trouble with an FCS opponent in its opening game Thursday night at the Bounce House, demolishing South Carolina State 56-10. The only issue I could find for UCF in the game was the third quarter blocked punt that led to SC State’s lone touchdown. Outside of that, it’s hard to find an issue with allowing your opponent 91 total yards while racking up 600 yourself, holding a 29-9 advantage in first downs and going 9-15 on third downs while you allow just two third down conversions on 16 opponent attempts. Ole Miss transfer John Rhys Plumlee looked great under center, throwing for 308 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 86 yards and an additional score. UCF will get a much better test with a Friday night home game against Louisville next week. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
#6. UAB Blazers
#7. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
#8. Toledo Rockets
#9. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
#10. Air Force Falcons
#11. Liberty Flames
#12. Appalachian State Mountaineers
#13. SMU Mustangs
#14. UTSA Roadrunners
#15. Old Dominion Monarchs
On the Bubble
Central Michigan, Nevada, Western Kentucky, Tulane, Boise State, ECU
Murphy's Field 
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