Five weeks into the 2022 college football season, and it feels like contenders are starting to pull away from the pack. It’s time to start taking any undefeated team seriously, while one-loss teams will continue sorting themselves out as some go on runs while others fall off. For early surprises from the Group of 5, saying James Madison is too easy, and the Dukes have been ready for FBS competition for years. Instead, how about South Alabama and UNLV? USA hasn’t had a season finishing better than 6-6 in its 10 years of FBS play, but is off to a 4-1 start this year with wins at Central Michigan and Louisiana, and it’s only loss was at now-5-0 UCLA when the Bruins won on a last-second field goal. UNLV has won eight or more games just once since 1984 (when an 11-2 Rebels squad later had its wins forfeited due to NCAA violations) and is similarly 4-1 with its only loss being a one-score game at a Pac-12 opponent (20-14 loss at Cal). With the surprisers joining the contenders, here’s this week’s top 15 Group of 5 teams.
#1. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: 1)
Cincinnati got into a bit of a dogfight Saturday at Tulsa, but held off the Golden Hurricane for a 31-21 win to start American conference play 1-0. Deshawn Pace had a pick-six on Tulsa’s first offensive possession to give the Bearcats the lead early. A 61-yard pass from Ben Bryant to Tyler Scott made for a one-play touchdown drive near the end of the first quarter and Cincy would lead the rest of the way. Bryant finished 15-27 for 166 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and Corey Kiner had a big day on the ground with 12 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown. Three fourth-down conversions were crucial for the Bearcats in the win, including two that resulted in touchdowns. Cincy heads back home next week to face South Florida Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
#2. BYU Cougars (2)
BYU got more resistance than expected from Utah State, and went into halftime tied at 17 with the Aggies Thursday. In the second half, however, the Cougars recovered to pull away for a 38-26 win. The final score could have been an even wider spread if not for two missed field goals by BYU in the second half as well. Jaren Hall completed 17 of 27 passes in the game for 274 yards and three touchdowns to continue his hot start to the season. Max Tooley had a big game on the defensive side for BYU, recording two tackles for loss including a sack and grabbing a pick-six in the win. Moving forward, BYU will look to fix some holes in its run defense, which allowed Utah State to pick up 204 yards on the ground. The Cougars will take on Notre Dame next week in Las Vegas with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday.
#3. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4)
It was once again not a pretty win but a gritty win for Coastal Carolina, as the Chanticleers held off Georgia Southern for a 34-30 win Saturday. The situation was dire for CCU after the Eagles hit a field goal to take a 30-28 lead with 2:05 to play, but CJ Beasley capped off an eight-play, 82-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown run highlighted by a monster hurdle just inside the 10-yard line to get over a Georgia Southern defender and into the end zone. Grayson McCall had another big game for Coastal, throwing for 335 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Jared Brown five times for 139 yards and a score. Tre Pinkney led the defensive effort for Coastal Carolina with 10 tackles, a pass breakup and an interception. Coastal continues its trek through the Sun Belt next week with a matchup at UL-Monroe. Saturday’s kickoff will be at 8 p.m. Eastern.
#4. James Madison Dukes (5)
James Madison has started its FBS era 4-0 with three blowout victories after a 40-13 win over Texas State Saturday. Todd Centeio threw for 257 yards while rushing for 52 and a touchdown to lead the Dukes’ offensive attack. Latrele Palmer was a workhorse on the ground for JMU, running for 106 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. The defense played great for James Madison Saturday as well, forcing four turnovers including a Jailin Walker pick-six. JMU looks to keep things rolling next week, playing at Arkansas State. Saturday’s game will kick off at 7 p.m. Eastern.
#5. Air Force Falcons (3)
The reliable trend of always betting the under for a military acadamy matchup held true once again as Air Force struggled to a 13-10 win over Navy Saturday. The Falcons’ one and only touchdown came on the third play from scrimmage when Haaziq Daniels found David Cormier wide open on a play-action pass for a 67-yard score. Air Force fumbled twice in the game, and it almost proved costly as one took likely points off the board as the Falcons were driving in the red zone, while the other set Navy up to make a field goal at the end of the first half. Navy missing a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter assisted Air Force’s effort, and Brad Roberts ran for 108 yards, including 34 on a drive that culminated in a go-ahead field goal with 4:14 remaining in the game and 28 more on the drive in which the Falcons ran out the clock. Air Force gets back to Mountain West play next week, playing at Utah State Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern.
#6. Liberty Flames (6)
#7. UCF Knights (7)
#8. Tulane Green Wave (11)
#9. South Alabama Jaguars (12)
#10. Appalachian State Mountaineers (10)
#11. UNLV Rebels (14)
#12. Memphis Tigers (15)
#13. San José State Spartans (On the Bubble)
#14. Troy Trojans (NR)
#15. UTSA Roadrunners (NR)
Dropped Out
UAB (8), Middle Tennessee (9), Georgia Southern (13)
On the Bubble
UAB, Middle Tennessee, Boise State, Toledo, Georgia Southern, ECU, Marshall, SMU
Murphy's Field 
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