Six undefeated teams lost in week 7, including the final two Group of 5 unbeatens in James Madison and Coastal Carolina. The flurry of upsets over the weekend led to a major shakeup in the AP Poll and produced major change in these rankings as well. The biggest notes for a Group of 5 team from this week’s AP rankings was Tulane earning its first ranking since 1998, when the Green Wave went 12-0 under Tommy Bowden and won the Liberty Bowl to finish ranked No. 7. Here are this week’s rankings.
#1. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: 1)
Cincinnati had a well-timed bye week to watch the chaos around them and to be able to take a breather exactly at the midway point in the season. After transferring to Eastern Michigan to get out from behind Desmond Ridder last year, Ben Bryant has come back to Cincy to lead the Bearcats with 1561 passing yards and a 15/6 TD/INT ratio. As has been true of the Bearcats in recent years, however, this team is carried by its defense and running game. Charles McClelland and Corey Kiner have combined for just over 750 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns so far this season, and the defense is allowing just 21.2 points per game and has surrendered over 24 points just once in the season-opening loss at Arkansas. Next week, Cincy travels to SMU looking to keep pace with Tulane and UCF atop the AAC standings. Saturday’s game will kick off at noon Eastern.
#2. UCF Knights (4)
Welcome back to the top, UCF. While former head coach Josh Heupel was taking down Alabama Saturday, the Knights were enjoying their 70-13 demolishing of Temple on Thursday night. The thourough beatdown included over 700 yards of offense for UCF, 433 through the air and 304 on the ground and just a single punt for the Knights. Temple, meanwhile, scored just three points after the first quarter, when the Owls opened up the game with a field goal and a touchdown on their first two drives. All five of UCF’s victories this year have come by at least 17 points, with the 20-14 loss to Louisville fading away in the rear view mirror against the glow of the blowout victories. Next week, UCF travels to ECU for a night game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, where the Pirates have nearly pulled upsets over South Carolina and NC State the last two years. UCF will definitely be on upset alert for Saturday’s 7:30 Eastern game.
#3. Tulane Green Wave (6)
I really like what Tulane has done so far this year, but I have them behind UCF because I really hate their week 4 home loss to Southern Miss. This past week, the Green Wave went to USF and took care of business in a 45-31 win on Saturday. The offense picked up 564 total yards, led by Michael Pratt throwing for 329 yards and accounting for four touchdowns (two throwing, two running) and Tyjae Spears running for 151 yards and two scores on 18 carries. The Tulane defense was disruptive at times as well in spite of the 31 points allowed. They held the Bulls to just 2-9 on third downs and forced a pair of fumbles, one of which led to a missed field goal while the other resulted in a one-play touchdown drive for the Green Wave. Tulane has an interesting challenge next week hosting a hot-and-cold Memphis team that’s coming off two straight losses by a combined three points. Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
#4. James Madison Dukes (2)
James Madison finally tasted defeat as an FBS program Saturday in a back-and-forth 45-38 loss at Georgia Southern. The Dukes put up 675 yards of total offense, but surrendered 590 yards to the Eagles and gave up four turnovers plus a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by GSU that proved costly. JMU also turned the ball over twice in Georgia Southern territory to hinder its scoring output in spite of picking up huge yardage. Georgia Southern’s change in identity from an option team last year into an air raid was in full view as Kyle Vantrease threw for 578 yards and four touchdowns, with three different receivers eclipsing the century mark. Todd Centeio had an up-and-down performance for the Dukes, throwing for 468 yards and two touchdowns, but also throwing three interceptions. James Madison will look to rebound next week against Marshall, which looked good early in the season but has yet to beat an FBS team other than Notre Dame. Saturday’s matchup kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
#5. South Alabama Jaguars (8)
South Alabama jumps into the top five after a 41-34 win over UL Monroe put the Jaguars at 5-1 on the year. Carter Bradley had an outstanding game, completing 25 of 33 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns, getting three of his receivers to over 100 yards in the win. Kane Wommack is looking to lead South Alabama to its first season of more than six wins since the Jaguars started playing exclusively Division-I teams in 2011 (USA went 10-0 against opponents including NAIA and Division-II teams in 2010). He inherited a program that had gone a combined 9-26 in three years under Steve Campbell and is currently 10-8 in his first year and a half at the helm. The Jaguars have a big test next week hosting Troy, with the winner being in control of the Sun Belt-West. Thursday night USA and Troy will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
#6. Liberty Flames (5)
#7. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (3)
#8. Air Force Falcons (10)
#9. Toledo Rockets (14)
#10. Boise State Broncos (11)
#11. Troy Trojans (12)
#12. UTSA Roadrunners (13)
#13. BYU Cougars (7)
#14. UAB Blazers (On the Bubble)
#15. San José State Spartans (9)
Dropped Out
Eastern Michigan (15)
On the Bubble
Appalachian State, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern, ECU
Murphy's Field 
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