Group of 5 Conference Power Rankings, Week 3: San Diego State on the rise
BYU Cougars 1-2
Last week: Lost to Utah 19-13
Last rank: 3rd
Arguably the only G5 team with a strong enough schedule to crack the playoff conversation, BYU’s early season slate proved to be too tough. After a less-than-impressive 20-6 win over Portland State, the Cougars were shut out by LSU in New Orleans and fell 19-13 last week to archrival Utah.
Nevertheless, because of the big-name opponents left on the schedule – most notably this week’s game at home against Wisconsin – BYU is still in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl spot. Of course, to really make a run to the top of the G5 power rankings, the Cougars must turn around what has been a dreadful offense to date.
BYU has averaged 231.7 yards of total offense so far, which ranks No. 125 nationally. The Cougars have gained just 4.26 yards per play, which sits No. 119 overall.
Boise State Broncos 1-1 (0-0)
Last week: Lost to Washington State 47-44 (3OT)
Last rank: 4th
Another team on BYU’s schedule, Boise State, missed a golden opportunity for a signature win last week at Washington State. The Broncos built a 31-10 lead in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t put the Cougars away. Wazzu stormed back with three touchdowns in the final eight minutes of regulation before winning 47-44 in triple overtime.
The loss didn’t really hurt Boise’s chances of representing the G5 in a big-time bowl, but the injury to Brett Rypien might have. Rypien completed seven of eight passes for 76 yards against Washington State, but gave way to Montell Cozart after taking a big hit on a first quarter sack. Cozart threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns and added a team-high 72 rushing yards and a TD on the ground, but also tossed a costly interception in the fourth quarter that aided the Cougars’ comeback.