Group of 5 Conference Power Rankings, Week 3: San Diego State on the rise
Colorado State Rams 2-1 (0-0)
Last week: Def. Abilene Christian 38-10
Last rank: 2nd
Colorado State opened the season with a very impressive 58-27 win over Oregon State, but took a step back offensively in a 17-3 loss to rival Colorado. Last week’s 38-10 victory over Abilene Christian wasn’t exactly dominant, but the Rams worked out a few of the kinks ahead of their three-game road trip that will take them to Tuscaloosa, Honolulu and Logan over the next four weeks.
Quarterback Nick Stevens has thrown for at least 300 yards in all three games, but he’s also thrown at least one interception in each contest. Overall, the senior signal caller has completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 980 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions. An inexperienced Colorado secondary held Stevens to 24-for-47 passing and intercepted him twice, which could foreshadow a long afternoon against Alabama, which is one of the most talented pass defenses in the country.
South Florida Bulls 2-0 (0-0)
Last week: at UConn (Cancelled)
Last rank: 1st
Still the only ranked team outside the Power Five, USF still has the inside track to be the top ranked G5 team at the end of the season. However, even with several explosive offensive playmakers and improving defense, the Bulls have been far from impressive on the field.
South Florida fell behind 16-0 early at San Jose State before taking control to win 42-22, and beat FCS opponent Stony Brook just 31-17 and needed two fourth quarter touchdowns to secure the victory. After Hurricane Irma forced the team to cancel its conference opener at UConn, the Bulls play host to an improved Illinois squad coming off an impressive defensive performance against Western Kentucky.
Next: CFB: Week 3 conference power rankings
Nevertheless, USF will likely be favored to win every game on its schedule, and if the Bulls win them all, there’s a good chance they take the top spot in our rankings in a wire-to-wire fashion.