Fansided

Group of 5 power rankings – Week 4: San Diego State rises to the top

By Nathaniel Reeves

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: San Diego State Aztecs fans rush the field after the San Diego State Aztecs defeated the Stanford Cardinal 20-17 in a game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: San Diego State Aztecs fans rush the field after the San Diego State Aztecs defeated the Stanford Cardinal 20-17 in a game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
BOWLING GREEN, IN – SEPTEMBER 16: J’Mar Smith #8 of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs runs the ball away from /DeAngelo Malone #10 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Houchens-Smith Stadium on September 16, 2017, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BOWLING GREEN, IN – SEPTEMBER 16: J’Mar Smith #8 of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs runs the ball away from /DeAngelo Malone #10 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Houchens-Smith Stadium on September 16, 2017, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
10

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Last week: Def. Western Kentucky 23-22
Last rank: NR

This might not be Skip Holtz’s best team at Louisiana Tech, but the Bulldogs have a great shot at their first Conference USA title and crack the top 10 following an excellent defensive performance on Saturday.

The Bulldogs got revenge for last year’s Conference USA Championship Game with a 23-22 road win over Western Kentucky on Saturday evening. Louisiana Tech was able to limit Mike White and a still-talented Hilltoppers offense to 377 total yards, as linebacker Brandon Durman and defensive end Jaylon Ferguson continued to wreak havoc to lead a six-sack effort.

Even more impressive was the fact that a young Louisiana Tech roster was able to erase a nine-point fourth deficit with under seven minutes remaining in a hostile environment. A 57-21 loss to Mississippi State in week two indicates the Bulldogs aren’t in the top-tier of the G5, but no longer looks quite as bad after Dan Mullen’s team demolished LSU on Saturday to shoot up to No. 17 in the AP Poll.

Louisiana Tech has a capable enough defense to hang with any team remaining on its schedule and is the Conference USA favorite over UTSA after beating Western Kentucky on the road.  That defense will get a chance to earn another statement win for Holtz on Saturday when the Bulldogs visit Jake Bentley and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

9

Navy Midshipmen

Last week: Bye
Last rank: 9

Ken Niumatalolo’s team looks as steady as ever and should be in line for yet another eight-plus win season as one of the G5’s most consistent programs, earning the Midshipmen the No. 9 spot.

Navy got the week off in preparation for its second AAC game against the Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon in Annapolis. A blowout victory over Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic followed by a 23-21 home triumph, over Tulane doesn’t make for the best resume, but Navy will gladly take the 2-0 record and appears to have made a huge leap on the defensive side of the ball from 2016.

Quarterback Zach Abey has been an effective offensive weapon with 5.6 yards per carry and has hit on a long touchdown pass in each of Navy’s first two games, although the Midshipmen will need running back Chris High to be more efficient to challenge the AAC’s best teams. The Midshipmen were impressive defensively in shutting down Tulane’s option, and are allowing just 3.6 yards per rush in the early going.

While Cincinnati managed to hang in for a half against Michigan and will be hyped coming off an improbable comeback win over Miami Ohio, Navy is expected to roll as a double-digit favorite.

Home/College Football