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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) /
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HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Major Applewhite walks the Cougar Walk while Dillon Birden #25 of the Houston Cougars carries the Bayou Bucket before playing against the Rice Owls at TDECU Stadium on September 16, 2017, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Major Applewhite walks the Cougar Walk while Dillon Birden #25 of the Houston Cougars carries the Bayou Bucket before playing against the Rice Owls at TDECU Stadium on September 16, 2017, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /
6

Boise State Broncos

Last week: Def. New Mexico 28-14
Last rank: 5

The Broncos will need to play better offensively against some of the better teams in the Mountain West, but will gladly take Thursday’s two-touchdown victory with a backup quarterback under center.

Boise State’s defense suffocated New Mexico in a 28-14 win at Albertsons Stadium to move to 2-1 on the season. While the Lobos have been a solid enough team over the past two-plus seasons, the Broncos need to do better than 264 yards of total offense against an opponent of that caliber.

Getting quarterback Brett Rypien back from a head injury would help, as Montrell Cozart was accurate yet unable to get anything going downfield against New Mexico. The Broncos will be bitterly disappointed at blowing a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter at Washington State in week two, but solid wins over Troy and New Mexico makes them still worthy of the No. 6 spot.

Rypien is listed as questionable for Friday’s home against Virginia, although the Broncos should be able to win either way.

5

Houston Cougars

Last week: Def. Rice 38-3
Last rank: 4

The Major Applewhite era is off to a good start in Houston, as the Cougars turned in a dominant effort on Saturday to move to 2-0 and maintain a top-five spot in the power rankings.

Houston rolled to a 38-0 lead over Rice midway through the second quarter before cruising to an eventual 38-3 victory. While the Cougars haven’t played the best competition yet, a blowout victory in a rivalry game and road win over a Pac-12 foe in Arizona is a decent enough stretch to open the season.

Texas A&M transfer quarterback Kyle Allen was nearly perfect against the Owls, completing 31-of-33 pass attempts for 309 yards and two touchdowns. With defensive tackle Ed Oliver looking unstoppable on the other side of the ball, the Cougars should have enough balance to challenge for the AAC title.

Oliver and company will get a test on Saturday with a home game against Texas Tech’s high-octane offense, giving Houston another chance at a win over a Power Five.

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