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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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MEMPHIS, TN – SEPTEMBER 16: Riley Ferguson #4 of the Memphis Tigers looks to throw downfield against the UCLA Bruins on September 16, 2017, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis defeated UCLA 48-45. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – SEPTEMBER 16: Riley Ferguson #4 of the Memphis Tigers looks to throw downfield against the UCLA Bruins on September 16, 2017, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis defeated UCLA 48-45. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /
4

Colorado State Rams

Last week: Lost to Alabama 43-21
Last rank: 2

Colorado State turned in an impressive offensive performance against the nation’s best team even in a losing effort and looks to be a step better than Boise State as the Mountain Division favorite.

Mike Bobo’s offense managed to pile up 391 yards against the mighty Alabama defense and managed to hang with the Crimson Tide for a half before falling 43-21. Week two’s 17-3 loss to Colorado that included some terrible officiating aside, the Rams have been able to move the ball this year during their 2-2 start.

Dalyn Dawkins and Izzy Matthews make for a strong power running tandem out of the backfield, while freshman receiver Warren Jackson emerged with two touchdown catches against the Crimson Tide. Those pieces plus veteran quarterback Nick Stevens give Colorado State one of the highest ceilings of any G5 team, but it still slips out of the top three with two losses on the season.

The Rams will get a week off to regroup before beginning Mountain West play at Hawaii on Sept. 30.

3

Memphis Tigers

Last week: Def. UCLA 48-45
Last rank: 7

With one of the best G5 wins of the year on Saturday afternoon, the Tigers established themselves as an AAC contender with the potential to reach the New Year’s Six.

Memphis didn’t get off to the best start in 2017 with a shaky victory over Louisiana-Monroe before a week two clash with UCF was canceled due to Hurricane Irma. Saturday’s performance was much better, as the Tigers earned a 48-45 win over a rising UCLA team in a back-and-forth shootout.

Quarterback Riley Ferguson has the upside to challenge any defense remaining on Memphis’ schedule after throwing for 398 yards and six touchdowns against the Bruins. The Tigers defense is surrendering 5.9 yards per play so far to rank 86th in the nation but has been opportunistic with seven takeaways, including two interceptions of UCLA star Josh Rosen.

Memphis will get a break in the schedule before heading into AAC play with winnable games against Southern Illinois and Georgia State over the next two weeks.

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