Group of Five power rankings: Sun Belt teams embarrass the Big 12

The Sun Belt flexes in this week’s edition of the Group of Five power rankings after the conference went 3-0 against the Big 12.

The Group of Five power rankings is as volatile and unpredictable as this season is sure to be. Teams that made the Week 1 ranking are absent this week. UCF, Memphis and Cincinnati are conspicuous by their absence this week.

Not to worry, they will return as they are all ranked in the AP Top 25. The Group of Five was so impressive this weekend against the Power Five; it was hard to make the list if this was a bye-week. Of the Group of Five conferences who played, it was the Sun Belt who impressed with two wins versus the Power Five this weekend.

Arkansas State upset the Kansas State Wildcats on the road, and Louisiana-Lafayette did the same to the Iowa State Cyclones on the road. The Appalachian State Mountaineers held serve against Charlotte while the Army Black Knights steamrolled Louisiana-Monroe at West Point.

Editor’s Note: BYU and Army are included in our Group of Five rankings even though they are not eligible to win the Group of Five bid to play in the New Year’s Six.

5. Brigham-Young Cougars (1-0)

The Cougars are the only team that did not play this week. Their performance against the Naval Academy was so dominant; they remain on the list. BYU got everything they wanted against Navy in Annapolis last week on their way to a 55-3 win versus the Midshipmen. The Cougars get the next two weeks off. They resume play on Sept. 26 against the Troy Trojans. Their game vs. Army is canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak amongst the Cougars.

4.  Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-1)

The Red Wolves were game against the Memphis Tigers in a losing effort week one. This week, they were more than competitive. Arkansas State went to “The Little Apple” and defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 35-31. The Red Wolves followed the most straightforward formula for a team that wants to pull off a road upset. They kept the Wildcats close for four quarters and allowed themselves to win the game at the end. Trailing 28-31 late in the fourth quarter, Jonathan Adams, Jr. caught a touchdown pass with 38 seconds left in the game to give the Red Wolves the upset.

3. Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-0)

The Mountaineers are looking to hold serve, get to their showdown against Louisiana-Lafayette, win that game and see where the chips fall. If there are enough bedlam and chaos, the Group of Five might get a team into the playoff. The Mountaineers were far from perfect but held off a tough Charlotte team 35-20 at their home opener. Despite the 49ers playing tough, they could not stop the Mountaineers running game. App State racked up 508 yards on the ground. The Mountaineer defense held Charlotte to 280 yards of total offense, shutting them out in the fourth quarter.

2. The Army Black Knights (2-0)

Fresh off of a dominant 42-0 victory over the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, the Army Black Knights continue to roll with a 27-7 win over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Michie Stadium on Saturday. The Knights run game continues to look unstoppable in week two. As impressive as the option running has been the first two weeks of the season, the defense — which lost a bit of punch last season — seems to be as physical as they were on their run of 10-win seasons. The Black Knights held the Warhawks to just 187 total yards forcing three turnovers.

1. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (1-0)

Billy Napier and the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns had the performance of the weekend traveling to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 31-14 on Saturday. The Cajun’s defense held the Cyclones to 297 yards of total defense and forced two turnovers. The offense had its fair share of struggles against a stout Cyclone defense, gaining only 256 yards of total offense. Still, the Louisiana defense came to play, shutting out the Cyclones offense in the second half. Much like their rivals Appalachian State, the Ragin’ Cajuns are looking to stay unblemished until the conference championship game and see what happens this postseason.

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