Group of Five power rankings after the Liberty Flames were doused, Cincinnati downed UCF and BYU remained undefeated but took a loss off the field.
The run is done in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Liberty Flames fell to the North Carolina Wolfpack in a close defensive struggle, 15-14. The loss dashes any hopes for the Flames to play on New Year’s. However, this season is still the best in school history.
Taking their place in the Group of Five power rankings are the Tulsa Golden Hurricane who pulled off an impossible win against the Tulane Green Wave in double-overtime. After being shutout for three quarters, the Hurricane’s comeback featured a hail mary to tie the game at the end of regulation and a pick-six from Zaven Collins to escape with the win.
Speaking of comebacks, the Cincinnati Bearcats were down early, took the lead and held off rival UCF 36-33. Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder was masterful once against with 395 total yards and four total touchdowns to lead the Bearcats who have the best case at making the College Football Playoff among the Group of Five teams.
Group of Five power rankings entering Week 13
5. Tulsa (5-1, 5-0 AAC)
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane have flown under the radar this season mainly because of an early-season loss to Oklahoma State. Since then, the Hurricane has won five straight primarily due to a stingy defense and a ground game by committee. Their comeback overtime victory against Tulane could potentially set up a showdown for the AAC title against Cincinnati. Though the AAC plays a championship game, a Tulsa upset would derail everything Cincinnati has done this season, including taking away any hope to make the National Semifinal. Don’t let Tulsa’s crazy come back fool you, either. The Golden Hurricane has the defense that matches up well with Cincinnati, though they are susceptible to the pass, and the Bearcats are throwing the ball better.
4. Marshall (7-0, 4-0 CUSA)
The Thundering Herd were off this week after dismantling the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders 42-14. Head coach Doc Holiday has his team playing their best football heading into a potential Conference USA championship game. There was some concern about the offense after starting quarterback Isaiah Green transferred, but Grant Wells has stepped in and led the offense admirably. Marshall has scored 30 or more points this season in seven of its nine games. The defense has been stingy allowing single digits in three games with no team scoring 20 points on the Herd yet this season. The Herd has Rice and Florida International left on their schedule; two teams that are not exactly offensive or defensive juggernauts.
3. Coastal Carolina (8-0, 6-0 Sun Belt)
Last week’s game against Appalachian State proved to live up to its billing. Both the Mountaineers and Chanticleers played well enough to win, but it was Coastal who made the plays late in the game to secure the 34-23 victory. The Chants are now in sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt East. Their schedule took a hit with Liberty’s loss, but a heck of a season is a heck of a season. Keep in mind, Appalachian State –the team they defeated–was supposed to run roughshod over the Sun Belt again this season and the Chants were picked to finish last, not just in their division, but in the conference. No one told Jamey Chatman and the Chanticleers. It is hard to gauge where they land in the postseason, but Coastal has had a great season.
2 BYU (8-0)
Liberty’s loss helps BYU’s case. The Cougars no longer have to worry about the resume versus style points argument. BYU had another dominant performance, this time against FCS North Alabama winning 66-14. This season the Cougars have allowed 20 points twice to UTSA and Houston. Offensively, BYU has scored 40 or more points in seven of eight games. The Cougars don’t play again for nearly a month — maybe — when they take on San Diego State on December 12. The Cougars finding another game, likely against a Pac-12 team looking for an extra game with the myriad of cancellations in the conference, would not be a surprise. However, efforts to schedule a game with Washington thus far have been unsuccessful and doesn’t do the program any favors in strengthening their case to make the four-team College Football Playoff.
1. Cincinnati (8-0, 6-0 AAC)
UCF came in with the strategy to bomb the Bearcats and hope they could hold the lead. The strategy did not work. It took Desmond Ridder and the offense some time and the Bearcats used a 16-point second quarter and a 14-point fourth quarter to pull out a 36-33 win against the Knights and maintain their tie for first place in the American. Despite the three touchdown passes, UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel was held to season lows in passing yards and completion percentage. Gabriel also threw his first interception in a month and a half. The victory preserves the Bearcats’ hope for a New Year’s Six Bowl and their slim chances at the National Semifinal.