Group of Five power rankings: All eyes turn to Coastal Carolina vs. BYU

Group of Five power rankings for the week focus on Coastal Carolina scheduling BYU in a battle of undefeated teams that should be fun to watch.

The regular season still has a couple of weeks left to play but championship weekend is already taking shape. The Sun Belt Championship Game is set between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana in what should be a highly-intriguing watch. And in the American Athletic Conference, Cincinnati hopes to get a ranked win with Tulsa continuing to play well. The Bearcats are hoping Tulsa keeps winning to make their potential win look as impressive as it can be to sway the playoff committee to bump them in the four-team postseason.

And the biggest game of the week features Coastal Carolina scheduling BYU on Thursday morning after their game vs. Liberty was canceled after virus issues with Hugh Freeze’s club. Both undefeated teams are looking for respect and the winner will get it.

Here is a closer look at the Group of Five Power Rankings

5. No. 25 Tulsa Golden Hurricane (5-1)

Tulsa’s game against Houston was canceled last weekend, setting up a showdown for the Golden Hurricane. Their game against Cincinnati is a must-win for the Hurricane. Tulsa did not play Memphis this season and they do not want their place in the AAC championship game to come down to tiebreakers and common opponents. A loss to the Bearcats all but eliminates the Golden Hurricane from the New Year’s Six even if they beat the Bearcats in the AAC championship game.

4. No. 21 Marshall Thundering Herd (7-0)

The ‘Herd have not played since early November. Their game against Charlotte was postponed with no makeup date announced. Marshall is already in the driver’s seat for the Conference USA title game, so they do not need the games. That is a good thing as well. With Rice and Florida International left on their schedule — both makeup games — there is a possibility of cancellations because of Rice and FIU’s issues with COVID-19 this season.

3. No. 14 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-0)

The Chants jumped one huge hurdle when they defeated Appalachian State a couple of weeks ago. That win puts in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game against No. 20 Louisiana. This weekend, Coastal was scheduled to play Liberty but after the Flames had a COVID outbreak, they will now play undefeated BYU in the must-watch Group of Five game of the week.

2. No. 8 BYU Cougars (8-0)

The Cougars’ opponents have a combined record of 33-44 this season. BYU worked miracles to have a season after losing most of their schedule after the pandemic hit. What’s been impressive about their season is their 33 point differential. The Cougars have one last game against San Diego State; however, the BYU have room in their schedule for at least more games. The Washington game fell through because BYU wanted assurances and checked their position in the college football playoff ranking.

Washington played a conference game that weekend and would have bumped BYU. But now BYU has filled an open spot on their schedule with undefeated Coastal Carolina, although a potential win is not likely to help their standing in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee.

1. No. 7 Cincinnati Bearcats (8-0)

The Bearcats game against the Temple Owls was canceled this week. That leaves the Bearcats with No. 25 Tulsa in their season finale. Despite what the Playoff committee might say, the Bearcats need style points the last two games if they want an opportunity to sneak in the playoff this season. There is the possibility Texas A&M sneaks in over Cincinnati because the Bearcats likely play Tulsa twice. The Bearcats, however, are in the driver’s seat for the Group of Five New Year’s Six Bowl bid if they can survive and advance.

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