Group of Five rankings: Coastal Carolina closing gap on Cincinnati for New Year’s Six bowl bid

New Group of Five rankings are influenced by Coastal Carolina’s monumental win over BYU as they close the gap on Cincinnati for a New Year’s Six bowl.

As the season draws to a close and the Group of Five draws closer to the New Year’s Six, the cream rises to the top. This weekend, two teams that needed wins to keep their New Year’s Six hopes alive fell and fell hard.

The Cougars traveled cross-country to Conway, South Carolina, and were defeated by the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 22-17. Zach Wilson had his worst game, and the Chanticleers ran for 281 yards in the game. Staying with the theme of quarterbacks having the worst game of the season, Marshall freshman quarterback Grant Wells had the worst game of his season, throwing five interceptions in a 20-0 loss to the Rice Owls.

The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns solidified their place in the Sun Belt Championship game once again after finally slaying the Appalachian State giant 24-23 in a rain-soaked Boone, North Carolina. Tulsa clinched a spot in the AAC conference title game with an ugly 19-6 win against the Naval Academy.

Group of Five power rankings after Week 14

5. Buffalo (4-0)

The Bulls will play just five games this season after their game against Ohio was canceled this week, but this could be one of the most dominant five-game stretches in the MAC. The Bulls are not ranked and will likely play in the GMAC Bowl if they win the MAC for the first time since 2008. The Bulls’ point differential (26.5 points) is unreal. Buffalo has scored 40 or more points every game this season, including 70 points against Kent State. Running back, Jaret Patterson has 710 yards in the last two games. The Bulls close the season against 1-4 Akron, giving up nearly 40 points per game, and has one of the worst rushing defenses in the conference. Uh-Oh.

4. Louisiana (9-1)

Billy Napier and the Ragin Cajuns finally got the Appalachian State monkey off their backs after their 24-23 win in Boone, North Carolina. The Cajuns have a showdown against No. 18 Coastal Carolina for the Sun Belt championship. The Sun Belt title game will crown a champion not named Appalachian State for the first time since 2015. The Cajuns did not look pretty in the win, but it is not easy to be pretty in a monsoon. The Sun Belt title game is strength on strength. Both the Cajuns and the Chanticleers bring tough physical defenses to the table. It will be interesting to see if Louisiana can stop the Chants running game.

3. Tulsa (6-1)

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane joined the teams that won ugly after a 19-6 win against the Naval Academy. The Hurricane’s schedule has been a huge advantage for them getting in this position. After a close loss to Oklahoma State, the Golden Hurricane has rattled six wins in a row. Tulsa played UCF early, and the Cincinnati game was postponed to this weekend. Despite the fortunate breaks in the schedule, Tulsa’s defense is the real deal. The Hurricane held two of the better offenses they’ve played — Oklahoma State and SMU — to season lows in passing yards. No matter what happens this weekend, Tulsa plays Cincinnati twice.

2. Coastal Carolina (10-0)

The only question for the Chanticleers is whether they have enough resumes for the New Year’s Six. If the Chants hold serve against Troy and defeat Louisiana for the second time this season, the Chanticleers have wins against three ranked teams, BYU and Louisiana, twice. One positive for the Chanticleers is their story. Bowls have the flexibility to invite who they want. An undefeated Coastal, who has the country’s hearts and imagination, could be a good draw for a New Year’s Six Bowl. If there’s some chaos at the top and the Bearcats sneak into the National Semifinal, you never know what could happen with this crazy season.

1. No. 7 Cincinnati (8-0)

The Bearcats had not played since Nov. 21 when they defeated UCF 36-33. Their next game is against No. 24 Tulsa, who they play twice, once to end the season and again in the conference title game. This is very much a repeat of last season when Cincinnati played Memphis twice. The Bearcats have everything to lose in the season finale. If the Bearcats lose, any scant hopes to play in the National Semifinal are gone. Cincy could still sneak in the New Year’s Six — the Bearcats would need the Chanticleers to lose — if they lost next weekend. However, Cincinnati feels they have an argument to be a playoff team. This is the type of game you win convincingly to prove that case.

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