TJ Chapman
Editor
Championship weekend is upon us, and the Group of 5 has a lot to play for. There is the potential for two spots in the College Football Playoff for Group of 5 teams. If Duke upsets Virginia in the ACC Championship Game, it is highly likely that the champion from the American as well as James Madison will make the CFP. Below are the championship games for the Group of 5.
North Texas (11-1, 7-1) @ Tulane (10-2, 7-1) 8:00 p.m. ET, Dec 5, New Orleans, LA on ABC
The top game in the Group of 5 has to be the American Conference Championship Game. The winner of this game is assured a spot in the CFP. There is added cache to this game as both head coaches have accepted positions at new schools. North Texas coach Eric Morris has been named head coach at Oklahoma State. And Florida has named Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as its next head coach.
North Texas has the most explosive offense in the FBS, ranking No. 1 in scoring (46.8) and total yards per game (511.8). QB Drew Mestemaker is No. 1 in the FBS in passing yards with 3,835. True freshman RB Caleb Hawkins is No. 13 in the FBS with 1,216 rushing yards and No. 1 in rushing TDs with 23.
On defense, the Mean Green gives up 372.6 yards and 24.17 points per game. However, UNT was No. 3 in the FBS with 12 fumble recoveries. The Mean Green will need to create turnovers for their explosive offense to pull away from Tulane.
Tulane also has a high-powered offense. The Green Wave averages 28.7 points and 416.2 yards per game. Tulane’s offense runs through QB Jake Retzlaff. The BYU transfer has 2,717 passing yards with 14 TDs and 6 INTs. Retzlaff also leads the team in rushing with 561 yards and 14 TDs. The 14 TDs is tied for 12th in the FBS and tied for 5th among QBs.
The Tulane defense has been good, giving up 22.75 points and 372.2 yards per game. Tulane’s 29 sacks are tied for No. 31 in the FBS. They will need to get to Mestemaker if Tulane is going to win the American title.
Kennesaw State (9-3, 7-1) @ Jacksonville State (8-4, 7-1) 7:00 p.m. ET, Dec 5, Jacksonville, AL on CBS Sports Network
The job that Kennesaw State head coach Jerry Mack has done this season is just not talked about enough. Mack took over a program that was 2-10 in its first season as a member of the FBS and now has them in the C-USA championship game. The Owls have improved by 7 wins from the 2024 team; that’s incredible.
The Owls’ offense is led by QB Amari Odom, who threw for 2,139 yards with 17 TDs and 6 INTs. Odom also led the team with 7 rushing TDs. WR Gabriel Benyard, who was Odom’s top target, had 54 receptions for 877 yards and 9 TDs.
Kennesaw State’s defense has been leaky, giving up 25.08 points and 411.3 yards per game. LB Baron Hopson leads the team with 120 tackles, almost double the next highest Owl defender. DB Caleb Offord has 11 passes defended.
For Jacksonville State, the key to winning will be to control the ground game. The nation’s No. 1 rusher is Gamecock RB Cam Cook, who finished the regular season with 1,588 yards and 15 TDs. QB Caden Creel is the 2nd leading rusher with 973 yards and 6 TDs.
The Gamecocks’ defense gives up a lot of points, 26.75 per game. They also give up 397.3 yards per game. LB Walker O’Steen leads the Gamecocks with 69 tackles and is 2nd with 3 INTs. Safety Caleb Nix leads the team with 4 INTs and 3 fumble recoveries.
Miami (OH) (8-4, 6-2) -v- Western Michigan (8-4, 7-1) 8:00 p.m. ET, Dec 6, Detroit, MI on ESPN
If you like defensive battles with clock-controlling run games, this is the game for you. Miami starting QB DeQuan Finn left the team in early November to focus on preparing for the NFL Draft. Redshirt Freshman Thomas Gotkowski has led the Redhawks to back-to-back wins against Buffalo and Ball State.
Defensively, the Redhawks are tough, giving up only 21.92 points and 324.0 yards per game. LB Adam Trick leads the team with 8.5 sacks and is tied for the team lead with 2 forced fumbles.
Speaking of great coaching jobs, Western Michigan’s Lance Taylor has the Broncos in the MAC championship game for the first time since 2016. The 2016 game was WMU’s only MAC championship in only three appearances.
QB Broc Lowery leads the team in rushing with 875 yards and 14 TDs. Lowery is tied with Tulane’s Retzlaff and others for 12th in the FBS and 5th among QBs in rushing TDs.
The stout Broncos’ defense is tied for No. 16 in the FBS in scoring defense with 18.67 points per game. The Broncos are No. 17 in total defense, giving up only 302.2 yards per game. DE Nadame Tucker is tied for No. 2 in the FBS with 12 sacks.
UNLV (10-2, 6-2) @ Boise State (8-4, 6-2) 8:00 p.m. ET, Dec 5, Boise, ID on Fox
In year one under head coach Dan Mullen, the Rebels have hit double-digit wins for only the 4th time in school history. QB Anthony Colandrea is one of only 4 FBS QBs to have thrown for at least 3,000 yards and rush for at least 500 yards. RB Jai’Den Thomas leads the team with 944 rushing yards and 12 TDs.
On defense, the Rebels are the exact opposite as they are on offense. UNLV gives up 28.08 points and 421.5 yards per game. LB Marsel McDuffie has 94 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 passes defended, 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries.
Boise State has been very good this season, offensively and defensively. The Broncos are averaging 30.8 points and 430.4 yards per game. While QB Maddux Madsen is questionable with an ankle injury, head coach Spencer Danielson announced that Madsen is back practicing and will play. RBs Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines have combined for 1,747 rushing yards and 17 TDs.
On defense, Boise State gives up 23.17 points and 329.4 yards per game. DB Ty Benefield leads with 90 tackles. DB A’Marion McCoy has 4 INTs, 2 of which are pick-sixes.
Troy (8-4, 6-2) @ James Madison (11-1, 8-0) 7:00 p.m. ET, Dec 5, Harrisonburg, VA on ESPN
The growing trend of coaches turning around programs in the Group of 5 continues with Troy’s Gerard Parker. Last season, the Trojans finished 4-8, and this year, Parker has them in the Sun Belt Championship Game. Troy’s offense has struggled, averaging 25.2 points and 325.6 yards per game. Troy has surrendered 49 sacks, tied for last in the FBS.
On defense, Troy has been good statistically, giving up 25.2 points and 325.6 yards per game. LB Jordan Stringer and S Devin Lafayette have combined for 193 tackles, 3 sacks, 7 passes defended, 2 INTs and 2 forced fumbles.
In year two under head coach Jamey Chadwell, James Madison is in the thick of the CFP race. If Duke wins the ACC championship game and James Madison beats Troy, the Dukes will be in the CFP.
Offensively, JMU is No. 10 in the FBS in scoring at 37.8 points per game. QB Alonza Barnett, III has thrown for 2,440 yards with 20 TDs and 7 INTs. He is 2nd on the team in rushing yards with 459 and leads with 13 rushing TDs. RB Wayne Knight leads with 1,051 rushing yards and 8 TDs.
Defensively, the Dukes are No. 10 in scoring defense (16.0) and No. 5 in total defense (253.5). LB Trent Hendrick leads with 91 total tackles and also has 3 sacks. CB Justin Eaglin has 4 INTs.
TJ Chapman
Editor
It’s crazy to think this is the final week in the college football regular season. It’s flown by so fast. The games featured this week in the Group of 5 are games that either will make or break who plays in the conference championship games the following week. Below are this week’s featured games. American […]
TJ Chapman
Editor
Week 13 is upon us, which means that there are only two weeks of college football remaining. In the Group of 5, each conference is still up for grabs. Most of this week’s featured games will go a long way toward deciding who plays in the championship games. Below are this week’s featured games. American […]
TJ Chapman
Editor
Week 12 will feature the highs and lows of the Group of 5 conferences. While we like to feature the better games, it’s also fun to give some love to the teams struggling this season. Below are this week’s featured games. American Conference No. 24 USF (7-2, 4-1) @ Navy (7-2, 5-1) noon ET, Nov. […]
