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.
East Carolina (7-3, 5-1) @ UTSA (5-5, 3-3) 3:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 22, San Antonio, TX on ESPN+
The East Carolina Pirates have snuck into the American Conference championship talk, sitting at 5-1 in conference play. The Pirates’ offense is averaging 33.6 points and 466.3 yards per game. The yards per game total is No. 14 in the FBS.
QB Katin Houser is No. 11 in the FBS in passing yards with 2,801. Houser has completed 66.6 percent of his passes and has 15 TDs with 5 INTs. Houser’s top target is WR Anthony Smith, who has 51 receptions for 745 yards and 4 TDs.
Defensively, the Pirates have been outstanding this season. ECU ranks No. 15 in the FBS in scoring defense, giving up a paltry 18.3 points per game. The Pirates give up only 119.4 rushing yards per game, a strong counter to UTSA’s rushing offense. DB Ja’Marley Riddle leads the team in tackles (58), passes broken up (5) and INTs (2).
At the start of the season, UTSA was considered one of the favorites to win the American Conference. The Roadrunners have had a tough season, losing three conference games.
On offense, the Roadrunners will look to keep the ECU offense on the sidelines, running the ball and controlling the clock. UTSA averages 171.3 rushing yards and 31 minutes of time of possession per game.
RB Robert Henry, Jr. leads the team with 983 yards and 9 TDs. Henry’s yards rank 9th in the nation. QB Owen McCown has hit on 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,186 yards with 20 TDs and 6 INTs.
Defensively, UTSA has a lot of work to do. The Roadrunners give up 388.1 yards and 30.4 points per game. LB Shad Banks, Jr. has done it all for UTSA. Banks has 64 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 TD scored on a fumble recovery. The Roadrunners will need to get to Houser to slow down the ECU passing attack.
Sam Houston (2-8, 1-5) @ Middle Tennessee State (1-9, 0-6) 3:00 p.m. ET, Nov. 22, Murfreesboro, TN on ESPN+
While we try to focus on the teams doing well in the Group of 5, we also like to give some love to the teams struggling as well.
What a difference a season can make. Last year, Sam Houston won 10 games; this year, they’ve managed only two wins. On offense, the Bearkats are struggling, ranking in the bottom 35 in all of the top offensive statistical categories. Sam Houston has scored only 18 TDs total this season.
On defense, Sam Houston is statistically worse than they are on offense. The Bearkats rank in the bottom 10 of every major defensive statistic. However, Sam Houston is tied for No. 4 in the FBS in fumble recoveries with 10. A positive for Sam Houston is that they are on a two-game winning streak.
Middle Tennessee State’s offense averages 20.7 points and 354.0 yards per game. The MTSU passing game averages 266.5 yards per game. 15 different Blue Raiders have registered at least one catch.
None of the major defensive statistics for Middle Tennessee State rank better than No. 82. The Blue Raiders are one of the 52 FBS teams that have yet to score a defensive TD. LB Parker Hughes leads the team with 80 tackles.
Central Michigan (6-4, 4-2) @ Kent State (4-6, 3-3) 7:00 p.m. ET, Nov. 19, Kent, OH on ESPNU
Central Michigan leads this series 25-11. This will be the first time Kent State has hosted the game since 2017.
The Chippewas have taken on the identity of first-year head coach Matt Drinkall. CMU is a run-heavy team that averages 177.9 rushing yards per game. QB Angel Flores leads the team in rushing with 519 yards and 8 TDs. Flores is listed as questionable for the game against Kent State.
On defense, the Chippewas have had a decent year, giving up 23.5 points per game. Against the pass, CMU surrenders 209.5 yards per game. Kent State runs an offense that throws the ball a lot. CMU is tied for No. 12 in the FBS with 12 INTs.
Kent State’s offense is guided by QB Dru DeShields. The redshirt sophomore has 1,638 yards with 16 TDs and only 2 TDs. 16 different Golden Flash receivers have caught a pass this season.
The Kent State defense is struggling this season, giving up 34.4 points and 449.8 yards per game. DB CJ Young has 82 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 passes broken up and 1 INT. KSU gives up 181.6 rushing yards per game, not a good sign when facing CMU.
Hawai’i (7-3, 4-2) @ UNLV (8-2, 4-2) 10:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 21, Las Vegas, NV on FS1
Hawai’i enters this game coming off a huge home win against San Diego State last week. Under head coach Timmy Chang, the Rainbow Warriors are a pass-happy squad. Hawai’i averages 302.4 passing yards per game, No. 8 in the FBS. Hawai’i also averages 30.5 points per game.
QB Micah Alejado has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 2,380 yards with 18 TDs and 7 INTs. Kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, “The Tokyo Toe,” is still perfect on the season, hitting all 33 extra point attempts and going 22-22 on field goals.
Hawai’i’s defense gives up 23.7 points and 348.6 yards per game. The Rainbow Warriors will need to tighten up against UNLV’s potent offense if Hawai’i is going to have a chance to win this game.
Dan Mullen’s UNLV Rebels are an offensive juggernaut. The Rebels are No. 16 in the FBS in scoring offense (36.6), No. 17 in total offense (459.3) and No. 20 in rushing offense (201.3). QB Anthony Coleandrea has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 2,527 yards with 18 TDs and 6 INTs. Colandrea is 2nd on the team in rushing with 513 yards and 7 TDs.
The Rebels’ defense gives up a lot of points and yards, but they make up for it in takeaways. As a team, UNLV has 12 INTs, tied for No. 11 in the FBS. DB Aamaris Brown is tied for No. 9 in the FBS with 5 INTs.
Southern Miss (7-3, 5-1) @ South Alabama (3-7, 2-4) 3:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 22, Mobile, AL on ESPN+
Don’t let the difference in records fool you; this game will be closer than you think. Currently, USM is only a 1.5-point favorite over USA.
Southern Miss has been solid on offense. The Golden Eagles average 30.5 points and 410.0 yards per game. QB Braylon Braxton has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,187 yards with 19 TDs and 5 INTs.
While the Golden Eagles give up a fair amount of points and yards, they make up for it with turnovers. USM leads the nation in INTs with 20. CB Josh Moten is tied for the lead in the FBS with 5 INTs. LB Chris Jones is the leader of USM’s defense. Jones has 107 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 passes broken up, 1 INT and 1 forced fumble. The 107 tackles rank No. 6 in the FBS.
South Alabama has struggled on offense under second-year head coach Major Applewhite. The Jaguars average 25.0 points and 375.9 yards per game. RB Kentrel Bullock leads the team with 814 rushing yards and 10 TDs.
The Jaguars’ defense has been a rollercoaster this season. South Alabama gives up 28.1 points and 359.4 yards per game. The Jaguars are tied for No. 18 in the FBS with 7 fumble recoveries. CB Nehemiah Chandler is tied for No. 4 in the FBS with 13 passes defended.
Group of 5 Quick Hitters
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 […]
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 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. […]
