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.
Navy (8-2, 6-1) @ Memphis (8-3, 4-3) 7:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 27, Memphis, TN on ESPN
The Navy Midshipmen are currently tied with North Texas and Tulane for 1st place in the American Conference. However, due to tiebreakers, Navy is behind the others and needs some help. But first, Navy needs to beat Memphis.
Navy’s offense does what Navy does year in and year out, they run the ball very well. The Mids average 308.2 rushing yards per game, which is 28.6 yards per game more than No. 2 Utah. QB Blake Horvath leads in rushing with 986 yards and 13 TDs. RB Alex Tecza is second with 669 yards and 7 TDS. WR Eli Heidenreich leads the team with 38 catches for 741 yards and 4 TDs.
The Navy defense has been torched at times this season. The Midshipmen give up 27.9 points, 409.8 total yards and 263.9 passing yards per game. Navy will need to match Memphis score for score to win.
The Memphis Tigers were one of the favorites to play for the American championship this season. However, three conference losses have derailed that idea. Memphis is one of five American teams to have at least 8 wins heading in the final week.
The Tigers’ offense averages 36.2 points and 432.7 yards per game, both are in the top 30 in the FBS. QB Brendon Lewis has completed 71.7 percent of his passes for 2,395 yards with 13 TDs and 6 INTs. Lewis is also 2nd on the team in rushing with 582 yards and leads with 9 TDs.
Defensively, Memphis is statistically ranked in the middle of the pack, giving up 22.0 points and 366.6 yards per game. LB Sam Brumfield is the leader, registering 89 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and 1 INT.
Western Kentucky (8-3, 6-1) @ Jacksonville State (7-4, 6-1) 2:00 p.m. ET, Nov. 29, Jacksonville, AL on ESPN+
With both teams sitting at 6-1 in conference play, the winner is guaranteed a spot in the Conference USA Championship Game. The loser will need some help. If Kennesaw State beats Liberty on Saturday, the Owls will play the winner of this game. If Kennesaw State loses and WKU wins, these teams will have a rematch. If Kennesaw State wins and Jacksonville State wins, the Owls and Gamecocks will play for the championship. If ever there was a clash in styles, this is it.
The Hilltoppers played LSU tough this past Saturday before falling, 13-10. WKU averages 29.4 points and 407.4 yards per game. Head coach Ty Helton’s offense is pass-heavy, averaging 281.0 passing yards per game, No. 18 in the FBS. QB Maverick McIvor has missed the last month with a shoulder injury. Freshman Rodney Tisdale, Jr. has played well enough that Helton is sticking with Tisdale even though McIvor has been cleared to play.
On Defense, WKU’s kryptonite is Jacksonville State’s strength, the run game. The Hilltoppers give up 171.2 rushing yards per game. That must improve if WKU hopes to have a chance in this game.
Jacksonville State is coming off its only conference loss, last week at FIU, 27-21. As stated, the Gamecocks are a run-heavy team, averaging 259.2 rushing yards per game, No. 4 in the FBS. RB Cam Cook is the nation’s leading rusher with 1,444 yards. Cook is tied for seventh with 14 rushing TDs. QB Caden Creel is second on the team with 830 rushing yards and 5 TDs.
Defensively, just like their WKU counterparts, the Gamecocks’ defense is a bit leaky. And what they struggle with, the passing game, is WKU’s strength. Jacksonville State gives up 248.0 passing yards per game. Safety Caleb Nix is tied for 10th in the FBS with 4 INTS.
Ohio (7-4, 5-2) @ Buffalo (5-6, 4-3) noon ET, Nov. 28, Buffalo, NY on ESPNU
There is a logjam at the top of the MAC standings as Ohio is tied for second place with Toledo, Central Michigan and Miami (OH). Western Michigan is in the lead and is guaranteed a spot in the conference championship game with a win on Tuesday over Eastern Michigan.
Then the fun starts. Ohio needs to beat Buffalo, then hope for losses by Toledo, CMU and Miami to guarantee it’s spot. RB Sieh Bangura and QB Parker Navarro have combined for 1,845 rushing yards and 20 TDs. The Bobcats like to grind the clock with the run game.
Buffalo is more of a passing team as QB Ta’Quan Roberson has 2,250 yards with 15 TDs and 11 INTs. WR Victor Snow leads the team with 58 receptions and 8 TDs.
On defense, Buffalo is decent against the run, giving up 138.8 rushing yards per game. LB Red Murdock is No. 4 in the FBS with 128 tackles. Murdock also has 4.5 sacks and is No. 2 in the FBS with 6 forced fumbles.
San Diego State (9-2, 6-1) @ New Mexico (8-3, 5-2) 3:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 28, Albuquerque, NM on CBS Sports Network
It’s straightforward in the Mountain West: If San Diego State wins, the Aztecs will host the conference championship. If New Mexico wins, with a little bit of help, the Lobos will play for the conference championship.
Aztecs’ head coach Sean Lewis, known for his offensive mind, has fielded one of the best defensive teams in the country. San Diego State has only given up 128 points this season, tied for No. 2 in the nation with Indiana. The Aztecs also give up only 262.9 total yards per game. EDGE rushers Trey White and Ryan Henderson each have 6 sacks.
Offensively, the Aztecs struggle to move the ball and score points. However, RB Lucky Sutton ranks No. 9 in the FBS with 1,127 rushing yards. Sutton also leads the team with 9 rushing TDs.
For New Mexico, the Lobos have won 8 games on the strength of playing solid defense mixed with a decent run game and excellent punting.
On offense, QB Jack Layne has completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 2,271 yards with 12 TDs and 9 INTs. WR Keagan Johnson and TE Dorian Thomas have combined for 1,207 receiving yards, 53.7 percent of the Lobos’ total receiving yards.
Defensively, New Mexico is stout against the run, giving up 106.2 rushing yards per game. DL Jaxton Eck is the far and away leader on the defense. Eck has 115 total tackles, 59 more than the next Lobo defender. It will be strength against strength with New Mexico’s defense against San Diego State’s offense.
Troy (7-4, 5-2) @ Southern Miss (7-4, 5-2) 3:30 p.m. ET, Nov. 29, Hattiesburg, MS on ESPN+
You want meaningful football in late November in the Sun Belt Conference? The winner of this game wins the Sun Belt West Division and plays at James Madison for the conference championship. (Remember when conferences had divisions?)
The fact that Troy has won 7 games is mind-boggling. Statistically, the Trojans do not stand out offensively or defensively. In total offense, scoring offense, passing offense and rushing offense, the Trojans rank No. 85 or higher in the FBS.
Defensively, Troy isn’t much better. In those same categories, Troy ranks Nos. 66, 78, 49 and 109, respectively. And yet, somehow Troy is fighting for a spot in the Sun Belt Championship Game. That’s a testament to first-year head coach Charles Kelly.
Southern Miss has a very good team offensively. The Golden Eagles average 30.9 points and 412.8 yards per game. QB Braylon Braxton has completed 66.0 percent of his passes for 2,587 yards with 22 TDs and 6 INTs.
On defense, however, the Golden Eagles are getting hit for 27.4 points and 399.8 yards per game. USM will need to steal a couple of possessions to win this game.
TJ Chapman
Editor
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TJ Chapman
Editor
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TJ Chapman
Editor
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