TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
Week 1 of the Group of 5 games saw the team predicted to get the G-5 College Football Playoff spot lose big. The USF Bulls crushed the Boise State Broncos 34-7 on Thursday night.
Now, the G-5 playoff spot is up for grabs, more so than most believed prior to the Week 1 games. While Boise State can turn things around and still make the CFP, the optics were not good in that loss.
Below are this week’s games in the G-5 conferences.
Texas State (1-0, 0-0) at UTSA (0-1, 0-0) 3:30 p.m. EST, Sep. 6, San Antonio, TX on ESPN+
Texas State defeated Eastern Michigan in Week 1, 52-27. The Bobcats’ offensive explosion accounted for 606 total yards, 392 rushing. QB Brad Jackson threw for 214 yards with 4 TDs. RB Lincoln Pare led in rushing with 167 yards on 12 carries (13.9 avg) and 1 TD. WR Beau Sparks was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 82 yards and 4 TDs. UTSA lost a hard-fought game on the road at Texas A&M, 42-24. RB Robert Henry, Jr. rushed for 177 yards and 2 TDs as he was the lone bright spot on offense for the Roadrunners. The UTSA defense surrendered 401 total yards to Texas A&M. UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor and Texas State head coach GJ Kinne were on the staff at SMU together in 2017. 11 years earlier, Traylor was on the staff at Gilmer High School, where Kinne was a quarterback. Now they face off for the third time in the I-35 Rivalry, with both having one win against the other.
Liberty (1-0, 0-0) at Jacksonville State (0-1, 0-0) noon EST, Sep. 6, Jacksonville, AL on CBS Sports Network
The Liberty Flames defeated the Maine Black Bears 28-7 in the Flames’ opener. QB Ethan Vasko led the charge offensively, throwing for 197 yards with 3 TDs. Vasko also led the rushing attack, gaining 63 yards on the ground and adding 1 rushing TD. The defense was led by defensive lineman CJ Bazile, Jr., who had 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. Liberty held Maine to just 316 total yards. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks lost a close one on the road at UCF, 17-10. The Gamecocks only gained 322 total yards on offense. The leader was RB Cam Cook who led in rushing with 75 yards and in receiving with 4 catches for 43 yards. The defense surrendered 424 total yards to the Knights, 314 through the air. That must tighten up if Jax State is going to keep it close. Third-year Flames’ head coach Jamey Chadwell is 1-1 against Jacksonville State. This will be the first meeting against Liberty for Gamecocks head coach Charles Kelly.
West Virginia (1-0, 0-0) at Ohio (0-1, 0-0) 4:00 p.m. EST, Sep 6, Athens, OH on ESPNU
The Ohio Bobcats did just about everything they could to win their opener at Rutgers, but eventually fell, 34-31. QB Parker Navarro was the star of the game, completing 67.7 percent of his passes for 239 yards and 3 TDs. Navarro also led the Bobcats in rushing with 93 yards and 1 TD. However, Rutgers finished with 399 total yards and a blocked punt that was recovered in the endzone for a TD ultimately doomed Ohio. West Virginia started off slow in head coach Rich Rodriguez’s second stint at WVU. The Mountaineers led FCS Robert Morris 10-3 at halftime but ultimately blew away the Colonials, 45-3. With a rare home game against a Power 4 opponent, first-year head coach Brian Smith and the Bobcats have a huge opportunity in front of them.
San Jose State (0-1, 0-0) at No. 7 Texas (0-1, 0-0) noon EST, Sep. 6, Austin, TX on ABC or ESPN
San Jose State found themselves in a dog fight at home against Central Michigan and fell 16-14 to the Chippewas. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s passing-happy offense accounted for most of the offense. QB Walker Eget only completed 55.8 percent of his throws, but finished with 308 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. WR Danny Scudero was Eget’s favorite target, catching 9 passes for 189 yards and 1 TD. LB Jordan Pollard led the defense with 15 tackles. The defense gave up 247 rushing yards to CMU, something that will need to be corrected against Texas. The Longhorns traveled to Ohio State for a battle of No. 1 vs No. 3 and the Buckeyes got the better of QB Arch Manning and Texas, 14-7. Texas has one of the better pass defenses in the nation, this will be a long day for the Spartans.
Georgia Southern (0-1, 0-0) at USC (1-0, 0-0) 7:30 p.m. ET Sep. 6, Los Angeles, CA on FS1
It’s the Clay Helton Bowl. Helton was let go at USC in 2021 and promptly hired by Georgia Southern. Helton’s current squad, the Eagles, is making their second straight West Coast road trip after falling at Fresno State, 42-14. The Eagles only gained 242 total yards against Fresno State. QB JC French, IV threw for 158 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT. The defense gave up a mind-blowing 351 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs. The return to the Coliseum for Helton will be tough if both sides of the ball don’t tighten up considerably. USC dispatched new FBS member Missouri State 73-13 in Week 1. The Trojans amassed 597 total yards as 7 different players recorded at least 1 rush and 14 players caught at least 1 pass.
Texas State is getting 4.5 points at UTSA. The Bobcats will win outright.
With Boise State’s loss and the ease of Liberty’s schedule, the Flames will represent the Group of 5 in the CFP.
If Rich Rod and the Mountaineers get caught looking ahead to the Backyard Brawl, Ohio will pull the upset at home.
San Jose State will have a very tough time moving the ball against Texas’ defense and may not get 250 total yards.
Clay Helton had some memorable games at the LA Coliseum, this Saturday will be memorable for the wrong reasons.
TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
Broadcast Information The Navy Midshipmen host the UAB Blazers as both squads open conference play in the American. The Midshipmen walloped the VMI Keydets in Week 1, 52-7. UAB held on to defeat the Alabama State Hornets 52-42. In-Conference Head Start Navy and UAB will be the first in-conference meeting for the American in 2025. […]
TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
It’s year two for Around the Group of 5, where I take 1 game from each of the G-5 conferences and give some analysis. While the Power 4 conferences get most of the attention, there are some excellent programs in the G-5 conferences. The G-5 conferences are the American Conference (American), Conference USA (CUSA), the […]
TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
Heading into year two in offensive coordinator Drew Cronic’s “Millennial” Wing-T, the Navy Midshipmen are looking to build on 2024’s 10-3 season. Navy is riding the wave of momentum, having won its final three games, including an upset of rival Army in the 125th Army-Navy game. When you think of the Navy offense, the first […]
