TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
Week 2 was a very good week for the Group of 5. There were upsets of Power-4 programs, such as West Virginia losing at Ohio. But the major upset of the day came when USF stunned the Florida Gators 18-16 in Gainesville, FL.
If USF can ride this wave of momentum, the Bulls will be able to make a strong case for the G-5’s CFP spot. Below are this week’s games in the G-5 conferences.
No. 18 USF (2-0, 0-0) at No. 5 Miami (2-0, 0-0), 4:30 p.m. EST, Sep. 13, Miami Gardens, FL on The CW Network
South Florida has the best wins, not only from the Group of 5, but arguably in the country. Week 1 the Bulls knocked off G-5 Favorite Boise State then last week’s upset at Florida has really put the Bulls in the spotlight. This week, the Bulls head to Miami to take on the 5th-ranked Hurricanes.
Head coach Alex Golesh has this team firing on all cylinders. QB Byrum Brown is running Golesh’s offense to perfection. WR Keshaun Singleton leads the Bulls in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs.
However, this will be a different animal entirely. By the time this game starts, the Hurricanes will be tired of hearing about USF and their back-to-back upset wins. If USF can do the unthinkable and pull off this upset, the Bulls will surely be the favorites to get the G-5 CFP spot.
New Mexico State (2-0, 0-0) at Louisiana Tech (1-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. EST, Sep. 13, Ruston, LA on ESPN+
Head coach Tony Sanchez and his New Mexico State Aggies hit the road for the first time this year. The offense is led by QB Logan Fife, who has completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 479 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT. Fife’s top target is WR Donovan Faupel, who has 13 catches for 177 yards and 1 TD.
The defense is led by LB Tyler Martinez, who has 17 tackles. DE Jamall Thompson, Jr. leads the team with 4 tackles for loss and is tied for the lead with 2 sacks.
Sonny Cumbie’s Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have had polar opposite games, home against Southeastern Louisiana and at LSU. Against SELA, the Bulldogs struggled to move the ball as they were outgained 273-262.
Tech was aided by an 80-yard fumble returned for a TD in the 3rd quarter. Against LSU the Bulldogs only gained 154 total yards. Amazingly, Tech is a 9.5-point favorite over the Aggies.
Liberty (1-1, 0-1) at Bowling Green (1-1, 0-0), 5:00 p.m. EST, Sep. 13, Bowling Green, OH on ESPN+
Liberty’s defense has been leaky through 2 games, giving up 353.0 yards per game. Jamey Chadwell’s offense, however, has been carrying the weight, gaining 462.5 yards per game.
The offense is led by QB Ethan Vasko who has thrown for 532 yards with 5 TDs and 1 INT. WR Donte Lee, Jr. has 5 catches for 110 yards and 2 TDs.
On defense, the Flames are led by LB Joseph Carter with 10 tackles and DL CJ Bazile, Jr., who has 9 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
First-year Bowling Green head coach Eddie George returns only 6 starters from the 2024 squad that won 7 games. However, George did a good job filling out his roster via the transfer portal.
Former Notre Dame/Arizona State/Missouri QB Drew Pine has thrown for 383 yards with 1 TD. Keeping in recent Bowling Green tradition, the leading receiver is Texas Southern transfer TE Jyrin Johnson who has 8 catches for 102 yards and 1 TD.
The Falcons are led on defense by sophomore LB Dorian Pringle, who has 20 tackles and 4 tackles for loss after 2 games. Pringle’s LB mate, Gideon Lampron, has 15 tackles and 3 TFLs.
No. 20 Utah (2-0, 0-0) at Wyoming (2-0, 0-0), 8:00 p.m. EST, Sep. 13, Laramie, WY on CBS Sports Network
This will be the 84th meeting between the old rivals, but the first since 2010. Utah leads the series 49-31-1.
Wyoming has put up a lot of yards in two games but has struggled to put up points. The Cowboys are averaging 402.5 yards per game, but only 20.5 points per game.
QB Kaden Anderson has completed 61.0 percent of his passes for 427 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT. RB Sam Scott leads the team with 190 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 per carry, and has 1 TD.
Jay Sawvel’s defense has been stout, surrendering only 199.0 yards per game and 3.5 points per game. LB Brayden Johnson leads with 14 tackles and is tied for the lead with 1 INT.
Utah has outscored UCLA and Cal Poly by a combined 106-19. Dual-threat QB Devon Dampier has completed an eye-popping 79.2 percent of his throws for 398 yards with 5 TDs and 0 INTs. He is tied for the lead in rushing with 112 yards.
Utah’s defense is giving up 221.5 yards and 9.5 points per game. Safety Jackson Bennee leads the Utes with 10 tackles and has also registered 1 pick six.
Utah will be a much different opponent than Wyoming has faced this year. It could be a defensive struggle early but expect Utah to pull away in the 2nd half.
Texas State (2-0, 0-0) at Arizona State (1-1, 0-0), 10:30 p.m. EST, Sep. 13, Tempe, AZ on TNT
The Texas State Bobcats are coming off a win in the I-35 Rivalry over UTSA, 43-36. Head coach GJ Kinne’s offense has amassed 1,060 yards after two games.
QB Brad Jackson has thrown for 500 yards with 5 TDs and 1 INT. Jackson also has 82 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs. RB Lincoln Pare leads Texas State with 238 rushing yards and 2 TDs.
As is typical with Kinne’s teams, the defense needs some adjusting. LB Treylin Payne leads with 17 tackles, while safety Ryan Nolan is second with 14. However, the defense has not forced a turnover yet this year. The Bobcats rank No. 113 in the nation in total defense, giving up a staggering 427.5 yards per game. That must be corrected if Texas State expects to win in Tempe.
Arizona State is coming off a road loss at Mississippi State, 24-20. The run game has picked up where it left off last year. However, the passing game needs to be fixed. QB Sam Leavitt struggled at Mississippi State, and if he struggles against Texas State, it may lead to a home upset by a soon-to-be Pac 12 program.
If USF pulls the upset, it has a case to be the best team in the state of Florida this year.
Louisiana Tech will start its farewell tour of the Sun Belt with a win over New Mexico State, but they won’t cover the spread.
Bowling Green and Liberty will be the highest-scoring game in the Group of 5. Whoever has the ball lasts wins.
If Utah gets caught looking ahead at Texas Tech, Wyoming may pull the upset.
Texas State will have trouble moving the ball in the 1st quarter, which may dig enough of a hole that Arizona State can hold off for the win.
TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
Week 4 in the Group of 5 features three games that are conference matchups. The games below from Conference USA and the MAC, while not conference games, are against other Group of 5 squads. Sadly, the best game in the Group of 5 this weekend will be missed by most of the country. It starts […]
TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
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TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
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