What a week it’s been for the Group of Five. And more specifically, for the Mountain West.
If you’re reading this, I’m sure you know by now the situation surrounding Matthew Sluka and UNLV football. Or you’ve been keeping tabs on everything that’s unfolding between the Pac-12 and Mountain West.
There’s been so much going on that it feels like this week’s slate of games and what’s happened during the first four weeks of the season aren’t being discussed. There’s still plenty to talk about though, including some of the biggest surprises so far this year.
Preseason Favorites Struggling
I don’t think anybody anticipated Miami (Ohio) or Appalachian State to be a combined 2-5 right now. Both programs have had rocky starts to the 2024 campaign.
College football betting odds had the RedHawks as a favorite to win the MAC at +225. App State was the favorite to win the Sun Belt at +275. Both were also among the favorites to earn the G5 automatic berth in the College Football Playoff, but that ship has sailed.
The RedHawks still sit at 5/1 to win the MAC and have a legit shot at doing so as long as their offense can find some sort of traction. They’ll look to pick up the first win of the season Saturday against UMass.
The Mountaineers have dropped all the way to 16/1 to win the Sun Belt, even sitting behind Georgia Southern and Marshall. At this point, App State will be lucky to pick up four more wins and reach a bowl game based on its difficult schedule.
Navy Football Sits Atop The AAC
I think Blake Horvath is still running.
Each time I checked in on the Memphis/Navy game last weekend, it seemed like quarterback Blake Horvath was scorching down the field for a big gain. The Tigers had no answer for Horvath and the Midshipmen’s rushing attack. Then again, no team has.
Navy is fourth in the FBS in rushing, averaging 307 yards per game and Horvath ranks seventh in the country, averaging 122 YPG. He’s also given the Midshipmen a passing threat.
They have made their way into the top 10 in the HERO Sports G5 Top 25 and sit at +1200 to win the AAC. Navy is likely to be 6-0 entering a meeting with Notre Dame.
There’s a very real chance the Midshipmen could be a nine- or even a 10-win team this season depending on how they handle the back half of their schedule.
Northern Illinois Football Is The First Ranked G5 Team
Not Boise State. Not Memphis. Not Liberty.
The Huskies were the first Group of Five team to be ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 after knocking off Notre Dame in Week 3. They were ranked No. 25, but then were bumped up to No. 23 following their bye week.
After last week’s loss to Buffalo, NIU has dropped out of the AP Top 25 but is still a legitimate contender in the MAC.
Nick Nash’s Emergence
The San Jose State wide receiver isn’t new to finding the end zone or making big plays. Nash was a second-team All-MW selection last season.
But I don’t think many expected Nash to be the best wide receiver in the Mountain West through the first four weeks of the season. His 50 receptions are already more than he had last year, his eight touchdowns are tied for last season’s mark, and with 637 yards, he’s less than 100 yards from eclipsing last year’s total.
Nash should be playing on Sundays, and his draft stock rises every Saturday.
