The top four teams in this week’s Group of Five power poll remain the same. Four Sun Belt teams round out the top 7, making for an interesting next couple of weeks in league play.
With two ranked programs leading off in the No. 1 and 2 spots, here is this week’s poll via Bennett Conlin and Robert Munoz.
1. Cincinnati, last week: 1
Despite beating 1-5 South Florida by four points in a game that they were favored by 27, the Bearcats remain the top Group of Five program in the country. With some help losses from others, Cincinnati moved up three spots in the AP top 25, now ranking at No. 21 as it enters its bye week.
2. James Madison, last week: 2
JMU continues to prove it belongs at the FBS level. In their first-ever season as an FBS program, the Dukes have cracked the top 25, sitting at No. 25 following a 5-0 start while outscoring their opponents 221-75. JMU is also 5-0 against the spread, and college football betting odds have it listed as 10.5-point favorites at Georgia Southern this week.
3. UCF, last week: 3
Following a Week 2 loss vs. Louisville, the Knights haven’t had any trouble walking away with easy wins the last three weeks. UCF actually hasn’t played since the last poll was released, defeating SMU last Wednesday. It’ll have another weeknight game Thursday when it hosts Temple.
4. Coastal Carolina, last week: 4
Another week and another one-possession win it was for the Chanticleers after a 34-30 victory over Georgia Southern. Coastal sits atop the Sun Belt, undefeated along with JMU. The teams square off in the final game of the season, which seems like it can’t come soon enough.
5. Tulane, last week: 10
Coming off a 24-9 win over East Carolina, the Green Wave defense continues to remain solid. ECU entered the game averaging over 35 points per game. Tulane holds opponents to 13.3 ppg, good for first in the AAC, and seventh in the nation.
6. Troy, last week: 7
It may seem like the Trojans have been a little under the radar this season, but they’re on their first three-game winning streak since 2018. Troy introduced Southern Miss to the Sun Belt last week in a 27-10 win, and host a 3-3 Texas State team Saturday.
7. South Alabama, last week: 8
The Jaguars are coming off a bye week that may have arrived at the perfect time as they looked to regroup after barely grazing by Louisiana-Lafayette behind a last-second 43-yard field goal from Diego Guajardo. But a win is a win. The Jaguars and Troy square off in two weeks, shaping up for a huge game in the Sun Belt West.
8. San Jose State, last week: unranked
Is it safe to say the Spartans have separated themselves as favorites in the Mountain West? Maybe. Maybe not quite yet. They’re currently sitting at +250 behind Boise State (+180) to win a mediocre conference. Either way, SJSU put a shellacking on UNLV last week, who was having its best start in decades.
9. UTSA, last week: unranked
The Roadrunners crept into this week’s poll after a 31-28 victory over a respectable Western Kentucky squad. UTSA shouldn’t have any issues with an FIU team that was defeated 73-0 by WKU on Sept. 24.
10. Rice, last week: unranked
Rice most recently beat a UAB team that has shown a lot of promise this year. If the Blazers had come away victorious in that game, they could arguably be in this spot. Now, Rice heads east to FAU in a battle of the Owls.
Dropped out: Appalachian State, UNLV, Air Force
