Around the Group of 5: Week 8

Much has been made of the three remaining undefeated Group of 5 teams through eight weeks of play. All three passed their tests as they continued their quest for perfection.

No. 22 Air Force took on Navy in the annual battle between the skies and the sea.

Despite Air Force coach Troy Calhoun announcing earlier in the week that starting quarterback Zac Larrier would be out “for a while”, Larrier got the start against the Midshipmen. The decision paid dividends as Larrier completed a 94-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dane Kinamon in what was the longest pass in Air Force history.

In a game filled with the triple option and stingy defense, as per usual for the military academy football matchups, Air Force linebacker Alec Mock returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal a 17-6 win for the Falcons.

Mock is an esteemed graduate of Weddington High School in North Carolina (the same high school as the writer of this article), and has emerged as a leader of one of the best defensive units in the nation.

The win was enough to bump Air Force to No. 19 in the AP poll, their highest ranking since 2002 when they were 18th. They will remain in their home state as they travel to face Colorado State in Week 9.

James Madison cracked the AP poll at No. 25 after making light work of Marshall 20-9.

The Dukes were led by a strong defensive effort, holding the Thundering Herd to 169 total yards and forcing two turnovers.

Marshall has lost three in a row after opening the season 4-0.

In their first season as Conference USA members, Liberty immediately asserted their dominance over the rest of the conference.

This continued on Tuesday when the Flames traveled to Western Kentucky for their Week 9 matchup.

Thanks to quarterback Kaidon Salter contributing three passing touchdowns as well as 117 rushing yards and another touchdown, Liberty took down Western Kentucky 42-29.

However, there are still a plethora of one-loss teams that are hoping for chaos to envelope the college football landscape and sneak into an NY6 game.

No. 22 Tulane is the most hopeful, as undefeated Air Force is the only GO5 team ranked higher than them.

Their hopes appeared to be dwindling as the Green Wave watched a 28-7 lead disappear against North Texas, who scored 21 unanswered points to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Veteran quarterback Michael Pratt ran in 19 yards for a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the game, and the Tulane defense stopped North Texas on 4th-and-1 at midfield to seal the victory.

Toledo opened the season with a two-point loss to Illinois, but have since rattled off seven straight wins.

They picked up win number seven on the season after defeating Miami (Ohio) 21-17 in a game featuring the two best MAC teams record-wise.

UNLV, a struggling football program that has made a singular bowl game since the turn of the millennium, is a surprising 6-1 on the season. Their only defeat is excusable with it coming against No. 2 Michigan.

The Rebels have guaranteed they will go bowling this season after defeating Colorado State 25-23 on the back of kicker Jose Pizano’s six field goals, including the game-winner with three seconds remaining in the game.

Georgia State suffered a tough Week 5 loss to the Trojans of Troy, but have been perfect aside from that blemish.

Star dual-threat quarterback Darren Grainger has led the Panthers to Sun Belt contention. He and the Panthers have continued their winning ways, using a strong second quarter to defeat Louisiana 20-17.

Alex Perez is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email app5877@psu.edu.