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Mike's top 10 Group of Five college football teams for Week 3, 2025. His best teams from the American, CUSA, MAC, WAC, and Sun Belt entering Week 3.
Group of Five College Football Rankings
Why should only the power schools have all the fun? Now that the lower class of FBS gets an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff every year, it’s about time that we start keeping track of them as well. These rankings will be very different from a normal top 25 ranking. The difficult games for many of these schools come before conference play, when many power schools are willing to play them.
You are going to see some 0-1 teams still ranked because they hung with power schools in Week 1. To me, that’s more impressive than blowing the doors off of an FCS school.
10. North Texas (2-0)
Last week: NR
Result: W 33-30 (OT) at Western Michigan
The Mean Green defense is still a sore spot, but Drew Mestemaker could be a special player in Denton. He has over 1,000 passing yards in his first three starts. This is a throw-first offense, but Makenzie Gill II has turned into a strong back. Mestemaker has accounted for six touchdowns in two games without a turnover. Turnovers were a problem for Chandler Morris (12 interceptions) last year before Mestemaker took over in the bowl game. If Mestemaker can avoid mistakes, we may finally see the Mean Green realize some of that potential. This offense looks really good.
9. James Madison (1-1)
Last week: 7 ⇓2
Result: L 14-28 at Louisville
James Madison held a one-point lead at halftime, but the quarterback carousel finally did the Dukes in. Once again, Alonza Barnett III and Matthew Sluka alternated, oftentimes in the same drive. It killed the continuity of the offense. Sluka’s limitations as a passer allowed the Louisville defense to focus on stopping the run when he was in there. Sluka only threw five passes, but he ran the ball 21 times. He is essentially the running back for JMU who lines up at quarterback.
It’s hard for me to buy stock in James Madison if they are going to continue to rotate quarterbacks. It’s clear that Barnett is the better passer and is still somewhat effective on the ground. However, Sluka played for Bob Chesney at Holy Cross and was likely promised playing time when he committed, since Barnett was not expected to be ready for the start of the season. Chesney is killing the offense, which is unfortunate since the defense did a really good job against Louisville.
8. Navy (2-0)
Last week: 4 ⇓4
Result: W 38-24 vs. UAB
It was a methodical win for Navy, but Jalen Kitna throwing for 304 yards and a pair of touchdowns may be cause for some concern. UAB struggled against Alabama State, but Navy allowed them to hang around. That said, Navy isn’t built to blow teams out. A 14-point loss often feels like a blowout.
7. Toledo (1-1)
Last week: 9 ⇑2
Result: W 45-21 vs. Western Kentucky
Given the trouble that Kentucky gave Mississippi, I may be a little low on the Rockets. Holding that potent Western Kentucky offense to 21 points is impressive by itself, but Toledo also scored 45 points in three quarters. They called off the dogs in the fourth.
Former Arizona State and Ohio State RB Chip Trayanum had a monster day for the Rockets with 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns. As long as Tucker Gleason can keep this offense moving without turning the ball over, the Rockets are a player in the MAC.
6. Texas State (2-0)
Last week: NR
Result: W 43-36 at (5) UTSA
I thought Texas State’s offense would slow down a little bit after Jordan McCloud graduated and Ismail Mahdi left for Arizona. That hasn’t been the case. Brad Jackson has been a solid replacement for McCloud, but Lincoln Pare has excelled in replacing Mahdi. On top of that, the receivers are better this year. Beau Sparks already has 12 receptions for 237 yards in two games.
The Bobcats’ win over UTSA in the Alamodome allows them to take UTSA’s spot in the rankings. We’ll see how long the Bobcats hang around. They have to go to Tempe to face Sparky on Saturday.
5. UNLV (3-0)
Last week: 8 ⇑3
Result: W 30-23 vs. UCLA
The Rebels are one of only three FBS teams to start the season 3-0. Beating UCLA is only a name right now, but it still feels good. UCLA’s defense played a really good game, holding Jai’Den Thomas to just 61 yards rushing. Anthony Colandrea was once again great as he completed 15 of 21 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He also ran for 59 yards.
4. Tulane (2-0)
Last week: 2 ⇓2
Result: W 33-31 at South Alabama
Tulane dips a couple of slots this week for not only allowing the Jaguars back into this, but for nearly blowing a two-touchdown lead with 10 minutes left. Tulane allowed a 100-yard rusher (Kentrel Bullock – 107) and a 100-yard receiver (Devin Voisin – 152). Beating Northwestern must not mean all that much. This defense was exposed by South Alabama.
3. Memphis (2-0)
Last week: 3 ⇔
Result: W 38-16 at Georgia State
Memphis struggled with the Panthers early on, but didn’t allow a point in the second half. Brendon Lewis only had four incompletions in 20 attempts, but this is clearly a run-first team. All four offensive touchdowns came on the ground. This is still a committee backfield, but sophomore Makari Bodiford has surpassed Frank Peasant behind Sutton Smith.
Ohio (1-1)
Last week: 6 ⇑4
Result: W 17-10 vs. West Virginia
Jahiem White went down for the Mountaineers in the second quarter. That could have altered the outcome of this game. Ohio’s defense did a good job on him while he was in there, but the Mountaineers didn’t know where to go to run the ball after that. Clay Ash was ineffective. Rodney Gallagher III was solid, but 16 of his 18 yards were on one run.
This was a gritty win by Ohio. The Bobcats didn’t allow a point after the first drive of the second half despite Parker Navarro chucking three second-half interceptions. Navarro made up for it with his rushing prowess. He led the Bobcats with 87 rushing yards.
1. South Florida (2-0)
Last week: 1 ⇔
Result: W 18-16 at (13) Florida
The Bulls have beaten two AP top 25 teams to open the season and get a crack at a third this week. South Florida is head and shoulders above the rest of the Group of 5 right now. We also said that after Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame in Week 2 last year…also by two points.
