Conference USA Power Rankings: Week 10

The Conference USA Power Rankings are never a prediction for how things will end up, but rather a snapshot of how teams look at the moment. This week’s rankings are a result of evaluating body of work. Even with a few upsets last week, it’s tough to vault teams up when the separation from the top of the conference to the middle of the conference is pretty wide.

1. UAB (8-1, 6-0, Last Week: #1)

After destroying UTSA with their backup quarterback, UAB has now swept the state of Texas. UAB is by far the best team in the conference and could soon appear in a Top 25 poll. The Blazers can clinch their first-ever C-USA West division title on Saturday with a win over Southern Miss.

2. North Texas (7-2, 3-2, LW: #4)

The Mean Green had a bye over the week and move up due to not embarrassing themselves over the weekend. Honestly if you look at their body of work, they have a solid case to make for being the second best team in the conference. If they win out, North Texas could be the only 10-win team in C-USA.

3. FIU (6-3, 4-1, LW: #2)

Getting blown out at home against FAU was very disappointing as the Panthers had a ton of mental errors throughout the contest. Perhaps the moment was too big for the Panthers. Despite the loss, FIU still controls their own destiny to win C-USA East. A road game against a floundering UTSA team provides a great opportunity to right the ship.

4. Louisiana Tech (6-3, 4-1, LW: #3)

I planned on moving Tech into the second spot last weekend as long as they had a decent showing against Mississippi State but couldn’t bring myself to do it after they lost by 42.

5. Middle Tennessee (6-3, 5-1, LW: #5)

A three-game winning streak and a win over WKU has the Blue Raiders sitting in first place of the C-USA East division. A road trip to a surging UTEP team awaits as MTSU will be on upset alert.

6. Marshall (5-3, 3-2, LW: #6)

If there’s one pet-peeve I have when it comes to coaching staffs, it’s that you should never look unprepared after a bye week. Folks, Marshall looked unprepared against Southern Miss and suffered a costly loss, as they are now a long-shot to win the division.

7. Charlotte (4-5, 3-2, LW: #7)

Holding Tennessee to 14 points shows how salty this defense has become under Glenn Spencer. A road game against Marshall has huge postseason ramifications. Although I don’t like their chances, the 49ers are still in the hunt for a division title in November. Who would’ve thought that?

8. FAU (4-5, 2-3, LW: #8)

The Lane Train is back! Well, not quite back, but certainly back on track. FAU retained the Don Shula Award for the second straight season as they beat FIU in Miami for the first time since 2009. Last Chance U star De’Andre Johnson came in for Chris Robison at quarterback and provided a much-needed spark for the offense and could be the starter going forward.

9. Southern Miss (4-4, 3-2, LW: #9)

The Golden Eagles picked up a much-needed win for their bowl hopes as they pulled off the upset against Marshall. With Jack Abraham set to return at QB, USM will play the role of spoiler when they play UAB this weekend.

10. Old Dominion (2-7, 1-5, LW: #11)

The Monarchs were on a bye and will host North Texas this weekend.

11. UTSA (3-6, 2-3, LW: #10)

Two weeks to prepare and UTSA musters three points against UAB and allowed a staggering 52 points. It’s pretty amazing how far Frank Wilson has fallen compared where his stock was a year ago. UTSA looks like one of the worst teams in the country right now.

12. UTEP (1-8, 1-4, LW: #14)

The Miners finally move up the rankings after weeks of looking like an improved team, as they reached the win column for the first time this year with a win over Rice.

13. WKU (1-8, 0-5, LW: #12)

Five straight losses with no end in sight? Maybe. The Tops close the season with road games against FAU and La Tech, and a home game against UTEP. If the Tops finish 1-11, I think they will fire Mike Sanford.

14. Rice (1-9, 0-6, LW: #13)

The nation’s longest losing streak now belongs to the Owls after their loss to UTEP. The Owls showed so much promise at the beginning of the season but ultimately the depth just wasn’t there for them to sustain their level of play.