Seven G5 programs make SB Nation’s Week 9 FanPulse Top 25

There is a change at the top of the latest SB Nation FanPulse Top 25. That is significant for the top teams in college football, but we here at Underdog Dynasty are more impressed with the number of Group of Five teams to make the rankings.

Believe it or not, the SB Nation readers have voted in SEVEN G5 teams into the latest poll. In addition to that, the LSU Tigers have dethroned Alabama from the No. 1 spot.

The seven teams make up most of the back half of the top 25 with the SMU Mustangs being the highest ranked team at No. 13. With Shane Buechele at the helm, SMU is undefeated at 8-0 and currently in the driver’s seat to represent the P6 in a New Year’s Six bowl game. They face a huge test on Saturday when they travel to Memphis, who is ranked No. 23 this week.

The Cincinnati Bearcats are just behind SMU at No. 16, and these two programs look to be on a collision course to square off in the AAC Championship.

No. 17 belongs to the Appalachian State Mountaineers, one of nine teams - including SMU - that remains undefeated in college football. They’ve had friendly schedule thus far, but things are really about to ramp up a bit in the final weeks with some tough road trips upcoming.

Spots 21 through 24 all feature G5 programs hailing from three different conferences. San Diego State and Boise State are 21st and 22nd, representing the Mountain West. Both programs are sitting at one loss, and they too look to be headed towards a meeting in the conference championship game.

The P6 team that could really make this interesting is the Memphis Tigers. They will be hosting College Gameday for the first time ever, and a win would not only end SMU’s unbeaten run, but put them at the top of a wild AAC West.

Wrapping up the G5 representatives and hands down the most surprising addition is the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at No. 24. They did receive votes in both national polls, but failed to crack either top 25. The Bulldogs have received love in the Underdog Top 10, our weekly G5 rankings, but it is a surprise to see the SB Nation communities vote them in.

Just outside the top 25 were two more AAC teams in Navy and UCF. That would give the American Athletic five teams in the top 30, hence why we are all aboard on the Power 6 movement that the conference is fully behind.

Below is how our readers at Underdog Dynasty came up with their Top 25.

If you would like your voice to be heard in the weekly Top 25, you can SIGN UP HERE. You guys have done a terrific job getting the G5 the recognition it deserves.