25. Houston 2-5 Within the spirit of the Halloween season, we welcome Houston to the FBS graveyard. Willie Fritz is a good coach, and sensible cash says that he’ll get this factor circled. It will take a loooooot of time and persistence although. Honing an offense that is scoring an FBS-worst 13.7 factors per sport can be a very good place to start out. (Final week: NR) 24. Florida Atlantic 2-5 Florida Atlantic’s been bouncing out and in of the Backside 25 all 12 months, however current AAC outcomes appear to point the Owls will probably be a mainstay down the stretch. They’ve but to select up a convention win, and two of their three losses have come by at the very least two possessions. Fortunately they get a bye this week to lick their wounds. (NR)  23. Georgia State 2-4 Bear in mind when Georgia State beat Vanderbilt? In contrast to most years, that is really an accomplishment in 2024. It is definitely the excessive level of the Panthers’ season to this point and — provided that they haven’t received since — will in all probability stay that manner for a very good lengthy whereas. (NR)  22. Hawaii 2-5 Hawaii is one other crew that is fluctuated out and in of the Backside 25. Like FAU, early convention returns point out the Rainbow Warriors will now be round for some time. Washington State is, for all intents and functions (although not really) a Mountain West crew this 12 months, and Hawaii simply misplaced 42-10 to the Cougars. That was the Warriors’ third defeat in a row, as they’re nonetheless looking for their first FBS win. (NR) 21. Temple 2-5 Temple! Stan Drayton’s squad did justice to the Owl title — and, if these rankings are any indication, it has been a tough 12 months for Owls — by downing Tulsa 20-10. Perhaps they will hold that momentum rolling Saturday towards an East Carolina crew that simply fired its head coach. (14) 20. Appalachian State 2-4 Appalachian State had a bye in Week 8, which gave it further time to arrange for an enormous Backside 25 showdown towards Georgia State. The Mountaineers are at present a -285 cash line betting favourite to win the showdown, in line with Fanatics sportsbook. Get previous the Panthers, and that is perhaps sufficient to assist the ‘Neers climb out of this pit. (18)  19. Florida State 1-6 Florida State misplaced to Duke for the primary time in program historical past and solely dropped one spot. Congratulations to Mike Norvell, for locating new methods to set the bar even decrease. The Seminoles at the moment are one loss away from falling out of bowl rivalry. Let’s be trustworthy, although. They give up on this 12 months some time in the past. (20)  18. Stanford 2-5 Stanford should have made some type of Faustian discount to beat Syracuse, in that the Cardinal traded an ACC win for the flexibility to play competent offense. Since placing 26 factors on the board towards the Orange, they’ve scored a mixed 38 in 4 video games. Predictably, they’re 0-4 in that span. Wake Forest could possibly be a get-right sport this Saturday. (NR) 17. Mississippi State 1-6 Jeff Lebby definitely has Mississippi State trending in the best route, even when the file could not point out it but. The Bulldogs have performed Georgia and Texas A&M shut in consecutive weeks. Certain, followers need these sturdy efforts into wins, nevertheless it’s good to see a program clearly within the midst of a rebuild show some glimmers of hope. Perhaps the Dawgs can recover from the hump towards Arkansas. (19)  16. Tulsa 2-5 Since Sept. 21’s win towards fellow Backside 25 mainstay Louisiana Tech, Tulsa has been outscored 121-37. The Golden Hurricanes don’t play a single opponent with a successful file over the past month and alter, so it is price watching to see in the event that they get issues circled. (17) 15. Utah State 1-6 Utah State hasn’t had any hassle scoring. The Aggies managed to internet 45 factors towards New Mexico in Week 8, marking their third-straight sport with at the very least 30. It was additionally their third-straight loss. I assume that is the tradeoff for fielding one of many worst defensive models within the FBS: Utah State at present ranks 132nd in whole protection and 132nd in scoring protection. (16) 14. New Mexico State 2-5 Take a look at you, Aggies. Did not know you had it in you. New Mexico State obtained its first FBS win of the 12 months by downing Louisiana Tech in time beyond regulation. Now it will get a bye to revel within the glory and put together for a winnable sport towards Florida Worldwide. (6) 13. Troy 1-6 Troy has damaged the 20-point mark simply twice this season towards FBS opponents. A type of video games was towards Iowa, as we might count on. The Trojans have not carried out it since and, actually, have scored double-digit factors simply as soon as in three such video games. This regardless of new head coach Gerad Parker’s offensive coordinator background. His model of soccer definitely is offensive, if solely to the eyes. (15)  12. UAB 1-6 UAB rose one spot after a 10-point loss to South Florida. Don’t let that distract you from the truth that Trent Dilfer has fully trashed a once-proud program, and reset the large progress the Blazers made earlier than his arrival. (11)  11. Center Tennessee 2-5 Congratulations to educate Derek Mason for incomes his first Convention USA win. All it took was beating a Kennesaw State program that appears prefer it’s by no means even heard of the sport of soccer earlier than. Subsequent on the docket is Jacksonville State — one other current FCS-to-FBS expat — on Tuesday night time. (5) 10. Southern Miss 1-6 East Carolina beat Southern Miss to the title of “First FBS crew to fireside their head coach this 12 months” by a few hours, however the Golden Eagles did what wanted to be carried out anyway by canning Will Corridor Sunday afternoon. The remainder of the 12 months is devoted to figuring out candidates whereas making an attempt to persuade at the very least just a few gamers to stay round. (12)  9. Purdue 1-6 Purdue is the primary Energy 4 crew to actually earn a bottom-10 spot this 12 months. Any indicators of progress in a slim Week 7 loss to Illinois have been fully wiped off the board in Week 8 when the Boilermakers struggled to get the ball previous the 50-yard line towards Oregon’s first crew. A bye this week gives them a short reprieve, however three ranked opponents await of their final 5 video games.  (13) 8. UTEP 1-6 It is a week of firsts within the Backside 25! UTEP coach Scotty Walden obtained his first win with the Miners in Week 8 by beating Florida Worldwide 30-21. For a crew that was firmly within the 0-12 dialog, that’s legitimately an enormous accomplishment. (3) 7. UMass 1-6 Despite the truth that it had a bye in Week 8, UMass nonetheless dropped three spots. That is simply merciless to the Minutemen. A minimum of they ought to beat FCS Wagner on Saturday. (10)  6. Air Drive 1-6 Air Drive collected its second straight Backside 25 loss final week when Colorado State waltzed out of Falcon Stadium with a 21-13 win. It has been robust for the Falcons, however at the very least they cannot probably lose this week. They’ve a bye. (9)  5. Wyoming 1-6 Wyoming seemed prefer it may be turning the nook with a 12-point win towards Air Drive after which a 3-point loss to San Diego State (progress for a crew like Wyoming), however then it misplaced by 10 to San Jose State. That is lots of numbers to say the Cowboys are nonetheless actually unhealthy. Now they’re nearly assuredly going to overlook out on a bowl for the primary time since 2020. (8)  4. Akron 1-6 Akron was one other unfortunate crew that noticed its inventory plummet in the course of the bye week. The Zips will host 5-2 Japanese Michigan Saturday, seeking to hold their scant postseason hopes alive. (7)  3. Ball State 2-5 Going to start out calling Ball State the Cardiac Cardinals. They have been a pair performs away from upsetting Vanderbilt earlier than the Commodores pulled away late in Week 8. Three of Ball State’s loss have come by three factors or fewer, and each of its wins have been by one possession. Proof suggests the Playing cards are fairly un-clutch. (4) 2. Kent State 0-7 Kent State is the primary crew to formally be eradicated from bowl rivalry. Many will observe within the subsequent couple of weeks, however the Golden Flashes will at all times be the primary. Hold the banner.  (2)  1. Kennesaw State 0-6 The worst of the FBS Owls, and that is actually saying one thing. Kennesaw State is definitely careening in direction of seven losses. It has to play Liberty, which has but to lose a daily season sport underneath coach Jamey Chadwell, Tuesday night time. The Flames have not seemed like world-beaters this 12 months, however Kennesaw in all probability is not the varsity that is going to drag the rug out from underneath them. (1)