G5 Football Daily

4 G5 Football Games You Should Watch In Week 8

Here's what our crew will be paying attention to this week

G5 Football Daily Staff

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It’s Week Seven in the college football world which means programs are making their case for a conference title run. Let’s take a look at four G5 contests which have interesting storylines and have a chance to play a major part in bowl implications or who may represent their league in championship games.

New Mexico State at UTEP

2023’s Battle of I-10 features two teams who desperately need a win to keep recent momentum going. Dana Dimel’s Miners made the cross-country trip to Miami and for the better part of four quarters, embarrassed the Panthers – even taking the opportunity for a photo opp with an on-field Lamborghini following an interception. It looks as if Cade McConnell is going to see another start in place of the injured Gavin Hardison. McConnell’s first career start saw him jumpstart the Miners offense and they’ll look to keep that going against NMSU’s talented dual-threat signal-caller, Diego Pavia. The Aggies are clearly an improved program since Jerry Kill has taken over, but they’re still looking to build a measure of consistency and a win over their rivals would help in those efforts.

Rice at Tulsa

With six games left, the script is all too familiar for Mike Bloomgren and his Rice Owls team. For the third straight year, they’re a team that’s just good enough to be taken seriously each weekend, but not consistent enough to break out of the pack and be true contenders in the conference. Last week’s loss against a struggling UConn team cost the Owls a chance to go 4-2 and now they’ll head to an AAC opponent in Tulsa, who by no means are a pushover and in their own right are looking to contend for a bowl. If Bloomgren can’t get the Owls to six wins this season, his future in Houston could be in jeopardy.

UTSA at Florida Atlantic

While this isn’t a make or break game for either team, this showdown of old Conference USA foes is especially crucial because both were heavyweights in their previous league – and both are still finding their footing in the American. FAU comes off of a much-needed decisive victory over in-state South Florida, proving that the Owls’ program is still ahead of the Bulls’ rebuild. FAU wideout LaJohntay Wester has been a presence in Boca for years now and his FBS-leading 62 receptions now have him on a national stage. For UTSA, Jeff Traylor’s club were thought to be squarely in the mix for an AAC title after their recent reign of supremacy in C-USA, but have struggled through injuries and inconsistent play. A win over FAU would serve to put the rest of the programs who made the switch with them that the Roadrunners are still a force to be reckoned with.

Toledo at Miami (Ohio)

Arguably the biggest contest of the Group of Five slate comes to us from the MAC as a pair of 6-1 clubs who are both undefeated in conference play square off. Veteran Redhawks quarterback Brett Gabbert is having an excellent season, throwing for 1,655 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions for Chuck Martin’s club, who also feature one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. That defense will have to try and slow one of the nation’s top scoring offense’s in Jason Candle’s Toledo Rockets. Third-year starter DeQuan Finn has guided the offense to over 36 points per game and running back Peny Boone is third in the nation in rushing yards with 792. 

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