SDSU Bye Week Rooting Guide
SDSU quarterback Ryan Agnew (#9) hands off to running back Juwan Washington (#29) during the Aztecs 27-17 win over San Jose State on Oct. 19, 2019. (Photo:©Tony Avelar/Bay Area News Group)
The No. 25 San Diego State Aztecs football team is idle this weekend.
Although the Aztecs will not be in action, there are plenty of college football matchups that should have the attention of San Diego State fans this weekend. The Aztecs sit at 7-1 and No. 25 in the most recent AP Top 25 Poll. As much as Head Coach Rocky Long wants to downplay what is at stake for the red and black, a Cotton Bowl bid is very much in play.
The highest ranked conference champion out of the Group of 5 schools will play in the Cotton Bowl against a Power 5 opponent at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 28th. Right now, the American (AAC) champion has the inside track to the Cotton Bowl bid, but both San Diego State and No. 21 Boise State (6-1) will be in consideration if they bring 11-1 records into a Mountain West Championship Game matchup.
A lot of things need to go the Aztecs way over the next five weeks. So with that in mind, here is your Bye Week Rooting Guide.
THURSDAY - 5PM
ESPNU
Ga. Southern vs. No. 20 App. State
What to Root For:
No. 20 Appalachian State loses to Georgia Southern
No. 20 Appalachian State (7-0) faces a tough Sun Belt-Group A test when they welcome Georgia Southern (4-3) to town on Halloween night. This is one of three tough tests left for the undefeated Mountaineers (at South Carolina, at Georgia State). If App State can run the table, they will have a case for the Cotton Bowl bid, but a single slip-up will all but dash that dream. Even an undefeated Appalachian State would likely be passed up for a 1-loss champion from either the AAC or the Mountain West.
Georgia Southern is a sneaky 4-3, as two of those losses came on the road at undefeated No. 1 LSU and at undefeated No. 13 Minnesota. The Eagles pushed Minnesota to the brink in a 35-32 loss earlier this season. This team could be the best-suited to beat App State. Aztec fans should be keeping an eye on this matchup between trick-or-treaters.
FRIDAY - 5PM
ESPN2
Navy vs. UConn
What to Root For:
Navy loses to UConn
Navy (6-1) is one of three teams in the AAC West that currently sit at 6-1 or better. The other two, No. 15 SMU (8-0) and No. 24 Memphis (7-1), face off on Saturday in a pivotal Group of 5 contest. More on that matchup below.
The Midshipmen are the most likely G5 team to win this weekend, but the least likely to keep their 1-loss record intact long term. UConn (2-6) is one of the worst teams in the FBS, and should pose no threat to Navy. Expect Navy to cruise past the Huskies and into the AP Top 25 Poll by Sunday.
After this week’s breeze, Navy faces No. 16 Notre Dame, No. 15 SMU, Houston, and Army to round out a brutal closing stretch to its season. It’s hard to imagine the Midshipmen surviving that stretch and finishing atop the AAC.
SATURDAY - 9AM
ESPN2
Houston vs. UCF
What to Root For:
UCF loses to Houston
The University of Central Florida (6-2) is the only 2-loss team in consideration on this list. Most of that stems from previous success and how that plays out in the minds of the voters. If a 2-loss UCF team wins the AAC, they would likely jump a 1-loss Mountain West champion, and potentially even an undefeated Sun Belt champion (sorry, App State).
Houston (3-5) has looked good in defeat this season, and will be a tough out for the Knights. This contest is worth keeping an eye on while you enjoy your Saturday morning coffee.
UCF will be heavy favorites in each of its remaining games (Tulsa, Tulane, USF) but a 24-21 loss against No. 17 Cincinnati (6-1) earlier this month could loom large. The Knights currently trail the Bearcats in the AAC East standings, and Cincy owns the tiebreaker. UCF needs Cincinnati to lose twice to have a shot at the AAC East title.
SATURDAY - 4PM
CBS Sports Network
No. 17 Cincinnati vs. ECU
What to Root For:
No. 17 Cincinnati loses to ECU
Speaking of the Bearcats, No. 17 Cincinnati (6-1) is my favorite to win the AAC Championship and represent the Group of 5 in the Cotton Bowl. Cincinnati’s only loss is at No. 3 Ohio State (8-0). No Group of 5 team would be favored against the Buckeyes on any field, let alone in Columbus. So throw that lone loss out the window as it relates to Cotton Bowl consideration.
The Bearcats are heavy favorites on the road against a disappointing East Carolina (3-5) team. They will be heavy favorites the next three weeks (UConn, USF, Temple) before heading on the road for a massive Friday night matchup against No. 24 Memphis in the final weekend of the regular season. Aztec fans need to hope for a Cincinnati slip-up (or two) along the way, or the Bearcats will be partying in Arlington in late December.
SATURDAY - 4PM
ESPNU
UAB vs. Tennessee
What to Root For:
UAB loses to Tennessee
The University of Alabama-Birmingham (6-1) is on this list because there are currently two 1-loss teams in Conference USA West, and if either UAB or Louisiana Tech (7-1) finish the season at 12-1, that team will be in consideration for the Cotton Bowl bid.
UAB is likely to fall this weekend on the road at Tennessee (3-5). If they defeat the Volunteers, their Nov. 23rd game against Louisiana Tech will have big Group of 5 implications. Louisiana Tech is idle this week. Both UAB and LA Tech are in C-USA West, and the C-USA East champion will have a minimum of four losses, so neither team would get a boost by winning its conference championship game.
SATURDAY - 4:30PM
ABC
No. 15 SMU vs. No. 24 Memphis
What to Root For:
No. 24 Memphis defeats No. 15 SMU
This game is the most important game as it relates to San Diego State’s chances to play in the Cotton Bowl. The Aztecs need No. 15 SMU (8-0) to lose at No. 24 Memphis (7-1). A Memphis victory would be a huge boost for the Tigers chances in the AAC West, but they have a loss to Temple on their resume.
If SMU goes undefeated in the regular season, the AAC Championship Game will be a de facto Cotton Bowl playoff. If SMU were to win the AAC Champ, they would clearly be the Group of 5 representative at 13-0. If they were to lose to either Cincinnati or UCF, that team’s victory over undefeated SMU would almost certainly catapult that squad into the Cotton Bowl.
Memphis has a brutal stretch of upcoming games (Houston, USF, No. 17 Cincinnati), so it is likely that they will lose again this season, while SMU will be a heavy favorite in at least 2 of their 3 remaining contests (ECU, Tulane). The lone toss-up is a Nov. 23rd tussle in Annapolis against Navy. Regardless of how this weekend plays out, SMU will be in the thick of the Group of 5 race moving forward.
SATURDAY - 7:30PM
CBS SPORTS NETWORK
No. 21 Boise State vs. San Jose St.
What to Root For:
No. 21 Boise State defeats San Jose State
As counterintuitive as it may seem, the Aztecs need No. 21 Boise State (6-1) to win, and win big, for the rest of the season. The Broncos loss against BYU may have cost the Mountain West a shot at the Cotton Bowl. Even if Boise State and San Diego State both finish at 11-1 before the MW Championship, the much deeper AAC is in control of the Cotton Bowl bid.
San Jose State (4-4) has been much improved over recent years with victories at Arkansas (31-24) and at Army (34-29) to its credit, so Boise State will have to take the Spartans seriously on Saturday night. This game may prove to be the toughest hurdle for the Broncos before traveling to Utah State (4-3) on November 23rd in a matchup that will likely decide the Mountain West Mountain Division.
Let’s go State!
And Georgia Southern!
And UConn!
And Houston!
And ECU!
And Tennessee!
And Memphis!
And Boise State!