Diehard G6 Top 25 — Boise State shuts down Memphis in the second half to hold No. 1

Boise State made a statement. Memphis led 20-17 at halftime Saturday in a game with legitimate College Football Playoff implications for both programs. Then the Tigers stopped scoring. Demarion Riley ran for 206 yards on 19 carries and the Broncos' defense held Memphis without a point in the second half, turning a three-point deficit into a 38-20 victory that removed any doubt about who sits at the top of the Group of 6. Spencer Danielson's team is 1-1, but the loss came at Oregon by a touchdown. The win came against the team everyone pointed to as the biggest challenger. Boise State is the clear No. 1.

South Florida scored one of the most important road wins of the early G6 season when it beat Army 28-24 at West Point in the American Conference opener for both teams. QB Michael Van Buren Jr. accounted for four touchdowns — two passing and two rushing — in a game USF trailed 14-7 in the second quarter. Brian Hartline's 2-0 start includes two wins decided by a combined 13 points. Neither has been pretty. Both have been gutty.

Navy fell from No. 2 to No. 10 after losing 38-30 at Florida Atlantic. FAU quarterback Cameron Veltkamp threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns, with wide receiver Eli Messer catching eight passes for 179 yards and two scores. The upset vaults FAU into the rankings at No. 13 and raises the question of whether Navy's offensive identity has fully transitioned since Blake Horvath's departure.

North Texas pummeled UNLV 44-6 in Denton. The Mean Green held the Rebels to 37 rushing yards, forced Jackson Arnold into a scoreless afternoon through the air and led 20-0 before UNLV's lone field goal. North Texas enters the rankings at No. 9. UNLV drops from No. 8 to No. 18 at 1-2 against perhaps the toughest G6 schedule any team has faced so far. The Rebels remain ranked because the talent is real — but the early returns have been rough.

Four teams enter: North Texas (No. 9), FAU (No. 13), Appalachian State (No. 15) and UMass (No. 25). Four drop out: Washington State (0-2), Nevada (lost to FCS Montana State at home), East Carolina (0-2) and Jacksonville State (1-2). The biggest risers are Colorado State (20 to 11) and Tulsa (19 to 12) — two programs that appear to have been undervalued in the preseason. The biggest fallers are San Diego State (10 to 21), Navy (2 to 10) and Army (11 to 20).

Three games to watch in Week 3:

No. 3 James Madison at No. 21 San Diego State (Sept. 19, 9 PM CT, CW) — The only matchup between two ranked G6 teams this week. JMU is 2-0 under Billy Napier and coming off an 87-3 demolition of Wagner, but this is the Dukes' first road test of the season. San Diego State is 1-1 after losing 10-28 at UCLA, and Sean Lewis needs a statement win at Snapdragon Stadium. SDSU is a 2.5-point home favorite.

No. 13 FAU vs. FIU (Sept. 19, 5 PM CT, ESPN+) — The Shula Bowl arrives with FAU riding the biggest upset of the G6 season. Veltkamp threw five touchdowns against Navy. Now FIU — which beat Buffalo 33-20 last week behind Jalen Kohl's 367 passing yards — crosses the state to Boca Raton. FAU is a 6.5-point favorite.

No. 11 Colorado State vs. AP No. 11 BYU (Sept. 19, 6:30 PM CT, CBS) / No. 14 Troy at AP No. 20 Missouri (Sept. 19, 6 PM CT, SECN+) — Two strong G6 teams get chances to shock a ranked opponent. Colorado State is 2-0 under Jim Mora with Hauss Hejny throwing for 325 yards and four touchdowns last week. BYU is a 17.5-point favorite, but Mora's offense has the firepower to keep it interesting on national television. Troy travels to Columbia at 2-0 with only six returning starters — Gerad Parker's team has won every game it has played and now faces an SEC program coming off a 38-21 road win at Kansas. Missouri is favored by 27.5.

Here's the Diehard G6 Top 25:

1. Boise State (1-1, Pac-12) — Spencer Danielson, Year 3 (prev: 1)

Beat Memphis 38-20. The Broncos trailed 20-17 at halftime, then shut Memphis out in the second half. RB Demarion Riley carried 19 times for 206 yards. QB Maddux Madsen threw for 221 yards and a touchdown. Memphis QB Mario Stokes threw for 384 yards and a TD — WR Hendrix Tipton caught nine passes for 229 yards and a score — but the Tigers managed nothing after halftime.

Next: vs. South Dakota, Sept. 19 (9 PM CT, CBSSN)

2. Western Michigan (1-1, MAC) — Lance Taylor, Year 4 (prev: 3)

Beat Monmouth 49-14. The Broncos did what they were supposed to do against an FCS opponent after the gut-punch at Michigan. Meanwhile, Michigan turned around and beat AP No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10 — which means the team that needed a restored-clock Hail Mary to beat WMU just proved itself as one of the better programs in the country. The Broncos' resume keeps getting stronger without playing another game.

Next: at Rice, Sept. 19 (6 PM CT, ESPN+)

3. James Madison (2-0, Sun Belt) — Billy Napier, Year 1 (prev: 4)

Beat Wagner 87-3. Eighty-seven points. Napier's roster is deep enough to put up those numbers against an overmatched opponent, and the 20-13 win over Liberty in Week 1 showed this team can win a real game too. The test changes Saturday in San Diego.

Next: at No. 21 San Diego State, Sept. 19 (9 PM CT, CW)

4. USF (2-0, American) — Brian Hartline, Year 1 (prev: 7)

Beat Army 28-24 at West Point. QB Michael Van Buren Jr. threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, then added 45 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. USF trailed in the second quarter and answered. Army RB George Nwawuihe ran 20 times for 94 yards and a touchdown, and QB Connor Hellums threw two TD passes, but USF's defense got the stops it needed late. Hartline is 2-0.

Next: vs. Delaware State, Sept. 19 (6 PM CT, ESPN+)

5. NDSU (3-0, MW) — Tim Polasek, Year 3 (prev: 6)

Beat Air Force 38-32 at Colorado Springs in the Bison's first Mountain West conference game. QB Nathan Hayes threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns. RB Max Mitchell ran 15 times for 61 yards and two scores. NDSU is the only 3-0 team in the Top 25 and has now won its first three FBS games by a combined margin of 109-39.

Next: at Sacramento State, Sept. 19 (9:30 PM CT, ESPN)

6. New Mexico (2-0, MW) — Jason Eck, Year 2 (prev: 9)

Beat Mercyhurst 70-7. The Lobos have outscored opponents 108-14 in two games and have not been tested. The schedule changes in Norman.

Next: at AP No. 24 Oklahoma, Sept. 19 (6:30 PM CT, ESPN2)

7. UTSA (2-0, American) — Jeff Traylor, Year 7 (prev: 14)

Beat Texas State 31-26 in San Marcos. QB Owen McCown threw for 214 yards and a touchdown. RB Will Henderson III ran 14 times for 80 yards. WR Malik Anderson caught five passes for 83 yards and a score. Texas State RB Tre Burgess ran for 149 yards, but UTSA's defense held when it mattered in the I-35 Rivalry. The Roadrunners head to Austin next for a matchup with AP No. 1 Texas.

Next: at AP No. 1 Texas, Sept. 19 (7 PM CT, SECN+)

8. Memphis (2-1, American) — Charles Huff, Year 1 (prev: 5)

Lost at Boise State 20-38. QB Mario Stokes threw for 384 yards and a touchdown, and WR Hendrix Tipton had nine catches for 229 yards and a score — but the defense allowed 206 rushing yards to Riley alone. Memphis led 20-17 at halftime and was shut out in the second half. The loss stings, but a 2-1 start that includes a road win at UNLV keeps the Tigers solidly ranked.

Next: vs. UT Martin, Sept. 19 (6 PM CT, ESPN+)

9. North Texas (1-1, American) — Neal Brown, Year 1 (prev: NR)

Beat UNLV 44-6. QB Trent Jackson threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns. RB Jalen White ran 12 times for 124 yards and a score. The defense held UNLV to 37 rushing yards and kept Jackson Arnold without a touchdown pass. North Texas was a 4.5-point underdog. This was a demolition, not an upset.

Next: at Texas State, Sept. 19 (11 AM CT, USA Network)

10. Navy (1-1, American) — Brian Newberry, Year 4 (prev: 2)

Lost at FAU 30-38. Braxton Woodson rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, and Justin Gutierrez threw for 100 yards and two scores, but FAU's Cameron Veltkamp carved up the secondary for 386 passing yards and five touchdowns. Navy's defense — which dominated Towson in Week 1 — had no answer for Veltkamp and Eli Messer (eight catches, 179 yards, two TDs).

Next: Bye week

11. Colorado State (2-0, Pac-12) — Jim Mora, Year 1 (prev: 20)

Beat Southern Utah 58-24. QB Hauss Hejny threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns. RB Marquise Brown ran nine times for 171 yards and two scores. Colorado State has scored 93 points in two games under Mora. The early returns suggest this team was significantly undervalued in the preseason.

Next: vs. AP No. 11 BYU, Sept. 19 (6:30 PM CT, CBS)

12. Tulsa (2-0, American) — Tre Lamb, Year 2 (prev: 19)

Beat Sam Houston 23-17 on the road to move to 2-0. Tulsa's two wins have come against Oklahoma State and Sam Houston — a Big 12 team and a CUSA team — and both were decided by six or fewer points. Lamb's team finds ways to win close games.

Next: vs. East Texas A&M, Sept. 19 (7 PM CT, ESPN+)

13. FAU (1-1, American) — Zach Kittley, Year 2 (prev: NR)

Beat Navy 38-30. QB Cameron Veltkamp threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns in the biggest upset of the G6 season. WR Eli Messer caught eight passes for 179 yards and two scores. FAU knocked off the No. 2-ranked G6 team with a performance that announces Kittley's offense as a legitimate force in the American.

Next: vs. FIU, Sept. 19 (5 PM CT, ESPN+)

14. Troy (2-0, Sun Belt) — Gerad Parker, Year 3 (prev: 17)

Beat Alabama State 34-17. Troy is 2-0 with only six returning starters, which makes the early record notable even against a schedule that has included Sam Houston and an FCS opponent.

Next: at AP No. 20 Missouri, Sept. 19 (6 PM CT, SECN+)

15. App State (2-0, Sun Belt) — Dowell Loggains, Year 2 (prev: NR)

Beat East Carolina 27-24 in Greenville. QB Mason Singleton threw for 267 yards. RB Jahmir Lewis ran 17 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. App State was a 9.5-point underdog and won on the road against a team that was ranked No. 22 last week. The Mountaineers enter the rankings at 2-0.

Next: vs. Charlotte, Sept. 19 (5 PM CT, ESPN+)

16. Tulane (1-1, American) — Will Hall, Year 1 (prev: 23)

Beat South Alabama 28-24 at home. RB Jalen Lucas ran 11 times for 214 yards and a touchdown — the kind of breakout game that can change a season. QB Kadin Semonza threw for 212 yards and a score. Tulane looked nothing like the team that managed three points and 15 penalties at Duke in Week 1.

Next: at Kansas State, Sept. 19 (11 AM CT, ESPN2)

17. Fresno State (1-1, Pac-12) — Matt Entz, Year 2 (prev: 21)

Beat Sacramento State 49-3. QB Jayden Mandal threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns after managing 77 passing yards in the 39-0 loss at USC. RB Brandon Donelson ran for 102 yards and three scores. Fresno State needed to answer the USC shutout, and it did.

Next: at San Jose State, Sept. 19 (10 PM CT, FS1)

18. UNLV (1-2, MW) — Dan Mullen, Year 2 (prev: 8)

Lost at North Texas 6-44. QB Jackson Arnold threw for 194 yards without a touchdown, and RB Jai'Den Thomas was held to 37 yards on 10 carries. The Rebels have played arguably the toughest early schedule in the G6 and it has caught up with them — 1-2 with a road trip to Denton that turned into a blowout. The talent is still there. The results are not. UNLV gets a bye week to recalibrate.

Next: Bye week

19. Louisiana (1-1, Sun Belt) — Michael Desormeaux, Year 5 (prev: 16)

Lost at USC 30-49. QB Lunch Winfield threw for 212 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 91 yards and two more scores — 30 points on the road at USC is not a bad night. The defense allowed Jayden Maiava to throw five touchdown passes.

Next: vs. UAB, Sept. 19 (7 PM CT, ESPN+)

20. Army (1-1, American) — Jeff Monken, Year 13 (prev: 11)

Lost to USF 24-28 at home. RB George Nwawuihe ran 20 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. QB Connor Hellums threw for 91 yards and two scores. The triple option generated enough yards but could not close the game in the fourth quarter.

Next: Bye week

21. San Diego State (1-1, Pac-12) — Sean Lewis, Year 3 (prev: 10)

Lost at UCLA 10-28. QB Jayden Denegal was limited to 45 passing yards and the Aztecs managed only 10 points after scoring 53 against Portland State in the opener. The offense stalled completely. SDSU hosts No. 3 James Madison this week with a chance to correct the trajectory.

Next: vs. No. 3 James Madison, Sept. 19 (9 PM CT, CW)

22. Old Dominion (1-1, Sun Belt) — Ricky Rahne, Year 7 (prev: 12)

Lost at Virginia Tech 21-44. QB Quinn Henicle threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and added 83 rushing yards and another score on 16 carries, but the Monarchs fell behind 34-6 and the final score flattered ODU. A year after beating Virginia Tech 45-26 in Blacksburg, the rematch went the other way.

Next: vs. East Carolina, Sept. 19 (5 PM CT, ESPN+)

23. Liberty (1-1, CUSA) — Jamey Chadwell, Year 4 (prev: 15)

Survived Gardner-Webb 24-23 at home. QB Deshawn Purdie threw for 122 yards and a touchdown, and WR Marcus Jackson caught two passes for 69 yards and a score. Gardner-Webb is 0-3. Liberty needed a one-point escape against an outmatched FCS opponent. That is a warning sign, not a result to build on.

Next: vs. Ball State, Sept. 19 (3 PM CT, ESPN+)

24. Hawaii (1-2, MW) — Timmy Chang, Year 5 (prev: 24)

Beat New Mexico State 29-19 for the first win of the season. QB Micah Alejado threw for 346 yards. RB Demond Rice ran for 59 yards and two touchdowns. WR Tasi Uiliata caught 10 passes for 107 yards. Hawaii is 1-2 and the road back is long, but a win is a win.

Next: Bye week

25. UMass (2-0, MAC) — Joe Harasymiak, Year 2 (prev: NR)

Beat Sacred Heart 37-10. UMass enters the rankings at 2-0 in its first season as a MAC member after years as an independent. We don't know how long it lasts, but 2-0 is 2-0, and the Minutemen have earned a spot at the bottom of the board.

Next: vs. Stonehill, Sept. 19 (2:30 PM CT, ESPN+)