Diehard G6 Top 25 — Boise State dismantles previous No. 2 Western Michigan, strengthens CFP case

Four weeks into the season, the Group of 6's College Football Playoff case has a face — and it plays in Boise, home of the No. 1-ranked team in the Diehard G6 Top 25.

The Broncos went into Kalamazoo and dismantled previously No. 2-ranked Western Michigan 32-7, losing the shutout when backups allowed a garbage-time touchdown with 65 seconds left. It was the kind of win that changes odds boards. Boise State's CFP line on DraftKings moved from +230 entering the week to +140 by Sunday morning — 12th-best nationally. The AP noticed, too, slotting the Broncos at No. 22 — the first G6 team in the poll this season.

Maddux Madsen has nine touchdown passes and zero interceptions on the year. Dylan Riley has rushed for 100 yards in three straight games. Opponents are 0-for-9 on fourth down against the Broncos. The Broncos also own an impressive win over Memphis, one of the top contenders in the American Conference.

Behind the Broncos, four G6 teams remain unbeaten: No. 2 James Madison (4-0), No. 3 North Dakota State (4-0), No. 4 South Florida (4-0) and No. 10 UMass (4-0). James Madison won 46-20 at Old Dominion. NDSU, 4-0 in its first FBS season, had a bye. USF stayed unbeaten but managed only 14 points in a 14-6 win at Bowling Green — the offense continues to lag behind the defense for the Bulls. UMass climbed eight spots after a 35-6 road win at Sacramento State. UTSA and Toledo each rose six spots after big wins. Four new teams enter the rankings: Georgia State, UNLV, Jacksonville State and Oregon State. Four drop out: UConn, Delaware, San Diego State and South Alabama.

The Group of 6 is 2-69 against the Power 4 this season. Only Tulsa (over Oklahoma State) and UMass (over Rutgers) have won, both in Week 1. The American is 1-11. The MAC is 1-16. The Mountain West, CUSA, Pac-12 and Sun Belt are a combined 0-42. UNLV gets a shot at a P4 opponent this week when California visits Las Vegas. The rest of the Week 5 schedule offers mostly conference play, highlighted by No. 24 Oregon State at No. 23 Colorado State and the Commander-in-Chief Trophy game between No. 25 Navy and Air Force.

Here is the Diehard G6 Top 25:

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

Won 32-7 at Western Michigan to enter the AP Top 25 at No. 22 — the first G6 team ranked this season. Madsen has nine touchdown passes and no interceptions on the year. Riley has rushed for 100 yards in three straight games. Opponents are 0-for-9 on fourth down against the Broncos.

This week: vs. Utah State, Saturday, 6:30 PM CT, CBSSN (BOIS -21) — Pac-12 opener

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

Won 46-20 at Old Dominion to move to 4-0 in Napier's first year. The Dukes have outscored opponents by 130 points this season and have not been seriously challenged since the opener.

This week: vs. Marshall, Saturday, 2:45 PM CT, ESPNU (JMU -16.5)

3. NDSU (4-0, MW) — Tim Polasek, Year 3 (prev: 5, +2)

Had a bye and moves up two spots as teams ahead of them lost. The Bison are 4-0 in their first season of FBS football and have not trailed in the second half all year.

This week: vs. Wyoming, Saturday, 2:30 PM CT, CW (NDSU -20.5)

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

Beat Bowling Green 14-6 to stay unbeaten, but the offense is a concern. The Bulls have scored 14 or fewer points in two of four games. They are 4-0 because the defense has been dominant, but the American Conference schedule will test whether the offense can keep up.

This week: vs. Temple, Saturday, 6:30 PM CT, ESPNU (USF -6)

5. New Mexico (3-1, MW) — Jason Eck, Year 2 (prev: 6, +1)

Won 42-18 at rival New Mexico State to move to 3-1, bouncing back from the loss at Oklahoma two weeks ago. The Lobos are looking like the team to beat in the Mountain West.

This week: vs. UTEP, Saturday, 3 PM CT, MW+ (UNM -22.5)

6. Memphis (3-1, American) — Charles Huff, Year 1 (prev: 7, +1)

Had a bye and moves up one spot. The Tigers are 3-1 with their only loss to No. 1 Boise State, which now looks like the best team in the G6 by a wide margin.

This week: at Charlotte, Saturday, 2:30 PM CT, ESPN+ (MEM -20.5)

7. UTSA (3-1, American) — Jeff Traylor, Year 7 (prev: 13, +6)

Beat Colorado State 59-45 in a 104-point shootout to make the week's biggest jump, climbing six spots. The Roadrunners have bounced back from the 30-6 loss at Texas with two straight wins.

This week: at Rice, Saturday, 6 PM CT, ESPN+ (UTSA -10.5)

8. Western Michigan (2-2, MAC) — Lance Taylor, Year 4 (prev: 2, -6)

Lost 32-7 to Boise State at Waldo Stadium. The Broncos held WMU quarterback Broc Lowry to 110 passing yards and his first interception of the season. Western Michigan drops six spots but has the talent to win the MAC if it can put this loss behind it.

This week: at Buffalo, Saturday, Noon CT, ESPN+ (WMU -15.5)

9. FAU (3-1, American) — Zach Kittley, Year 2 (prev: 11, +2)

Won 45-17 at UL Monroe to move to 3-1 and climb two spots. The Owls have won three straight since the Week 1 loss at Florida and have outscored opponents 99-57 during the streak.

This week: vs. Texas Southern, Saturday, 5 PM CT, ESPN+

10. UMass (4-0, MAC) — Joe Harasymiak, Year 2 (prev: 18, +8)

Beat Sacramento State 35-6 on the road to go 4-0 and make the biggest jump in the rankings this week, rising eight spots. The Minutemen have the best record in the MAC and one of only two G6 wins against the Power 4 this season (37-21 over Rutgers in Week 1).

This week: vs. Eastern Michigan, Saturday, 2:30 PM CT, ESPN+ (MASS -5.5)

11. Fresno State (3-1, Pac-12) — Matt Entz, Year 2 (prev: 15, +4)

Beat Rice 38-24 to move to 3-1 and rise four spots. The Bulldogs have won three straight since the USC shutout in Week 1.

This week: at Washington State, Saturday, 8:30 PM CT, USA (FRES -1.5)

12. Louisiana (3-1, Sun Belt) — Michael Desormeaux, Year 5 (prev: 14, +2)

Won 34-7 at Charlotte for its second straight win after losing 49-30 at USC in Week 2. The Ragin' Cajuns beat UAB 21-14 in Week 3 before the Charlotte blowout.

This week: vs. Arkansas State, Saturday, 7 PM CT, ESPN+ (UL -6.5)

13. Toledo (3-1, MAC) — Mike Jacobs, Year 1 (prev: 19, +6)

Blew out San Diego State 41-16 after the wild overtime win over Temple the week before. The Rockets have won three straight and are tied with UMass atop the MAC.

This week: at Ball State, Saturday, 1 PM CT, ESPN+ (TOL -19.5)

14. Army (2-1, American) — Jeff Monken, Year 13 (prev: 17, +3)

Beat Temple 21-17 on the road to get back on the winning track after losing at home to USF on Sept. 12. Ajani Sheppard threw for 242 yards and Cale Hellums rushed for 104 in a game Army had to grind out.

This week: at Louisiana Tech, Saturday, 6:30 PM CT, ESPN+ (ARMY -3.5)

15. Liberty (3-1, CUSA) — Jamey Chadwell, Year 4 (prev: 20, +5)

Won 34-17 at Coastal Carolina, Chadwell's return to the program he built. The Flames have won two straight and are 3-1 heading into CUSA play.

This week: at Delaware, Friday, 6 PM CT, CBSSN (LIB -7)

16. Tulsa (3-1, American) — Tre Lamb, Year 2 (prev: 8, -8)

Lost 34-6 at Arkansas. The Golden Hurricane were without their starting QB but fell hard to an Arkansas team that had lost 12 consecutive games to FBS opponents. Tulsa hosts North Texas on a short week Thursday on ESPN.

This week: vs. North Texas, Thursday, 8 PM CT, ESPN (TLSA -2.5)

17. Georgia State (3-1, Sun Belt) — Dell McGee, Year 3 (prev: NR, NEW)

Beat Northern Illinois 35-14 to enter the Diehard G6 Top 25 for the first time this season. The Panthers' only loss was at UCF. The oddsmakers have not caught up yet — Georgia State is a home underdog against Old Dominion this week.

This week: vs. Old Dominion, Saturday, 2:30 PM CT, ESPN+ (ODU -1.5)

18. App State (3-1, Sun Belt) — Dowell Loggains, Year 2 (prev: 9, -9)

Lost 41-31 at NC State to fall nine spots. The Mountaineers were competitive but NC State pulled away in the second half. App State was 3-0 heading into the game with road wins at East Carolina and a home win over Charlotte.

This week: Bye

19. UNLV (2-2, MW) — Dan Mullen, Year 2 (prev: NR, NEW)

Won 38-10 at Akron to re-enter the rankings at 2-2. Mullen's squad has been uneven — the Rebels lost at North Texas and to Memphis but have talent and host California this week in one of the few G6-vs-P4 matchups remaining this season. The G6 is 2-69 against the Power 4. A win would be significant.

This week: vs. California, Saturday, 2:30 PM CT, CBSSN (UNLV -2.5)

20. Troy (2-2, Sun Belt) — Gerad Parker, Year 3 (prev: 10, -10)

Lost 21-10 at Utah State to drop 10 spots. The Trojans were ranked No. 10 a week ago after covering a 26.5-point spread at Missouri.

This week: Bye

21. Tulane (2-2, American) — Will Hall, Year 1 (prev: 24, +3)

Beat Southern Miss 24-21 to climb three spots. Tulane's two losses — at Duke and at Kansas State — were both on the road. Both wins have been at home.

This week: Bye

22. Jax State (3-2, CUSA) — Charles Kelly, Year 2 (prev: NR, NEW)

Beat Middle Tennessee 23-13 to re-enter the Diehard G6 Top 25 at 3-2. The Gamecocks have won two straight since losing at Ohio in quadruple overtime in Week 2. Caden Creel threw for 241 yards and rushed for 119 in the win over MTSU.

This week: Bye

23. Colorado State (2-2, Pac-12) — Jim Mora, Year 1 (prev: 16, -7)

Lost 59-45 at UTSA in one of the wildest games of the G6 season. Colorado State led 14-0 in the first two minutes on a 94-yard kickoff return and a 74-yard touchdown pass, but UTSA ripped off five straight touchdowns to take a 35-14 lead. The Rams pulled within one score twice in the fourth quarter but could not overtake the Roadrunners. Colorado State has lost two straight after a 2-0 start.

This week: vs. Oregon State (Diehard G6 No. 24), Saturday, 5 PM CT, USA (ORST -4.5)

24. Oregon State (2-2, Pac-12) — JaMarcus Shephard, Year 1 (prev: NR, NEW)

Beat UTEP 33-7 to re-enter the rankings at 2-2 in Shephard's first year. The Beavers opened with losses to Houston and Texas Tech before winning two straight.

This week: at Colorado State (Diehard G6 No. 23), Saturday, 5 PM CT, USA (ORST -4.5)

25. Navy (1-2, American) — Brian Newberry, Year 4 (prev: 12, -13)

Lost 24-20 at UAB as a 7.5-point road favorite, falling 13 spots for the week's biggest drop. The Midshipmen are 1-2 with losses in two of three games after being ranked No. 2 in the preseason Diehard G6 Top 25.

This week: at Air Force, Saturday, 11 AM CT, CBS (AF -2.5)