Brian’s College Football Top 5: Week 4

Photo from JMU Athletics

I missed a good chunk of pretty good games because I was moving, which sucks.

But fear not! I still did my research before making my top 5.

5. Clemson Tigers

Clemson, the #5 team winning in double overtime over the #21 team probably shouldn’t get them put here, but that ignores all the context.

The issue with Clemson so far this year has been their offense. It has really, really struggled. But the defense has been fantastic.

So, if you told me that Wake Forest would score 45 points at home against Clemson, I would automatically assume they would win. Clemson’s offense wouldn’t be able to keep up.

But what a weekend for them to step up. D.J. Uiagelelei had a great game, and that has to be a huge confidence boost heading towards a tough matchup against NC State this weekend.

4. Kansas State Wildcats

Upsetting a top 10 team on the road should put them higher, but K State is now 3-1 in their last four against Oklahoma.

For whatever reason, the Wildcats just have their number.

Still, that’s an awesome win after a tough loss against Tulane a week ago.

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders

This is the first year under Joey McGuire for Texas Tech, and so far it’s going pretty well!

An upset win over Houston and now an upset win over Texas.

Things are looking up in Lubbock, which is awesome.

They’re one of those schools where it’s just more fun if they’re good.

2. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

MTSU should not have beaten Miami in general.

But they didn’t just win. They blew the doors off of them.

It wasn’t even a close upset. MTSU was the better team from start to finish.

Tough look for Miami, but a very good win for MTSU and coach Rick Stockstill who just penned an extension to stay at MTSU.

1. James Madison Dukes

JMU was an FCS powerhouse before making the jump to FBS and becoming a member of the Sun Belt.

Typically, FCS powerhouse schools do well in their first year, but are far from a top team in that conference.

Well, we got a first look of JMU in the Sun Belt, as they travelled to Boone, North Carolina to take on the Sun Belt favorite in Appalachian State.

App State got off to a 28-3 lead, and it looked like JMU would be every other FCS program making the jump. Talented, but still some work to do.

But the Dukes had other plans.

JMU outscored App State 22-0 in the second half to come back and win 32-28.

JMU may still not be the best team in the Sun Belt, but they showed they’re going to get there faster than expected.