A turnover-filled game haunted Memphis in its 31-17 loss to Tulane in Week 7, as quarterback Marcus Stokes threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles in the Tigers' first American Conference loss this season.
The loss not only imparted a harsh lesson — non-Power teams have a much smaller margin of error throughout the season — but also shakes up USA TODAY's weekly Group of Six power rankings. The Tigers' College Football Playoff hopes aren't gone completely, but Charles Huff's team no longer controls its own destiny, even in its own conference race.
Elsewhere, New Mexico avoided a scare against Hawai'i before
eventually taking down the one-win Rainbow Warriors thanks to 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
And, of course, Boise State maintains the No. 1 spot in the rankings again after being off in Week 7. Here's a look at our latest non-Power Four power rankings in college football:
1. Boise State ↔️ (1)
Boise State received a much-needed bye in Week 7 after facing one of the toughest schedules outside the Power Four so far, with wins over Memphis and Western Michigan and a narrow road loss to Oregon.
Maddux Madsen and Dylan Riley make up arguably the best quarterback-running back duo in Group of Six, with Madsen yet to throw an interception this season and Riley ranking fourth nationally with 835 rushing yards.
The Broncos are still the frontrunners for a CFP bid, and could be scary in a first-round matchup.
2. New Mexico ↔️ (2)
New Mexico has its biggest conference test of the season when it hosts one-loss North Dakota State on Saturday, Oct. 24. The game has massive Mountain West implications, with the winner likely in the driver's seat for a conference championship game berth.
The Lobos struggled against Hawai'i at times, with quarterback play still giving second-year coach Jason Eck trouble after losing starting quarterback Jack Layne for the season. Toa Fa'avae completed 5 of 10 passes for 59 yards with two interceptions, but rushed 10 times for 77 yards and a score.
Fa'avae will need to be at his best to give New Mexico and its strong defense a chance against the Bison.
3. James Madison ↔️ (3)
First-year coach Billy Napier has kept the juice at James Madison after Bob Chesney left for UCLA, as the Dukes are 7-0 after a 49-22 win over Georgia State in Week 7.
A tough matchup against Appalachian State is on the horizon, though. A night game against the 4-2 Mountaineers in a potentially hostile Kidd Brewer Stadium won't be easy.
4. Oregon State ↔️ (4)
Another week, another pair of big-time performances by quarterback Braden Atkinson and receiver Jesse Legree. Atkinson passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Legree caught eight passes for 108 yards and two scores.
Atkinson leads the country in passing yards (2,604) while Legree leads the country in receiving yards (1,040) and receiving touchdowns (14). The Beavers' offense under first-year coach JaMarcus Shephard and offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen, a former offensive assistant at Alabama, might be the best from outside the Power Four.
5. UTSA ⬆️ (7)
UTSA keeps eking out one-score games. The Roadrunners defeated Navy 38-34 in Week 7, behind a 359-yard, 3-touchdown performance by veteran quarterback Owen McCown.
McCown's 41-yard touchdown pass to A'Marion Peterson with 2:21 remaining was ultimately the difference in UTSA's third consecutive one-score game and fourth such win this season. The 6-1 Roadrunners are still undefeated in American play, and are in a solid spot for a chance at competing for the conference title.
6. North Dakota State ⬆️ (NR)
NDSU bounced back from its 13-7 loss to UNLV in Week 6 by beating Nevada 31-17 at home in Week 7. The Bison rushed for 192 yards as a team, with quarterback Nathan Hayes completing 19 of 25 passes for 152 yards with two touchdowns in the win.
The Bison have a chance to rise up the power rankings with a win over New Mexico in Week 7. It'll be tough, but it'd be quite the arrival stamp for the first-year FBS program.
7. North Texas ⬇️ (6)
North Texas was on bye in Week 7 after back-to-back wins over Tulsa and Charlotte to open American Conference play with a 2-0 record.
Quarterback Tayven Jackson has been elite at the non-Power Four level this season, with 1,868 passing yards and 15 touchdowns to four interceptions on a 72.2% completion rate. The Mean Green's backfield tandem of Jackson and West Virginia transfer Jahiem White (687 rushing yards with nine touchdowns) makes for one of the Group of Six's top offenses.
8. Air Force ⬆️ (8)
Somewhat quietly, Air Force is 5-1 this season with a 3-1 record in the Mountain West. The Falcons have four consecutive wins over Nevada, Navy, Northern Illinois and UNLV, their best win of the season so far.
Air Force defeated UNLV 41-31 in Week 7 as it rushed for a whopping 430 yards with five touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Quarterback Evan Medders only attempted three passes in the win.
Air Force is winning games despite being without quarterback Liam Szarka, who's out for the season with injury. Szarka was the leading rusher in the American at one point this season before injury.
- Fallen off list: Memphis (5), UNLV (8)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Group of Six power rankings: This one game has massive CFP implications
