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The Eastern Echo Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Commentary: Guess who remains in last?

Eastern Michigan University returned an interception for a touchdown Friday. However, it was called back thanks to a penalty, and the mistake lead to a Toledo touchdown.

The 14-point swing was too much to overcome in a 47-21 loss, and the Eagles’ home remains the bottom of the bottom in week 13 of Pool’s Power Rankings.

EMU is one of two winless teams after New Mexico won Saturday. Rice won its second game in a row to escape the basement.

Meanwhile, Alabama not only went out of conference, but out of its subdivision by taking it to FCS school Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The games of the week come from the west, where the Western Athletic Conference title will be handed out when No. 6 Boise State and No. 27 Nevada, which has won eight straight, square off. No. 16 Utah and No. 14 BYU will play for the Beehive Boot and a second-place finish in the Mountain West.

The bottom 10 is the gift that keeps giving (coal) with not one, not two, but six less-than-desirable games. No. 120 EMU will get its final shot for a win against No. 108 Akron. Additionally, No. 115 Washington State plays No. 95 Washington in what has become one of the worst rivalries in college football.

Gobble on the rankings three days early because The Eastern Echo isn’t printing on Thursday because of Thanksgiving.

Top 10
1.) Alabama (11-0, 56.6 Average Win Percentage, 0 Average Loss Percentage) should be banned from scheduling an FCS school this late, as it won 45-0 over Tennessee-Chattanooga last week. It’s time for the Iron Bowl. Next opponent: Auburn (43)

2.) Texas (11-0, 63, 0) handed spiraling Kansas its sixth-straight loss last week. It also ends with a rivalry matchup. Next opponent: Texas A&M (56)

3.) Texas Christian University (11-0, 65.8, 0) scored 35 unanswered on Wyoming last week and remained undefeated with one very winnable game left. Next opponent: New Mexico (116)

4.) Cincinnati (10-0, 68.1, 0) moved up one spot because of soft scheduling by Florida and a bye week. It steps out of conference to play a Big Ten team. Next opponent: Illinois (96)

5.) Florida (11-0, 68.7, 0) beat up on one of the newest members of the FBS last week in a 62-3 win over Florida International. It’ll pick on someone its own size in the state this week. Next opponent: Florida State (59)

6.) Boise State (11-0, 78.2, 0) took it to Utah State last week and didn’t look ahead to this week’s showdown for the WAC title. Next opponent: Nevada (27)

7.) Georgia Tech (10-1, 64.4, 1) had a bye last week, but found out it will play Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. It plays an in-state rival and my favorite live mascot, Uga, this week. Next opponent: Georgia (55)

8.) Pittsburgh (9-1, 57.2, 72) had a bye to prepare for two of its toughest games, starting with the Backyard Brawl. Next opponent: West Virginia (35)

9.) Ohio State (10-2, 50.6, 68) had me screaming at my TV after a 21-10 victory last week over Michigan to drop the maize and blue to 5-7. It will not play again until January. Next opponent: Oregon or Oregon State in the Rose Bowl

10.) Iowa (10-2, 55.6, 37.5) blanked Minnesota last week for the second year in a row and is still alive to make a BCS bowl. Next opponent: Bowl

Bottom 10
111.) Memphis (2-9, 100.5, 57.7) has been singing the blues all season especially after getting waxed 55-14 by Houston last week. Next opponent: Tulsa (93)

112.) North Texas (2-9, 105, 72.6) couldn’t get past Army and lost 17-13 last week. Next opponent: Arkansas State (107)

113.) Vanderbilt (2-10, 118.5, 48.2) became the first bottom-10 team to finish its season, with a 31-16 loss to Tennessee last week. It would like to thank Western Carolina and Rice for its wins. Next opponent: Better luck next year

114.) San Jose State (1-9, 121, 51.6) almost picked up its second win, but Hawaii escaped in overtime last week, 17-10. Next opponent: New Mexico State (106)

115.) Washington State (1-10, 13, 44.7) didn’t test Oregon State last week, as it lost 42-10. It’ll try to win the Apple Cup this week. Next opponent: Washington (95)

116.) New Mexico (1-10, 100, 66.2) came close to winning two weeks ago against Brigham Young University. It finally won for the first time last week by defeating Colorado State, 29-27. It probably won’t win this week. Next opponent: TCU (3)

117.) Ball State (1-10, 119, 67.5) met the same fate as eight other Central Michigan opponents in a loss last week. It’ll head in a different direction. Next opponent: Western Michigan (77)

118.) Miami (Ohio) (1-11, 75, 60) finished its season with a 42-17 loss to Buffalo last week. Its lone win came at the charity of Toledo. Next opponent: It can’t get any worse, can it?

119.) Western Kentucky (0-10, 0, 74.4) had a bye to prepare for two, real “juggernaut” games. Next opponent: Florida Atlantic (97)

120.) EMU (0-11, 0, 81.7) has one shot left for a win after another disastrous performance against the run last week in Toledo. Next opponent: Akron (108)

Previous rankings
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6