No. 21 Western Michigan got the best 2-for-1 deal of any college football team on Black Friday.
The Broncos dominated Toledo 55-35 on Friday night to cap off a perfect 12-0 regular season and also got help in their quest for a New Year's Six bowl bid as No. 19 Boise State was upset by Air Force, 27-20.
Western Michigan was extremely efficient on offense against the Rockets. Running back Jamauri Bogart had 31 carries for 198 yards and one touchdown, while quarterback Zach Terrell completed 19-of-25 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was Corey Davis, as it often is, who had eight catches for 81 yards and one touchdown and also set a new FBS record for career receiving yards, breaking the old record of 5,005.
That win along with Boise State's loss creates a clear path for Western Michigan to earn the automatic New Year's Six bowl bid given to the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion.
Should the Broncos win the MAC Championship game against Ohio on Dec. 2 to get to 13-0, they should be a lock to get in -- it would be shocking to see Navy jump the Broncos even with wins over SMU, Army and in the AAC title game.
However, should Western Michigan get upset by Ohio, there are five teams that still have a chance at getting that coveted New Year's Six bowl bid.
No. 25 Navy (8-2, AAC West champions): The only other ranked Group of Five team coming into this week behind Boise State, Western Michigan and Houston -- which also lost -- was Navy. The Midshipmen still have three games to play as previously mentioned, but none of those games figure to be against competition good enough to bump them ahead of the Broncos.
However, if Ohio were to beat Western Michigan in the MAC Championship game and Navy wins out, the Midshipmen would find themselves as the highest ranked Group of Five conference champion and would earn the bid. The Midshipmen's win over Houston doesn't look as good as it once did now, but that still is arguably the most talented team that any of the Group of Five teams remaining have beaten.
What they need: Wins over SMU, Army and the AAC East champions and a Western Michigan loss
South Florida (9-2, possible AAC East champions): The Bulls need help in the form of a Temple loss to East Carolina to make this a possibility, but if that happens and South Florida beats UCF, then the Bulls would make the AAC title game opposite Navy. The AP Top 25 is certainly not a perfect tool for determining what team would be next in the College Football Playoff Rankings, but South Florida is the next team behind Navy in the "also receiving votes" category.
What they need: Wins over UCF and Navy, a Temple loss to East Carolina and a Western Michigan loss
Wyoming (8-3, MWC Mountain champions): Wyoming is one of the two teams with wins over Boise State, although the Cowboys' upset of the Broncos does not look as good now after the Air Force loss. Wyoming is the third Group of Five team behind Navy and South Florida in the AP Top 25's "also receiving votes" and would have a win over Boise State and two wins over San Diego State if it beats the Aztecs again in the title game.
What they need: Wins over New Mexico and San Diego State, a Navy loss to SMU or in the AAC title game to Temple and a Western Michigan loss
San Diego State (9-2, MWC West champions): San Diego State's issue is that the Aztecs have not played a strong schedule. They did not face Boise State in the regular season, lost to Wyoming a week ago, and their best nonconference win came against Cal. If the Aztecs beat Colorado State to close the season and impress against Wyoming in a revenge game for a one-point loss, with plenty of help, they could find their way to the New Year's Six.
What they need: Wins over Colorado State and Wyoming, a Navy loss to SMU or in the AAC title game to Temple and a Western Michigan loss
Temple (8-3, possible AAC East champions): Temple would need a lot of help to get in, but it is possible. The Owls would need an AAC championship win and probably the team that ends up winning the Mountain West to have lost its final game of the regular season. The good news for Temple is that it controls its own destiny in the AAC East division and would get a really good win if it beats Navy.
What they need: Wins over East Carolina and Navy, a San Diego State loss to Colorado State and win over Wyoming/a Wyoming loss to New Mexico and a win over San Diego State and a Western Michigan loss.
