Welcome to the New World Order, ladies and gentlemen. The American Athletic Conference is taking over the world.
Throughout the season as I've done these Group of Five Power Rankings, the AAC has been featured regularly, and it seems the world is now taking notice as well.
After seeing Memphis, the team that's been ranked in our top spot for over a month, beat Ole Miss on Saturday, everybody wants to vote for an AAC team now. Did you see this week's AP Top 25? Check it out.
There are three AAC teams ranked. Three teams that have been in these power rankings for weeks: Memphis, Houston and Temple. And that's not all! Another G5 Power Rankings regular, Toledo, is ranked by the AP as well.
This is all happening late in the season, and only two weeks before the College Football Playoff Selection Committee releases its first rankings of the season.
It's getting really real now, you guys. With Boise State's loss to Utah State, we've now reached the point where we're no longer wondering if the AAC will get the auto bid, but which AAC team it will be.
Though the option seems rather obvious at the moment, doesn't it?
| RANK | TEAM |
 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Memphis (6-0) -- American: The top three teams in the AAC all have wins over a Power Five opponent, but none of those Power Five opponents happened to be ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25 in the time, and none of them had a win over Alabama on its resume. Ole Miss did. And Memphis beat Ole Miss by 13 points on Saturday. The Tigers still have to play both Houston and Temple (on the road), but if they win the AAC, they're going to a New Year's Six game. Last Week: 1 |
| 2 |  |
Houston (6-0) -- American: Houston leaps up two spots thanks in large part to just being undefeated in the AAC. Also, if we're being honest with ourselves, while Memphis has the most impressive resume at the moment (though Houston still has that Louisville win), Houston may actually be the better all-around team this season. Its defense has been much better than Memphis'. Last Week: 4 |
| 3 |  |
Toledo (6-0) -- MAC: I'm sorry, Toledo. You're ranked higher than Houston in the AP Top 25, but I can't put you ahead of them here. I'm just being realistic. You have a very good chance at going undefeated, and you have wins over Arkansas and Iowa State. But the rest of your schedule just won't present you with a chance to impress anybody. Even if you win out. Last Week: 3 |
| 4 |  |
Temple (6-0) -- American: You know what would be as impressive as beating Ole Miss? Beating Notre Dame. The Owls will have a chance to do just that. They have to get past East Carolina first this week, but on Halloween the Fighting Irish will make their way to Philadelphia. If the Owls can beat both Notre Dame and Memphis, and add those wins to earlier victories against Penn State and Cincinnati? Pretty nice resume! Last Week: 5 |
| 5 |  |
Western Kentucky (6-1) -- Conference USA: If only the Hilltoppers hadn't lost by three points to Indiana. That's the kind of loss that can sink you in the eyes of the committee, but there's a pretty easy way to make them forget about it. Beat LSU this week. Do that and you're suddenly a real threat for that New Year's Six spot. Last Week: Not Ranked |
Under consideration: Appalachian State (5-1), Boise State (5-2), Bowling Green (5-2), Georgia Southern (5-1), Marshall (6-1), Navy (4-1)
