College Football's Bottom 25 Poll, Week 10, 2023


                                                   (Infocision Stadium, home of the Akron Zips)


We are now in that part of the season when the same basic 28-30 teams are consistently in the poll or cycling in or out from the DHM weekly based on whether they won or lost the previous weekend. Pittsburgh and Virginia are the examples of those rejoining on a loss, swapping spots with Arizona State and Nevada who dropped out with wins. Not for nothing, Nevada was number one two polls before this one and won two straight to drop out and into the DHM.

The last 16 teams in the poll share the same 2-6 record along with Pittsburgh and Virginia, by the way. That is where we are....as always, enjoy the games! 


1) Sam Houston (0-8) The Beerkats lost a home Wednesday Bummer Bowl 37-34 to UTEP. The potential wins have been VERY close lately and next week brings the best chance yet with a home game against 2-5 Kennesaw State of the FCS.

2) East Carolina (1-7) The Pyrites lost a roadie at UTSA, 41-27. Things get much worse this week when nationally-ranked Tulane pays a visit to Greenville.

3) Southern Mississippi (1-7) The Golden Favres held up okay at Appalachian State, falling 48-38. But this was a 4-4 Mountaineer team, not the usual leaders of the Sun Belt. Next up for USM is a Sun Belt Bummer Bowl when B25 #12 UL Monroe come to town.

4) Connecticut (1-7) The Fusskies lost 21-14 at Boston College. Next will be a predictable blowout loss at Tennessee.

5) Akron (1-7) The Zips had the BYE weekend fall, dropping 3 spots before heading into a midweek MAC special Bummer Bowl hosting fellow 25ers Kent State on 11/1.

6) Kent State (1-7) The Golden Flashless also had the weekend BYE before the MAC Basement Bummer Bowl…#5 Akron versus #6 Kent to determine who really is the MAC’s worst team.

7) Hawai'i (2-7) The Rainbow Worriers now have four straight losses after San Jose State visited to the tune of a 35-0 beatdown. Next up is a MWC (almost) Bummer Bowl at recent #1 Nevada.

8) Vanderbilt (2-7) The Commode–doors got flushed 33-7 at Ole Miss. Next, Auburn pays a visit to Nashville.

9) Massachusetts (2-7) The Minutemen won their first game since week 1 with a Bummer Bowl victory at Army, 21-14. This could be a springboard as 2 of UMass’ last three games are winnable, starting this coming weekend when they host 4-4 Merrimack of the FCS.

10) Cincinnati (2-6) The Scarecats are not liking the BIG 12 much this year and the misery was added to that dislike after losing 45-13 at home to Oklahoma State. That was their 6th straight loss. Next, UCF comes to the city that smells like Bourbon.

11) Army (2-6) The BlackNBlue Knights took a home Bummer Bowl loss against former #4 Massachusetts, 21-14. They only end up lower ranked by virtue of only having 6 (versus 7) losses to pit against their 2 wins. Next up, things get much harder by hosting nationally-ranked Air Force in the first of the Commander In Chief’s Trophy games.

12) UL Monroe (2-6) Loss number 6 in a row for the Marhawks, falling at home 34-24 to Arkansas State. Next on the agenda is a good ol’ fashioned Sun Belt Bummer Bowl at Southern Mississippi.

13) Indiana (2-6) A loss is a loss, but a 9-point defeat for the Loosiers, 33-24 at Penn State, is pretty good stuff for them. Things get slightly easier this week with Wisconsin coming to town.

14) Michigan State (2-6) Farty have now lost 6 straight games, falling 27-12 at Minnesota. Next up, the Nebraska Cornhuskers visit East Lansing.

15) South Carolina (2-6) The Lamecocks traveled to College Station and lost 30-17 at Texas A & M. Could first-year FBSers Jacksonville State beat the SEC school on the road next? Stay tuned…

16) Purdue (2-6) The ShotandaBeers got shucked at Nebraska, 31-14. They may want 4 shots and 6 beers after visiting national #2 Michigan next weekend.

17) Pittsburgh (2-6) The Panters lost 58-7 at Our Lady. That will seem like an easy game when compared to hosting FSU this coming week.

18) Charlotte (2-6) Biff Poggi’s 2-6ers rejoin the poll after they lost at home 38-16 to FAU. Next up is a visit to Tulsa to take on the Golden (Landlocked) Hurricanes.

19) Stanford (2-6) The Marginal are back in after a 42-33 home loss to Washington. Maybe they could share the Huskies flight back to the Apple state to play at Washington State this weekend.

20) Virginia (2-6) The Cabriolets lost 29-26 in OT at Miami to rejoin the poll after two straight previous wins. Next, Georgia Tech’s cardiac comeback kids come to Charlottesville.

21) UAB (2-6) The Cavers had an unmentioned BYE. As per their usual scores, UAB will likely lose next by a score of 40 (pick a number) – 20 (pick a number) at home to FAU.

22) Arkansas (2-6) The DullBoars also had the unmentioned BYE (where was The Sports Thinker’s head?) heading into this week’s visit to the Swamp to take on Florida, who just got walloped by Georgia at the World’s Largest Outdoor Fraternity Mixer.

23) Middle Tennessee State (2-6) The Blue Faiders had a BYE week and now head back to Saturday football at New Mexico State on 11/4.

24) Temple (2-6) The Fowls didn’t lose their BYE week. Happy days! Next, Navy visits.

25) Ball State (2-6) The Marginals had a BYE weekend and now face a Wednesday showdown at former 25ers Bowling Green.

DISHONORABLE MENTION

Arizona State (2-6), Nevada (2-6), Western Michigan (3-6), UTEP (3-6) and Louisiana Tech (3-6)

Dropped Out

Arizona State and Nevada

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

AAC – 4

ACC – 2

Big12 – 1

BIG 10 (12, 14, whatever) - 3

CUSA – 2 (+1 DHM)

Ind. – 3 (out of 4 teams!)

MAC – 3 (+1 DHM)

Mountain West – 1 (+1 DHM)

PAC 12 (soon to be none) – 1 (+1 DHM)

SEC – 2 (+1 DHM)

Sun Belt - 2

 

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