College Football's Bottom 25 Poll, Rivalry Week 2023

                                           (MacKay Stadium, home of Univeristy Of Nevada Football)


The penultimate poll of 2023 brings a new face to #1 as Connecticut managed to smash an FCS opponent by 4 touchdowns, leaving Kent State as the sole FBS team possessing only a single victory as the season is one week from closing.

About a million teams are stacked up at 4-7 and in the DHM, including early-season darlings Colorado. All of this leads into Rivalry Week, where the crazy sometimes happens. That said, I wouldn't expect any upsets from this group, although the Old Oaken Bucket game will be played between two 25ers, Purdue and Indiana.

As always, enjoy the games. And the turkey!


1) Kent State (1-10) The Golden Bashed are the new number 1 and sole FBS team with only a single win after losing their (almost) Bummer Bowl at DHMers Ball State, 34-3. Friday brings the season's end hosting NIU.

2) UL Monroe (2-9) The Marhawks took the paycheck and the beatdown, 35-3 at Ole Miss. That is 9 straight losses for America’s worst 2 win team after starting 2023 2-0. Will it be 10 straight after this weekend’s season finale at Louisiana?

3) Nevada (2-9) The Wolfcack are on a 3-game losing streak after dropping a 30-0 decision at Colorado State. Next up, the 7-4 Wyoming Cowboys come to Reno to close out 2023.

4) Akron (2-9) The Zips were almost closed but then their fly was opened at Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, 30-27. Ohio visits on Friday to finish the season for both squads.

5) East Carolina (2-9) The Pyrites are back to losing after being boarded 10-0 at Navy. An AAC Bummer Bowl against Tulsa ends 2023.

6) Sam Houston (2-9) The Beerkats are back to normal after falling 28-23 at Western Kentucky. Middle Tennessee State comes to town to finish the season.

7) Vanderbilt (2-9) The Commode–doors get the BYE week drop of 4 spots before closing out 2023 with their rivalry game at Tennessee. Go Titans!!!

8) Connecticut (2-9) The Huskies are finally back in the win column after a 31-3 home takedown of Sacred Heart of the FCS. That gives them a 7 spot drop from 1st to 8th. Next up is the mother of all Northeastern Bummer Bowls at Massachusetts to close out 2023.

9) Louisiana Tech (3-9) The Dulldogs are the first 25er to reach the end of their season, not going out in style in losing their season finale at Jacksonville State, 56-17.

10) Temple (3-8) The Fowls lost a Birmingham Bummer Bowl at UAB, 34-24. Next up, Memphis comes to town on Friday to finish the season.

11) Buffalo (3-8) The Lulls won 3 out of 4 in mid-season but sandwiched 7 losses around that stretch, the latest on Wednesday at Miami of Ohio, 23-10. 2023 ends early with a season finale hosting Eastern Michigan on Tuesday.

12) Tulsa (3-8) The Golden Bore-icanes are now at 6 straight losses, losing an AAC Bummer Bowl against North Texas, 35-28. This week is a visit to Dowdy-Ficklen stadium to take on East Carolina in another AAC Bummer Bowl to end 2023.

13) Charlotte (3-8) Biff Poggi’s 3-8ers lost at home to conference foes Rice, 28-7. Next up is the season-ender at the University Of South (really West) Florida.

14) San Diego State (3-8) The Azwrecs lost the newly christened (by me!) San(s) A Name Rivalry game at San Jose State, 24-13. Fresno State visits this weekend to close out 2023 in the Oil Can Rivalry game.

15) Stanford (3-8) The Marginal lost the final Big Game which was also a PAC 12 Conference game at home to California, 27-15. Next up, the Legends Trophy game against Our Lady finishes a moribund 2023.

16) Indiana (3-8) The Loosiers lost a home BIG 10 (12, 14, whatever) Bummer Bowl against former 25ers Michigan State, 24-21. The Old Oaken Bucket is on the line this weekend at Purdue to finish out 2023 for both teams.

17) Pittsburgh (3-8) The Panthers beat Boston College on Thursday, 24-16. A season-ending road trip to Duke is in the offing this week.

18) Cincinnati (3-8) The Merecats lost 42-21 at West Virginia. Next up, national #25 Kansas visits the Queen City.

19) Baylor (3-8) The CareBears lost at TCU, 42-17. West Virginia, getting to the easy end of their schedule, visit this weekend to put a cap on the 2023 season.

20) Massachusetts (3-8) The Minute-men are back in after a 49-25 loss at Liberty. Just in time for a season ending Independent Northeastern Supremacy Bummer Bowl against Connecticut.

21) UTEP (3-8) The Minors lost their 2nd straight, 34-30 at Middle Tennessee State. Next is the 2023 finale hosting conference power Liberty.

22) Arizona State (3-7) The Stunned Devils rejoin the poll by following up their shocking win at UCLA two weeks ago by falling at home to Oregon, 49-13. The Territorial Cup game against nationally ranked Arizona comes to Roger Clyne Alma Mater State this weekend to close out 2023.

23) Purdue (3-8) The Shotandabeers lost 23-15 at Northwestern. Just in time to make The Old Oaken Bucket rivalry game against Indiana a Bummer Bowl.

24) Southern Mississippi (3-8) The Golden Favres had won two straight to fall out but rejoin this week after falling 41-20 at Mississippi State. Troy comes to town to end the season for both squads next.

25) Virginia (3-8) The Cavaliers took down Duke at home, 30-27. 2023 closes with Virginia Tech coming to Charlottesville for the Commonwealth Cup rivalry game.

 

DISHONORABLE MENTION:  Middle Tennessee State (4-7), Ball State (4-7), North Texas (4-7), UAB (4-7), Arkansas (4-7), Michigan State (4-7), New Mexico (4-7), Western Michigan (4-7), Hawai'i (4-8), Florida Atlantic (4-7), Wake Forest (4-7), Houston (4-7), Florida International (4-7), Colorado (4-7)

 

Dropped Out

Colorado State, South Carolina and California 

 

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

AAC – 4 (+3 DHM)

ACC – 2 (+1 DHM)

Big12 – 2 (+1 DHM)

BIG 10 (12, 14, whatever) – 2 (+ 1 DHM)

CUSA – 3 (+2 DHM)

Ind. – 2

MAC – 3 (+2 DHM)

Mountain West – 2 (+2 DHM)

PAC 12 (soon to be none) – 2 (+1 DHM)

SEC – 1 (+1 DHM)

Sun Belt - 2 

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