College Football's Bottom 25 2024, Week 6

Fifth Third Stadium, home of the Kennesaw State Owls

It is back!!! And I am back, a week earlier this season than last. It is college football time and even in the age of seemingly limitless transfers, the boondoggle of NIL (not that players shouldn't be paid, just not THIS way) and the compressing of all of the teams into one giant mega-conference, college football still has the big winners, but also the bigger also rans who make up The Sports Thinker's College Football B25!

2024 is off to a surprising start, with many of the usual suspects, like Troy, Southern Mississippi and Kent State resuming their usual state of affairs in the B25, but others, like UNLV, East Carolina and UConn getting out of the gate somewhat strongly. And then there is Florida State! Things are not fun in Tallahassee right now, and I'm not talking about the DeSantis administration of the affairs of the state.

So, let's get this started and, as always, enjoy the games!!!

1) Kent State (0-5) The Golden Flashless are one of only three winless FBS teams after 5 weeks into the season. It has been an extremely ugly start to the season, with a loss to FCS squad St. Francis (PA) and two shutout losses to nationally ranked Penn State and Tennessee with an average margin of defeat of 63.5 to 0. The Flashless have given up more than 52 points in every game except for the loss to St. Francis. This week is a BYE before Ball State comes to town for what will most likely be a MAC Bummer Bowl.

2) Kennesaw State (0-4) The first of many Fowls entries, the other KSU take their place at number two on the weakness of their winless start including a home FCS loss, last weekend against UT Martin, 24-13. This week is a Bummer Bowl against conference mates Jacksonville (non-Florida version) State.

3) UTEP (0-4) Conference USA is off to a poor start in their new configuration, with 40% of the ten teams already having 4 losses in the first five weeks of 2024. We will get to the other two later in the poll, but the Minors are only ranked lower than Kennesaw State because they have acquitted themselves fairly well against their collective opponents, despite also having suffered an FCS loss. This week brings Sam Houston State to El Paso.

4) Massachusetts (1-4) A four-point victory over Central Connecticut of the FCS two weeks ago is the only thing keeping the Minute-men from being #1 in the inaugural poll this season. UMass might get two wins this year, as they play Wagner of the FCS in a few weeks. As for now, this weekend brings a visit to Northern Illinois.

5) Akron (1-4) The Zips (why create a mock name when this one is so perfect?) have the narrow FCS win to the plus column, offset by four blowout losses, including last week's 30-10 conference opener beating at Ohio. Bowling Green visits the Rubber City this weekend.

6) Middle Tennessee State (1-4) The Blue Faiders got a narrow FCS win to start 2024 and have spent the rest of the year getting housed. The good news is that MTSU has 3 scheduled games upcoming against fellow 25ers and a fourth against a likely future 25er, as well. That's more than half of their remaining schedule. The next game, however, is not one of those as a trip to Louisiana Tech is in the offing after a BYE this weekend.

7) New Mexico State (1-4) The (What's An?) Aggies also started '24 with a 7-point win over an FCS opponent, then lost 4 straight, including last weekend's 50-40 rivalry game loss to fellow 25ers, New Mexico. This weekend is a BYE before a Wednesday Bummer Bowl showdown at the (non-Florida) Jacksonville State.

8) Rice (1-4) The Fowls (#2 of 3) did, indeed, blowout an FCS opponent, but they also lost to fellow 25ers Houston by 26. This weekend is a BYE before UTSA visits the following week.

9) New Mexico (1-4) It is a shame because the state of New Mexico is a lovely place that suffers through the worst of college football almost every year! The Loblos join their state school brethren at 1-4 and in the poll but did manage to beat them last weekend by 10 and win the in-state Battle of I-25/Rio Grande Rivalry game. This is a BYE weekend before travelling and taking on fellow 25ers Air Force in a MWC Bummer Bowl.

10) Houston (1-4) Man, this is the first time I've ever been stumped in coming up with a ridiculous nickname based on a team's name before! For now, I will refer to them as the Kittens and I will gladly take suggestions for a better nickname! So...the Kittens did beat the Fowls (#2) of Rice and they did keep things close against Oklahoma, but they are still 1-4 and they have been shut out the last 2 weeks by a combined score of 54-0 against Cincinnati and Iowa State. Next up is a Friday nighter at TCU.

11) Wyoming (1-4) The Cowboils had a solid home win last weekend over fellow 25ers Air Force, but they also have an earlier season loss to Idaho of the FCS. Coming up is a BYE weekend before San Diego State visits.

12) Temple (1-4) The Fowls #3 beat fellow 25ers Utah State a few weeks ago and have done naught otherwise. Next up is a visit to traditional 25ers UConn, who have managed to make it out of the gate 3-2 this year, thus avoiding the poll.

13) Troy (1-4) The Trojadies are back after two straight Sun Belt Conference Championship seasons! They have the ubiquitous FCS win and their schedule has been relatively strong, so they may climb out of this poll, but for now they are 1-4 and at #12 ahead of Thursday's tilt hosting Texas State.

14) Florida State (1-4) This is an even more precipitous drop-off for the SemiGnomes than the one that Troy is having. Last year, FSU was undefeated and a mere QB injury away from the Championship playoff. Yes, they did beat 3-1 California this year and the worst current record of any team they have played so far is Georgia Tech's 3-2, but FSU's opponents have not exactly been the elite of their conference, either. And they just got absolutely smoked at SMU. This weekend gets no easier hosting national #15 Clemson, but I still won't be surprised if the 'Gnomes pull it off.

15) Kansas (1-4) The specific reason why the Nayhawks are ranked lower than FSU is that their 4 losses are by a combined 24 points, which means they are right there in every game. Next up is a visit to Tempe to take on the 3-1 Arizona State Sun Devils, who seem to be enjoying Big 12 (16) life pretty well since the Pac 12 disintegrated.

16) Mississippi State (1-4) It is hard to knock the Dulldogs losing to national #1 Texas last week, but their 1-4 start lands them here, especially considering that their only win was over an FCS opponent, and the losses include a 24-point home loss to Toledo! In fact, if score and location is an indicator, Mississippi State played better against Texas than they did against the Rockets. Next up, a much-needed BYE before the Dulldogs travel to Athens to take on the Bulldawgs (hey, if they can't spell it right, neither will I) of Georgia.

17) Air Force (1-3) The Failcons have a 15-point FCS victory as the only plus on their schedule, offset, in particular, by last week's loss to previously 0-4 Wyoming. Next up is the first CIC Trophy game of the year as undefeated Navy visits Colorado Springs.

18) Southern Mississippi (1-3) The Golden Favres have the obligatory FCS win and a loss to a fellow 25er (Jacksonville State) as their resume. Next up, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns head into Hattiesburg for the weekend.

19) Utah State (1-3) The Mutes are another FCS win/25er loss team (you could interchange the teams ranked 17-19 here), having lost to B25 #12 Temple last week. This week, they get a road game at nationally ranked Boise State. A blue field beating is in order. Ouch!

20) Louisiana Tech (1-3) These Dulldogs have played it pretty close in all 4 games, with a win over an FCS squad and 3 losses to meh opponents...nothing to see here, move it along. A weekend BYE before a Thursday night visit from MTSU for a Conference USA Bummer Bowl.

21) UAB (1-3) The Flickers are another FCS win and that's it team. Followed with three losses by an average of 20 points per game. This weekend, it is entirely possible the Flickers might get completely extinguished by the Green Wave of Tulane.

22) Ball State (1-3) The Marginals beat their FCS opponent, lost a close conference game to Central Michigan and got pasted by a combined 125-7 score against their two quality opponents. The B25 #23 Western Michigan Cloncos visit this weekend for a MAC Bummer Bowl.

23) Western Michigan (1-3) One obligatory FCS win for the Cloncos versus a blowout at Ohio State and two much closer losses. Now we get to separate the B25 wheat from the chaff with this weekend's Bummer Bowl clash at Ball State.

24) San Diego State (1-3) The Azwrecs lost 22-21 at home to Central Michigan last week. In fact, by rights, the Chippewas SHOULD be in this poll, except that they defeated Ball State and SDSU by a combined 4 points in the last two weeks. But enough about them and back to the Azwrecs, who will be hosting Hawai'i this weekend.

25) Jacksonville State (1-3) The Lamecocks have a 25er win against Southern Mississippi and, to their credit, do not have an FCS school on their schedule. Next up is a Bummer Bowl at Conference USA compatriots Kennesaw State.

Dishonorable Mention: Old Dominion (1-3), Miami of Ohio (1-3), Wake Forest    (1-3), Purdue (1-3), Bowling Green (1-3) and UCLA (1-3)