Diehard G6 Top 25 — New Mexico takes No. 2 after top-5 showdown with NDSU

New Mexico climbs to No. 2 in the Diehard G6 Top 25 after beating North Dakota State 21-16 in a top-5 showdown Saturday night in Albuquerque. Austin Brawley's 56-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter sealed it in front of an electric crowd at University Stadium. The Lobos are 3-0 in Mountain West play with the head-to-head over the Bison, and their defense leads the nation with 23 forced turnovers. NDSU drops to No. 8.

Boise State stays at No. 1 after dispatching Washington State 31-10 for its sixth straight win. Oregon State, at No. 4 after a bye, is also unbeaten in Pac-12 play. Circle November 14 — Oregon State at Boise State. That game will go a long way toward deciding the Pac-12 championship, the G6's CFP representative and maybe the shape of the entire playoff bracket.

UTSA jumps to No. 3 after demolishing Tulane 42-19 on the road. The Roadrunners are 7-1 and 4-0 in the American, a half-game ahead of North Texas (5-2, 3-0) as the only unbeaten teams in league play. James Madison, which lost its first game of the season at App State in overtime, drops three spots to No. 5. The Dukes are still the Sun Belt favorite at 4-1, but there is no margin for error left if they want to reach the CFP. App State makes the week's biggest jump — 14 spots to No. 7.

Toledo took a major step forward in the MAC race by beating previously No. 7 Western Michigan 45-38, piling up 595 total yards. The Rockets hold the head-to-head tiebreaker and sit one game behind Ohio (6-2, 4-0 MAC) in the standings.

The Sun Belt West, meanwhile, lost its mind. Louisiana fell at Southern Miss as a 10.5-point favorite. South Alabama managed 13 points in a loss at Marshall. Troy lost at home to winless UL Monroe. Louisiana Tech (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) leads the West with a four-game winning streak and is the only team without a conference loss. South Alabama, Tulane, Georgia State and Tulsa all drop out of the poll. Wyoming and Buffalo enter for the first time. Fresno State and UNLV return.

Games to watch this week:

No. 18 FAU at No. 6 North Texas — Thursday (6:30 PM CT, ESPN)

No. 9 Army at No. 10 Memphis — Saturday (7 PM CT, ESPNU)

No. 4 Oregon State at No. 23 Fresno State — Saturday (10 PM CT, USA Net)

All rankings are from the Diehard G6 Top 25, our weekly poll of the top 25 teams outside the Power 4.

Here is the Diehard G6 Top 25:

1. Boise State (6-1, Pac-12) — Spencer Danielson, Year 3 (prev: 1)

Beat Washington State 31-10. Dylan Riley ran for 128 yards and two TDs on 13 carries, including a 72-yard scoring run. Maddux Madsen went 14-of-23 for 149 yards and a TD with zero interceptions — Madsen now has 14 TDs and zero interceptions on the season. Boise State became bowl-eligible for the 29th consecutive season, the second-longest active streak nationally. The Broncos have won six straight and are 3-0 in Pac-12 play.

Next: vs Texas State (4-3), Saturday (9 PM CT, CW)

2. New Mexico (6-1, MW) — Jason Eck, Year 2 (prev: 3, +1)

Beat then-No. 5 North Dakota State 21-16. Kiefer Sibley rushed for 91 yards and a TD on 13 carries, scoring on a 29-yard run on the opening drive. Austin Brawley returned a Nathan Hayes interception 56 yards for a pick-six in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 21-9. It was Brawley's second pick-six in two home games — he had a 65-yarder against UTEP in Week 5. New Mexico's defense leads the nation with 23 forced turnovers. The Lobos are 3-0 in Mountain West play and control the conference race.

Next: at San Jose State (4-4), Saturday (3 PM CT, MW+)

3. UTSA (7-1, American) — Jeff Traylor, Year 7 (prev: 4, +1)

Beat then-No. 20 Tulane 42-19. Will Henderson III rushed for 102 yards and a TD on 15 carries. A'Marion Peterson scored twice in the first quarter. Tulane committed six turnovers. UTSA's only loss is to Texas. The Roadrunners are 4-0 in American play — a half-game ahead of North Texas (3-0) atop the conference — and have won five straight.

Next: Bye

4. Oregon State (5-2, Pac-12) — JaMarcus Shephard, Year 1 (prev: 6, +2)

Had a bye. The Beavers have won five straight and are 3-0 in Pac-12 play. Circle November 14 — Oregon State at Boise State. Both teams are unbeaten in conference. That game will go a long way toward deciding the Pac-12 championship and the G6's CFP representative.

Next: at Fresno State (4-3, No. 23), Saturday (10 PM CT, USA Net)

5. James Madison (7-1, Sun Belt) — Billy Napier, Year 1 (prev: 2, -3)

Lost to App State 34-31 in overtime. Camden Coleman went 22-of-39 for 232 yards with a TD and an interception. George Pettaway left with a hamstring injury after rushing for 57 yards on 15 carries, snapping a four-game streak of 100-plus rushing yards. Morgan Suarez missed two field goals. Colton Phares' interception return to the JMU 14 set up a go-ahead App State TD in the fourth quarter. Coleman's QB draw with three seconds left tied it and sent it to overtime, but James London's 40-yard field goal ended it. JMU's first loss drops them three spots but they remain the Sun Belt favorite at 4-1 in conference. They no longer have any margin for error if they want to reach the CFP.

Next: vs Troy (3-4), Thursday (6:30 PM CT, ESPN2)

6. North Texas (5-2, American) — Neal Brown, Year 1 (prev: 11, +5)

Beat Navy 49-39. Tayven Jackson went 17-of-23 for 305 yards and three TDs. Justin Stevenson had a career day with eight catches for 209 yards and two TDs. Dalton Carnes returned a punt 76 yards for a TD. Zakye Barker returned a fumble 63 yards for another. Navy's Jackson Gutierrez rushed for 228 yards and three TDs in the losing effort. North Texas is 3-0 in American play alongside UTSA and has won four straight.

Next: vs FAU (5-2, No. 18), Thursday (6:30 PM CT, ESPN)

7. App State (5-2, Sun Belt) — Dowell Loggains, Year 2 (prev: 21, +14)

Beat then-No. 2 James Madison 34-31 in overtime. Malachi Singleton went 26-of-40 for 271 yards and two TDs with zero interceptions. Colton Phares intercepted Camden Coleman and returned it 21 yards to the JMU 14, setting up a go-ahead TD. James London went 4-for-4 on field goals — 48, 27, 36 and the 40-yard walk-off winner in overtime. App State is 2-1 in Sun Belt play. The Mountaineers make the week's biggest jump — 14 spots from No. 21 to No. 7.

Next: at Georgia Southern (3-4), Saturday (5:30 PM CT, ESPN+)

8. North Dakota State (6-2, MW) — Tim Polasek, Year 3 (prev: 5, -3)

Lost to then-No. 3 New Mexico 21-16. Nathan Hayes went 17-of-33 for 198 yards and two TDs but threw two interceptions, including Austin Brawley's 56-yard pick-six. NDSU rushed for just 53 yards. A blocked extra point after NDSU's first TD left them trailing 14-9 at halftime and they never led. The Bison are 3-2 in Mountain West play and no longer control their own destiny in the conference race. At 6-2 overall, they are still bowl-eligible in their first FBS season.

Next: vs UTEP (1-6), Saturday (2:30 PM CT, MW+)

9. Army (5-2, American) — Jeff Monken, Year 13 (prev: 12, +3)

Beat then-No. 24 Tulsa 38-35. Dawson Jones hit a 50-yard field goal on the final play to win it — he also connected from 51 and 34 yards earlier in the game. Godspower Nwawuihe rushed for 135 yards and a TD on 12 carries, including a 66-yard scoring run. Cale Hellums added 121 yards and three TDs on 30 carries — his 1-yard plunge with 1:50 left tied it at 35-35 before the walk-off. Army committed zero turnovers. The Black Knights are 4-1 in American play and have won three straight.

Next: at Memphis (6-2, No. 10), Saturday (7 PM CT, ESPNU)

10. Memphis (6-2, American) — Charles Huff, Year 1 (prev: 10)

Beat East Carolina 41-34 in overtime. Marcus Stokes went 29-of-43 for 320 yards and three TDs with zero interceptions after throwing three INTs the week before against Tulane. Memphis trailed 16-3 at halftime before Stokes led the comeback. Stokes scored on a 5-yard rushing TD on Memphis's first OT possession, and Ellis Ellis Jr. sealed it with an interception in the end zone on ECU's OT drive. Memphis is 3-1 in American play and bowl-eligible at 6-2.

Next: vs Army (5-2, No. 9), Saturday (7 PM CT, ESPNU)

11. Liberty (6-1, CUSA) — Jamey Chadwell, Year 4 (prev: 9, -2)

Beat Kennesaw State 34-6. Deshawn Purdie went 10-of-19 for 176 yards and a TD. Jaylon Coleman scored two TDs — a 56-yard reception and a rushing score. Chase Reeves hit field goals from 30 and 49 yards. Liberty committed zero turnovers. The Flames are 3-0 in CUSA play, have won six straight and became bowl-eligible.

Next: vs FIU (3-4), Saturday (2:30 PM CT, CBSSN)

12. Toledo (6-2, MAC) — Mike Jacobs, Year 1 (prev: 14, +2)

Beat then-No. 7 Western Michigan 45-38. John Alan Richter went 29-of-41 for 391 yards and three TDs. CJ Miller rushed 33 times for 183 yards and scored the tiebreaking TD with five minutes left. Adjatay Dabbs caught eight passes for 124 yards and two TDs. Toledo piled up 595 total yards. Israel Petite's interception at midfield with under two minutes sealed it. Toledo is 3-1 in MAC play, bowl-eligible and holds the head-to-head over WMU.

Next: Bye

13. South Florida (5-2, American) — Brian Hartline, Year 1 (prev: 17, +4)

Had a bye. The Bulls are 1-2 in American play and have lost two of their last three.

Next: vs UAB (4-3), Saturday (11 AM CT, ESPNU)

14. Ohio (6-2, MAC) — John Hauser, Year 1 (prev: 15, +1)

Beat Eastern Michigan 24-20. Darren James-Hamilton returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD with 3:40 remaining for the winning score. EMU had taken a 20-17 lead on a 98-yard drive, but James-Hamilton answered immediately. Ohio's defense then made four consecutive stops at the goal line in the final 30 seconds to preserve the win. Nick Poulos went 19-of-29 for 266 yards and a TD. Ohio is 4-0 in MAC play and has won 17 straight at home.

Next: Bye

15. Jacksonville State (5-2, CUSA) — Charles Kelly, Year 2 (prev: 16, +1)

Had a bye. The Gamecocks are 3-0 in CUSA play alongside Liberty at the top of the conference standings. That head-to-head matchup in Lynchburg on November 11 looms as a potential conference championship decider.

Next: at New Mexico State (3-4), Wednesday (7 PM CT, ESPN2)

16. Louisiana Tech (5-2, Sun Belt) — Sonny Cumbie, Year 5 (prev: 19, +3)

Beat Old Dominion 26-0. Blake Baker went 28-of-34 for 303 yards and a TD. Eli Finley caught 10 passes for 128 yards and a TD. Jalen Mickens added eight catches for 110 yards. ODU managed minus-13 rushing yards and quarterback Jaxon Potter was sacked six times. It was Louisiana Tech's second consecutive shutout. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in Sun Belt play — the only team without a conference loss in the Sun Belt West — and have won four straight.

Next: at South Alabama (4-3), Saturday (2 PM CT, ESPN+)

17. Western Michigan (5-3, MAC) — Lance Taylor, Year 4 (prev: 7, -10)

Lost to then-No. 14 Toledo 45-38. Broc Lowry went 12-of-29 for 207 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. WMU trailed 31-14 at halftime before Joshua Franklin's 92-yard kickoff return TD sparked a rally that tied it at 38. But CJ Miller's tiebreaking TD and Israel Petite's interception ended it. WMU is 3-1 in MAC play but no longer holds the tiebreaker against the team directly above them. The Broncos drop 10 spots.

Next: vs Bowling Green (2-6), Saturday (11 AM CT, CBSSN)

18. FAU (5-2, American) — Zach Kittley, Year 2 (prev: 23, +5)

Beat Rice 51-49. Caden Veltkamp went 29-of-37 for 339 yards and three TDs. Easton Messer had 262 all-purpose yards and five TDs — two receiving, two rushing and a punt return TD, the longest in FAU program history. Rice's Gael Ochoa rushed for 259 yards and four TDs in his first career start — runs of 55, 52, 74 and 69 yards — but Tommy Bauchiero's 55-yard field goal attempt with under a minute fell short. A blocked punt for a safety provided the final two-point margin. FAU is 2-1 in American play.

Next: at North Texas (5-2, No. 6), Thursday (6:30 PM CT, ESPN)

19. Wyoming (5-3, MW) — Jay Sawvel, Year 3 (prev: NR, NEW)

Beat No. 8 Air Force 28-14. Tyler Hughes opened with a 68-yard TD run on the second play from scrimmage and finished with 146 rushing yards and a TD on 12 carries plus 113 passing yards and two TDs on 10-of-17 passing. A hook-and-ladder play with Hughes, Eric Richardson and Samuel Harris produced a TD with 38 seconds left in the first half. Wyoming committed zero turnovers while forcing three Air Force fumbles. The Cowboys are 4-1 in Mountain West play and have won three straight. Wyoming enters the rankings for the first time this season.

Next: Bye

20. Miami of Ohio (5-3, MAC) — Chuck Martin, Year 13 (prev: 25, +5)

Beat Central Michigan 28-27. D'Shawntae Jones scored the game-winning 2-yard TD with 1:41 remaining, capping a drive aided by consecutive pass interference penalties against CMU. Maleek Huggins caught seven passes for 122 yards. Miami is 3-1 in MAC play and has won three straight.

Next: Bye

21. Buffalo (5-3, MAC) — Pete Lembo, Year 3 (prev: NR, NEW)

Beat Bowling Green 31-24. Messiah Burch rushed 33 times for 184 yards and three TDs, including a 73-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Burch is the first Buffalo player with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Jaret Patterson in 2019. Buffalo is 3-1 in MAC play and has won three straight. The Bulls enter the rankings for the first time this season.

Next: Bye

22. Air Force (5-2, MW) — Troy Calhoun, Year 20 (prev: 8, -14)

Lost to Wyoming 28-14. Evan Medders rushed for 115 yards on 21 carries before leaving with an injury in the third quarter. Air Force lost three fumbles and trailed 21-6 at halftime after Wyoming's hook-and-ladder TD before the break. The Falcons' four-game winning streak is snapped. Air Force is 3-2 in Mountain West play. The Falcons make the week's biggest drop — 14 spots.

Next: vs UConn (4-4), Saturday (2 PM CT, MW+)

23. Fresno State (4-3, Pac-12) — Matt Entz, Year 2 (prev: NR, RETURNS)

Had a bye. Fresno State dropped out last week after consecutive losses to San Diego State and Oregon. The Bulldogs return to the rankings with a dangerous home game ahead — No. 4 Oregon State visits Fresno on Saturday night.

Next: vs Oregon State (5-2, No. 4), Saturday (10 PM CT, USA Net)

24. Louisiana (5-3, Sun Belt) — Michael Desormeaux, Year 5 (prev: 13, -11)

Lost to Southern Miss 35-31. Lunch Winfield went 22-of-41 for 299 yards and two TDs with an interception. Louisiana led 31-28 after a 17-play drive ended in a field goal with 2:51 remaining. Jamarice Wilder's 16-yard TD run with 58 seconds left won it for Southern Miss. Steven Robinson rushed for 145 yards and three TDs in the first half for the Golden Eagles. Louisiana is 2-2 in Sun Belt play and has dropped 11 spots.

Next: Bye

25. UNLV (4-3, MW) — Dan Mullen, Year 2 (prev: NR, RETURNS)

Had a bye. UNLV dropped out last week after losing to Air Force 41-31 and returns with a soft re-entry. The Rebels are 2-1 in Mountain West play. Both losses are to ranked opponents — NDSU and Air Force.

Next: vs Northern Illinois (0-7), Saturday (9:30 PM CT, CBSSN)

Dropped out

South Alabama (4-3, prev: 18) — Lost to Marshall 20-13. Jared Hollins went 12-of-33 for 148 yards with zero TDs and an interception. The Jaguars managed just 13 points after scoring 52 and 56 in their previous two games. Marshall's Judah Price scored the game-winning 5-yard TD with 1:49 remaining. South Alabama is 2-1 in Sun Belt West play.

Tulane (3-4, prev: 20) — Lost to UTSA 42-19. Trace Johnson went 24-of-44 for 265 yards with zero TDs and two interceptions. Tulane committed six turnovers. The Green Wave entered the rankings last week after upsetting Memphis and exit after one week.

Georgia State (4-3, prev: 22) — Lost to Arkansas State 38-32. Second consecutive loss drops the Panthers from the rankings.

Tulsa (4-4, prev: 24) — Lost to Army 38-35 on a walk-off 50-yard field goal. Fourth loss drops the Golden Hurricane to .500 and out of the rankings after one week.