New Year’s Six Bowl race: Western Michigan or bust

Western Michigan continued its dominance when it won in the latest installment of Tuesday #MACtion when they took care of business against Kent State to improve to 10-0. The Broncos are still the clear front runner and will be at the top as long as they keep winning, plus they have a two-game cushion in their division race so even if Western Michigan slips up against Toledo later this month they still can with the division.

While Boise State is ranked in the College Football Playoff poll — and one spot behind Western Michigan — these Broncos have an uphill battle to just win the Mountain Division and that is why Boise State is lower in our weekly pecking order this week.

Boise State did get some help when Wyoming was upset by UNLV as the Cowboys fell in triple-overtime to the Rebels. The Broncos still need the Cowboys to lose another game to allow them to win the Mountain Division.

The Broncos are in good shape as Wyoming takes on San Diego State next week and that could put Boise State in great position to be the Group of 5 representative if they can win the Mountain West.

Navy topped Tulsa to all but eliminate the Golden Hurricane from winning the West division in the American. In this conference, it is looking like a Navy vs. South Florida title game and they too will need Western Michigan to lose and also likely have anyone outside of Boise State winning the Mountain West.

Here is the weekly order:

1. Undefeated Western Michigan
2. One-loss San Diego State
3. One-loss Western Michigan
4. Two-loss Navy
5. Two-loss South Florida
6. One-loss Boise State
7. One-loss Troy