Small College Power Poll: A new team in the Top 5 and one team's first ever appearance in Top 10

Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Small College Power Poll for Week 7 features Sam Houston, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Trinity, SFA, PVAMU, Texas Wesleyan, Texas A&M-Commerce and more.
Cory Hogue

Each week Dave Campbell’s Texas Football staff gives their power rankings of the sub-FBS college football teams in Texas.

Note: Teams are measured against the overall strength of their conference. 

  1. Sam Houston (6-0) Last Week: 1 - Motivation for the Bearkats came last week with playoff projections not placing SHSU as the top overall seed. 

  2. Mary Hardin-Baylor (7-0) Last Week: 2 - This is beginning to look like a team capable of winning the program’s third national title.

  3. Trinity (6-0) Last Week: 3 - Trinity is very good. However, the next two weeks will be challenging for the Tigers.

  4. Hardin-Simmons (6-1) Last Week: 5 - HSU continues to improve each week, but the defense could face a challenge against Howard Payne.

  5. SFA (4-3) Last Week: 7 - This may be the last season the ‘Jacks miss the FCS playoffs with Colby Carthel in charge of the program.

  6. UIW (5-2) Last Week: 4 - The Cardinals’ tumble down the rankings following a disappointing loss to McNeese. I expect UIW to respond this week.

  7. Prairie View A&M (6-1) Last Week: 9 - PVAMU is en route to setting up a huge showdown with Alcorn State in Week 11.

  8. Texas Wesleyan (5-2) Last Week: 12 - Rams’ coach Joe Prud’homme should win every Coach of the Year award with what he’s accomplished in five years.

  9. Midwestern State (5-2) Last Week: 10 - MSU held its own against former LSC rival Tarleton. However, the Mustangs are on upset alert for the next three weeks.

  10. Trinity Valley (5-2) Last Week: 6 - TVCC needs its quarterback to heal quickly with a spot in the SWJCFC playoffs in doubt.

  11. Texas A&M-Commerce (5-3) Last Week: 19 - The Lions’ defense is one of the best at any level. Can the offense produce enough to defeat UTPB?

  12. Howard Payne (6-1) Last Week: 8 - A tough road loss showed the Yellow Jackets still need to learn how to handle success.

  13. Blinn (4-3) Last Week: 11 - The loss to Tyler was disappointing, but the Buccaneers have a path to a spot in the SWJCFC semifinals.

  14. Angelo State (6-2) Last Week: 14 - ASU manhandled an overmatched Simon Fraser squad last week. The Rams should roll this week at Eastern New Mexico.

  15. UTPB (4-2) Last Week: 15 - Are the Falcons for real? We will know after this week’s road contest against Texas A&M-Commerce.

  16. Cisco (4-3) Last Week: 21 - Defeating No. 6 NMMI in the Wool Bowl was impressive. The Wranglers remain in the playoff hunt.  

  17. Tyler (4-3) Last Week: 18 - The Apaches are on the outside of the SWJCFC playoffs and need to win out to earn one of four spots.

  18. SAGU (5-3) Last Week: 16 - SAGU needed a big second half to secure a win over Lyon ahead of this week’s rivalry game against Wayland Baptist.

  19. East Texas Baptist (4-3) Last Week: 17 - Tigers’ quarterback Troy Yowman put on an aerial show last week against Austin College.

  20. West Texas A&M (4-4) Last Week: 13 - The Buffs playoff hopes took a massive hit with the home loss to Texas A&M-Commerce.

  21. Tarleton (4-3) Last Week: 23 - Memorial Stadium will be rocking when No. 1 Sam Houston visits Stephenville this week.

  22. Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-3) Last Week: 25 - The next three weeks will be very challenging for the Javelinas, but two of those games are at home.

  23. Navarro (4-4) Last Week: 27 - The Bulldogs offense is explosive but needs to put up a ton of points to win each week.

  24. Abilene Christian (4-3) Last Week: 20 - The week off came at a perfect time for the Wildcats with a challenging road trip to SFA this week.

  25. Kilgore (3-4) Last Week: 22 - The struggles continue for the Rangers after being handily defeated at home by Snow College.

  26. McMurry (2-4) Last Week: 24 - McMurry is still learning how to handle success and prepare for a battle each week. They remain on an upward trajectory.

  27. Texas Southern (2-5) Last Week: 26 - TSU put up a fight against Alcorn State. An explosive UAPB squad awaits this week.

  28. Lamar (2-5) Last Week: 28 - The Cardinals fell behind early but showed heart in a home loss to Central Arkansas.

  29. Wayland Baptist (2-5) Last Week 30 - The Pioneers hope the week off helps them defeat rival SAGU on the road this week.

  30. Texas Lutheran (2-5) Last Week: 32 - Texas Lutheran may have played its best all-around game of the season in defeating McMurry.

  31. Austin College (1-5) Last Week: 33 - The ‘Roos refused to roll over against ETBU last week and will give Southwestern a challenge.

  32. Southwestern (1-6) Last Week: 29 - The Pirates have injury concerns heading into a winnable game against Austin College this week.

  33. Sul Ross State (1-5) Last Week: 31 - The Lobos are trying to win the “Battle of I-20” against McMurry for the third time in four years this week.

  34. Texas College (0-8) Last Week: 34 - The Steers are in the midst of a difficult stretch of games with Texas Wesleyan on tap this week.

  35. Houston Baptist (0-7) Last Week: 35 - The young Huskies are hoping this season’s struggles result in success in a few years.

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