Underdogs Poll, Week Six: The World is a Cruel Place

Saturday was one of the best and most chaotic days of college football in recent memory, as I'm sure I don't have to remind you. Here's the catch, though: when teams atop the AP poll get their dreams crushed, it's funny. When teams atop the Underdogs poll get their dreams crushed, it's just sad.

The saddest of all sad things happened to BYU, our consensus Underdog number one, who still had an undefeated season and a dark horse Heisman campaign for quarterback Taysom Hill in their sights when they hosted Utah State on Friday night. Then disaster struck: Hill went down with an injury in the first half, the Cougars lost by double digits, and afterwards learned Taysom would miss the rest of his senior season. He was on pace for around 3,000 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards and 45 total touchdowns. Pour one out for the Cougs and Taysom, who, since they're not technically included in the Power Five or Group of Five conferences, have no conceivable way to play in a New Year's Day bowl anymore.

Elsewhere, other sad things happened. Houston was a literal inch away from toppling C. Florida in both teams' AAC opener, Nevada saw pretty much any hope of winning the G5 access bowl bid disappear at the hands of Boise State, and Cincinnati opened up conference play by getting absolutely steamrolled by Memphis, and lost starting QB Gunner Kiel in the process. College football is a cruel, cruel world.

One last word on Memphis. As those of you who have been following this poll know, I have been driving the Memphis Train since the preseason. Last night, the Memphis Train metamorphosed into a Memphis Fighter Jet, and I am no longer in control of it. It has a mind of its own, and is hellbent on blowing up the entire AAC. Hide your children.

Without further ado, here's the ballot. Note the placement of USF's next foe.

Dropped Out: Houston, Western Kentucky
Receiving Votes: Akron (2), Middle Tennessee (1)