What if the G5 had a 16-team playoff? Part Two: Round of 16

In the fictional 16-team G5 tournament, the teams are set and the Round of 16 is ready to get underway. Higher seeded teams play at home in opening round on campus matchups. #1 Seeds are Boise State, Marshall, Georgia Southern, and Cincinnati.

Round of 16

West Region:

Boise State 56, Bowling Green 24: Both teams are coming from opposite directions heading into the first round of the playoffs with Boise State coming off of a MWC title yet again while Bowling Green was no match in the MAC title game. Boise State, relying on a strong rushing attack and very active secondary, quickly take over the game versus the Falcons and lead 35-7 at the half. The Broncos roll in the second half and get lots of playing time for younger players in route to a 56-24 win.

Memphis 31, Toledo 27: Making the trip from Tennessee to Ohio, the Tigers show up well early versus Toledo and hold a 7-3 lead after the first quarter. The Rockets get their rushing attack in gear in the second quarter and turn the 7-3 deficit into a 17-10 halftime lead. Memphis, showing the strength built from a tough AAC schedule, takes control early in the second half and never lets go with touchdowns on three straight possessions to take a 31-17 lead. Toledo gets as close as 31-27 but falls short in the first upset of the tournament.

• West Region Final: Memphis at Boise State

East Region: 

Marshall 37, Arkansas State 23: With a higher reliance on a pounding rushing attack than in previous seasons, the Marshall Thundering Herd are able to exploit a struggling Red Wolves rush defense all game long. Marshall jumps ahead early at 17-0 iin the first half and lead 20-7 at the break. Arkansas State gets slightly back in the game at 20-10 before Marshall pulls away for a 37-23 win.

BYU 37, Northern Illinois 21: With a healthy Taysom Hill directing the offense, the Cougars are a force late in the season with a balanced offense and stingy defense. Northern Illinois comes to town and surprises BYU with an early score to take a 7-0 lead but it is all Cougars from then on. BYU puts up 37 straight points before two late touchdowns make the score a more reasonable 37-21 as the final horn sounds.

• East Region Final: BYU at Marshall

South Region:

Navy 37, Georgia Southern 34: Facing their nemesis from last season in the opener of the 2015 G5 playoffs, the Georgia Southern Eagles again struggle versus the Navy Midshipmen. Both team boasting very impressive rushing attacks find the defense lacking in the first half in a good old fashioned option shootout with the score 24-24 at the half. Trading punches throughout the second half, the pedigree of the Midshipmen under a senior four year starter comes to the forefront with Navy pulling the first major upset of the G5 playoff, 37-34.

Western Kentucky 42, San Diego State 41: In a matchup of one of the best passing offense in the nation versus one of the best passing defenses, Western Kentucky and San Diego State go down to the wire. The Hilltopper quickly jump into control with back to back touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Once the Aztecs rushing attack kicks into gear, SDSU is back in the game at the half, trailing 24-21. The Aztecs take control of the ball in the third quarter and pull into a 38-31 lead with a quarter to play. After trading field goals, the Hilltoppers drive down field with time expiring and hit a touchdown pass with :05 left in the game to pull within one at 41-40 and a PAT to go. WKU goes for the conversion and fakes out the Aztecs with a draw up the middle to win 42-41.

• South Region Final: Navy at Western Kentucky

North Region:

Cincinnati 37, Louisiana 27: The Bearcats, a co-champion of the AAC in 2014, come into this game with a top ranked passing attack that knows how to put the ball into the end zone. For Louisiana, this is a bad matchup as they are still learning to trust the man to man philosophies. The Bearcats jump out quickly with their quick strike offense and take a 24-10 lead into the half. Louisiana tries to fight back with their vaulted rushing attack and get as close as seven points before falling 37-27.

Utah State 41, Louisiana Tech 20: In an exciting matchup that puts one of the best defenses in the nation versus one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, the Utah State Aggies show just how much of a difference a healthy Chuckie Keeton can be. The Aggies completely slow down the Bulldog offense in the first half while the ability of Keeton to keep the play alive while looking downfield results in two long touchdowns in the passing game. The ability to pass on Louisiana Tech opens up the rushing attack and suddenly we are at the half with Utah State leading 34-10. Louisiana Tech gets as close as 34-20 before Utah State puts the dagger in the heart for a 41-20 win.

• North Region Final: Utah State at Cincinnati