Week 7 Features Loser Bowl Drama and Division-Defining Matchups

Brad Wilson, The Stateline Gazette

Stateline Conference Week 7 Preview

With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Stateline Conference has entered its pressure phase. Every team is playoff-bound, but seeding, byes, and division titles are now very much at stake — and Week 7 delivers a slate that could reshape the bracket from top to bottom.

The top four seeds earn first-round byes, while division champions automatically claim the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. That makes this week pivotal not just for contenders, but for teams trying to avoid brutal first-round matchups.

Several division races may effectively be decided by Saturday night.

Game of the Week

#1 Boise State (6–0) at #2 San Diego State (5–1)

West Division showdown

It doesn’t get bigger than this.

Boise State enters Week 7 unbeaten, leading the conference in scoring (58.8 PPG), total offense (539.3 YPG), and average scoring margin (+33.0). Maddux Madsen has been the engine, throwing for 2,412 yards and 31 touchdowns while distributing to a deep receiving group led by Latrell Caples (822 yards, 12 TDs).

San Diego State has quietly matched Boise where it matters most: divisional play. Both teams are 3–0 in the West, making this a de facto division championship game. The Aztecs bring balance and efficiency, ranking top three in both scoring offense (44.0 PPG) and scoring defense (28.5 PAPG), and have shown they can control tempo against explosive teams — holding UNLV to 10 points and limiting Hawaii to 14.

“We’re not chasing style points,” SDSU head coach Chad Gruver said earlier this week. “We’re chasing control. If we control the pace, we like our chances against anyone.”

Boise, meanwhile, has proven it can win shootouts and survive pressure, including a double-overtime win at Memphis and a 45-point effort against Hawaii. If the Broncos start fast, they can put the division away early. If SDSU forces Boise to grind, this becomes a fourth-quarter coin flip with massive playoff implications.

Line: Boise State -4.5

Total: 77.5

EAST DIVISION

#10 Tulane (1–5) at #11 Temple (1–5)

Neither team is chasing a bye, but both are fighting to avoid the bottom of the bracket.

Tulane’s offense has been productive between the 20s, averaging 446.0 yards per game, but red-zone inefficiency and turnovers have sunk multiple winnable games — including losses to Toledo and North Texas.

Temple, meanwhile, has struggled to generate offense consistently but has stayed competitive defensively, nearly upsetting Toledo in Week 6.

This game likely comes down to discipline. The loser is staring at the No. 11 or No. 12 seed and a brutal first-round draw.

Line: Temple -2.5

Total: 69.5

#12 USF (1–5) at #7 UTSA (3–3)

The Loser Bowl

This one comes with real edge.

USF snapped a losing streak last week, but the Bulls still own the league’s worst scoring defense (53.8 PAPG) and a staggering -201 point differential.

UTSA remains inconsistent, but the Roadrunners’ offense — led by Owen McCown’s conference-best 2,544 passing yards and 27 touchdowns — is capable of overwhelming anyone on the right night.

The tension spilled publicly this week.

USF coach Grant Drachman didn’t hold back:

“Hammerstone is a loser.”

UTSA coach Mark Hammerstone responded in kind:

“I plan on putting up 100.”

Trash talk aside, the matchup favors UTSA. The Roadrunners average 41.3 points per game and have already survived multiple shootouts, including a narrow loss to UNLV and a wild 73–63 defeat at North Texas. If USF can’t force early turnovers, this could spiral quickly.

Line: UTSA -16.5

Total: 74.5

#5 North Texas (4–2) at #3 Toledo (5–1)

This is the most important East Division game of the season.

Toledo sits atop the East at 3–0, but North Texas is close behind at 2–1 and very much alive. The Mean Green bring one of the league’s most explosive offenses (44.5 PPG), led by Drew Mestemaker and a deep stable of playmakers, and are coming off one of the conference’s most memorable wins — a 73-point outburst against UTSA.

Toledo counters with structure and efficiency. The Rockets have won five straight since Week 1, rarely beating themselves and protecting the football better than anyone in the East. Their ability to control tempo was on display in wins over Tulane and Temple, while their only blemish came early in the season.

“We’ve been here before,” a Toledo staffer said this week. “This is where discipline matters.”

A North Texas win throws the East into chaos entering Week 8.

A Toledo win puts the Rockets on the brink of a division title and a top-two seed.

Line: Toledo -5.5

Total: 78.5

WEST DIVISION

#9 UConn (1–5) at #8 Memphis (2–4)

Memphis has been far more competitive than its record suggests, staying within striking distance against elite offenses and pushing Boise State to double overtime earlier this season. The Tigers’ issue has been closing.

UConn, meanwhile, has struggled defensively, allowing 459.3 yards per game and giving up big plays against tempo-driven offenses — something Memphis will look to exploit.

This is an opportunity for the Tigers to climb toward the middle of the bracket and avoid a dangerous first-round matchup.

Line: Memphis -7.5

Total: 70.5

#6 Hawaii (3–3) at #4 UNLV (4–2)

One of the sneakiest playoff seeding games of the week.

Hawaii’s offense can score with anyone. Micah Alejado has topped 2,100 passing yards, and the Rainbow Warriors boast one of the conference’s best yardage differentials. They’ve shown volatility, but also legitimate upside.

UNLV brings balance and depth. The Rebels rotate quarterbacks, lean on Jai’Den Thomas in the backfield, and feature a deep receiving group led by Var’Keyes Gumms. While UNLV was slowed by San Diego State earlier this season, they rebounded with strong offensive performances in recent weeks.

A Hawaii win would seriously damage UNLV’s top-four chances. A Rebels win keeps pressure on Boise State and San Diego State heading into the final week.

Expect fireworks.

Line: UNLV -6.5

Total: 79.5

What to Watch This Week

Division control: Boise State–San Diego State and Toledo–North Texas may effectively decide both divisions.

Bye implications: UNLV, Hawaii, and UTSA are all fighting to stay within striking distance of the top four.

Seeding chaos: Every spot from No. 5 through No. 12 remains fluid — even games at the bottom of the standings carry playoff weight.