Have mid-majors ever been stronger in college football? This past week five schools from non-BCS conferences made The Examiner Top-25 poll, including three from the Mountain West Conference. Here’s a look at the best mid-major schools since the inception of the BCS (1998):
10 » TCU (11-2), 2008
The Horned Frogs lost two games last year, but to two top-five teams — Oklahoma and Utah. TCU’s year ended by spoiling a perfect season for Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl. Their defense dominated opponents, holding every team except the Sooners to 16 points or less.
9 » Fresno State (11-3), 2001
Led by future No. 1 pick David Carr, the Bulldogs began the season with wins over Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin. But Boise State ruined a dream season by beating the Bulldogs, 35-30. Fresno State then lost to Hawaii in the next game and was beaten by Michigan State in the Silicon Valley Classic.
8 » Boise State (13-1), 2003
The schedule had one tough game against a school from a BCS conference and the Broncos lost that one, 26-24, at Oregon State. Boise State rolled through the rest of the regular season and defeated a ranked TCU team in the inaugural Fort Worth Bowl on the Horned Frogs’ home turf.
7 » TCU (11-1), 2005
Defeated Oklahoma in the season opener only to loss against Southern Methodist the following week. The Horned Frogs were the king of winning close games this season — beating Utah, BYU, San Diego State and Iowa State (in the Houston Bowl) by three points or less.
6 » Hawaii (12-1), 2007
Colt Brennan set the NCAA record for TD passes to lead the Warriors to an undefeated regular season, culminated by a victory over WAC rival Boise State. But Hawaii got crushed, 41-10, by SEC power Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The loss is the only mid-major defeat in a BCS bowl game (3-1).
5 » Tulane (11-0), 1998
Tommy Bowden turned Tulane’s football program around. With Shaun King under center, the Green Wave went undefeated, ending the year in the top 10. King set the all-time NCAA passing efficiency record. Tulane was not invited to a BCS bowl and won the Liberty Bowl by 14 points over BYU.
4 » Marshall (13-0), 1999
The Thundering Herd dominated the 90s. In 1999, after making the jump from I-AA, they opened the season by beating Clemson, 13-10, and never looked back. Chad Pennington led the Herd to an undefeated year, but like Tulane, they were not invited to a BCS bowl game and settled for beating BYU, 21-3, in the Motor City Bowl.
3 » Utah (12-0), 2004
Utah was the first school from a non-BCS conference to get invited to a BCS bowl and the Utes didn’t disappoint — romping Pittsburgh, 35-7, in the Fiesta Bowl. This season brought big paychecks to Urban Meyer (Florida head coach) and Alex Smith (No. 1 pick). Meyer has made the most of it. Smith … not so much.
2 » Boise State (13-0), 2006
Might be the most memorable mid-major team. Who can forget the “Statue of Liberty” play by QB Jared Zabransky to RB Ian Johnson on a two-point conversion in overtime of the Fiesta Bowl to defeat the Adrian Peterson-led Sooners, 43-42. Johnson used the Cinderella moment to propose to his cheerleader girlfriend. Don’t worry, she said yes.
1 » Utah (13-0), 2008
The Utes were the only undefeated team in 2008-09 and finished No. 2 in the AP poll. Utah handily won the Sugar Bowl, 31-17, against an Alabama team that spent most of the year atop the polls and was undefeated until they lost to Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Utah rose to the top of a Mountain West Conference that has never been better with No. 7 TCU and No. 25 BYU. The Utes also opened with a victory at Michigan, a win that wouldn’t look so great by the end of the season.
