FBO: BYU topping the mid-major logjam
Fast start has Cougars in strong position for unbeaten season
The year probably couldn't have gotten off to a better start for the mightiest of the non-BCS conferences. Four so-called "mid-major" teams claimed spots in the preseason polls, and two of them -- the Boise State Broncos and Brigham Young Cougars -- toppled their biggest obstacle to an undefeated season in the opening weekend.
Then, on the second Saturday of action, the Houston Cougars ratcheted up non-BCS expectations even further by running wild in a 45-35 victory over then-No. 5 Oklahoma State in the Cowboys' own stadium.
Central Michigan knocked off a solid Michigan State team in East Lansing. TCU, Colorado State, Toledo, Hawaii and Louisiana-Lafayette have each picked off low-hanging BCS conference fruit this year. Navy, Wyoming and Fresno State gave big-time programs big-time scares.
After offseason proposals -- spearheaded by the Mountain West Conference -- for BCS bowl berth reform fizzled, are we now witnessing a revolution on the field?
To break down the non-BCS elites with the best chance of running the table and playing in January bowls, you must be an ESPN Insider.
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Week 13
Week 12
- 11/20: McShay: Draft buzz for Week 12
- 11/20: Mag: Life of a PSU mascot
- 11/18: Muench: OL Bowman has all the tools
- 11/18: BtBB: The junior jump (or not)
- 11/18: McShay: DE Morgan heads class
- 11/17: Joyner: Trent Williams is overrated
- 11/17: Heisman Predictor: Gerhart rising
- 11/16: Stock Reports: McShay | Kiper
Week 11
- 11/13: McShay: Draft buzz for Week 11
- 11/12: McShay: Top 5 tight ends
- 11/11: FBO: TCU deserves a title shot
- 11/10: Mag: Bill Curry is building a program
- 11/10: Muench: Gerhart's draft stock rising
- 11/10: Joyner: McCoy is the total package
- 11/10: Heisman Predictor: Down to three
- 11/9: Stock Reports: McShay | Kiper
Week 10
- 11/4: BtBB: The fall of Taylor Mays
- 11/4: FBO: Offensive plans for LSU, 'Bama
- 11/3: Heisman Predictor: A new favorite
- 11/3: Joyner: Cody shows areas of concern
- 11/2: Stock Reports: McShay | Kiper
Week 9
- 10/29: Muench: Austin faces tough test
- 10/28: BtBB: Dez Bryant's future
- 10/28: FBO: USC defensive flaws
- 10/27: Heisman Predictor: McCoy's move
- 10/26: Stock Reports: McShay | Kiper
Weeks 5-8
- 10/22: FBO: Home-field advantages
- 10/21: Roenigk: Dealing with injuries
- 10/20: Joyner: PSU's Bowman needs work
- 10/20: Heisman Predictor: Tebow/Ingram
- 10/19 Stock Reports: McShay | Kiper
- 10/19: Draft blog: Bradford is falling
- 10/19: Feldman: Ingram for Heisman
- 10/19: FBO: The best one-loss teams
- 10/15: Mel's Matchups: Red River watch
- 10/14: Shurburtt: ND's recruiting weekend
- 10/14: McShay: Top OU/Texas prospects
- 10/14: BtBB: Suh and McCoy
- 10/13: Heisman Predictor: Clausen's chance
- 10/12: Kiper: Breakthrough for Graham
- 10/6: Heisman Predictor: The Pike position
- 10/5: Kiper: Why scouts like Spiller
- 10/5: McShay: Clausen's stock climbing
- 10/1: Mel's Matchups: OU-UM battles
- 9/29: Heisman Predictor: Forcier rising up
- 9/29: Mag: TSU as Second Chance U
Weeks 1-4
- 9/23 McShay: Tebow misses big chance
- 9/23: FBO: Surprise or sham teams
- 9/22: Heisman Predictor: Best rises in West
- 9/21: Kiper: Orakpo's heir and Locker's rise
- 9/20: Feldman: Sark's big day in Seattle
- 9/16: FBO: BYU's shot at undefeated
- 9/15: Heisman Predictor: A two-man race?
- 9/14: Kiper: Berry upstaged vs. UCLA
- 9/10: Kiper: Key matchups for 9/12/09
- 9/10: Feldman: Eric Berry - Safety First
- 9/10: McShay: Film room: Terrelle Pryor
- 9/8: Heisman Predictor: A fresh contender?
- 9/7: McShay: Stock Watch: Clausen Up
- 9/3: McShay: Film room: Tight Ends
- 9/3: Kiper: Key matchups for 9/5/09
- 8/20: BtBB: Snead over McCoy?
- Rumors: Kelly, Meyer odds leaders for Irish job
- Feldman: A Week 12 wrap-up
- Tools: Game Predictor | PickCenter
- Draft: Mel's Big Board (11/18) | NFL draft blog
