Top 10 Mid-Major Programs Of The Past 20 Years

These types of articles seem to be all the rage.  Since the NBA Finals are over here is some argument starting material to stave off summer boredom. 

The criteria used in selecting these teams was actually quite simple.  Which teams that don't hail from major conferences have achieved major success in the three major sports?

During the first consideration, points were awarded based on pinnacles of success—championships, BCS Bowl appearances, Final Fours, etc... And lesser achievements: top 10 rankings and professional placement.

Extra weight was given to teams that have been able to maintain their success for a long period of time, or, won stunning upsets.  Extra points were also awarded to schools with really small enrollment.

No teams that have been a member of a major conference—sorry Houston and Rice-SWC—or the small teams that are now members of a major conference (St. Johns, Marquette, Louisville).

#1: Cal State Fullerton 

This may be my college baseball bias, but it is hard to achieve the long term success that the Titans have achieved in any sport.  Much less from a mid-major.

CSF has four College World Series Championships.  They have made the trip to Omaha 11 times in the past 20 years—winning twice.  All of this despite undergoing a loss that decimates most successful mid-major programs, the loss of a charismatic head coach.

Since losing coach Augie Garrido to Texas, the Titans have been Top 25 nearly every year, winning one title since he has been gone. 

In other sports, the Titans basketball team made an NCAA tournament appearance this year and the Football team (discontinued in 1992) has produced the Canadian Football League's all-time leading rusher.

#2: Boise State

The Broncos got everyone's attention when they defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl to finish the season undefeated and ranked fifth in the nation.

The season was not an aberration.  Since the 1999 Humanitarian Bowl victory over Louisville, the Broncos have gone 93-17.

While the Broncos were not the first mid-major team to win a BCS Bowl Game, their victory over Oklahoma was far superior to Utah's victory over Pitt (Pitt lost to a 5-6 Nebraska team that season).

The team with the blue field also has been able to maintain their success, going 23-3 the past two seasons without coach Dan Hawkins who built the program and then left for Colorado.

#3: Gonzaga

No surprises here.  Many teams from mid-major conferences strike fear in the hearts of top-tier programs when they see them on the schedule.  But no mid-major has gained respect rather than fear the way that Gonzaga has.

The Bulldogs have been one of the most successful college basketball teams of the past 10 years.  They now begin every season ranked in the Top 25 and successfully recruit athletes at the McDonald's All-American level.

While other mid-majors have made deeper runs into the NCAA Tournament lately, none have been able to equal the tournament and regular season success of Gonzaga.

#4: UNLV

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