Non-BCS Teams with a Chance to Crash the Party

2008 BCS Party Crashers

It used to be just an ideal. A fantasy hypothetical discussed and hoped for among the smaller campuses nationwide.

Every Horned Frog and Rainbow Warrior, every student in Fresno and Boise, the entire state of Utah started to cross their finger every August, hoping this was the year they would go into the bowl season undefeated. Every non-BCS school hopes to be the party crasher.

The first Cinderella to crash the party did it in 2004. The Alex Smith-led Utes stomped Pitt, 35-7. That year, there were slight rumblings around the country about Utah getting snubbed of a title shot, but beating Pitt was not really considered that great of an achievement.

They just beat up a soft conference champion of a skeleton Big East, as Miami and Virginia Tech left the year before.

In 2006, undefeated Boise State got a coveted Fiesta Bowl bid. But, unlike Utah, they were actually paired up with a national powerhouse, Oklahoma. Those who tuned in to watch fell witness to one of the greatest bowl games ever played.

Two tremendous plays, one a Statue of Liberty, served the Broncos a tie and then, finally, the win. But, even with the Boise State undefeated season and the Sooner slaughter, the Broncos were considered second-rate compared to Florida.

Last year's Hawaii team showed potential to be the one that would force the world to demand a non-BCS team to be considered on the national stage. Ohio State and LSU both had two loses going into January, giving Hawaii the two-game advantage never seen before in the BCS era.

Hawaii was awarded a chance to prove them against Georgia in the Orange Bowl, but no BCS title shot. It was all moot anyway; Georgia rocked the Rainbow Warriors 41-10.

This year has a short, but solid list of potential crashers. If this season is anything like last year’s roller coaster, you might not have any undefeated teams in the BCS conferences. If that's the case, these teams have a chance.

UTAH: Michigan is not what it used to be, but it's not as bad as last year, hopefully. If Utah can start their season off with a W in Ann Arbor, they have a shot at 12-0.

FRESNO STATE: This team looks much, much better than last year's 9-4 squad. They are good enough to go undefeated in the WAC, but they have the mighty Badgers of Wisconsin coming into California, not to mention road games against Rutgers and UCLA. That, plus Boise State, gives them a strong enough schedule to be taken seriously for a title shot if they can run the table.

TEXAS CHRISTIAN: Other than conference foes BYU and Utah, Oklahoma is their only strong game. Playing Stephen F. Austin is not going to help them, either.

BRIGHAM YOUNG: It's a long shot, but wins over UCLA and Utah might be enough.

EAST CAROLINA: I feel stupid even writing this one. But, they played the Hokies well last year. If they can do it again this time around on a neutral field, plus pull one hell of an upset against West Virginia...look out.

Do you think I missed anybody? I would love to hear about it. I'm here all day long. Happy Bowling!