College Football 2011: Top 20 Mid-Majors That Need to Join BCS Conferences
It’s not often that BCS Conferences hand out golden tickets to non-BCS teams, but there have been some recent examples.
This year, Utah begins play in the revamped Pac-12, while TCU will join the Big East in 2012.
Last year at this time all anyone could talk about was some or all of the BCS conferences expanding to 16 teams.
That talked has subsided a great deal, and has left many on the outside wondering if they’ll ever get a shot at the BCS pie.
Here is a look at 20 teams who could benefit the most from joining a BCS conference.
20. Army
1 of 20
West Point doesn’t really need to be in a BCS conference to be taken seriously.
But a conference like the Big East wouldn’t be harmed by adding Army and all of its history.
Plus, it might actually be interesting if the Army-Navy game was actually a conference (see later slide on Navy).
19. Temple
2 of 20
At one time, the Owls were part of the Big East.
After years of horrendous play, embarrassing attendance figures and general malaise involving the program, the conference booted Temple after the 2004 season.
Under Al Golden, Temple became respectable in the Mid-American Conference. If the Owls can actually win and start to draw some fans, it seems someone would like to have that Philadelphia TV market.
18. Northern Illinois
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The Huskies have been one of the more consistent winners in the MAC, but most college football insiders don’t take the conference or the team too seriously.
The MAC is the least likely conference to be tapped for expansion.
Still, Northern Illinois would jump at the shot and it wouldn’t be a horrible addition.
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17. Florida International
4 of 20
The Florida market is always appealing, especially when you consider FIU opens up the Miami/Dade County market.
Mario Cristobal has done some impressive work with the Golden Panthers and it’s likely he’ll get a shot soon at a bigger program.
Because of the South Florida talent pool, FIU could be a middle of the pack BCS team quickly.
Getting the best players to consider them over Miami, Florida State, Florida and South Florida will remain a challenge.
16. Florida Atlantic
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It would be easy to repeat the same information here that was used to describe Florida International’s candidacy.
What you get with the Owls is the legendary Howard Schnellenberger.
Who doesn’t want to see him walking the sidelines in the suit and tie and conducting post-game interviews with his pipe?
15. Marshall
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Until recently, the Thundering Herd were among the nation’s elite in winning percentage.
Marshall has also attracted some top-notch talent, like Randy Moss, Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich.
Coach Doc Holliday has the pedigree to lead the Herd during this kind of transition.
There are a few issues with Marshall, though. The Herd struggle to fill a stadium that holds just 38,000 and they have struggled since joining Conference USA.
Neither of those are selling points to any BCS conference.
14. Tulane
7 of 20
There aren’t many who remember Tulane was part of the SEC through the 1965 season.
Tulane didn’t fair too well in the competitive conference, but what would the Green Wave do now to get back in?
The Green Wave enjoy a rivalry with LSU and they have the New Orleans market as a selling point.
It would be nice if Tulane could win consistently. The Green Wave haven’t experienced a winning season since an 8-5 mark in 2002.
13. Memphis
8 of 20
The Tigers have been mentioned as a potential addition for the Big East, but as of today nothing has materialized.
If the Big East does decide to one day go all out on expansion, Memphis is a likely target.
If the Big 12 wanted to get back to 12 teams it might be reasonable to think the Tigers could be in consideration.
12. Southern Miss
9 of 20
Hattiesburg, Miss., isn’t that attractive to the big-time conferences because it lacks the coveted TV market.
If the Golden Eagles were evaluated on performance alone it would be tough to keep them out of the BCS.
Southern Miss has always been willing to play anyone, and it has held its own against the big boys—they’ve even won a few.
11. Navy
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As mentioned earlier, Navy would be a good fit for the Big East.
Don’t rule out the ACC either.
Under Ken Niumatalolo, the Midshipmen have upset Notre Dame twice and have played in a bowl game in all three years with him at the helm.
Navy has actually played in a bowl game every year since 2003.
10. San Diego State
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It would seem the San Diego market would be appealing, as well as the solid recruiting base.
However, the only logical BCS league to consider the Aztecs is the Pac-12, and the conference already dominates the San Diego area with UCLA and USC.
So while San Diego State has the perfect location, it’s just not enough to get an invite.
9. East Carolina
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East Carolina is the perfect example of a program that many experts argue should get consideration for ACC or Big East expansion, but everyone agrees it will never happen.
Why?
Same old argument: There’s nothing in Greenville, N.C.
Still, the Pirates have never backed down from a challenge. In recent years they have upset Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
The Pirates would be just fine playing in either the ACC or Big East.
8. Fresno State
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Fresno State has played a BCS caliber schedule during Pat Hill’s tenure with the Bulldogs.
Hill has a record of 100-65 since joining Fresno in 1997 and that includes wins over Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin.
It’s unlikely Fresno State is ever going to get an invite, but the program has earned it.
7. Southern Methodist
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SMU used to be a college football powerhouse and were members of the old Southwest Conference.
The Mustangs were decimated after a major scandal caused the NCAA to give them the death penalty in the 1980s.
Now in June Jones's third season, SMU is a solid football program again.
How about we just bring back the old SWC and make that a BCS conference?
6. Nevada
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Is Nevada going to be as good this year as it was last season?
Not likely, but the Wolf Pack offer up a nice road trip to Reno.
OK, it’s not Vegas, but haven’t you watched Reno 9-1-1?
5. Air Force
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Air Force outranks the other military academies for its BCS attractiveness.
Troy Calhoun is a well-respected coach and the Falcons would be a great fit for the Pac-12.
You could make an argument that Air Force would have been a better addition than Utah.
4. BYU
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BYU is so confident in its football team and brand that it abandoned the Mountain West and is an independent in 2011.
The Cougars don’t have the same appeal as Notre Dame, but BYU is looking to play against some of the nation’s elite.
Plus, it would be nice to add the 1984 National Champs to a BCS league.
3. Houston
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The Cougars have been discussed in Big East expansion.
Houston would give TCU a geographic rival and would give the Big East as stronger foothold in the southwest.
Don’t overlook the fact that Houston has earned this consideration as well, and with a coach like Kevin Sumlin the Cougars will be competitive.
2. UCF
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UCF is practically begging the Big East to let them join.
The Knights have also earned consideration, especially after a Conference USA title and bowl win over Georgia last season.
Big East officials probably prefer UCF over all others because of the central Florida market and the natural rivalry that would happen immediately with South Florida.
1. Boise State
20 of 20
Boise State had a plan and it looked foolproof.
Join the Mountain West with TCU and Utah and with their overall records, BCS bowl appearances, etc., and almost everyone would agree that this league should be included in the BCS picture.
Then Utah bolted for the Pac-12 and TCU got antsy and took the Big East’s offer.
Now Boise is back where it started.
Will anyone ever take the Broncos?
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