Six mid-majors still unbeaten

Losses in the last two weeks by Fresno State (to Wisconsin) and East Carolina (to N.C. State) have shortened the list of undefeated BCS bowl contenders from non-BCS conferences. But, at the end of Week 4, there are still six undefeated team from these mid-major leagues -- and all six of them are now receiving votes in both the AP and coaches' polls. The six are:

BYU (4-0) -- ranked #11 in both polls
Utah (4-0) -- ranked #17 in both polls
Boise State (3-0) -- ranked #19 in AP, #20 in coaches
TCU (4-0) -- ranked #24 in AP, #23 in coaches
Tulsa (3-0) -- "ranked" #32 in AP, #35 in coaches
Ball State (4-0) -- "ranked" #38 in AP, #36 in coaches

In addition, despite losing, Fresno State is still ranked in both polls (#25 AP, #24 coaches), and East Carolina is still #23 in the AP poll and first in "others receiving votes" -- i.e., #26 -- in the coaches' poll.

It's a remarkable show of respect for the mid-majors (and, perhaps, a sign of perceived major-conference weakness, outside of the SEC and Big 12) that we already have two one-loss mid-major teams in the rankings, this early in the season. This raises the possibility that either the Bulldogs or the Pirates, despite having one loss, could potentially rise back into BCS bowl contention if they win out. So, really, there are still eight potential "party-crashers" from the mid-major conferences.

But, for now, back to the unbeatens. BYU, Utah and TCU all play in the same conference -- the mighty mighty Mountain West, which currently has as many ranked teams as the Big East and ACC combined -- so only one of those teams can potentially finish the season unscathed. [UPDATE: I somehow missed this earlier, but TCU plays at #2 Oklahoma next week.] After that, the big games are: BYU @ TCU, October 16; TCU @ Utah, November 6; and, of course, the "Holy War," BYU @ Utah, November 22. If both the Cougars and the Utes win out between now and then, their epic clash will almost certainly be a "play-in" game for a BCS bowl berth.

(Side note: the BYU-Utah game is currently scheduled to be seen on "the mtn.," which is one of those fake "networks" that nobody gets, like ESPNU and the Big Ten Network. Hopefully we'll see a repeat of last year, when CSTV and Versus simulcast the game -- though even that is far from ideal. Even better would be an ESPN pick-up. One way or another, if wide swaths of the country are unable to watch this crucially important game of national significance, I suggest that The Fed intervene. Why not? They're intervening in everything else these days...)

Then there's Boise State (of the WAC), Tulsa (of Conference USA), and Ball State (of the MAC). These teams could all potentially finish undefeated, but all have major tests remaining -- and all would probably finish behind an undefeated Mountain West champ for the one and only guaranteed mid-major spot in the BCS. (Though Boise State, with last week's big win at Oregon and the respect it earned two years ago, could certainly make things interesting. Undefeated Boise State vs. an undefeated Mountain West champ for the little guys' "automatic at-large" spot would be quite a debate. Among other things, the Broncos will be rooting for the Ducks to perform well in the Pac-10, to make Saturday's win look good.)

Glancing at Boise's schedule, I'd say the three biggest games are probably at Southern Miss on October 11, at San Jose State on October 24, and the Friday-night, nationally televised season finale on November 28 (the day after Thanksgiving) against Fresno State. That clash, too, could potentially be a BCS "play-in" game -- but only if the Mountain West cannibalizes itself in the mean time, leaving no unbeatens standing.

Tulsa hosts Central Florida in a Sunday night game on October 26, then visits Arkansas on six days' rest on November 1, and potentially finishes with a Conference USA championship game showdown against East Carolina on December 6. That title game is yet another potential "play-in" game, if both teams win out, and if all the MWC and WAC contenders fall off in the mean time, and if there's enough attrition elsewhere in the polls.

As for Ball State, they have the easiest road, but are also probably the least likely to contend for a BCS berth, thanks to the MAC's general weakness. But anyway, the Cardinals are at defending MAC East champion Miami (OH) on November 11, then finish at home against defending MAC champ Western Michigan on November 25, followed, potentially, by the MAC title game (against Buffalo??) on December 6.

So, that's the state of the mid-majors. As for the majors, here's the list of the undefeated teams -- 20 21 in all -- from those conferences. [UPDATE: I initially, accidentally left out USC in this list. LOL! I'm an idiot.]

ACC
Wake Forest (3-0) (#16 AP, #15 coaches)

Big 12
Oklahoma (3-0) (#2 in both polls)
Missouri (4-0) (#6 AP, #5 coaches)
Texas (3-0) (#7 in both polls)
Texas Tech (4-0) (#10 AP, #9 coaches)
Oklahoma State (3-0) (#27 AP, #28 coaches)
Colorado (3-0) (#29 AP, #33 coaches)
Nebraska (3-0) (#30 AP, #27 coaches)

Big East
South Florida (4-0) (#13 AP, #14 coaches)
UConn (4-0) (#31 AP, #29 coaches)

Big Ten
Wisconsin (3-0) (#9 AP, #8 coaches)
Penn State (4-0) (#12 in both polls)
Northwestern (4-0) (#36 AP, #34 coaches)
Minnesota (4-0) (#43 AP, #39 coaches)

Pac-10
USC (2-0) (#1 in both polls)

SEC
Georgia (4-0) (#3 in both polls)x x
Florida (3-0) (#4 in both polls)
LSU (3-0) (#5 AP, #6 coaches)
Alabama (3-0) (#8 AP, #10 coaches)
Vanderbilt (4-0) (#21 AP, #25 coaches)
Kentucky (3-0) (#36 AP, #32 coaches)