CFI’S MID-MAJOR TOP 5

BY NEIL BISMAN
THE MID-MAJOR INSIDER

1. Hawaii (5-0, 2-0 WAC): The Warriors may be sporting an unblemished record and are currently ranked in the Top 25 but the jury is still out as to whether they will be this year’s Mid-Major Cinderella. The early slate has been rather weak but they are beating the competition thrown at them handedly, save for a wild 45-44 win at Louisiana Tech. The schedule is somewhat back-loaded as they close out at home against Boise State and the ever-improving Washington Huskies. If Hawaii is able to ride quarterback Colt Brennan’s arm to an undefeated record, then they should be able to crash the BCS party.
Next Game: Oct. 7th vs. Utah State

2. Boise State (3-1, 0-0 WAC): The early season offensive slump appears to be behind the Broncos and it could not come at a better time as they open up the conference slate this Sunday night against New Mexico State. While the win last week over Southern Mississippi doesn’t look as strong now with the Golden Eagles falling to Rice earlier this week, Boise State appears poised to make another run at a conference championship. This team must be careful not to look ahead to their season-ending showdown with Hawaii because if they play the football that they are capable of, the w inner of that contest will be crowned the champion of the WAC.
Next Game: Oct. 7th vs. New Mexico State

3. UCF (3-1, 1-0 Conference USA): As Kevin Smith goes, so go the UCF Knights. The sensational running back continues to pile up big numbers, having run for a career-high 223 yards in last weeks romp of Louisiana-Lafayette. UCF has a huge test coming up on October 13 when they travel to Tampa to take on South Florida and must avoid looking ahead. East Carolina is on the schedule for this week and please do not be fooled by their 2-3 record. The winner here is in first place in the Eastern Division.
Next Game: Oct. 6th at East Carolina

4. BYU (3-2, 2-0 Mountain West): The 3-2 record the Cougars are currently sporting may not look all that impressive until you look at not only whom they have played, but where they have played. Three of the first five games have taken place away from LaVell Edwards Stadium, with a fourth road game coming this Saturday against UNLV. Sophomore quarterback Max Hall has put up some pretty impressive numbers and should continue to get better as the season progresses. He showed a lot of poise in the early season losses to UCLA and Tulsa and the question must be asked, would the results have been different had those games taken place in November instead of September?
Next Game: Oct. 6th at UNLV

5. TCU (3-2, 1-1 Mountain West): The team that some pegged as this year’s “Boise State,” got off to a 1-2 start and shattered any dreams they may have had of a BCS berth. Couple that with the undisclosed illness suffered by defensive end Tommy Blake and a season that once looked so promising continues to look bleak. Fear not though Horned Frog faithful, the team can make some big waves over the next two weeks with road trips to Wyoming and Stanford. A win in those two games and the program is right back on track. A loss in one or both contests though and it might be time to start thinking about Horned Frogs basketball, whose future doesn’t look much brighter.
Next Game: Oct 6th at Wyoming

Just missed the cut: Tulsa, Southern Miss, Navy, Air Force, Ball State