The early portion of the 2009 season has already provided some marquee wins for non-Bowl Championship Series (BCS) teams with Brigham Young upsetting Oklahoma (#3 Associated Press poll/#3 coaches poll at the time) in Week 1 and Houston stunning Oklahoma State (#5/#6) in Stillwater in Week 2. Beyond those two wins how have the non-BCS teams matched up against the BCS conferences? Each conference is broken down in order of their winning percentages against the BCS through Week 3.
Mountain West (3-8 vs. BCS conferences, .273 win pct.)
Key Wins: In Week 1, BYU defeated Oklahoma 14-13 and Colorado State knocked off in-state rival Colorado, 23-17. Texas Christian won at Virginia, 30-14, in Week 2.
Key Losses: Last weekend, two of the conference’s ranked teams, BYU and Utah, suffered losses to Florida State and Oregon, respectively. BYU’s 54-28 loss at home to the Seminoles ended talk of the Cougars possibly playing in the National Championship game.
Overview: BYU’s win over the Sooners remains the conference’s signature win of the season. Texas Christian could land its first ever-appearance in a BCS bowl. The Horned Frogs play at Clemson this week. A win versus the Tigers would make TCU 2-0 against the ACC this season.
Western Athletic Conference (2-7, .222)
Key Wins: Boise State’s season-opening victory at home versus Oregon (#16/#14). Hawaii won 38-20 over Washington State in Week 2.
Key Loss: In Week 2, Fresno State lost to Wisconsin by a field goal for a second straight season.
Overview: Boise State’s season and BCS hopes depended on its season opener against Oregon. The Broncos do not meet another BCS team in the regular season, thus setting up the team’s chance at a second BCS bowl.
Mid-American Conference (4-17, .190)
Key Wins: Week 2 provided the conference with wins over the Big 12 (Toledo 54-38 over Colorado) and the Big Ten (Central Michigan 29-27 over Michigan State). Last weekend, Northern Illinois, who lost to Wisconsin in Week 1, defeated Purdue, 28-21.
Key Losses: As good as Week 2 was to the conference, it could have been even better. Eastern Michigan fell to Northwestern by three, Western Michigan lost to Indiana by four and Bowling Green lost to Missouri by seven.
Overview: The conference has played by far the most BCS games and has five remaining (two vs. the SEC, two vs. the Big East, and one vs. the Big Ten). The best chance for another win may be Oct. 10 when Miami (OH) plays at Northwestern or Oct. 24 when Akron travels to Syracuse.
Conference USA (2-9, .182)
Key Losses: The conference suffered four losses against BCS opponents in each of the last two weekends. Last weekend, SMU lost in overtime at Washington State.
Overview: The Cougars are in position to make it to a BCS bowl if they are able to win out. This weekend they have Texas Tech at home and then travel to Mississippi State on Oct. 10.
Sun Belt (2-13, .133)
Key Wins: In Week 2, Louisiana-Lafayette beat Kansas State, 17-15 while in Week 3 Middle Tennessee knocked off Maryland, 32-31.
Key Losses: In the conference’s 13 losses to BCS competition it has been outscored 560-141.
Overview: It has been a rough month of September for the Sun Belt, and it doesn’t help that the conference’s matchups been primarily against the SEC (six games) and Big 12 (three games).
Army/Navy (0-3, .000)
Key Wins: None
Key Losses: Navy nearly shocked Ohio State in the season opener for both teams in Columbus. In Week 2, Army led Duke, 14-13 after three quarters only to lose to the Blue Devils 35-19.
Overview: Army plays three more BCS opponents while Navy has two. Army should be competitive when it travels to Iowa State this Saturday.
