Top 10 Non-AQ (October 24, 2011)

1. Boise State (7-0, 2-0)—Boise is clearly head and shoulders the #1 non-AQ team with the#10 scoring offense and #11 scoring defense in the nation. The Broncos had their closest call of the season in a 37-26 win over Air Force. The Falcons were able to score on the Boise defense and stay right in the game until the very end. The Broncos have a road trip to UNLV coming up before a pivotal 2 game stretch versus TCU and SDSU that will be the only thing keeping Boise from a perfect regular season. Previous: Def. Air Force 37-26, Next: At UNLV.
2. Houston (7-0, 3-0)—Houston has looked very impressive with Case Keenum at the helm after a 5-7 season without Keenum in 2010. The Cougars have the #1 passing attack (441.7 ypg.) as well as the #1 scoring offense in the country with 49.3 points per game. With the next three games coming against Rice, UAB, and Tulane, the Cougars should get to SMU with a 10-0 record for a pivotal game in Conference USA. Houston is the class of a good Conference USA roster of teams and can move in possible BCS consideration with a 12-0 record. Previous: Def. Marshall 63-28, Next: Rice.
3. BYU (6-2)—BYU has bounced back nicely from a 2 game losing streak to Texas and Utah early in the season. The spark has come from junior quarterback Riley Nelson’s ascension to the starting job. Nelson has thrown for at least 2 touchdowns per game since his promotion to starter midway into the Utah State game. The Cougars have scored at least 27 points in each of Nelson’s games as starter after only putting up 16 points per game in the starts of Jake Heaps. A big Friday night matchup versus TCU looms on the 28^th that will show just how good the offense has become with Nelson. Previous: Def. Idaho State 56-3, Next: At TCU.
4. Toledo (5-3, 4-0)—The Rockets are the class of the MAC with a 4-0 conference record, looking dominant in each of those games. The Rockets have to wonder what could have been with a razor thin loss to Ohio State and a very controversial loss to Syracuse that was decided on a horrible referee call. Toledo is playing to keep 1^st place in their division this week at home versus a rejuvenated NIU squad. If the Rockets take care of business, the stage should be set for a huge regular season ending game at Ball State. Previous: Def. Miami (OH) 49-26, Next: NIU.
5. Southern Miss (6-1, 2-1)—After an inexplicable loss in week 2 to Marshall, the Golden Eagles have reeled off 5 straight wins including a 27-3 win over a very good SMU squad. The offense is averaging just over 470 yards per game while scoring 37 points per game, good for 21^st in the country. The Golden Eagles are outscoring opponents by nearly 18 points per game. The next three weeks are crucial to Southern Miss with trips to UTEP and ECU and a home game versus UCF. Previous: Def. SMU 27-3, Next: At UTEP.
6. TCU (5-2, 3-0)—The Horned Frogs have rebounded nicely from a disappointing 40-33 overtime loss to SMU with wins over SDSU and New Mexico. The offense has been spectacular scoring 43.6 points per game with over 450 yards per game. A very difficult game versus BYU is next, but if the Horned Frogs get by BYU it sets up a huge game at Boise State on November 12^th. In their last year as a Non-AQ, TCU would like nothing better than to spoil the Boise State march to perfection. Previous: Def. New Mexico 69-0, Next: BYU.
7. San Diego State (4-2, 1-1)—After a disappointing 2 game losing streak to Michigan and TCU, the Aztecs have responded well with a nice win over Air Force 2 weeks ago. Sophomore Ronnie Hillman leads the Aztec offense with six 100 yard rushing games on the year with a season high 189 in the season opener. The Aztecs enter an easy potion of their schedule with games versus Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado State before a matchup versus Boise. Previous: Def. Air Force 41-27, Next: Wyoming.
8. SMU (5-2, 3-1)—The Mustangs had a 5 game winning streak snapped with a 27-3 loss to Southern Miss last week. SMU comes in with the 12^th best passing attack in the country averaging 309 yards per game in a pass happy June Jones scheme. The running game has not quite been up to par with preseason all-Conference USA running back Zach Line responsible for 97% of the rushing yards on the season. With trips to Tulsa and Houston left on the schedule, 8-4 may looks like a good possibility. Previous: Lost to Southern Miss 27-3, Next: At Tulsa.
9. Northern Illinois (5-3, 3-1)—The Huskies finally return to the top 10 after a very tight win over conference foe Buffalo, 31-30. Senior quarterback Chandler Harnish is pretty much the entire offense throwing for 1697 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 738 yards and 8 touchdowns including a 229 yard rushing game versus WMU. The final 4 games of the regular season are going to be trouble with Ball State and EMU left as well as a huge game versus Toledo which should settle the division race. Previous: Def. Buffalo 31-30, Next: At Toledo.
10. Ball State (5-3, 3-1)—The Cardinals seem to just keep winning this season. They are not spectacular on offense or defense and let nearly everyone hang with them in wins, but the Cardinals have 5 wins on the season and will be bowl eligible with one more win. With a falling WMU team coming up this week, it may be the best chance for the Cardinals to get that 6^th win. EMU is playing surprisingly good ball control football and NIU and Toledo will be tough to beat late in the season. Logic would say that 6 wins is the ceiling for the Cardinals but with the upsets left and right in the MAC this season, it is entirely possible although unlikely for Ball State to run the table and finish 9-3. Previous: Def. CMU 31-27, Next: At WMU.

Also receiving votes: EMU, Arkansas State.