The goal here is simple -- a list of the best teams outside the BCS bubble. So, no one from the six BCS conferences -- ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC -- or Notre Dame will ever appear on this Top 10.

That's not to say the best of this poll don't belong with schools from those conferences. They do and will be in the ESPN.com Power 16 as well. This is just a chance to recognize some of the better programs that get lost in the considerable shadows of the major conferences.

Mid-Major Top 10
Team	Record	Comments
1. Marshall	11-2	Leftwich to Watts is a phrase that will be heard early and often in Herd Country
2. Louisville	11-2	Stars like QB Ragone, DE White would be household names if they didn't play in C-USA
3. Colorado State	7-5	Brutal early schedule (at Virginia, CU, at UCLA, Louisville), but could win at least two of those
4. Southern Miss	6-5	Return of RB Nix sparks offense to go with usual fiery defense
5. Hawaii	9-3	Chang returns behind good O-line and skill players in Hawaii are as plentiful as good surf and mai-tais
6. Utah	8-4	After watching last year's Las Vegas Bowl dismantling of USC, we are officially sold.
7. Fresno State	11-3	The loss of Carr is frightening, but Fresno State still has the talent to win 10-plus games.
8. Middle Tennessee	8-3	The class of the Sun Belt and Andy McCollum has this program on the rise.
9. Bowling Green	8-3	No Urban legend: Bowling Green under Coach Meyer is the best in the MAC West.
10. South Florida	8-3	Remember this name: Marquel Blackwell. He's the best QB you never heard of -- yet.