Do the little guys belong?

              It’s no secret that the University of Utah football team has struggled during its first year of Pac-12 play.  In its inaugural season as an “AQ” team, the Utes were blown out in their first four games before finally beating Oregon State this past weekend.

                What does this tell us about “Non-AQ” teams?  Not much.          

                A lot of BCS honks and media types will claim that Utah’s struggles are evidence that non-AQ teams do not belong playing with the big boys; that they should remain where they are.  The weekly grind is too much for these “little sisters of the poor.” 

                This is completely false.

                Prior to this season, Utah was at best the third best “non-AQ” program in the land.  Boise State and TCU were both able to maintain success at a higher level for a longer period of time than the Utes.  Still, Utah was the first non-AQ team to make it to, and win, two BCS games.  In 2008, Utah rolled into the Sugar Bowl as big underdogs and basically knocked Alabama senseless. 

                Some will tell you that Alabama didn’t want to be there.  People like that have never played sports at even a slightly competitive level.  Utah was the better team, and would have won 8 out of 10 games against the Tide.

                Utah has taught us that you have to have depth to compete at the BCS-level.  Utah only had one decent quarterback when the season started.  When he went down in game #4, Utah’s offense has struggled.  And yes, the weekly grind has proven to be a factor, somewhat.  With a semi-competent quarterback, Utah would be in a better spot.

                If you were to put Boise State and TCU (even this year) into a BCS conference, they would contend.  Give them a couple of years, and they would be right there at the top.

                I am convinced that the upper non-AQ teams can compete on a week-to-week basis with the big boys.  It’s cliché to bash the BCS, but it’s a joke.  Boise State this year has no chance to reach the championship game (barring several epic collapses).  And they are arguably the best team in the nation.  A lot of people can say “oh, well they haven’t played anyone, they would get killed!”  How can you say that?  If you can’t say that Boise is the best, then you can’t say that they aren’t either; they deserve the chance to prove it.

                Utah will rise to be an upper Pac-12 team.  TCU will do well in the Big 12.  Boise deserves to be a BCS team.  And the bottom line is that non-AQ teams are narrowing the gap.  They deserve their shot to prove it.