Ok, let me start off by saying that it was an EXTREMELY slow day at work today.

On Twitter, Pick Six Sports asked an intriguing question, what is the best non-P5 team ever? They could only fit four teams in their poll, and chose: 2006 Boise State, 2008 Utah, 2010 TCU, and 2017 UCF. To do it justice, I expanded this to include all the notable "non-power" teams I could think of starting with 1998 Tulane.

Note: I am using the final AP rankings for each year to determine where each team finished the season and how many ranked opponents they beat. A lot of these are easily discarded when picking your top 10, but I included them all out of respect of the many great seasons that have been enjoyed by various programs. If I have missed any notable teams, please let me know and I will include them here. FWIW, my Top 10 would be:

1. 2008 Utah
2. 2017 UCF
3. 2004 Utah
4. 2010 TCU
5. 2006 Boise State
6. 2009 Boise State
7. 2013 UCF
8. 2015 Houston
9. 2009 TCU
10. 2010 Boise State

2008 Utah simply had the best quality wins. UCF's resume followed shortly behind. 2004 Utah had one of the easier schedules but were utterly dominant in all 12 games and were led by Urban Meyer, the #1 pick in the NFL draft, and a ton of other NFL talent. 4 and 5 are fairly obvious picks as well.

Utah
2004 Utah: 12-0, won 35-7 against Pitt (8-4) in the Fiesta Bowl. 1-0 against ranked teams. Finished #5.

2008 Utah: 13-0, won 31-17 against Alabama (12-2) in the Fiesta Bowl. 4-0 against ranked teams. Finished #2.

Boise State
2003 Boise State: 13-1, won 34-31 against TCU (11-2) in the Fort Worth Bowl. 1-0 against ranked teams. Finished #16.

2004 Boise State: 11-1, lost 44-40 against Louisville (11-1) in the Liberty Bowl. 0-1 against ranked teams. Finished #12.

2006 Boise State: 13-0, won 43-43 (OT) against Oklahoma (11-3) in the Fiesta Bowl. 2-0 against ranked teams. Finished #5.

2008 Boise State: 12-1, lost 17-16 against TCU (11-2) in the Poinsietta Bowl. 1-1 against ranked teams. Finished #11.

2009 Boise State: 14-0, won 17-10 against TCU (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl. 2-0 against ranked teams. Finished #4.

2010 Boise State: 12-1, won 26-3 against Utah (10-3) in the Maaco Bowl. 2-1 against ranked teams. Finished #9.

2011 Boise State: 12-1, won 56-24 against Arizona St (6-7) in the Maaco Bowl. 1-1 against ranked teams. Finished #8.

2014 Boise State: 12-2, won 38-30 against Arizona (10-4) in the Fiesta Bowl. 1-1 against ranked teams. Finished #16.

2017 Boise State: 11-3, won 38-28 against Oregon (7-6) in the Las Vegas Bowl. 0-0 against ranked teams. Finished #22.

TCU
2003 TCU: 11-2, lost 34-31 against Boise State (13-1) in the Fort Worth Bowl. 0-1 against ranked teams. Finished #25.

2005 TCU: 11-1, won 27-24 against Iowa State (7-5) in the Houston Bowl. 1-0 against ranked teams. Finished #11.

2008 TCU: 11-2, won 17-16 against Boise State (12-1) in the Poinsettia Bowl. 2-2 against ranked teams. Finished #7.

2009 TCU: 12-1, lost 17-10 against Boise State (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl. 3-1 against ranked teams. Finished #6.

2010 TCU: 13-0, won 21-19 against Wisconsin (11-2) in the Rose Bowl. 1-0 against ranked teams. Finished #2.

2011 TCU: 11-2, won 31-24 against LaTech (8-5) in the Poinsettia Bowl. 1-1 against ranked teams. Finished #14.

BYU
2006 BYU: 11-2, won 38-8 against Oregon (7-6) in the Las Vegas Bowl. 1-1 against ranked teams. Finished #16.

2007 BYU: 11-2, won 17-16 against UCLA (6-7) in the Las Vegas Bowl. 0-0 against ranked teams. Finished #14.

2009 BYU: 11-2, won 44-20 against Oregon St (8-5) in the Maaco Bowl. 1-1 against ranked teams. Finished #12.

Houston
2011 Houston: 13-1, won 30-14 against Penn State (9-4) in the Cotton Bowl. 0-1 against ranked teams. Finished #16.

2015 Houston: 13-1, won 38-24 against FSU (10-3) in the Peach Bowl. 2-0 against ranked teams. Finished #8.

UCF
2010 UCF: 11-3, won 10-6 against Georgia (6-7) in the Liberty Bowl. 0-1 against ranked teams. Finished #21.

2013 UCF: 12-1, won 52-42 against Baylor (11-2) in the Fiesta Bowl. 2-1 against ranked teams. Finished #10.

2017 UCF: 13-0, won 34-27 against Auburn (10-4) in the Peach Bowl. 4-0 against ranked teams. Finished #6.

USF
2016 USF: 11-2, won 46-39 (OT) against South Carolina (6-7). 0-1 against ranked teams. Finished #19.

2017 USF: 10-2, won 38-34 against Texas Tech (6-7). 0-1 against ranked teams. Finished #21.

Memphis
2014 Memphis: 10-3, won 55-48 against BYU (8-5) in the Miami Beach Bowl. 0-2 against ranked teams. Finished #25.

2017 Memphis: 10-3, lost 21-20 against Iowa State (8-5) in the Liberty Bowl. 0-2 against ranked teams. Finished #25.

Tulane
1999 Tulane: 12-0, won 41-27 against BYU (9-5) in the Liberty Bowl. 0-0 against ranked teams. Finished #7.

Navy
2015 Navy: 11-2, won 44-28 against Pitt (8-5) in the Military Bowl. 0-2 against ranked teams. Finished #18.

NIU
2012 NIU: 12-2, lost 31-10 against FSU (12-2) in the Orange Bowl. 0-1 against ranked teams. Finished #22.

Marshall
1999 Marshall: 13-0, won 21-2 against BYU (8-4) in the Motor City Bowl. 0-0 against ranked teams. Finished #10.

2014 Marshall: 13-1, won 52-23 against NIU (11-3) in the Boca Raton Bowl. 0-0 against ranked teams. Finished #23.

Utah State
2012 Utah State: 11-2, won 41-15 against Toledo (9-4) in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 1-0 against ranked teams. Finished #16.

San Jose State
2012 SJSU: 11-2, won 29-20 against Bowling Green (8-5) in the Military Bowl. 0-2 against ranked teams. Finished #21.

Louisville
2004 Louisville: 11-1, won 44-40 against Boise State (11-1) in the Liberty Bowl. 1-1 against ranked teams. Finished #6.

My apologies if I have forgotten any noteworthy teams.

ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

And we've been waiting 27 years to recapture that magic. Seems out of reach these days.

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

They beat Illinois and they would have every right to claim a share of the title...

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

I was starting with the BCS era but I cam extrapolate further back. Would take some research, dont know too much going back that far.

That was a very good team, though.

(04-25-2018 01:19 PM)NothingButKnight Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

I was starting with the BCS era but I cam extrapolate further back. Would take some research, dont know too much going back that far.

That was a very good team, though.

In 1999, Marshall finished 13-0 and #10 in the nation. Beating Clemson in Death Valley 13-10, Temple (Big East at the time) at home 34-0 and BYU in the bowl game 21-3.

This goes back further, and I'm not a Miami fan obviously, but I remember they had some very good teams in the 70s.

This was an impressive three year span (32-1-1)

Miami(OH)

1973

11-0

Beat Florida in the Tangerine Bowl

finished #15 in AP poll

1974

Finished 10-0-1
beat Georgia in the Tangerine Bowl
Finished # 10 in AP poll

1975

11-1

Beat South Carolina in the Tangerine Bowl

finished # 12 in AP poll

(04-25-2018 01:36 PM)MUsince96 Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 01:19 PM)NothingButKnight Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

I was starting with the BCS era but I cam extrapolate further back. Would take some research, dont know too much going back that far.

That was a very good team, though.

In 1999, Marshall finished 13-0 and #10 in the nation. Beating Clemson in Death Valley 13-10, Temple (Big East at the time) at home 34-0 and BYU in the bowl game 21-3.

Great catch, thanks. I had forgotten all about this one. Updated.

(04-25-2018 02:03 PM)bearcatfan Wrote:  This goes back further, and I'm not a Miami fan obviously, but I remember they had some very good teams in the 70s.

This was an impressive three year span (32-1-1)

Miami(OH)

1973

11-0

Beat Florida in the Tangerine Bowl

finished #15 in AP poll

1974

Finished 10-0-1
beat Georgia in the Tangerine Bowl
Finished # 10 in AP poll

1975

11-1

Beat South Carolina in the Tangerine Bowl

finished # 12 in AP poll

Man, I'm too lazy to go back to the early 70s hah. It took long enough getting everything from 1998-present. That does remind me.... who did Big Ben play for? Was it Miami OH? He had a 13-1 team or something like that....

(04-25-2018 02:58 PM)NothingButKnight Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 01:36 PM)MUsince96 Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 01:19 PM)NothingButKnight Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

I was starting with the BCS era but I cam extrapolate further back. Would take some research, dont know too much going back that far.

That was a very good team, though.

In 1999, Marshall finished 13-0 and #10 in the nation. Beating Clemson in Death Valley 13-10, Temple (Big East at the time) at home 34-0 and BYU in the bowl game 21-3.

Great catch, thanks. I had forgotten all about this one. Updated.

(04-25-2018 02:03 PM)bearcatfan Wrote:  This goes back further, and I'm not a Miami fan obviously, but I remember they had some very good teams in the 70s.

This was an impressive three year span (32-1-1)

Miami(OH)

1973

11-0

Beat Florida in the Tangerine Bowl

finished #15 in AP poll

1974

Finished 10-0-1
beat Georgia in the Tangerine Bowl
Finished # 10 in AP poll

1975

11-1

Beat South Carolina in the Tangerine Bowl

finished # 12 in AP poll

Man, I'm too lazy to go back to the early 70s hah. It took long enough getting everything from 1998-present. That does remind me.... who did Big Ben play for? Was it Miami OH? He had a 13-1 team or something like that....

Roethlisberger did indeed play for them. They were 13-1 his senior year (2003) and finished 10th in the AP poll.

I only remembered it because I was a kid then and remember watching them on tv.

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

If you're going back to 1991, might as well go back 7 morr years for BYU national championship.

(04-25-2018 01:36 PM)MUsince96 Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 01:19 PM)NothingButKnight Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

I was starting with the BCS era but I cam extrapolate further back. Would take some research, dont know too much going back that far.

That was a very good team, though.

In 1999, Marshall finished 13-0 and #10 in the nation. Beating Clemson in Death Valley 13-10, Temple (Big East at the time) at home 34-0 and BYU in the bowl game 21-3.

You seriously cannot be bragging about beating 1999 Temple! We got booted out of the BE the next year!

Since there doesn't seem to be a time that was too long back with some here --- Navy beats them all with the 1926 National Championship.

(04-25-2018 08:57 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  Since there doesn't seem to be a time that was too long back with some here --- Navy beats them all with the 1926 National Championship.

I'll add that Memphis also had an Undefeated season in 1963. That needs to be be added to the OP.

(04-25-2018 08:57 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  Since there doesn't seem to be a time that was too long back with some here --- Navy beats them all with the 1926 National Championship.

Bah - my 1998 Tulane starting point seems to have been missed lol.

And I wanted to see some rankings from people lol. The people on the original twitter thread I read were very anti-UCF 2017... seemed to think almost every one of the TCU/Boise/Utah teams listed here would crush us. I think that's nonsense.

(04-25-2018 12:59 PM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

They beat Illinois and they would have every right to claim a share of the title...

ECU 1941 Undefeated 7-0
I'm claiming a Natty. We beat Erskine 14-7. Erskine is in Due West South Carolina. Not to be confused with North. North South Carolina is 100 miles southeast of Due West. LINK

(04-25-2018 08:57 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  Since there doesn't seem to be a time that was too long back with some here --- Navy beats them all with the 1926 National Championship.

Houlgate System ftw!!

(For the record, the Houlgate System is the major selector that is the basis for the 1941 9-2 Alabama championship)

(04-25-2018 09:12 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 08:57 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  Since there doesn't seem to be a time that was too long back with some here --- Navy beats them all with the 1926 National Championship.

I'll add that Memphis also had an Undefeated season in 1963. That needs to be be added to the OP.

In 1963, while Texas was the officially crowned national champ ---- like UCF, Memphis placed the duplicate 2/3 sized crown on her own head.

(04-25-2018 08:30 PM)vick mike Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 01:36 PM)MUsince96 Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 01:19 PM)NothingButKnight Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:38 AM)mikeinoki Wrote:  ECU
1991 ECU 11-1
Lost first game at Illinois 31-38 after recovering an onside kick and getting called for excessive celebration. Won the next 11.
Won @ #15 Syracuse 23-20
Beat #23 Pitt 24-23
Beat #21 NC State 37-34 in the Peach Bowl
Finished #9 AP and Coaches

I was starting with the BCS era but I cam extrapolate further back. Would take some research, dont know too much going back that far.

That was a very good team, though.

In 1999, Marshall finished 13-0 and #10 in the nation. Beating Clemson in Death Valley 13-10, Temple (Big East at the time) at home 34-0 and BYU in the bowl game 21-3.

You seriously cannot be bragging about beating 1999 Temple! We got booted out of the BE the next year!

Not really bragging. Just noting that you were a BCS team at the time. And we all know how the media likes to note a G5 win over a P5 team no matter how bad the P5 team is.

I love how both the 2006 & 2008 Boise State teams are on this list...

I wonder what happened to the 2007 Boise State squad?

Oh yeah...

CJ2K happened.