[wvuauthor]

Is there a mid major out their who is going to surprise the nation this year?

A team like Boise State or Fresno State?

[cjg11582]

It is difficult in football, with the lack of a playoff the mid-majors don't always get a chance to prove themselves against the power programs. Even when Utah hammered UNC, A&M and Pitt (Not neccesarily "powers" in the strongest sense of the term, but all three had wins against really good teams that year) the majority of the country probably still thought Oklahoma was a better team in 2004.

[wvuauthor]

You are right. Utah looked good that year, but they did not have the chance to entirely prove it because they drew Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl.

I hope somebody emerges this year and takes the world by surprise. It makes for a little bit of extra excitement and controversy

[cjg11582]

They should have matched them up with Auburn that year so it could be somewhat of a third place game (Though they were both better than Oklahoma). There was virtually no significant fan interest in either of their two bowl games against Pitt and Va Tech.