In an era of college football where all eyes are on the attention-grabbing storylines of the great race for the top 11 spots to compete for college football’s ultimate prize, a national championship, people often forget, or at least choose to forget, that there’s still a 12th spot up for grabs.

Since we are a quarter of the way through the college football season, I thought it would be fitting to try to rank the top 10 teams from these mid-major conferences that have a chance to showcase their talents on the biggest stage come December.

As a bonus to make this list more interesting, I will automatically include all Group-of-Six teams that are still undefeated, regardless of whether or not I think they are actually top 10 right now. I always think it’s a good idea to shine a light on any team that can make it this far unblemished in the loss category. 

Honorable Mentions

1. Tulsa (3-1)
2. Western Michigan (3-1)
3. Army (2-1)
4. Liberty (3-1)
5. Fresno State (3-1)
6. Appalachian State (3-1)
7. Georgia State (3-1)
8. Florida Atlantic (3-1)
9. Air Force (2-1)
10. Marshall (3-1)

No. 10 South Florida Bulls (4-0)

Current Results:

• W 19-9 vs. Florida International (2-2)
• W 28-24 @ Army (2-1)
• W 59-17 vs. Delaware State (FCS)
• W 14-6 @ Bowling Green (0-4)

Of course you’re never going to apologize for winning, but if you’ve watched South Florida play this season, you’d feel like they owe you one after sitting through their matches. 

Through four games, the Bulls have won in extremely ugly fashion against extremely bad competition. Winning 19-9 against FIU can at least be excused as growing pains for a team in its first-ever game with a new coach. But only scraping by 14-6 against a Bowling Green team that is currently one of three teams without a win (the others being UL Monroe and Charlotte) is inexcusable for any team. 

The Bulls’ best win was a 28-24 triumph at Army, and that still took a miracle fourth-and-12 touchdown conversion to get by. Brian Hartline’s first-ever season as a head coach is off to a good start in the record books, but trust me, this isn’t going to last much longer. I could easily see them losing to Temple this Saturday, and if they manage to scrape by, UTSA will definitely end the run at 5-0 the following week.

No. 9 UMass Minutemen (4-0)

Current Results:

• W 37-21 @ Rutgers (1-3)
• W 37-10 vs. Sacred Heart (FCS)
• W 36-14 vs. Stonehill (FCS)
• W 35-6 @ Sacramento State (1-4)

Look, I want undefeated UMass as well as anyone else, and I’d say it's probably my favorite story in college football so far this season. I would absolutely love to put them at the very top of this list for equaling the most wins in program history at the FBS level through just four games, but we have to be realistic this year. 

UMass has the worst strength of schedule easily through four games of any team on this list. Its win at Rutgers was impressive due to them ending a 16-game losing streak, but the Scarlet Knights are currently in contention for the worst team in the Power Four (only win is against Howard). As for their other three victories, two are against FCS opponents (not good ones), and their win last week was at Sacramento State, a team in its first season of FBS football and one that’s also in contention for worst in the entire country. Its four opponents have a combined record of 4-14 or a .222 winning percentage.

Still, senior quarterback Pop Watson is already a Massachusetts folk hero after his performances through four games, and sometimes momentum from lesser opponents can carry over to bigger challenges. They have their toughest challenge since the Rutgers opener this Saturday against a very respectable Eastern Michigan team, followed by a date with Miami (OH), who almost took down currently undefeated Cincinnati. Those two games will tell a lot about the Minutemen’s trajectory for the rest of the season. In all reality, though, who wouldn’t want to see undefeated UMass?

No. 8 Toledo Rockets (3-1)

Current Results:

• L 30-20 @ Michigan State (2-2)
• W 63-10 vs. Central Connecticut State (FCS)
• W 49-48 vs. Temple (1-3)
• W 41-16 vs. San Diego State (1-3)

Toledo has had a crazy season through four games. It started with a strong performance – even in a loss – against a Michigan State team that looks much better than most expected. Then, after a win against FCS Central Connecticut State, the Rockets needed a touchdown, an onside kick, another touchdown, a third touchdown and a two-point conversion stop to beat a Temple team that’s much better than its 1-3 record. 

This past week, the Rockets finally put together a complete performance in a 41-16 thumping of a disappointing San Diego State squad that still had at least a strong defense coming into the match. First-year head coach Mike Jacobs seems to be sustaining the success that has seen eight or more wins in four straight seasons. The Rockets’ next three matchups are very winnable: at Ball State (1-3), versus Buffalo (2-2) and at Eastern Michigan (2-3). This team could easily be 6-1 before their Week 8 matchup with Western Michigan.

No. 7 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (3-1)

Current Results:

• W 38-7 vs. Lamar (FCS)
• L 49-30 @ USC (4-1)
• W 21-14 vs. UAB (2-2)
• W 34-7 @ Charlotte (0-4)

It might not look like Louisiana’s played the best competition this year, but it has more than taken care of business against lesser teams. Drubbings against FCS Lamar and a bad Charlotte team on the road are expected of top contenders. 

A 21-14 win vs. a 2-2 UAB team that played respectable against Illinois and who just came off a win against Navy isn’t nearly as bad as the final score would indicate. Putting up 30 against a Lincoln Riley defense isn’t exactly impressive, but it still showed the firepower the Louisiana offense packs with junior quarterback Lunch Winfield at the helm. His dual-threat ability and carefulness with the football (only two turnovers through four games) have left opposing defenses in the dust with few answers. Watch out for Louisiana’s Week 7 matchup against Troy as a good test of its true abilities.

No. 6 Memphis Tigers (3-1)

Current Results:

• W 27-21 @ UNLV (2-2)
• W 42-24 vs. Arkansas State (2-2)
• L 38-20 @ Boise State (3-1)
• W 45-21 vs. UT Martin (FCS)

This one is based more on how much I love Charles Huff than on the team’s actual performance so far this season. Don’t get me wrong, this Memphis team has shown a lot of potential through four weeks of the season. They got a statement Week 0 win at a UNLV squad that at least looks improved after a rough start, and dominated lesser opponents in Arkansas State and UT Martin. 

The second-half blowout on the blue turf in Boise, Idaho, exposed the athletic limits of Huff’s squad, but I have no doubt he will vastly improve the Tigers by the end of the season. 

The junior transfer quarterback from West Florida, Marcus Stokes, has done an amazing job adjusting to the FBS level, and Sophomore RB Jaylin Carter – who came over with Huff from Southern Miss – has been as advertised. Memphis has three manageable games coming up (vs UAB, at Tulane, vs ECU) before an interesting matchup with Army in Week 8.

No. 5 UTSA Roadrunners (3-1)

Current Results:

• W 45-16 vs. UTRGV (FCS)
• W 31-26 @ Texas State (2-2)
• L 30-6 @ Texas (4-0)
• W 59-45 vs. Colorado State (2-2)

After a slogging start out of the gate – notably a 31-26 survival against Texas State that required a touchdown with 10 seconds left – UTSA has found its footing this season. An extremely impressive defensive showing in a 30-6 loss to No. 1 Texas is as valiant as you can get in a three-score defeat, and following it up with 59 points against a Colorado State team that I would’ve considered putting on this list had they not lost is more proof that this team deserves a spot in the top 10. 

This record is more a result of a collective team effort, as both the offense and defense have made significant contributions to its 3-1 start. It was definitely promising to see senior quarterback Owen McCown step up with 303 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams after a mediocre start. 

I genuinely think this team has what it takes to start 8-1 before its Week 11 matchup with North Texas.

No. 4 New Mexico Lobos (3-1)

Current Results:

• W 38-7 vs. Central Michigan (2-2)
• W 70-7 vs. Mercyhurst (FCS)
• L 14-6 @ Oklahoma (2-2)
• W 42-18 @ New Mexico State (1-3)

Besides Boise State, there’s not a single one-loss team I love more than New Mexico. Starting with head coach Jason Eck, there aren’t many better coaches at the Group of Six level than this guy. 

Going back to his FCS days, he took over an Idaho team in 2022 that hadn’t had a winning season since 2016 and completely transformed it (7-5 in 2022, 9-4 with a quarterfinals appearance in 2023, and 10-4 with a quarterfinals appearance in 2024). If you want a better refresher, he was the coach for Idaho in 2024 when they lost 14-24 to an Oregon team that went undefeated that regular season. 

Eck performed the same miracle at New Mexico last season. The Lobos hadn’t posted a .500 or better record since 2016. In year one, Eck led them to nine wins and a near-Mountain West Championship appearance. This guy is the real deal, and some Power Conference team is going to offer him a lot of money in the offseason.

As for the rest of the team, it’s mainly defense-first, allowing seven or fewer points in the first three games of the season. I don’t make much of them losing 14-6 to Oklahoma, since the Sooners’ offense is probably the most offensive thing to come out of Oklahoma since that terrible student essay last December, but it still showed that a little bit of offensive improvement is all this team needs to be a true playoff threat. 

Current starting sophomore quarterback Toa Fa’Avae has only 390 yards and two touchdowns on the season, which is concerning, but the main attack has come on the ground. Running backs Scottre Humphrey (senior) and Kiefer Sibley (junior) have carried most of the load, and Fa’Avae has helped with his legs as well, but the passing game must see improvement going forward. 

The Lobos’ Week 8 matchup against North Dakota State is probably the biggest Group of Six game of the season. I think it’s best to tune in for that one.

No. 3 North Dakota State Bison (4-0)

Current Results:

• W 33-7 vs. Jacksonville State (3-2)
• W 38-0 vs. Fordham (FCS)
• W 38-32 @ Air Force (2-1)
• W 31-10 @ Sacramento State (1-4)

Should we have expected any less? For decades, North Dakota State was the great fear of Group of Six and Power Five teams alike. The Bison were so dominant that after their 2016 win over 13th-ranked Iowa, they were essentially blacklisted from playing FBS teams until Arizona faced them in 2022 and barely lived to tell the tale. 

So it was deeply unsettling for the college football world when the FCS powerhouse finally agreed to transition to the FBS level.

Now that the dramatic introduction is out of the way, I should confess that I am somewhat disappointed with their performance so far. Yes, I know they are undefeated, but it’s not like the competition they’ve played has been great. Jacksonville State is 3-2, but they’re from the notoriously weak C-USA; Sacramento State is one of the worst teams in the FBS, and we have no idea how good Air Force is going to be. 

I guess my main concern is the Bison offense stalls for long stretches during games. NDSU defeated Sacramento State, but it almost paid the price against Air Force. 

That game shouldn’t have even been close, but it somehow ended with the Bison needing to recover an onside kick attempt. Still, I do like what I’ve seen from senior QB Nathan Hayes, who has waited two full seasons for this starting opportunity, and their running game is still absolutely nasty towards opposing defenses. 

The Bison should still be 7-0 before their massive matchup at New Mexico in Week 8.

No. 2 James Madison Dukes (4-0)

Current Results:

• W 20-13 vs. Liberty (3-1)
• W 87-3 vs. Wagner (FCS)
• W 26-13 @ San Diego State (1-3)
• W 46-20 @ Old Dominion (1-3)

It doesn’t matter the players, the coach, the personnel or anything else that can be considered. All this team does is win; Google them.

I figured Billy Napier would fit in nicely here after his exile from the Swamp; after all, the last time he coached at the Group of Six level, he led Louisiana to a 13-1 record in 2021. 

This James Madison team lost every single starting offensive player to graduation or the transfer portal after its playoff appearance last season, and yet it put up 87 points against Wagner. 

The main surge has come from the running back tandem of fifth-year senior George Pettaway and sophomore Nick Hermann, and from senior quarterback Camden Coleman, who has been efficient and protective of the ball. This is a team that’s only going to get better as the season goes along and the players continue to gel together, and I see them as a shoo-in for an undefeated regular season. 

The biggest threats to an upset that I see on the schedule are Georgia State in Week 7, Appalachian State in Week 8 and Troy in Week 9. Still, they remain at number 2 for now because there’s one team that’s leagues above everyone else in talent and execution.

No. 1 Boise State Broncos (3-1)

Current Results:

• L 34-27 @ Oregon (3-1)
• W 38-20 vs. Memphis (3-1)
• W 38-24 vs. South Dakota (FCS)
• W 32-7 @ Western Michigan (3-1)

There really is no discussion to be had here. Boise State – at least for right now – is without a doubt the best team in the Group of Six. 

Starting with senior quarterback Maddux Madsen, his experience has greatly contributed to the Bronco offense's success to start the year, and he still hasn’t turned the ball over up to this point. As was proven with his regression in 2025, though, he thrives best when complemented by a great run game. 

So far this season, he’s had that with starting junior back Dylan Riley, who’s been one of the best runners in college football through four weeks, posting 592 yards and three touchdowns. Junior backup quarterback Sire Gains has been implemented as well with 234 yards and two touchdowns of his own, which completes one of the best one-two running back punches in the country. 

The receiving room is highlighted by true freshman Rasean Jones, who’s collected 271 yards and a touchdown, and further complemented by senior Akeem Wright with 130 yards and a touchdown. Senior tight end Matt Wagner has gained 157 yards on 14 catches and has three touchdowns to round out this unit. 

Their defense is headed by one man above the rest: junior Travis Anderson. The junior defensive back currently has three pass deflections and three interceptions through four games. Overall, their defense has been susceptible at times, and its performance against South Dakota in a near-upset was very concerning, but it showed improvement the following week against New Mexico State.

The Broncos obviously got a big boost in their playoff dreams with a seven-point loss at an Oregon team that’s seemingly bounced back after a rough start to the season. They also notched huge wins against Memphis, another top Group of Six playoff contender, and officially ended Western Michigan’s undefeated season with a 32-7 win in Kalamazoo last Saturday.

The Broncos’ toughest remaining match is probably either at Washington State in Week 8 or versus Oregon State in Week 11, but this team should definitely be 12-1 with a Pac-12 Championship when all is said and done. And yes, I still think the CFP Committee will put Boise State over James Madison or North Dakota State even if they are 13-0. Since there’s only one spot available, the Committee will definitely value a one-score loss to a top-tier opponent over an undefeated season with no tough opponents. 

(Remember, in 2023, a Tulane team with one loss to Ole Miss was still the Committee’s pick to make it to the Fiesta Bowl, and it wasn’t until they lost the AAC Championship to SMU that an undefeated Liberty with no hard games was put ahead of them).