If you can't reach the national championship game, a BCS bowl is the goal. So, here are a few teams that could make the breakthrough and land in one of the Big Four bowl games. And before you get mad, this list includes neither the smack-you-upside-the-head obvious choices like Auburn or Kansas State nor the teams that have reached the promised land in the past few seasons.
NC State Wolfpack
Chuck Amato knows how to beat Florida State, and that's half the battle. Now, if the Wolfpack could figure out how to beat Maryland and Virginia, they could start making plans for a BCS bowl. NC State has won the last two over the 'Noles, but are 1-3 combined against the Terps and Cavaliers over the same time span. This season, though, it looks like everything could fall into the place. Armed with a FSU-like defense (speed, speed and more speed), one of the best QBs in the country in Philip Rivers and a tough -- but not impossible -- schedule (road trips to Ohio State and FSU, home games against UVa and Maryland), the Wolfpack has the recipe to make the leap from the Gator Bowl to a BCS bowl.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Any doubts about how good Oklahoma State is can be erased by watching game film of their back-to-back victories over Oklahoma. Coach Les Miles has done a great job rebuilding this program. He has a top-flight QB-WR combo in Josh Fields and Rashaun Woods. The defense is solid against the run -- obviously important in the Big 12 -- and boasts one of the best secondaries in the conference. The schedule is tough, though -- open at Nebraska, road games against Texas A&M and Oklahoma (think the Sooners are out for a little revenge?) and home games against Kansas State and Texas. But after last season, the Cowboys have shown they aren't intimidated by anyone.
Oregon State Beavers
Mike Riley picked a good year to come back to Corvallis. He inherits RB Steven Jackson and QB Derek Anderson, a pretty good twosome to build an offense around. The defense is good and has the potential to be great. LB Richard Seigler is simply a beast. While they get Arizona State and Washington at home, the road is a tough one -- literally -- with trips to Fresno State, Oregon (for the Civil War) and USC.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt has lived in the shadow of Miami and Virginia Tech long enough. The Panthers have arguably the best receiver in the country in Larry Fitzgerald, the most underrated RB in the conference in Brandon Miree. And if QB Rod Rutherford can just be a little more consistent, this team could sneak up and spoil the Hurricanes' and Hokies' farewell tours. Walt Harris has loaded the Panthers with talent. They get Miami, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame in Heinz Field and travel to Texas A&M, West Virginia and BC. The season -- and a BCS bowl bid -- may come down to how well the Panthers play at home.
Virginia Cavaliers
Pick a side -- any side -- of the ball, and there is plenty of reason to believe the Cavaliers are ready to make the leap to the elite. On offense, the Cavs return the ACC player of the year in QB Matt Schaub as well as RB Wali Lundy, who scored four TDs in the bowl win over West Virginia. On defense, LB Darryl Blackstock played like anything but a true freshman last year. And with Al Groh around, you know this defense will continue to improve. The Cavs travel to NC State and Maryland and have FSU and Virginia Tech at home. They were supposed to be rebuilding under Groh, but it looks like this project is way ahead of schedule.
