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5 College Football Programs That May Be the Next Boise State

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Oct 17, 2014; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Grant Hedrick (9) scores on a touchdown pass from wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck (82) (not seen during the second half verses the Fresno State Bulldogs at Albertsons Stadium. Boise State defeated Fresno State 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2014; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Grant Hedrick (9) scores on a touchdown pass from wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck (82) (not seen during the second half verses the Fresno State Bulldogs at Albertsons Stadium. Boise State defeated Fresno State 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 25, 2014; Annapolis, MD, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) and his teammates celebrate after the playing of the alma mater at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy defeated San Jose State, 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; Annapolis, MD, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) and his teammates celebrate after the playing of the alma mater at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy defeated San Jose State, 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

For the first time in more than 120 years, Navy football will play a conference schedule in 2015. The Midshipmen have performed well as an independent, having gone 102-64 since Paul Johnson was hired as head coach in 2002 (100-54 after Johnson’s first season), and have won the all-important Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy nine times in that span. They’ve also beaten Army 13 times in a row.

However, the move to the American Athletic Conference could help Navy become one of the best Group of Five programs in the nation. In time, Navy-SMU could become the best small conference rivalries in the country, but in their first season in the AAC, the Midshipmen should be an immediate contender for their first conference championship. Competing for the league crown should create a buzz around the program all season – or more than just the twice a year they play Notre Dame and Army.

Of course, Navy faces a different set of circumstances than the other teams on our list. That means the coaching staff must get creative to stay competitive – from utilizing the triple option to cancelling the final three 2015 spring practices. Though perhaps the biggest hurdle to extended periods of success is that due to the unique commitments that come with attending the United States Naval Academy, the Midshipmen will probably never gain recruit highly-touted high school players with NFL talent.

However, with the move to the AAC, and specifically the Texas-heavy AAC West, Navy will have a slightly bigger stage to use when appealing to recruits. And every once in a while, Navy gets a special player, like senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds, which can elevate the program to new heights.

Reynolds, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound speedster from Tennessee, has led the Middies to a 23-11 record as the program’s starting quarterback, including a 5-1 mark combined against Army and Air Force. The perfect catalyst for Niumatalolo’s triple option, Reynolds has run for 64 touchdowns in three seasons, which is already the most in school history, the most by a QB in NCAA history and the fourth most overall in NCAA history. With 14 rushing TDs in 2015, Reynolds would become the all-time leader.

With Reylonds under center, option guru head coach Ken Niumatalolo calling the shots and an improved defense, there’s an outside chance that Navy could go undefeated in 2014. Every game on the schedule is winnable, and the Midshipmen may actually be favored to beat everyone except Notre Dame and Memphis.

If Navy goes 11-1, they’ll have a legitimate shot at a New Year’s Six bowl game (though the late date of the Army-Navy game throws a wrench into things), and they will build a solid foundation for success in the American. Perhaps even a strong enough foundation to build a Boise State-like run of success.

Next: Western Michigan

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