http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-10-12/conference-call-smu-among-non-bcs-teams-on-rise
8. Conference USA
1. Tulsa
2. Houston
3. SMU
4. East Carolina
5. Southern Miss
6. Marshall
7. UCF
8. UTEP
9. UAB
10. Memphis
11. Tulane
12. Rice
Rising
SMU. The big win over preseason favorite East Carolina shows the upside of coach June Jones' reclamation project. Now, the next three games: Navy, at Houston, at Tulsa.
Falling
Southern Miss. Three straight road losses–two of them bad losses (UAB and Louisville)–are a concern. New QB Martevious Young has two gimme putts (Memphis, Tulane) to get ready for the strength of the schedule.