Can any of these non-powers keep Boise State from another New Year’s Day bowl?

In addition to pitting the four best teams in the country against each other for the national title, the College Football Playoff affords one New Year’s Day bowl spot to the top-ranked champion of a non-power conference (the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West or Sun Belt).

Last year’s slot went to Mountain West champion Boise State. The Broncos took advantage, beating Arizona, 38-30, for the program’s third Fiesta Bowl win. With this season’s Playoff rotation, the top non-power will go to either the Fiesta or Peach.

Which smaller program will get that opportunity this year? We should expect that winning 10 or more games will be the baseline requirement for entering the running. But not all small conferences are created equal -- winning 10 games in the Mountain West is more impressive than doing the same in the Sun Belt, and that’s been factored into these rankings below.

Here’s a way-too-early top 10.

2014 record: 6-6 (4-4 AAC)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 68 overall, No. 110 offense, No. 38 defense, No. 26 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 74.5

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 5 at Penn State, Oct. 31 vs. Notre Dame

Returning starters: 10 offense, 10 defense

Temple returns all but two starters from last year’s team in a conference losing 40 percent of its starters. Rising junior quarterback P.J. Walker is an explosive playmaker, and that plus a very good defense could be enough for a surprise run at the AAC title.

2014 record: 9-3 (8-0 Sun Belt)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 61 overall, No. 43 offense, No. 74 defense, No. 80 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 108.3

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 5 at West Virginia, Nov. 21 at Georgia

Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense

The Eagles’ option offense is one of the nation’s hardest to stop, but can it overcome losing about half its starters? In their first season of FBS play, they ran the table against Sun Belt competition but were denied a bowl berth by the NCAA. With their long tradition of success and six FCS national championships, winning a lot of games isn’t new for the Eagles.

2014 record: 9-4 (7-1 AAC)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 48 overall, No. 25 offense, No. 80 defense, No. 30 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 61.8

2015 power-conference games: Oct. 3 vs. Miami

Returning starters: 8 offense, 4 defense

One of the nation’s most promising passing attacks returns in nearly full force. Former blue-chip quarterback Gunner Kiel threw for 31 touchdowns in his first year, while his top eight receivers should all return, as well as three starting offensive linemen. Getting the rebuilding Hurricanes at home is a big opportunity for a power-conference win.

2014 record: 11-3 (7-1 MAC)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 73 overall, No. 60 offense, No. 92 defense, No. 53 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 97.75

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 12 at Ohio State, Sept. 26 at Boston College

Returning starters: 6 offense, 8 defense

Northern Illinois has won the MAC West five straight times under three different coaches. They’ve won three conference titles in that stretch and seem impervious to the perils of player attrition. The Huskies should return quarterback Drew Hare (26 total touchdowns as a sophomore in 2014) as well as most of their defense.

2014 record: 9-4 (7-1 Sun Belt)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 79 overall, No. 62 offense, No. 102 defense, No. 54 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 92.3

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 5 at Kentucky

Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense

Mark Hudspeth’s consistency at Lafayette has been incredible. Four of the school’s five nine-win seasons have come in his four years. Combine that with a favorable schedule and a reasonable chance at an early SEC upset, and Lafayette enters as one of the Sun Belt’s best contenders again.

2014 record: 13-1 (7-1 C-USA)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 14 overall, No. 27 offense, No. 12 defense, No. 10 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 67

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 5 vs. Purdue

Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense

Another easy schedule for the Herd gives them another shot at an undefeated record, but it’s not as bad as last year’s, which kept them out of the rankings until they reached 11-0. Marshall has recorded double-digit victories in each of the last two seasons, and even though they lose half of last year’s starters, they still appear to be the class of the conference.

2014 record: 8-5 (6-2 MAC)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 51 overall, No. 50 offense, No. 55 defense, No. 64 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 88

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 4 vs. Michigan State, Sept. 26 at Ohio State

Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense

Bringing in two straight top-75 recruiting classes at a MAC school is no easy feat. That talent is starting to populate the depth chart. The Broncos were one of the best non-power conference teams in 2014, and also one of the youngest. With nearly everyone back, Western Michigan will be eyeing its first MAC title since 1988. Doing that and only losing to perhaps two top-10 Big Ten teams would be a strong resume.

2014 record: 10-3 (7-1 AAC)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 35 overall, No. 71 offense, No. 34 defense, No. 2 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 82.5

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 12 at Kansas, Oct. 17 vs. Ole Miss

Returning starters: 8 offense, 3 defense

Justin Fuente’s success at Memphis has been built on his defense, but this will be the most competent Tigers offense he’s coached so far. The talent on the roster has trended upwards as well -- each recruiting class under Fuente has been better than the previous one -- and Memphis appears to be one of the favorites in the conference. Now to rebuild that elite mid-major defense in a hurry.

2014 record: 10-4 (6-2 Mountain West)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 58 overall, No. 79 offense, No. 30 defense, No. 94 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 106.5

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 12 at Utah, Sept. 19 at Washington

Returning starters: 9 offense, 6 defense

Utah State’s recent success has been built on its defense, but the offense should be a factor in 2015. The Aggies currently have three quarterbacks who have won bowl games on their roster, and should bring back four starting offensive lineman and injured star Chuckie Keeton (73 career total touchdowns).

2014 record: 12-2 (7-1 Mountain West)

2014 F/+ rankings: No. 24 overall, No. 29 offense, No. 26 defense, No. 75 special teams

4-year recruiting average: 59.8

2015 power-conference games: Sept. 3 or Sept. 4 vs. Washington, Sept. 25 at Virginia

Returning starters: 8 offense, 8 defense

The Broncos’ level of sustained high-level success is unmatched at the non-power level. They recruit better than most of their competition (bringing in the top non-power conference class in 2015), and have that Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona to carry them through the offseason. Plus they get a ton of talent back and have two good chances to beat power-conference teams.