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Shattered remains of glass slippers...

© Grimace Boyer

Fresno State. We all wanted them to be a BCS nightmare. We all wanted that Cinderella team... that perennial stomping-boy who rose from the ashes and knocked off some of the premiere teams in the country. That WAC sensation that just wouldn't lose... except to Boise State.

With the Bulldogs now beaten, humbled, and tamed, who is willing to wear the tiara and glass slippers now? Who will become this year's Cinderella? Last week, I discussed BYU's chances. Now take a look at some other teams that you didn't realize had done quite so well. (All rankings are the rankings of the teams at the time of the game.)

ACC - The Cinderella team in the ACC is clearly Maryland. Who expected these kids to be so gritty? And yet, everyone looks past them. Who, then? UNC (5-3, 4-1) has tried desperately to enact some Cinderella-like moments, if not an entire season. They beat #5 Florida State, then #15 Clemson. And not by small margins, either. These two games were won by a combined score of Heels 79, Best Teams in the ACC 12. Their season is tarnished, however, by losses to Texas and Oklahoma, and they barely survived East Carolina, which doesn't speak well to their claim.

Big 12 - Don't look now, but Iowa State (5-1, 3-1) is second in the Big 12 North behind only Nebraska, who stands a reasonable chance of losing to Oklahoma this week. The dissenting note is that they've only played one game against a Top 25 team (that same #4 Nebraska), and lost 48-14. They've worked up quite a record beating the dregs of the Big 12, but that may be enough.

Big East - Syracuse (6-2, 3-0) is actually ranked above Miami in the Big East standings (3 conference wins as opposed to 2), but they still have to play #4 Virginia Tech this week, Miami, and Boston College. Many are saying the ship has been righted after an 0-2 start against #13 Georgia Tech and #8 Tennessee, but I'm not convinced, as they've faced some pretty inferior teams. I'm not giving up, yet, though, as they could very well win out.

Big Ten - Illinois (6-1, 3-1) has only lost once. Unfortunately, that one loss was to #17 Michigan - their only game against a ranked opponent. Still ahead on their schedule is #20 Purdue and Ohio State, both on the road, and a tough Northwestern team.

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