See, that's the problem. Teams outside the "power" conferences (Pac-12, Big 10, SEC, Big XII, and "technically" the Big East and ACC) aren't ranked very high because they don't play any top-ranked teams. However, top ranked teams don't schedule them because of the Appalachian State Syndrome (you don't want to lose to a team from the WAC, MAC, Sun Belt, Conference USA or Mountain West - especially not at home).
So the only option for teams like Utah, Boise State and TCU is to bolt from their conferences and join a "Big" conference. In a way, it actually creates a sub-division of the BCS sub-division: The "Big Six" and the "Little Five". This explains why Conference USA is seeking to "merge" with the Big East (at least, in football).