I think 9 is the minimum there. I just don't see many of the teams that are supposed to be "tough" being as tough as they were last year, or as tough as we think. Nebraska might not be. Michigan might still be a 7 win team tops. I don't think Mizzouri will be as good as they were last year, and may actually have a bigger drop off than some think. ECU isn't going to be what they were last year (and this was true even before the news about their QB).
Cincinnati might end up being 2nd toughest. Everything is so up in the air, who knows. Boise could be really good, or they could just be good, or they might look good enough but because their schedule isn't testing them enough.

I think there's 6 games that BYU should win. That only leaves 2 more out of Neb, UCLA, BSU, Mich, Cin, Mizzou. 2 out of 6 isn't that great. I don't think Nebraska, Mizzou, and Michigan finish the season ranked. 3 out of 6 is my minimum to really say they "did something." 9 regular season and hopefully a bowl game against a team that isn't crap.