The debate begins: Does Boise belong in BCS title game?
We can argue. We will argue. Heck, we’re arguing already. But the way has been cleared for Boise State to play for the BCS title.
The Broncos did what they needed to do to make their case. They traveled cross-country and beat a good Virginia Tech team on a neutral field that wasn’t all that neutral. They came from behind to win at the end, and now the burden of proof is on the BCS — the voters in the two human polls and the computers — to keep Boise out of Glendale, Ariz.
We’re going to hear about strength of schedule. We’re going to hear that Boise has only one real chance to lose — against Oregon State on Sept. 25 — the rest of the way. But an undefeated Boise would be awfully hard to deny no matter what else happens anywhere else in college football. And if a place in the title game comes down to an once-beaten Alabama or a once-beaten Iowa against a never-beaten-for-two-years Boise … well, that’s the decision the BCS dreads.
Because if Boise is the choice then a lot of BCS-level programs will scream, “Put them in our league(s) and have them play our schedule and see how long they stay undefeated.” But if Boise isn’t the choice, the BCS knows full well what’s coming.
A full-blown Congressional investigation. Impassioned demands for a playoff grid from everyone who loves an underdog. (And really, who doesn’t love an underdog?) Perhaps even the end of the BCS as we know it, which would be an altogether good thing for everyone except the Broncos.
Say what you will about Boise State and its blue field and its modest conference. But there’s nothing modest about what the Broncos did Monday night in our nation’s capital. A ton of football remains to be played in 2010, but no single game stands to cast the giant shadow of this Boise victory. And if you’re asking me if I think an undefeated Boise State deserves a shot at the BCS title, the answer is …
Absolutely.
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265 comments Add your comment
Sally
September 7th, 2010
3:56 pm
Doesn’t matter who had more wins last year. This is 2010. Different season. Different players. Different coaches in some instances.
Phillies, Class of the NL
September 7th, 2010
4:21 pm
I know this…the Braves don’t belong in first place in the NL East, but that won’t be an issue much longer anyway…
JSS
September 7th, 2010
4:25 pm
@ NorthWest_Dawg…
Sir, you are a scholar! Well put!
JSS
September 7th, 2010
5:05 pm
Hmmmm…. I was a HS senior when UGA last won a mythical NC. Their three big escapes that season were a home victory over S. Carolina (13-10) and Florida (26-21) on pretty much miracles; and the opening game Hershel Walker 2nd half debut wunder struck at Tennessee (16-15). Take a some time and explore their opponents respective schedules strength and records. OK, that was 30 years ago. Now go and look at their schedule for this season containing Louisiana-Lafayette, Idaho State, Vanderbilt, Colorado, and a at present questionable Mississippi State. team. I will compliment disgraced former AD Damon Evans for at least scheduling three opponents inter-sectionally outside of the South. Still, the self-professed “best conference in America” must do more. Bryant wasn’t scared to play the best away from home. A favorable schedule, when is UGA going to return Boise’s visit from 2005? Shoot, I guarantee they’ll meet you on neutral field in Denver. Split the gate 50/50!
Cousin Curtis
September 7th, 2010
6:36 pm
No. Getting up for two games (three, if you count the big one) doesn’t constitute a championship.
RLM
September 7th, 2010
6:51 pm
Pundits are everywhere……You have 120 FBS eligible teams and if you put them all in conferences consisting of 12 teams then you will have 10 conferences. All teams play a 10 game schedule. 8 conference games and 2 OOC games. Then a Championship game that decides who represents that conference….BTW that is how DivIII and FCS and even HS in Ga decide the state title. Also you have 6 at-large berths to the Florida-09, UGA-07, Iowa-09, Oregon-09, and so on an opportunity to play on the big stage for the title and they are not penalized for the conference that they are in…..also the at-large bids are based on SOS, SOV, the 2 polls not computers. that way the tougher schedules allow for some bumps. The Plus one will not decide who is NC UGA would’ve played who in 07? In a plus one then you may have a rematch that will have the team that one crying saying we beat them and we should be Champs in a playoff it doesn’t matter you play the game and everyone knows that “ANY GIVEN SATURDAY” a team can be beaten. Just Ask Ole Miss and UF a few yrs ago when they played. Also Dawg Fans remind Tech fans all the time about the game in 08 was a squirrel finding a nut.
To end this conversation is the BCS is coming up for renewal and either a playoff needs to be in place or the cupcakes need to come off the schedule. One last thing SEC teams….Vandy, UK, Ole Miss and Miss St are usually doormats in the Vaunted SEC and this year TN may fall into that category….that leaves 7 teams that have a shot and Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Arkansas have got to play each other as welkl as some have UGA South carolina and UF on the schedule to fight out who is the best. So the SEC better be worried about undefeated teams and missing out on the NC game because the SEC is down this year. OSU, BSU, OU, Oregon and TCU may run the tables and all be undefeated going into the Championship weekend(all of this since we are speculating) leaving the SEC out of the mix with a 1-loss team.
Might need to schedule a few less cupcakes and a better OOC schedule in the future to Vault you to the top for the computers. That Ole Miss loss is gonna hurt in the SOS and SOV category that the computers use.
Aero
September 7th, 2010
7:34 pm
No, but they’re gonna be there because the pompous doinks that run college football, along with their media patsies, think it would be a great thing if they were.
To me, it doesn’t matter if Spud State gets in or not, it’s just like having a Big Ten team in there.
HDLow
September 7th, 2010
7:37 pm
Strength of schedule…. Please… Alabama only has two worthy opponents the whole season. Florida and LSU, maybe Tennessee. The rest of their schedule is full of creampuffs. The opponents of BSU in the WAC have consistently beat SEC, PAC10, and ACC teams in bowl games. So enough of the East Coast elitist. They do play football in the rest of the country.
robdawg08
September 7th, 2010
7:55 pm
Boise State will play maybe 3 good opponents. Virginia Tech was one of them. When they play 6 or 7 good opponents like SEC teams do they can have a valid argument. The same goes for Ohio State. They play a bunch of weak teams every year but keep being ranked top 5. You replace Florida,Bama,Auburn,LSU,or Georgia with either Boise St. & Ohio St. and they would be top 5 every year too. Bama’s ranked # 1 but they have to make it thru the SEC.
Bravesfansince66
September 7th, 2010
9:31 pm
Look at their schedule…after VT who do they play? And VT is rebuilding and will probably be lucky to win 6 games.
West Coast Football
September 7th, 2010
10:38 pm
@ Sec Fact Finder( the real one) I stated that I respected Georgia and Tennessee, because
they traveled outside their conference. As for the Crimson Tide playing Virginia Tech in a
neutral site last year, Atlanta is less than a three hour drive from where Alabama plays.
Look at the 2009 schedule forAlabama and you will see about 4 cupcake games.
September 12 Florida International Tuscaloosa cupcake # 1
September 19 North Texas Tuscaloosa cupcake # 2
November 14 at Mississippi State Starkville cupcake #3
November 21 Tennessee-Chattanoog cupcake # 4
There are plenty of teams in the former Big Ten and Pac 10 that have to
compete weekly not every other week. Boise State should get the opportunity
if they run the table-Don’t forget Alabama was not a major competitor in the
SEC a few years ago,
georgiavol
September 8th, 2010
7:32 am
The lamestream media want a playoff and putting BSU in the BCS title game is their way to do it. Kinda like how the put Obama in the White House. And both are overrated.
THE OBGYN
September 8th, 2010
11:01 am
Boisian,
Can’t complain about BCS teams not wanting to come there when you guys had an opportunity to jump from the WAC this year. If you guys were BIG 12 / BIG 10 / PAC 10 then very few people could complain about your SoS. Would it still be weaker than most SEC teams yes but Ohio State plays a 3 team schedule almost every year.
Who ever said how do we know the SEC will be good this year? Please don’t be so Daft. The SEC is good every year. Just ask those in the NC game.
Still Boise won. Solid Victory over a team that has been on the decline for a few yrs now. Still they are considered a contender nearly every year. You can’t really down BSU for that. I’d respect them more if they just played like Fresno does. Stop asking folks to come there truly go where ever when ever. Besides when you play FLA AUB TENN(most yrs) SC(last couple) ALA why would you schedule a OOC game against a solid team. FLA has had their bye week the week before UGA most years. Why? Preparation is key to winning. Especially when you’d likely have to pay BSU 1.5 – 1.8 mill to play when you can pay Chattoga Boys and Girls Club 600-800k to do so. Doesn’t make monetary sense
hangman
September 10th, 2010
11:19 am
YES. VT IS A THUG SCHOOL and anyone who beats them deserves a medal!
Dawgfan13
September 11th, 2010
6:19 pm
How about VT losing to James Madision today? That sure adds to the Boise State victory!