2010 AP Preseason Poll: How Boise State Will Change College Football

College football has never seen a team like Boise State. A team from a "mid-major" conference, constantly making noise in college football polls.

Slowly but surely over the last four seasons, they've done their part and worked their way up the standings.

This year, the AP preseason poll has Boise State ranked all the way at no. 3.  With all but two starters returning, they are poised for another strong run this season.

That means the BCS Championship title is closer than ever and reasonably within reach for the Broncos.

What can we expect from this exciting team from the WAC this season?  Here are 10 possible Boise State feats that can change the landscape of college football forever...

Love From AP: Voted #1

This is definitely a first on the AP preseason poll. A WAC team voted number one by a sportswriter.

Who?  Joe Giglio of the News and Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina.

And many figured it would have been someone near the Idaho area.

Other teams that got first-place votes? Alabama, Ohio Sate, Texas and Oklahoma.

It just takes one, folks.  Giglio may have been the first sportswriter to put the Broncos at first, but with so much promise for this season's team, he probably won't be the last.

First Major Away Game Victory

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BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech University Hokies throws the ball against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first quarter of the game at Lane Stadium on October 29, 2009 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo

Last season's opening win against top-ranked Oregon came at the comforts of Bronco Stadium's famous blue field. This season's opener is an even tougher challenge.

Not only is this a big game, it has to be the first big away game to be played in Boise State team history.

On paper, this match against Virginia Tech is supposed to be held in neutral turf.  But we all know, Washington D.C. is Hokies territory.

Virginia Tech is ranked no. 10 in the AP preseason poll and no. 6 by the coaches. They are arguably the best team in the ACC.

No question, this is going to be a challenging, highly-anticipated battle between Boise State and Virginia Tech.

A win here for the Broncos instantly earns them more respect and sets the pace for the rest of the year...

Back-to-Back Undefeated Seasons

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04: Jeron Johnson #23 and Titus Young #4 of the Boise State Broncos celebrate after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 17-10 during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona.

A year which could once again end in perfection.

After going 14-0 last year, this team is expected to make a run at another perfect season.

If they manage to go 28-0 over the last two years, they will be the first college football team to win that many games without a loss, in over 50 years. 

Not since the University of Oklahoma between 1954–1956 has anyone notched three straight perfect seasons

For The First Time: Perfection Can Net a BCS Title Chance

If they make good on their promise to fulfill perfection again, where else would you put them?

By starting the season at no. 3 in the AP Poll and no. 5 in the coaches' poll—another perfect season, and they could very well be among the top 2 teams at the end.

With a big win against Oregon and a Fiesta bowl win against TCU last year, Boise State jumped up in the BCS standings.  They started ranked no. 14 on the AP Poll and ended the season no. 4.

This time around, it's only preseason and they're already among the top 5 teams in the nation.  If they win their matches against VaTech and Pac-10 contender Oregon State, where else can they go but up!

First BCS Championship

So what I'm saying here is, there could be a national championship game in the future.

Maybe against an SEC stalwart like Alabama or Florida.

Perhaps, a Big 12 powerhouse like Texas, Nebraska or Oklahoma.  Or even, a Big Ten member like Ohio State, Iowa, or Wisconsin.

Whoever they face, it will be heavy competition.  And the Broncos, who always seem like they have something prove will finally be at the big game.

What do you think is going to happen if a team from the WAC manages to take down a team from one of college football's major six conferences for the national title?

That would be college football history.

BCS Controversy: Leaving Out a Big Six Team

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COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes leaves the field after losing 18-15 to the Southern California Trojans on September 12, 2009 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

A Broncos BCS title game appearance will also mean a tough big six conference team will be left out of the national championship game.

Because big named teams will be left out of the title match at the expense of a non-BCS conference team like Boise State, there will be considerable outrage.

Questions and ire from members of those six conferences will surface as a result of this possible scenario.

Does this mean that this year's Broncos are that much better than any other national contender team with one or two losses from one of the major conferences?  We just might find out the answer this season.

First Non-BCS Team To Go All The Way

Imagine this college football first: A WAC team winning the BCS championship.

This event will definitely be monumental.

It will finally show the rest of the nation that a little guy out of nowhere can turn from a non-automatic qualifier to a bonafide champion.

Something the 2003 Utah and 2006 Boise State teams were unable to do because they never had a shot to play in the title game.

First AP Trophy and a Split Title?

Some of you may think that the BCS would never allow other teams from tougher conferences to miss out on the BCS title.

And a majority of the coaches' would never vote Boise State number one on their poll.

Ok, fine.

But the AP could make up for that oversight.

Boise State could still be the first team to be a non-automatic qualifying team to be ranked no. 1 by the Associated Press.

Here's a likely scenario: The coaches give their trophy to one team and the AP give their trophy to the Broncos.

Just like in 2004 when USC split the title with LSU. 

National Coach Of The Year Thrice?

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Head coach Chris Petersen of the Boise State Broncos celebrates after a win over the Oklahoma Sooners 43-42 in the Tostito's Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium January 1, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Lisa Blu

With a possible national title win, can anyone really tell me that Chris Peterson doesn't deserve a third coach of the year award?

He's already won twice for his first two perfect seasons with the Broncos in 2006 and 2009. Peterson is the only two-time winner of the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award.

This could be the year he adds to his legend by winning it in back-to-back seasons and improve upon his own record and become the only three-time winner of the trophy.

Playoffs?

How else will the rest of college football respond with a national championship title winner at Boise State?

Probably with more outrage at how the BCS rankings need to be overhauled.

And more arguments about how other teams play against tougher opponents and how Boise State benefits from easy schedules.

But Boise has already put together four seasons of strong football accomplishments which include BCS bowl wins, perfect seasons and the ability to take down top-ranked opponents. 

That's hard to argue against.

One thing is for sure, however, another perfect season from Bois State and college football will never be the same.