Boise State Looks To Strengthen BCS Statements Made by Utah and TCU

I like blogging, because I’m always held to my words. In an previously written post, I picked Boise State to play Alabama in the 2010 BCS Championship Game.

Utah beating Pitt via some late game shenanigans reinforces my belief that certain mid-major teams can compete with FBS programs. Thus, Boise State or TCU making the BCS Championship Game sits fine with me.

I’m one of those guys who believes Boise State, Utah, BYU, and TCU deserve an opportunity to play for a national championship. In fact, the 2010 college football season will be the season of the mid-major programs. Boise State and TCU can claim a mid-major stake in the national championship this season.

Both teams come into the melee of college football polls ranked in the top 10. They both play favorable schedules. TCU’s victory over top-25 Oregon State gives them an opportunity to be in the discussion come December.

Utah’s win over the Pitt Panthers also exemplifies why I like the good mid-majors—attention to execution.

Boise State, Utah, and TCU all know they do not have the depth of talent of the major college football programs. Therefore, those teams compensate with execution.

Late in the game, Pitt committed an illegal shift penalty, costing them what would have most likely been the game-winning touchdown.

After missing a field-goal with three seconds left, Pitt’s kicker got a reprieve from a last-second Utah timeout. Pitt would go on to make the game-tying field-goal, forcing overtime.

In overtime, Utah intercepted an errant Pitt pass. Utah made their field-goal, and won the game.

Sounds simple, but the best mid-majors seem to deliver via execution in the clutch.

Boise State executed their game plan for four quarters. In the end, they perfectly executed the Statue of Liberty play to defeat the heavily favored Oklahoma Sooners.

The mid-major haters will be quick to cite strength of schedule as an issue. Ohio State played Marshall, the Canes hosted FAMU in Miami, and my beloved Gators struggled with Miami (Ohio).

In any instance, teams like TCU and Boise State compensate, they go undefeated—something very few FBS treams accomplish.

What if Boise State and TCU remained the only two undefeated teams at the end of the season?

Could the algorithms, ratings, and votes that constitute the BCS formula actually output a BCS Championship Game between Bosie State and TCU?

Here’s to TCU, and good luck to Boise State as they prepare to play Virginia Tech on Monday night. I’m counting on you.