BCS Implications: Boise State's Win Over Virginia Tech Makes Them a Frontrunner

It was a game that was hyped up beyond historic proportions.  Now that the dust has settled, the 1-0 Boise State Broncos are in the fast lane to what could be a sizzling debate through the end of the year, if they continue winning.

Honestly, who is going to beat them?  Oregon State is the only viable opponent, but the Beavers have to travel to play on the blue turf in Boise.

Don't forget that the Broncos haven't lost at home since 2001.  Mike Reilly is going to have his hands full on September 25.  His team had better bring all they've got, because they couldn't beat TCU, who lost to Boise State in last year's Fiesta Bowl.

This Boise State team only lost one starter from a year ago.  Kyle Wilson is now on the New York Jets, but everything remains the same.  Even when Boise State trailed for much of the second-half, they answered the call at the end of the game when it mattered most.

The Referees dictated a lot in the game.  Sure, they could have called a block-in-the-back penalty on a 24-yard punt return that set-up the game-winning drive.

There was also that late hit penalty where the Va. Tech defender didn't even push him out of the field of play.  That gave the Broncos another 15 free yards.

Penalties are part of the game, and Boise State made their fair share of mistakes, but in the end, they found a way to win.  The Broncos are now 5-1 against BCS Opponents.

Anybody can sit there and argue that they don't play enough tough teams.  It's a strong argument, but Chris Petersen has made it a point that his team will play whoever, wherever.

After they traveled across the country and went into a hostile environment in Landover, Maryland at FedEx Field, this team is not a BCS-buster anymore.  They beat a top-10 team in Va. Tech and proved that Boise State football wants its shot at a national title.

There's no guarantee that is going to happen, considering Boise State still has to go out there and win the remaining eleven games on their schedule.

Yet they have made a pretty remarkable first impression on the voters and computers.  Now the folks from Idaho had better hope that Frank Beamer's team finishes strong the remainder of the season.  It will only help the case for Boise State.

Imagine if Va. Tech ran the table from here on out and Boise State goes undefeated.  There is the potential for a rematch between these two teams in Glendale, Arizona.  I've seen a lot of crazier things happen.

The bottom line is that Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Iowa, TCU, and other BCS contenders saw what Boise State did in coming from behind last night.

It was basically a playoff game for college football on Labor Day night.  It concluded Week 1 of the college football season in a big way.

Now the pressure remains on Boise State to keep on winning.  One loss is all it takes to derail any shot at a national title.  That's the atmosphere the system has created.

After last night, everybody should beware of the Boise State Broncos, because they can play football with the best of them.