Wisconsin Jumps Boise State in Both Polls: Are They Worthy?

The Week 6 rankings for college football came out Sunday, and guess what?  The Boise State Broncos fell in both the AP and the USA Today polls... again. 

The Broncos went from No. 4 in the AP Poll down to No. 5.  Their votes went from 1280 votes, including one first-place vote, down to 1248, and still one first-place vote.  At least someone still believes in them. In the USA Today Coaches Poll, BSU went from No. 5 to No. 6, from 1223 votes down to 1186. 

In both polls the Broncos were jumped by the Wisconsin Badgers after their seemingly impressive win over Nebraska. 

I say seemingly because if anyone saw Nebraska play Wyoming game, you know the Cornhuskers were vastly overrated.  Don't get me wrong, Wyoming is an improved team, but they will still finish toward the bottom in the Mountain West Conference this year. 

Last week Nebraska had their hands full with Wyoming.  Nebraska only led 14-7 at the half.  Nebraska went on to win 38 to 14, but it didn't tell me that Nebraska was an elite team.  In fact, if anything, it proved to me that Nebraska was highly overrated at No. 9, which was their ranking when playing Wyoming. 

So let's look at what the Badgers have done this season. 

Wisconsin mopped up a miserable UNLV team 51-17, but UNLV has also since lost to Washington state (59-7) and Southern Utah (41-16).  Now, if you are wondering who Southern Utah is, so am I, but they beat UNLV by a score similar to that of Wisconsin.  I guess Southern Utah must be a top ten team as well.  

In Week 2, Wisconsin took care of the PAC-12 powerhouse Oregon State 35-0.  Yes, the same Oregon State that is currently 0-4 on the season, including a loss to Sacramento State. Sacramento State is currently 1-2 in the Big Sky Conference.  

In Week 3, Wisconsin faced a team from the MAC, Northern Illinois, currently 2-3 and 0-1 in the MAC.  The Badgers won that game 49-7.  

In Week 4, Wisconsin then took on an FCS School, South Dakota, and won that game 59-10.

This week brought the Nebraska game, and the Badgers won 48-17.  

All of these games were played at home for Wisconsin, except the Northern Illinois game which was played at a "neutral site" (Soldier Field, Chicago).  How many teams would love to have that schedule?

So, after looking at their "body of work" so far this season, do the Wisconsin Badgers' schedule and results warrant a jump of the Boise State Broncos in the Polls? 

If you say yes to this question, you are either a Wisconsin fan, or a Boise State hater.  

Boise State has played better competition up to this point, and they have looked impressive in most areas of the game.  They have played two of their four games on the road, including the very unfriendly Georgia Dome in the season opener.  The Broncos have done everything they have needed to tob keep their No. 4 ranking, and then some. 

As the season unfolds, I am certain that everyone will see that the Nebraska versus Wisconsin game was a creation of the television hype monster and nothing else.  Nebraska will probably finish the year outside of the top 25 rankings. 

Now, I am not saying is that Wisconsin isn't a good team.  They are a good team.

However, just because of one hyped up win over an overrated opponent doesn't mean they should jump the Broncos in the polls.  Boise State gets a lot of flack for their so called "easy" schedule, but could someone tell me what they would call Wisconsin's schedule so far?   

Wisconsin was matched up with TCU last year in the Rose Bowl, and they found out what a Mountain West team could do.  Boise State will probably not have a chance to play the Badgers this year, but if by some chance the two make it to the BCS Championship game, it would be a very interesting contest.  

Of course, we all know that Boise State will probably never be given the opportunity to play for it all. 

The college football world is a place of haves and have nots.  The haves use a double standard to dictate who and who doesn't advance.  If you don't see the hypocrisy in the current system, you are probably a fan of one of the "haves" in college football.  You might want to ask yourself if this is really fair.  Do you use this standard in other areas of your life?  

Fair or not, the Broncos find themselves in similar circumstances year after year. 

It seems no matter what they do, they will never be given a fair chance.  The critics cry "strength of schedule," but I don't see any BCS conference offering even a "football-only" membership to the Broncos.

The Big 12 is in need of stability, and I haven't heard that they are even officially looking at BSU.  It seems to me that giving the Broncos a shot would go a long way to help their conference.

Maybe the best thing Boise State could do is be proactive.  Maybe football Independence is the answer.  But for now, the Broncos will continue to be punished by an unfair and crazy system.  

Bronco fans, just enjoy your team.  Don't let the system get to you.  Just know that if the Broncos go undefeated, they will probably play in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama or another quality opponent.  Not a bad second prize, and it will give the Broncos another chance to shine.