BCS Rankings 2011: Boise State's Championship Hopes Diasappeared in Alabama

As soon as LSU and Alabama went to overtime, Boise State's hopes at a national title went down the drain. 

An overtime game was the worst possible outcome in the highly anticipated matchup of the nation's top two teams. The Broncos needed one team to win convincingly. They needed people to watch that game and say, "Well, there is no reason to see those two teams play again."

Instead, they got the exact opposite.

That was an evenly matched game that could have gone either way. It was a compelling smash mouth affair that left most fans ravenous for a second act.

And now the undefeated Broncos are going to be helplessly stuck in the BCS standings behind a team with one loss.

They are already sitting behind them in the AP poll.

It is also expected they will be behind them in the BCS poll. Jerry Palm of CBS does an excellent job of calculating BCS rankings before they announce them. He has Alabama one spot ahead of Boise State at No. 4.

That means even if undefeated teams Oklahoma State and Stanford lose—who are projected to be No. 2 and 3 respectively—the Broncos will be stuck behind Alabama.

And Alabama is not going to lose another game.

The only game on that schedule that might trip up Alabama is the game at Auburn. But, with Auburn's poor defense, and Alabama's amazing defense, this game is not going to be close.

LSU is not going to lose another game either. Even if they did, however, they would almost certainly stay ahead of Boise State. LSU has banner wins over Oregon and Alabama.

The computers will love that. And pollsters will jump at the chance to offer up an Alabama-LSU rematch.

This outcome will be borderline criminal. Boise State has earned a right to play for the title. They do their best to schedule tough out of conference games, and they have a history of performing well in bowl games.

They are a complete team with an efficient offense that has the potential to move the ball on the stiff defense of either LSU or Alabama. They are seventh in the nation in points scored per game in 12th in points allowed per game.

Those are numbers that can't simply be attributed to their weak schedule either. Boise State went on the road and held a high powered Georgia offense to 21 points. The only game they have been held to fewer was their victory on the road against Tennessee in which they scored 20.

Boise State has the talent to beat any team in college football, and they deserve a shot to prove it.

Just ask ESPN's Michael Wilbon.