BCS Rankings 2011: Boise State's Struggles with TCU Will Drop Them from Top 5

The No. 5 Boise State Broncos (8-0) are struggling at home against their Mountain West rival, the TCU Horned Frogs (7-2).

Both teams are undefeated in the conference, and the winner would be in the driver's seat to win the Mountain West at season's end.

The Broncos trail LSU, Oklahoma State, Alabama and Stanford in the current BCS standings, and an undefeated finish to 2011 would far from guarantee them a shot at the national championship in New Orleans next January.

As demonstrated in seasons past, Boise State often plays the role of odd man out when the final BCS rankings are released in early-December.

The dagger came for the Broncos last Sunday night, when their 8-0 record wasn't even enough to put them ahead of one-loss Alabama.

The Crimson Tide fell short in the Game of the Century, yet they came up huge in the polls.

Alabama is favored in their last three games of the year and sadly, unless they lose again they would play No. 1 LSU (9-0) before the Broncos.

Add in the fact that undefeated Oklahoma State and Stanford are sitting ahead of Boise State, and the only outcome is another disappointing one for the emerging program.

If Boise State were to lose at some point this season, then the discussion and argument for them to be considered would have absolutely zero ground to stand on.

However the schedule favors them the rest of the way just as it has all season long, and If Stanford survives No. 7 Oregon on Saturday night in California and the Cowboys can outlast the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners in Stillwater on Dec. 3, the Broncos will be three spots shy of challenging for the BCS championship.

Their close game with TCU, whether a win or loss, will only add to their problems though. One-loss Oklahoma will likely benefit from a bye in week 11 to leapfrog the Broncos who will be punished for an underachieving performance by the computers' standards.

If Boise State does go on to finish 12-0 this season—and they are the highest ranked undefeated team—suggesting No. 11 Houston stays undefeated and both Stanford and Oklahoma State lose at some points, they deserve to be playing in New Orleans.

If that scenario pits one-loss Alabama against LSU in a rematch of a 9-6 yawner, then college football is tragic and should reassess itself in the mirror.