Boise State vs SDSU: 5 Things We Learned from BSU's Win Against the Aztecs

Boise State made their case for why they should still be included in BCS bowl consideration in a 52-35  win over San Diego State Saturday night. Boise State looked solid enough and might have received enough help with losses in front of them to get back in the picture.

But who are we kidding?

The BCS looks for any excuse to screw over Boise State and any tiny slip up, such as a loss to a solid TCU team, causes the BCS brass to shake their heads and say, "See? We told you Boise State wasn't all that good."

We'll dream for a minute though and pretend like fairness exists in college football. Boise State's win on Saturday proved a couple of things, unfortunately, the same things they have to prove every year. 

Here are five things that we learned about the Broncos this week. 

Chris Peterson: Among Giants

We didn't specifically learn this from the game this week, but it was once again reinforced.  Chris Petersen might be the best coach in college football.

Yes, that puts him in a category with Nick Saban, Les Miles and Gary Patterson.

Here's my rationale. Many teams lose a ballgame and can't seem to get it back together for the following game. Boise State doesn't have that problem, evidenced by the fact that Boise State has only lost consecutive games twice in Petersen's tenure.

That's coaching.

The ability to get your players up for the game following a loss is an incredible gift, and Petersen has it. Furthermore, Nick Saban is handed some of the best talent in the country; he ought to be winning his games on sheer talent. 

How many of the top players in the country wake up one day and say, "I want to move to Boise, Idaho, and play football."

A few for sure. However, Chris Petersen knows how to take the good players and make them winners. I doubt that Les Miles or Nick Saban would succeed at Boise State. Does that make Petersen a better coach? Maybe. How about we find out by letting Boise State play LSU in a bowl game?

Kellen Moore for Heisman

Kellen Moore is the best quarterback in the country. The fact that he plays for BSU means that the odds are stacked against him, but nobody has done what he does.  He has lost three games as a starter and has been given the reins to one of the most powerful offenses in the country.

Detractors will recycle the used-up strength of schedule argument, but even they will have to admit that that kind of win-loss disparity is incredible. Moore nonchalantly threw for 366 yards against San Diego State, although he did throw his fifth interception of the year.

Yep, that is two less than the vaunted Andrew Luck.

Kellen Moore will not win the Heisman because he remains hidden out in Idaho, but if there was justice in college football, it wouldn't even be close.

Getting Offensive

Boise State's offense is better than its defense. That's understandable, as the defense doesn't have a Kellen Moore. The offense generated 52 points on 497 yards but allowed only 27 yards less for SDSU. Turnovers on special teams cost SDSU dearly, as they led directly to scores from BSU. Without those turnovers, the score is much closer than it ended up being. 

SDSU is a stout team that is getting better every year, but those kinds of defensive numbers are still unacceptable from a top 10 team. If Boise State wants to hang with the elite teams in the country, they'll need to step up the defensive production.

Doug Martin Is Back

Doug Martin injured his leg against UNLV and was held out against TCU. He showed no ill effects, as he ran for 129 of BSU's 131 rushing yards. Boise State needs him to be healthy, and although D.J. Harper filled in nicely last week, the run game (besides Martin) was non-existent. 

Kellen Moore has proven that he can throw the ball 400 times a game and have success, but that only lasts for so long. Having Martin back will be huge for the future fate of this team.

Down but Not out

The top 10 got rocked this week. Oklahoma St. lost. Oregon lost. Oklahoma lost. Clemson lost.

LSU still has to play Arkansas. Virgina Tech has to play Clemson and Virginia. 

There is no reason to believe that Boise State is out of the BCS race. With a win over a solid SDSU team, this BSU squad should climb in the next few weeks and still be included in the consideration.