The Boise State Argument

America is a country that historically roots for the underdog.

That changes, however, when that underdog is disrupting the blue blood traditions of college football. Enter Boise State, the former no-name with the gimmick field (the smurf turf) which has replaced Tim Tebow as the story that dominates and polarizes college football.

The Broncos turned the sport on its ear Monday night when they roared to a 17-0 lead, then came-from-behind to beat Virginia Tech in Landover, Md.

Immediately after the game, critics of the Broncos howled that they're still a fraud, masquerading as a team that builds a championship resume on a headline game only once or twice each season.

What those critics don't grasp is how Boise could help them get rid of the BCS. Wouldn't a Boise national championship spark BCS Conference athletics directors to avoid another embarrassment? Wouldn't that accelerate a playoff format?

Aside from a Heisman-contending quarterback, loads of experience on offense and defense, there's also their track record of success in big games.

The shocker against Oklahoma four years ago in the Fiesta Bowl. Then Boise opened the 2009 season with a home win over Oregon, and finished it with another Fiesta win against TCU. Toss in Monday's win against the Hokies, and that's four big-time wins. How many more do they need before they are recognized as legitimate?

You can't make a custom schedule just to send them through the gauntlet of Florida-Georgia-Alabama, or Oklahoma-Nebraska-Texas. Remember, those schedules would also include Iowa State-Colorado-Texas A&M and Vanderbilt-Tennessee (this season)-Ole Miss.

What's more, the Fiesta/BCS wins over Oklahoma and TCU are more BCS wins than Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State, Oregon and Tennessee combined. If you combined the BCS wins for Utah (another lower-level team) and Boise, it equals the total of the entire ACC.

Make no mistake, I'm not automatically putting Boise in the national title game the week of Labor Day. But if they continue to play - and win - like they did on Monday, they're at least the second best team in the country.

What's the difference between Boise and the Ohio State teams of the early 2000s? Was the Big Ten of then really much better than the WAC of today?

So put Boise in one of the power conferences like its critics want. What if it's a down year, or a down conference like the ACC? And what if Boise rolls through it like it does the WAC? What's the excuse now?

The Broncos play an exciting brand of football, are never predictable and overcame a slew of penalties against Virginia Tech.

They shouldn't be punished for a weak conference when they've done just about everything to upgrade their schedule. Win out, and they should return to familiar surroundings: Glendale, Ariz.