Well, there you have it, folks.
The Boise State national championship talk is no more. Done. Over. Fin.
One of the most unbelievable games of the season is now responsible for ruining what has become one of college football’s most polarizing teams’ chances at the BCS national championship.
After trailing 24-7 through the first half, Nevada went on their own 24-7 run to tie the game with just 13 seconds left in regulation. But that improbable run suddenly became secondary when Kellen Moore heaved a successful Hail Mary pass to Titus Young that landed Boise State at the 10-yard line with only 1 second remaining.
But PK Kyle Brotzman, who only has one job to do on the team, missed a 26-yard field goal to send the game into overtime, where he -- again -- missed a field goal that put Nevada in a position to score.
And score, Nevada did, ending Boise State’s highly-debated run to a possible national championship.
And now we ask, like we always do: what does this mean?
For one, it surely has to demote TCU’s chances at a national championship shot as well. Before tonight’s game, the argument heard around the college football world was that Boise State’s resume was more impressive than TCU’s. Now that Boise State has fallen out of relevancy, though, it will become harder for another highly ranked Non-AQ school to be taken into serious consideration.
Secondly, and consequently, it opens the door to LSU, Stanford and Wisconsin to potentially slide their way into the national championship picture if either Oregon or Auburn loses. Wisconsin would get the benefit of likely winning the Big Ten and LSU would get the benefit of, you know, playing in the SEC.
Of course, LSU and Wisconsin have to take care of their own business.
Also, of course, Auburn and/or Oregon would have to lose.
None of that is guaranteed.
Just a few hours ago, it looked as though college football was headed for another 2005 season, where it was known very specifically who the two best teams were. While in many ways that’s still the case, the structural integrity of the BCS is sitting on thin ice.
As for Boise State? Well, suffice it to say there will be a lot of “I told ya so’s” in a few hours. Heck, there are probably more than a few floating around as we speak. Of course, such a loss can’t be described merely in writing. Sometimes, it takes the power of song to embody the true feelings Boise State must be feeling right now.
Take it away, Simple Plan ...
