Boise State has stormed through the regular season and handily beaten every opponent they have faced, scoring an impressive 36.2 points per game and holding its opponents to a mere 10.3 points per game. Critics argue the Broncos has faced inferior competition this season, but they suffered similar criticisms in 2007 before their Fiesta Bowl appearance against Oklahoma, and everyone knows how that turned out. This year's team has many of the same faces, and given their domination this season, they are proving again that the Boise State Bronco's are a legitimate BCS contender.
Utah is the most-deserving non-BCS conference team that should get a chance in a BCS game. They play in the best small-school conference in the Mountain West which some say is more competitive and better than a few big-time conferences. With impressive wins over Michigan, Oregon State, TCU and potentially BYU to end their season they have the resume to support a bid in a BCS bowl. Head coach Kyle Whittingham had the expeas an assistant under Urban Meyer and is poised to lead the Utes in another BCS showdown.
Mike Mauro: Utah is the most deserving small school in the race for a BCS-bowl bid this postseason. They play in the toughest non-BCS conference, the Mountain West, which some would argue is better than the Big East or Big Ten this season. They also have a great offense, future pro quarterback and suffocating defense that keeps them alive in every game. Their resume is most impressive and they deserve a shot at being a BCS-buster.
Mac Cerullo: While I won't argue that Utah has played in a tougher conference, Boise State has dominated every opponent they have faced this season, including a convincing win over Oregon. The Boise St. offense has been rolling so far, having scored at least 20 points in every game so far this season and at least 30 in six games, thanks to strong play by quarterback Kellen Moore and running back Ian Johnson.
Mauro: Boise State's only decent win was at Oregon, but in that game, Oregon was decimated by injuries at the quarterback position and at one time was rotating between freshmen. The Utes on the other hand have beaten Michigan at the Big House, which no matter how bad they are is an accomplishment, defeated an Oregon State team that beat USC, beat No. 12-ranked TCU last week and will face No. 17-BYU to conclude the season. If they finish their schedule unscathed, the 7th-ranked Utes deserve to play in a BCS game.
Cerullo: That's a big if though, BYU is a very good team that was ranked very high for awhile this season before being blown out by TCU. There is no guarantee that Utah will win that game, and according to the rules we play by in the broken BCS system, if Utah loses, that would make Boise State the more deserving team. Now, I hate that argument, but lets face it, as long as the BCS exists, that's unfortunately how it works.
Mauro: Utah is an all-around better team than BYU and TCU will prove to have been a much tougher test than BYU will be. Head coach Kyle Whittingham will have his team prepared for the challenge as give Utah another chance to win a BCS game like they did during the Urban Meyer-Alex Smith victory over Pitt. Led by another great college quarterback, Brian Johnson and a double-headed rushing attack with Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack, the Utes are the best team in the best non-BCS conference and have the resume to be in the BCS.
Cerullo: Utah's team is very good, I'll grant you that. But I'm glad you brought up that Fiesta Bowl victory Utah enjoyed in 2005. If you remember, Boise State has also won a Fiesta Bowl recently, with their unforgettable 43-42 overtime victory over a heavily favored Oklahoma Sooners team in 2007. The difference between Boise St and Utah's victories today? Chris Petersen is still the head coach of Boise St, whereas Urban Meyer coaches for Florida now. Petersen has been there, and most of his players have too. The team has changed since the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, but many of the same faces remain, most notably running back Ian Johnson, who scored the game winning 2 pt conversation.
Mauro: Boise State has freshman Kellen Moore at quarterback while Johnson is a proven senior for Utah. Whittingham was under Meyer for that game so he has the experience as well so that won't be a factor. Utah's overall resume is exponentially more impressive than Boise State. And if they continue to play as well as they have and finish undefeated, they will unquestionably get the guaranteed spot in a BCS Bowl, given to the highest-ranked non-BCS school in the rankings.
Cerullo: All I can really add for Boise St is that every team they have faced so far this season, they have demolished. They have passed every test, and they can even point to the past to enhance their argument, something that few other small schools can do. Regardless, if the scenario plays out the way you said, Utah will get the automatic BCS bid, because that's just the way the BCS works. But does that mean Boise State isn't more deserving just because Utahs schedule was a little bit tougher? Not a chance. Boise State has proven they deserve a shot, whether they'll actually get it or not.
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