That's right, I said it. The Broncos of Boise State are the best team in college football. At least, until after the BCS National Championship is over.
Boise State has just completed the second ever 14-0 college football season. They did it with a team known for offense winning a defensive battle.
Who they played is not all that important. What is important is that great teams find ways to beat whoever they are scheduled. To go undefeated this season Boise State had to beat all different types of teams. And they had to do it with a target on their backs.
Oregon featured a mobile QB and a plenty of athletes who wouldn't stoop so low as to admit to being recruited to play in Idaho. They beat a bad Miami OH team that was more of a pass oriented teams. Pass happy Hawaii and Bowling Green were blown out. Ryan Mathews went off for rush oriented Fresno State but the Bulldogs couldn't defeat them. And Nevada and Utah State with mobile QB's also stood no chance this season.
Along the way, Boise State did have a couple of close games, as great teams sometimes do. Tulsa made the Broncos come back down to reality, but the Broncos pulled out the road victory. The trip to Ruston La, wasn't easy. LaTech won 4 games this season, all of their victories coming at home. Only BSU was able to make that long trip and come back a winner.
Through it all Boise State had to play through the drama that is the BCS. They would be passed up by TCU, a team that nearly every college football writer felt deserved to be ranked higher. They had to deal with the pressure of winning every single week, because one loss meant that the Broncos BCS hopes were over. Even if they won out, they weren't assured a BCS spot.
Despite what who didn't watch call a weak schedule, the Broncos have surely accomplished something special. They won fourteen games and lost none. They did it with a quarterback who measures a 6 feet 0 inches, a dwarf by todays standards. This same quarterback threw thirty-nine touchdowns and only three interceptions, a record for best ratio in NCAA history.
They managed this despite losing one of the biggest offensive weapons in the third week of the season. Running back D.J. Harper suffered an injury against Fresno State and Boise simply replaced him with safety Doug Martin.
If I had a vote perhaps I would wait until after Texas and Alabama play. But for right now, I could definitely pencil in Boise State as the best team in country.
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