Boise State is all but assured a Top Ten ranking at season's end unless some sort of Jim Delany invisible hand shenanigans take place. But just how high can the Broncos get?
Join me after the jump for a look at the games involving teams ahead of the Broncos and how the results might impact the final rankings. Plus, find out who to root for to maximize your Boise State homerness.
Your AP Top 15
Behold the teams, games, and matchups involving the teams ahead and behind the Broncos:
- No. 1 Auburn (13-0): vs. No. 2 Oregon in BCS National Championship
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No. 2 Oregon (12-0): vs. No. 1 Auburn in BCS National Championship
- No. 3 TCU (12-0): vs. No. 4 Wisconsin in Rose Bowl
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No. 4 Wisconsin (11-1): vs. No. 3 TCU in Rose Bowl
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No. 5 Stanford (11-1): vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech in Orange Bowl
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No. 6 Ohio State (11-1): vs. No. 8 Arkansas in Sugar Bowl
- No. 7 Michigan State (11-1): vs. No. 15 Alabama in Capital One Bowl
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No. 8 Arkansas (10-2): vs. No. 6 Ohio State in Sugar Bowl
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No. 9 Oklahoma (11-2): vs. No. 25 UCONN in Fiesta Bowl
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No. 10 Boise State (12-1): vs. No. 20 Utah in MAACO Bowl Las Vegas - Win!
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No. 11 LSU (10-2): vs. No. 18 Texas A&M in Cotton Bowl
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No. 12 Virginia Tech (11-2): vs. No. 5 Stanford in Orange Bowl
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No. 13 Nevada (11-1): vs. Boston College in Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
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No. 14 Missouri (10-2): vs. Iowa in Insight Bowl
- No. 15 Alabama (9-3): vs. No. 7 Michigan State in Capital One Bowl
In the AP, the Broncos are comfortably ahead and behind LSU and Oklahoma, which may minimize how far they can go up in January.
Does an LSU win catapult them over Boise State? The team right behind the Broncos, LSU could move up with a big win over Texas A&M. Hopefully the gap is wide enough and the specter of 13 men on the field still looms large. I don't think the Tigers deserve to jump the Broncos, but stranger things have happened.
Can the Broncos jump a three-loss Arkansas? It might take a huge loss to Ohio State (which is hard to root for) for this to happen, but I wouldn't rule it out.
Would voters dare put a two-loss Virginia Tech above a one-loss Boise State? Craig James, I'm looking at you.
Any way voters wise up about a 12-1 Nevada? The prospect of a 12-1 Nevada and a 12-1 Boise State at season's end probably should mean that the Pack is ranked higher due to their head-to-head win. Voters have yet to see it that way.
Please oh please don't let three-loss Alabama jump the Broncos. Seriously, please.
How far would Ohio State fall in a blowout? Rooting for Ohio State to bite the big one is a little easier for Bronco fans, but even a blowout might not be enough to drop the Buckeyes from No. 6 to behind BSU.
Are the Top Four too high for Boise State to jump the losers? Any of the Top Four teams to lose (except maybe Wisconsin) should stay high enough that the Broncos won't reach them.
Your turn
Who are you rooting for in these games? How high do you think Boise State can get? Share your thoughts in the comments.