By Joe Phelps

Let's cut through all the BS and get right down to it: The Boise State Broncos MUST play for the BCS title THIS year (provided, of course, that they finish the 2011 slate unbeaten...which should not be a problem) if the BCS would like to retain any shred of credibility. Alabama only dropping to #3 is absolutely absurd and has only made the number of pitchfork and torch toting townsfolk against the BCS grow exponentially. In a season in which the Broncos should be one of the 3 or 4 unbeaten teams left at the end of the season, if just for survival's sake, the BCS needs to do something it has failed one a few occasions:

Let the right one in.

This right one in this case is Boise State. (Sorry Utah fans, you'll have to find another advocate. The BCS did get it right with Oklahoma and Florida. Hanging your hats on beating an Alabama team that was uninspired and overconfident will not change the fact that the Sooners and the Gators were the two best teams. But I digress.) Allowing the Broncos the opportunity that they have earned (over the last four seasons) would finally put this tiring controversy to bed. Even better, it could bring the two opposing camps together.

There are the Boise State lovers. They are either BSU grads or fans for the most part. Add to that mix those folks who just love to pull for the underdog and folks that hate the BCS, and it has become a rather large constituent in this battle. They will be thrilled that the Broncos are getting their shot and they could rush out and buy their Boise State jersey and pick up the blue corn tortillas for the BCS title game watch party.

Then you have the anti Boise State camp. These are the traditionalists, all fans of AQ schools from well established conferences, and most support the BCS system. They recognize legitimate things like strength of schedule, margin of victory, and the ol eye test when it comes to formulating their opinion on who is the best team in college football. They question the Broncos and their weak conference schedules and seemingly all of their out of conference contests...instantly looking to discredit Boise State's wins over (and most recently) Georgia, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, and Oregon (x2) (and much like I did with Utah's Sugar Bowl win over Alabama).

While I and many others are not swooning over Boise State's wins and losses from 2000 to 2007, 2008 to the present day is a whole different story. They are 7th all time for the most wins in a 3 year period at 37-2 (that ties AQ "big boy" USC and their run from 2003 to 2005...not bad company if you ask me). They have two wins over Oregon (including a 37-32 win in Autzen Stadium), a 33-30 win over Virginia Tech at "neutral" FedEx Field in Washington DC, and a dominating 35-21 win over Georgia at the "neutral" Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

In 2011, the Broncos are 13th in total offense (39th rushing and 16th passing) They are led by Senior QB Kellen Moore whose stats speak for themselves: 1023 of 1478 for 13,068 yards and 128 TD's to just 24 INT's. That's a career passer rating of 169.0 and worthy of Heisman consideration. (2011's stats are included in those totals: 192 of 259 for 2229 yards and 29 TD's with 5 INT's and a passer rating of 179.5).

The defense ranks 51st against the rush, which is better than Oregon (58th), Arkansas (79th), undefeated Houston (83rd), Clemson (96th), and undefeated and #2 Oklahoma State (99th). They are 5th in the Nation against the pass and are 13th in total defense.

Not even LSU has their offense and defense in the top 13 in the country...and they are #1.

Now is the perfect time to have Boise State play for the BCS title. Next year, Moore will be playing on Sundays and the Broncos will be rebuilding (and they are in better shape for that process than AQ teams like Florida and Tennessee). If we ever want this to end, the time is now. Give Boise State the chance. If they win, the BCS gains credibility lost and the Boise State supporters get to run around and say "I told you so!" for the next 300 or so days. If they lose, they'll lose with their best team in school history, and the anti Boise State folks will be vindicated and they will get to say "I told you so!" for the next 300 or so days. The BCS has everything to gain and nothing to lose here.

For the BCS, it's a win/win. All they have to do is let the right one in.