NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
On November 6, 2010, No. 3 TCU visited No. 5 Utah. This was back when both were members of the Mountain West Conference (they are now in the Big 12).
It was a rarity, a top five match-up between teams from outside the so-called power conferences. TCU, led by quarterback Andy Dalton, won big that day, 47-7, but the headline of Sports Illustrated’s story the following week offered a stark reminder of how college football conducted its business.
“Does It Matter?”
Well, every game matters in some way but at least in pursuit of a national title, it didn’t. TCU would finish undefeated but not get a bid to the Bowl Championship Series title game (Auburn beat Oregon, 22-19). TCU got to play (and win) the Rose Bowl as consolation.
Fourteen years later a real playoff, with 12-teams and a path of access to leagues such as the Mountain West, is here. It’s just in time for what may be the most consequential and anticipated non-power conference game in memory.
Boise State at UNLV at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday night.
Boise is 6-1 and ranked 17th nationally. UNLV is 6-1 but not in the polls. This isn’t close to a top five match-up, but it offers something more significant — a step on the journey to winning the Mountain West title and earning the automatic bid reserved for the best team from the so-called “Group of Five” leagues.
Does it matter? Oh it matters. It’s why the media is hyping it, UNLV is opening up extra sections of Allegiant Stadium to handle ticket demand and CBS Sports Network is expecting a pop in the ratings.
“Obviously it’s a big moment,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said Monday of what is arguably the biggest game in school history. “We know how important this game is. … High level of excitement, not just from our team or our athletic department, but the city of Vegas.”
The 12-team playoff offers…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-footballs-new-world-order-boise-state-vs-unlv-matters-a-lot-135221753.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-10-23 13:52:21
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
