Remember that huge win that TCU picked up last week, on the road against a top-five Utah team? Yeah, that doesn’t look nearly as impressive today.
The Utes went to South Bend today and were pounded by Notre Dame, 28-3. This is the same Notre Dame team that lost to Tulsa two weeks ago, and was routed by Navy a week before that. The same Notre Dame team that was without its starting quarterback, starting running back, starting tight end and second-leading receiver. The Irish were starting a true freshman at quarterback, and they still beat the crap out of Utah.
This is bad for TCU, as the perception of that Utah win was huge for them. Some in the media — myself included, if I count — were calling it the biggest and most impressive win of the season for any team this year. That’s out the window now.
The reason this matters is that it’s all about perception for the little guys trying to get into the BCS title game. Boise State was hurt by Virginia Tech losing to James Madison. The Broncos are being helped, however, by the current run the Hokies are on. Every game Virginia Tech plays is almost as important for Boise State as every game the Broncos play themselves. Utah was TCU’s Virginia Tech, and while losing to Notre Dame on the road isn’t as bad as losing to James Madison, being thoroughly dominated like Utah was is. In fact, it might be worse.
Boise State finishes out this season with a stronger schedule than TCU, and might pass the Horned Frogs in the computer rankings. Utah’s loss today might allow Boise to pass TCU in the human polls, as well.
