🧪 What If Wednesday
What If Boise State Got a Shot at the BCS Title in 2006?
🟦🔶 The Setup
It’s 2006.
The BCS is in full swing. The “little guys” are still fenced out.
Enter Boise State — the blue turf juggernaut led by Chris Petersen and armed with a wizard at quarterback in Jared Zabransky, a dynamic runner in Ian Johnson, and a defense full of undersized overachievers.
They go 13-0, beat Oregon State early, roll through the WAC, and then deliver a Hollywood ending in the Fiesta Bowl:
Statue of Liberty.
Hook and lateral.
Proposal on the field.
Oklahoma stunned.
But… what if that wasn’t the end?
💭 What If Boise Played for the Title?
The 2006 BCS title game was Ohio State vs Florida, and the Gators smoked the Buckeyes, 41–14.
But before that game, Ohio State was undefeated and ranked #1, and Boise State was the only other unbeaten team.
So… what if the BCS had given Boise a shot? Or better yet:
🧠 What if the playoff existed in 2006?
Your four teams:
Ohio State (12–0)
Florida (12–1)
Michigan (11–1)
Boise State (12–0)
Let’s dream:
Boise State vs Ohio State in the semifinal
Florida vs Michigan rematch on the other side
The Broncos play with nothing to lose
Zabransky throws for 300
Ian Johnson breaks a screen for 70 yards
Trick plays. Risky calls. Blue-collar chaos.
And then... Boise State in the national championship game.
🏆 Could They Have Won It All?
Florida and Ohio State were loaded. NFL talent everywhere.
But Boise had:
Elite offensive design
Incredible discipline
That “team of destiny” aura
The Gators wouldn’t have had a month to prep like they did for Ohio State. A playoff scenario favors the chaos team.
Boise State winning it all would’ve flipped the sport upside down.
🌍 The Fallout
If Boise wins the national title in 2006:
Non-AQ teams are immediately taken more seriously
The Playoff likely arrives sooner
Chris Petersen becomes the hottest name in football
Boise becomes a destination program, not just a stepping stone
TCU, Utah, and UCF follow faster
🎬 Instead…
We got one of the best bowl games of all time — but only that.
Boise finished undefeated... and was told to go home.
📬 Want more alternate CFB history, forgotten legends, and nostalgic chaos?
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