Playoffs: Semifinals: No. 8 Boise State vs. No. 5 USC

It's the first of two semifinals today at Insights in our 16-team virtual BCS playoff. For those who are new or don't remember, here's the setup.

No. 8 Boise State got here by defeating No. 9 Auburn and upsetting No. 1 Ohio State. No. 5 USC reached this point by knocking off No. 12 Arkansas and No. 13 West Virginia.

Well, if there was something known as a mid-major in college football, Boise State would be it. And Boise State would be shocking the college football world. The undefeated Broncos knocked off their third straight BCS conference opponent, beating USC 20-17 at the Cotton Bowl and earning a berth in the 2006 virtual BCS playoff finals.

Using its passing game almost exclusively, Boise State took a 17-3 lead into halftime off of two touchdown passes by quarterback Jared Zabransky.

USC attempted to come back, with Trojans quarterback John David Booty completing two touchdown passes to Steve Smith, but USC ran out of time and sent Boise State into the final.

The Broncos will face either No. 6 Louisville or No. 15 Virginia Tech in the national championship game.

Man, does college football need a playoff or what.

Stats:

Boise State: Passing -- Zabransky 24-35-2-294, 2 TDs. Rushing -- Lau 5-19; Johnson 4-7. Receiving -- Schouman 9-88, 1 TD; James 6-73; Rabb 4-85, 1 TD; Putnam 1-6; Perretta 1-21; Lau 1-3; Naanee 1-21. Defensive -- Brooks 4 tkl.; Jones 3 tkl.; Browning 3 tkl., TFL, SK; Scandrick 3 tkl., TFL; Alexander 2 tkl., FF; Clady 1 tkl., FF; Hall, 3 tkl., FF, FR; Smith 3 tkl., FR. Kicking -- Montgomery 2/2 FG, Long 43.

USC: Passing -- Booty 23-28-0-262, 2 TDs. Rushing -- Washington 7-23; Hancock 1-4; Smith 1-1. Receiving -- Washington 5-5; Smith 4-83, 2 TDs; McFoy 3-43; Davis 3-5; Hazelton 3-28; Jarrett 3-67; Turner 1-16. Defensive -- Rivers 7 tkl., 2 TFL, FF; Mays 5 tkl., FF; Williams 5 tkl., TFL, SK, INT; Schweiger 4 tkl., TFL; Jackson 1 tkl., TFL, SK; Ellison 2 tkl., INT, FR; Lua 3 tkl., FR.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Erin Griffin]

Love the blog!
Go IRISH...